Let's Talk Peelies!

There are few things that are iffy in the coupon world that some people may find right while others feel strongly about it being very very wrong and peelies are one of those steered away from topics!

 FIRST OF ALL WHAT IS A PEELIE!

A peelie is a coupon stuck to a product that saves you money on either that or a future purchase of an item. They are randomly placed there by the distributor or store to entice people to purchase the specific item. Studies show that even people who do not coupon will buy a product with a coupon on it for the convenience of the savings. 

But with that being said some couponers view this as a free for all. They see a nice coupon placed on a product and take them off the product and save them for future usage more times than most on a better sale to buy the item at an even greater savings. 

When I was younger I recall my mom buying products and when I open the box they had coupons inside the boxes or on the box. Now most companies do not do that because the manufacturer saw that this MARKETING strategy did not work. The coupons where being redeemed less because people would throw out the boxes and not use the coupons. Sometimes you still will find high dollar coupons inside boxes or on boxes but hardly ever do you find a $.25/1 coupon inside a box of a $3.00 item. So they use peelies. Cheaper, easier, and for the most part are redeemed and used on the products making the manufacturer money. 

WHO PUTS THE PEELIES ON?

 

If it is a store coupon the stores are the one's that place the peelie's on the items but they are brought in by the distributor of the product. For instance Fanta works out a marketing strategy with Publix to sell more Fanta. They play eeny meeny with sticking them on products. They do this in the stock room or in the isle. No matter who puts the peelies they are put there for one reason and one reason only to get people to buy the product. Advertising is KEY to any business and selling ANY product. They are there but now here is where it gets technical. 

CAN I TAKE THE PEELIE OR NOT?

 

Depending on where you turn for advise you may find yourself with a different view. I found two well known sites and here is what I read from both. 

The first site stated that if the peelie is attached to the product it becomes property of the person who purchases that product, more like the way a free sample is attached to the product. They view tear-pads and blinkie's as a free for all and you can take as many as you need. 

Another popular site says that although the peelie was placed on the product you should look around because there could be another product that you can use that peelie on that may be cheaper or smaller in size. That as long as there are no restrictions on the peelie itself like it saying good on ANY rather than save $1.00 on THIS then the peelie is free game. That site views tear-pads and blinkies the same as the peelies.

Keep in mind that both of these sites are followed by hundreds of thousands of people nationwide. Have been both talked about on major news outlets and talk shows. They both have there own followings and as you can see have different views and teaching methods of couponing. Not all coupon sites are the same and the way they each promote themselves and their opinions take impact on whether or not people follow them.

SO WHAT SHOULD I DO TAKE THEM OR NOT?

If I stand here and say DO NOT take them  trust me no one is going to listen because let's face it if people think they are right they are going to do it no matter what anyone says. So instead of choosing sides on this one. I will say if you are going to do it then do it right. 

Let's take this bottle of shampoo found at Walmart on the shelf. As you can see this was more than likely put on by the person packaging the product since the peelie is NOW under the wrapping. So with that being noted. This is not up for grabs. This is meant to be used by the person who is going to buy this product and then they can use the coupon on a future purchase for another. 

If you are going to take a peelie please make sure you are not defacing the product and please do not run around the store ripping all the peelies off every package. Though some people do it and have no problem with it I am sure EVERYONE will agree that if you are going to do it please use moderation. 

If a product had a peelie and now it is left with a sticky piece of clear film. I talking now as a shopper will still buy the product ..It is what it is and if you did not coupon you would not even notice it.
 

With that being said the same moment I say the product with the new wrapping I also noticed this. As you can see someone literally ripped the entire product and took the peelie. I am sure both of the people who wrote about there personal views on peelies will both strongly agree that this is wrong and should not be done. 

The person here defaced the product! Again, talking as a shopper and not a couponer I would grab a bottle that did not look like it went through some shredder and I am sure other shoppers will pass on it as well.

I think the best way to deal with this whole peelie thing is to view it as Ms. Alyssa Knight so easily said "Count your rainbows not your thunderstorm!"

Trust me while some people will have strong views on this it does not change the bottom line and that is that at the end of the day coupon redemption brings stores over $8 million dollars a year...peelies included. They are not going to stop putting peelies on the products or baby sit them they want you to buy the products and if they are still being bought and the numbers are still high at the receiving end nothing will change. 

The only time you will see the change is when the stores are loosing money from it and well that is not the case. People are taking them to use them. They are not taking them to collect them or toss them or use them in another matter that they where not intended to be used like some art collecting or using the peelies to make crayons.

Trust me at the end of the day as long as the peelie is 

being used to buy the correct product the clearing house will still be submitting that big fat check to the store and the manufacturers stocks and sales are still going to rise. 

As in everything in life do what you feel to be right and if you feel wrong about it do not do it. If you think it is okay and no one is going to change your mind at least have respect and do it correctly.

You can read more into the coupon ethics here.... 

WITH EVERY ACTION MAY COME A REACTION SO PLEASE USE YOUR JUDGEMENT CORRECTLY. 

HAPPY COUPONING!