Internet Printables - Check Out the Rules!

by Debbie Clark (DealDebbie) | More from this Blogger

12 Jun 2009 04:19 AM

You've shopped till you dropped. You printed all those internet printable coupons to take advantage of sales and savings. You are ready to buy at least two or three of everything with coupons.

You get to the checkout line, and the cashier tells you they will only accept two internet printable coupons per customer. Or worse, no printables at all. The cashier refuses to scan them to see if they beep. Zero. Zilch. Nada.

So all the items go back on the shelf, and you stalk out angry.

How could you avoid this? You could confirm the store's coupon policy before you go.

If your local supermarket or big box store does not post a copy of their coupon policy, or have one available at customer service, call the corporate office and ask to have one mailed, faxed, or emailed to you. Bring it with you when you shop. That way when someone tries to tell you the store does not take internet printables, and the official policy is to take them but limit the number, you have proof.

Stores limit internet printable coupons because of the tremendous potential for fraud with duplications. The coupons are usually limited to only a few per user, but some hackers have found a way to beat the system, and some users attempt to mass duplicate them. If a coupon is a counterfeit, the store loses money.

Internet printables are not the only counterfeits in circulation. Coke recently had to cancel the coupon for a free 12 pack issued through it's mycokerewards.com promotion, because counterfeiters found ways to duplicate these very popular coupons.

Limits on internet printables can be pretty frustrating for the honest shopper, especially since manufacturers are finding ways to issue more internet coupons and having huge promotions with tie ins to stores. For example the recent Kraft promotions featured internet printable coupons on their website, and various stores ran the link as well. The limits were generous if you went from site to site, and the coupons themselves were store specific. If you went on a coupon shopping spree for Kraft products on sale, and were told at the checkout line that you could not use the internet coupons from the promotion or could not use more than only a few in total, then you were definitely caught in a conflict between store policies and promotions.

The internet has changed the way advertisers approach the public and promote products. Print advertising is expensive, and savvy advertisers know that they have to reach us through several media. That's why you still have traditional coupons in magazines and newspapers, but you also have internet printables and sign ups. It's unrealistic to limit the consumer's use of internet printables when the manufacturers are expanding their internet advertising with these printable coupons.

Learn more about Debbie Clark (DealDebbie)

I'm a veteran deal hunter with two grown sons. I have been clipping coupons and doubling up with rebates and sales and points rewards since they were babies.

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