New Restrictions on Printable Coupons (Is Extreme Couponing the Cause?)
In addition to seeing store coupon policies changing, we apparently need to prepare ourselves for printable coupons to change as well.
The other day coupons.com released several new high value Schick coupons, and among them was a $6/2 Schick Disposable Razors Printable Coupon. Since Walmart carries packages of these razors for under $2, many were excited about getting the razors free. Walmart also allows overage according to their coupon policy, so this coupon would mean $2 in overage to apply to the rest of your purchase!
However, when I printed the coupon, I noticed something unusual. In the bottom right corner of the coupon it says “No cash back if coupon value exceeds retail price.” I have never noticed wording like that on a coupon before. I also searched many of my other coupons to see if there was similar wording, and found nothing.
This is apparently a completely new coupon restriction.
This coupon restriction overrides Walmart’s overage policy, so Walmart would not be obligated to give overage for this coupon even though their policy allows it.
Is this a new restriction that we can expect on future coupons? Are manufacturer’s taking extra precautions to protect themselves from coupon misuse? Is this a result of the TLC show “Extreme Couponing”?
I think “yes” to all of the above. What do you think?
I apologize for the blurry picture!
42 Comments
Grace Neary
I agree The EC show should be banned……and I am fairly new to couponizing and after watching that show I felt like a complete failure because i felt i must be doing something wrong…….But it didn’t take me long to figure out they aren’t shopping in reality world of a person such as me with a very tight budget and FEEDING two children…..it is a huge thorn in my side because I realized what they were doing and I noticed the camera angles when I tried to see what FOOD they were actually buying……after watching a few weeks…I realized it wasn’t reality….I almost gave up on couponizing because I felt I was not being efficient…and certainly can’t block out hours of time t this skill….but I am getting the hang of it… But the show is very discouraging for newbies ….but realize they are not buying food…
addie
yeah ive couponed all of my life having just discovered how to use computer a big help i have gleamed a couple of ideas from made a notebook instead of shoebox been lugging around for years and my daughter and i do “cashier profile” try this ladies the young dudes are not as tense over scanning a hand ful of coupons as the older ladies are and more likely to listen to reason if a problem arises! mostly just laugh at that show had to try to explain to son=in=law we cant get things as cheap due to no doubling at these stores around here
Digiot
Only watched Extreme Couponing once. That show disgusts me…promotes gluttony and greed. Also when I watched it the couple featured were both morbidly obese….not a good pastime for them IMHO. I have never received cash back from overage coupons. I wouldn’t expect it. I don’t think it’s right to “get paid” to get something free. As for new restrictions on coupons as a result of the show….sure, I think so. Of course the manufacturers are watching how consumers shop. It’s in their best interest.
Jennifer
I dont think the show has much too do with this…all the coupons I have been printing for the past few months have it on them just not down in the corner like this one. I have been couponing for a while..more seriously since this past May. Where we live they have never allowed for overage and while I have gotten somethings free, I always have had to pay the tax on those items. I like many others dont buy things just cause they are on sale or there is a coupon, I coupon to save money and only buy things that we actually eat or use. We have 1 store that doubles our coupons here but sometimes thier prices are so high on things that even with it doubled it is cheaper to go some where else.
I watched the show a couple of times and at 1st I thought it was great but then I noticed they are buying things just to be buying them for the most part and that is not what I do, while I do have a small stock pile, I had that before this show came on because of how I grew up. Saving money with coupons is a game for my family we try to guess how much we are going to spend and save.
I have 2 sisters who dont have the time to go through the ads all the time so I have become the person in our family that looks for the deals and goes and gets them for all of us, my sisters families as well. My daughter jokes that I am crazy coupon lady but she is the one who goes up and down the isles grabbing coupons.
I even give my coupons away..if I have some that are getting ready to expire and I dont need the product I watch when I check out or I am shopping and give it to someone who is buying the items..why should I be the only one saving and I think sharing helps cut down on the negativity from the show. I have never had anyone get upset or angry with me for helping them save money at the store too.
elgina
I thank god for the show. I would hve never found about couponing and getting free and low cost grocery and reatil. But it does seem like the extremness has changed policies for the worse and not better. it has and will continue to give much more restrictions to coupon usage. But I still thank god for the show on an overall basis.
Laurie
I too thank the show for bringing coupons to my life. I do not extreme coupon, I only use coupons for products I normally use. I have learned to look for the sales and watch the ads each weekend. I am happy to just save a little money here and there where I can and have found it awesome on the few occasions I have gotten a product for free. I have two coworkers who give me their inserts so products I really use a lot I can save a little more on. I have also noticed the changes just since I’ve started couponing though, but I will work with it as I am NOT hoarding like the people on the show.
Leticia
I have noticed that not only has the wording has changed on the coupons, but that the saving amounts has also been reduced, for example: products that we use to save $1.00 on, now the coupons for the same products may be a little as $.25, or the length of time to use the coupons has been reduced, most coupons used to be 60 days or so, now as little as 30 days sometimes to 2 weeks, which allow the retailers to plan sales around these coupons. I do think that EC has had an impact on couponing driving more people into saving money at a larger scale than ever before, if manufacturers are paying back all this $$$ to retailers, they have to find a way to stay in business, so they make changes.
Laura
Interesting. My coupon says it excludes 2 pks, and since I buy these razors frequently and hadn’t seen the 4 pk for less than $3, I didn’t think about the overage. I do know if they are BOGO, there is potential for some mega money back on these razors, but I tend to get the bigger pack, because I just care about getting more for my money, with the 2 coupons I print, not just free.
Amber
Sorry guys buy it has NOTHING to do with that show…if you believe anything you see on that show then you have issues anyway. It’s because people are GREEDY, clear the shelves with no reguard for anyone else who may want to shop, have 3 or 4 printers printing off the same coupons, etc…. “That show” is just everyones excuse for being morally bankrupt and I think it is patheic
JANNA
I totally agree!!! This show is making couponers look terrible. I love the fact that I can coupon to save my family money and I enjoy the thrill of finding the deals, but these people are are going way overboard and making the rest of the people think that we are all insane. Not to mention the fact that they are misusing the coupons on the wrong products to make the show look good. Because of them, there will be alot more restrictions on coupons and store policies. So thanks “Extreme Couponing” for ruining things for the rest of us.
monica
I really think that alot of stores are over- reacting based off of one show. If you really listen to show these people are clearly shopping for camera purposes. I have yet to go into any store and see anyone buying 2,000 worth of food for 2.00. The reality is most people dont even use copons if anything I think the show would turn people off from using coupons. TLC sort of makes people who use coupons look crazy. Overages are great but I think some people may have taken it too far on the show.
elizabeth
that show is crazy you can some money on coupons but not that extreme couponing that not fair everbody else take ever things on off the selves and not leave anythings for anybody else that to buy and save with coupon so we can save to people that do that are hoarders of food you are not to use that much of food and groceries that show make its hard for us the people you use coupon the way is was suppose to be use i thought that would happen when that show air on tv so the stores have no choices to do that so that everyone have chances to use there coupons.
Lexa
I’m seeing more and more coupons that say “Do not double.”
Cheryl
I have noticed that coupons are also restricting the number of coupons you can use. One read Limit 4. I don’t care if they give money back, as long as it’s free, it’s for me! I always viewed the extremists as hoarders. I mean, I am sure that some of them donate to a food pantry, but the way the shows display them, they seem to have a serious issue.
chula
I DO believe the show had good intentions to show people how to save money during this recession. BUT, the positive has changed into a NEGATIVE. It is becoming harder and harder to use coupons. I was at a wall which the cashier notified her supervisors that I was using coupons and I was watched like a hawk and treated as if I was stealing. I showing the cashier a dollar tree ad for soap which i was getting from walmart and she said i couldn’t use that sale ad because it didn’t have a date on it even though everything is a dollar year round. She called the manager and she never came. Yet, she was waiting for me several aisles down. As I was leaving the manager asked me if I had a problem. Sso i explained the incident and she wanted talk to me in her office. While I was talking the manager, I noticed the same situation was happening at a close by register. Extreme Couponing has ruined a good thing that helped people make ends meet. I hope they never stop publishing coupons. Has anyone noticed there is less and less copuons for food in the last 2 months? I have. coupons are for personal and household items.
Libby
Some of the coupons that were in the paper last weekend also said “no cash back if coupon exceeds retail value”.
Jon
I don’t think it is an unreasonable disclaimer at all. The coupon is meant to be a discount on their item, not a discount on other people’s items as well.
lucybird
I have been couponing for over 30 yrs, When I lived in california double coupons were the norm for along time and then almost disappeared altogether. I used to save an average of 40-60 dollars on a hundred dollar grocery trip. Its different now, I still save money but hate that extreme coupon show because I know in the end it will ruin things for people like you and be.
I digress here but the grocery stores up here in washington are having employees stand guard over the sunday papers, Ive never seen that before TLC came along with extreme couponing.
Nanci
I find humor in the show, that’s why I watch it. But it’s definitely ruining it for those that want to just save a few bucks. I was thrilled the other day to get Welch’s grape jam for free because it was on sale for $1.49 and my $.75 coupon doubled. That was a fluke, usually doesn’t happen for me. I’ve been finding the good .75 coupons seem to be drying up and are not as available as they used to be. I do believe the show has something to do with that. How does everyone like the little disclaimer they flash at the very start of the program now…LOL?
Wes
I agree. That show needs to go. Now.
Maddi
this seems to only be on coupons that say Energizer Personal Care in the fine print. I think this is a manf. only thing
mrshenson
I do not think the show is the sole cause for this. I do not blame the show eiether. It is for entertainment purposes, just like power puff girls, Survivor, or The Simpsons. It is a show. You dont blame a video game if your child acts out right? So please dont blame the show.
I think both sides ( store & manufacture) are getting wiser. They have been seeing trends and changes throughoutand the downward economy is not doing anyone any favors, so ofcourse everyone is trying to tighten the purse strings.
Kathy
I think that the show is in part responsible for what is going on because it creates scenarios that are nearly impossible to duplicate. Then, when someone else tries the same tactic , other stores that weren’t “in on the show” loses money because someone tries to stack coupons where it is not allowed, we all hear about it. Many people weren’t aware of these methods until the show was broadcast.
Rockinmomma
I hate this show so much and I hate being asked if I watch it. My answer is always a BIG FAT NO! They make us real couponers look bad!
Beth
Coupons are “meant” to be used to save money, right? But this string of comments seems to come from the issue with limiting a couponer’s ability to *make* money on an overage that may occur from a strategic combination of sale + coupon. I may be wrong, but wouldn’t the overage come from the store’s pocket and not the manufacturer? The manufacturer refunds the value of the coupon, but the store decided to list the sale price. I guess I agree with Amber’s comment and something my mother told me in response to the EC show – what makes people think they should pay nothing (or in some rare cases, get paid) for merchandise?
Teri
Amber I totally agree with you! 🙂
sondra
I have never seen the stupid show but get asked about it all the time. Just when I finally figure out how to do something right (2 years now) something has to start ruining it for everyone. GRRRRRR. That’s my comment.
Emma1227
I TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU! Same here – just figured out how to do it…
Tracy
I have to completely agree with your statements. I so do not like this show. EC has ruined the chance we had to use coupons in the way they were meant to be used.
Rae
I hadn’t realized it so thank you for pointing it out. It is on all the new coupons.com ones I printed (all of the Schick ones, Banana Boat, and Hawaiian Tropic).
Stephanie
Thanks for letting me know that! I had actually ONLY printed the $6/2 Schick coupon, so I didn’t realize it was on all of those new coupons. Interesting, perhaps it is specific to that company? Will other manufacturers follow their lead?
Helen
I believe most people or like me. We coupon to save money. I only use those I need for products I generally use. On occasion I may try a new product if I’m really interested. I think its a shame that these extremist have hurt the general shopper by there acts.
Claude
One question, though. When the store submits the coupon for reimbursement, I know they have to show proof that the item was sold (at least, that’s my understanding). But doesn’t the manufacturer reimburse the full value of the coupon anyway (with the exception of “free” coupons where the price is written in by the cashier)?
Stephanie
Yes, they do. So, this makes me wonder if this message is directed at both the consumer and the retailer – and the manufacturer will only reimburse them for the coupon value up to the retail value of the product. It’s definitely something I’m going to be looking into!
Heather B
I’d be interested to know what you find out. I was wondering about this as well.
Janel
Resently i was at a walmart in waco tx and they woodnt let me use more then 1 coupon per viset for thes rases and woodnt give me the overg. The coupon that i was useing was the one in sied the rsers that dont have on ther that you dont get ovreg and its a $3 coupon. well i compland to the corpret and the walmart called me and gave me my ovreg and a $50 gift cared for my trubel.
Melissa
Walmart’s the only store in my area that gives overage. Could this just be a result of Walmarts new coupon policy?
Rae
Around here, Kroger recently added it to their policy that they give overage (though they don’t allow ips for more than 75% of the item’s value).
Stephanie
Excellent point! 😉
Amber
While I do think that this may be a result of TLC’s show, I have never thought that they should allow overage anyway. While it is awesome if they do, I think that you shouldn’t be able to make money off of a discount. Of course, this is only my opinion. 🙂 I am sad about many other changes because of this show however. 🙁
heather
that show is nothing but a thorn in my side
nany
i agree