Coupons can help you save money on the things that you need to buy. While many of the people who use coupons understand what coupon etiquette is, others choose to break the rules. There are many reasons why coupon etiquette is necessary.

Breaking coupon etiquette is not illegal, but it will make you very unpopular with fellow couponers and store cashiers. The Coupon Information Center (CIC) provides helpful information about what you shouldn’t do with coupons.

Coupons are intended to provide a large number of consumers with a discount. They are not intended for a few individuals with the opportunity to strip the shelves of more product than they will ever reasonably need. Shelf stripping causes stores to place limits on the number of coupons an individual can use.

Do not exceed store limitations and be considerate when shopping at stores that don’t currently have any coupon related limitations. Buy only what you need for your personal use, including enough for future use.

Coupons in the store should be used for your personal needs only. Leave the rest for other shoppers. Taking an entire tear pad is inconsiderate to other couponers. Do not take a peelie coupon off of a product unless you intend to purchase that product.

From time to time, shoppers may want to divide their purchases into multiple transactions. This is a courtesy that many stores provide and very helpful when picking up a few items for your friends or items needed for work or similar situations.

However, buying a massive amount of product in one shopping trip, and then breaking up the “sale” into multiple transactions to use extra coupons or obtain extra discounts bends the rules and is inappropriate.

Take the time to get your coupons organized before you enter a check out line. This not only makes it easier for you to use specific coupons, but also saves time for the cashier. Being prepared is also a courtesy for the shoppers who are in line behind you.

The Coupon Information Center recommends that people who are heavy coupon users consider shopping during off-peak hours. What does that mean?

It means you should shop at times when the store will have the fewest number of customers in it. Options may include visiting the store in the early morning hours. It might mean shopping during the day when other people are at work. Avoid using a lot of coupons on holidays or weekends.

In short, coupon etiquette is about being aware that other customers who use coupons should be able to obtain the products they are seeking a discount on. It means only taking what you can reasonably use before the products expire.

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The Coupon Information Corporation (CIC) is a not-for-profit association of consumer product manufacturers dedicated to fighting coupon misredemption and fraud. It was founded to encourage integrity in connection with the redemption of manufacturers’ coupons and participation in other programs.

One of the things the CIC is doing is tweeting articles about people who were (allegedly) caught using fraudulent coupons. Here is one example:

The CIC tweeted an article from WNTV NBC15 titled: “DA: Bogus coupons at Monona Walmart added up to $20K in illegal discounts”.

According to the news article, a 54-year-old woman was accused of trying to use counterfeit coupons at a Walmart last year. The woman spent nearly three months passing similar bogus coupons at that Walmart and walking away with tens of thousands of dollars in merchandise after paying a small fraction of that amount. Over the course of 13 visits, starting last August, the woman allegedly spend just over $1,000 dollars, but took home more than $22,000 worth of merchandise.

It appears that this woman got caught by the Walmart Loss Prevention Officer who called the local Police Department. The detective who signed the complaint explained that the pattern of purchases, including quantities being purchased and that they were name brands, were often linked to retail crime.

The CIC has a Suspect Coupon Checker App, that can be used by retailers to determine if a coupon is valid or fraudulent. The retailers can use it to instantly identify known counterfeit coupons, and it is available to retailers free of charge. It does not need any expensive or time-consuming infrastructure modifications, and it doesn’t touch the sensitive systems that retailers use.

All of this is to point out that you shouldn’t use counterfeit coupons. People who have been caught using them have been arrested, and retailers now have a tool that can quickly identify the fake coupons that a person is trying to use.

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Walmart announced something that can make your shopping easier. It is called Walmart Voice Order. It will be rolled out to more and more customers over the next few weeks.

Beginning this month, customers can say, “Hey Google, talk to Walmart” and the Google Assistant will add items directly to their Walmart Grocery cart. Best of all, customers can be extra confident that Walmart can quickly and accurately identify the items they are asking for with the help of information from their prior purchases with Walmart. The more you use it, the better it will get.

Let’s say that your family likes the Great Value (Walmart Brand) 1% milk. After you use Google Assistant to add items to your Walmart Grocery cart long enough, it will learn what you like to buy. After that, when you tell Google Assistant “add milk to my cart”, it will know that you want it to add a gallon of Great Value 1% milk.

Google Assistant is available on more than a billion devices, including Smart Displays like Google Home Hub, Android phones, iPhones, watches and more. Customers can manage their shopping carts while they’re at home or on the go.

Walmart has learned that when using voice technology, customers like to add items to their carts one at a time over a few days. They don’t complete their shopping list for the week all at once. The “Hey Google, talk to Walmart” skill is capable of allowing customers to add items to their Walmart Grocery cart a little at a time.

Walmart is kicking off this service with Google Assistant, but is planning to add others to the mix as time goes on. If your family buys the same foods, from the same brands, every week – Google Assistant can help you save time while filling your Walmart Grocery cart.

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Two well-known restaurants are about to close in several locations. This means your local Applebee’s, or IHOP, may not be there for much longer. Both restaurants are owned by parent company DineEquity Inc., who may open more of those restaurants outside of the United States.

USA Today reported that 105 to 135 Applebee’s restaurants will close. The original estimate was that 40 to 60 Applebee’s would close. In addition, 20 to 25 IHOP restaurants will close. The original estimate was that 18 IHOPs would close.

DineEquity says that it is planning to open up 20 to 30 more Applebee’s, mostly outside of the United States. DineEquity also revised its plan and says it now plans to open 80 to 95 IHOP restaurants (mostly in the United States). Originally, the plan was to open 75 to 90 IHOP restaurants.

There doesn’t seem to be any information that points out which individual Applebee’s or IHOP restaurants will close. There also isn’t any information about the locations where new ones will open. The Chicago Tribune reported that, worldwide, there are 1,968 Applebee’s locations and 1,752 IHOP restaurants.

Now would be a good time to use whatever Applebee’s or IHOP coupons that you have. Check the website of the restaurant before you go. It’s a good way to find out what special offers they are currently running. Find out if the Applebee’s you want to visit is holding a “Happy Hour” that night, and if so, what time it will be held. All of these offers could save you some money on your order.

The Chicago Tribune, in a second article about the closures, notes that Applebee’s is changing it’s menu. It is removing a turkey sandwich with siracha chile lime sauce and a pork-ham-bacon sandwich from the menu. Applebee’s will replace them with “old favorites” – but hasn’t given any further details about that.

IHOP could be beefing up its online ordering capabilities. This could mean it will enable customers to place an order online first, and then drive out to the IHOP to pick it up. It probably doesn’t mean delivery from IHOP, but it’s hard to be certain about that. It is also possible that IHOP will open smaller restaurants than typical, in rural locations and also in pricey urban markets.

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Inmar Inc. applies technology and data science to improve outcomes for consumers and those who serve them. An analysis by Inmar shows how consumers use coupons. It also revealed what consumers who use coupons are expecting from grocery retailers.

Consumers redeemed more than 1 billion coupons between January and July of 2017.

Shoppers want coupon offers that are easy to acquire and that can be used wherever they shop. In other words, they want coupons that can be used either in the store or on the store’s website. Or, it could mean they want coupons that are “universal” and not restricted to any particular store (such as how manufacturers’ coupons work.)

Shoppers like to drift between retail channels for their grocery-item purchases. In other words, people are regularly shopping at more than one grocery store (and switching off between a few different stores.) This includes brick-and-mortar stores and websites.

At the same time, shoppers are demanding more digital coupons than they have been receiving. In response, grocery retailers have increased the amount of digital coupons that they offer. Inmar suggests that retailers make an effort to ensure that relevant offers get to their target audiences through the channels that the shoppers prefer.

A total of 72% of the coupons used in 2016 affected purchase behavior. For the most part, this means that shoppers that had a coupon for a specific product not only purchased the promoted product sooner, but also bought more of that product.

The analysis showed that 69% of shoppers are making shopping lists before they visit a store. In other words, they are going into the store with clear intentions about what they are going to buy. Among the shoppers who created lists before they shopped, 41% of them used coupons.

Coupons that are found in Sunday newspapers accounted for 89.8% of all coupons distributed between January and July of 2017, and 34.2% of all coupons redeemed.

Coupons are particularly effective incentives for getting shoppers to try new products. Research for the Shopper Promotion Impact Report found that 65% of shoppers say they would try a new product if they had a coupon, while 58% say they would switch from their normal brand if they had a coupon that makes another brand cheaper.

Free-Stand Inserts (FSIs) dominated both distribution of coupons and redemption of coupons between January of 2017 and July of 2017.

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There are coupons for just about everything you can think of – including prescription medications. Pharmaceutical coupons (also called to as “drug coupons) are produced by companies that make medications. The company tells consumers that the coupon will lower the cost of the medication they need. But, that’s not exactly correct.

There are two kinds of pharmaceutical coupons. One gives the consumer a discount on a specific brand name prescription drug. This type of coupon is distributed by the manufacturer of the medication. People who are uninsured cannot use these coupons.

The other type is a copayment coupon. This coupon is distributed by a third party coupon vendor – not the person’s health insurance company. When the consumer uses that coupon at a pharmacy, he or she won’t have to pay their co-payment.

At a glance, it sounds like both of those types of coupons will save you money. But, that’s not always true. For example, let’s say a person uses a drug coupon to buy his name brand prescription medication. The coupon will allow him to buy that drug for less money than it typically costs.

There are many brand name drugs that have generic versions. Usually, the generic version costs less than the name brand does. The drug coupon for the name brand might save you money on the name brand – but you might save more money if you purchase the generic version and skip the coupon.

What happens if a consumer uses a coupon in place of their copayment? The consumer doesn’t have to pay their copayment. They save that money. But, that’s a short-term way of looking at it.

According to Modern Medical Network, these kinds of coupons actually end up costing consumers more money overall. “As coupons increasingly shift spending toward pricey brand-name drugs, the net effect is greater pharmaceutical spending and higher health insurance premiums, which hurt those same consumers.”

In short, these types of coupons might save you a little money right now. But, you will end up spending more money on higher priced pharmaceuticals and health insurance premiums later on as a result.

There is another thing to consider. Some states do not allow pharmaceutical companies to offer coupons for brand name drugs. California has a bill going through state congress that would prohibit these coupons. Market Watch says that federal health programs are barring those they insure from using these kinds of coupons.

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Whole Foods CEO John Mackey announced that his company had been purchased by Amazon. In general, when one company buys another – some changes are made. How will Amazon’s purchase of Whole Foods affect coupons? We won’t know for certain until the partnership is completed – but some speculation can be found online.

The Herald Whig newspaper reported that Amazon has made a habit of collecting information on customers. It seems that industry experts think that there may be some crossover in higher-income customers who patronize Whole Foods as well as Amazon Prime.

There is speculation that perhaps, sometime in the future, there might be special discounts on items from Whole Foods that will only be offered to people who have an Amazon Prime membership. Those who frequent Whole Foods might be tempted to get an Amazon Prime membership for those extra deals.

Recently, Amazon began offering a Prime Membership for $5.99 per month or people who have a valid EBT card. The Amazon partnership with Whole Foods could result in helping people who have very low incomes to purchase organic food at an affordable price.

CNBC reported that there is the possibility that Amazon will choose to lower the prices at Whole Foods. If so, that could mean shoppers would have less of a need for coupons. After all, the main purpose of using coupons is to lower one’s grocery bill.

In the same CNBC article, there is the implication that Whole Foods might stop issuing coupons entirely. The reason is not one you might have guessed. Grocery stores tends to offer weekly promotions and manufacturer coupons to entice customers to shop there. Amazon has sold food online for quite some time, but it has never functioned like a typical grocery store would.

It might be possible for customers who shop at Whole Foods to be able to use digital coupons. There are some apps that provide users with digital coupons that are not directly connected to one, specific, store. It might be best for people to call their local Whole Foods, and ask about their new coupon policy, after the merger with Amazon is complete.

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BOGO stands for “Buy One, Get One Free”. When a customer uses a BOGO coupon it means that they must purchase one item in order to get a second item for free. A woman in Maryland sued Burger King because their BOGO coupon allegedly wasn’t being rung up correctly.

The woman filed a class action lawsuit about the Burger King BOGO coupon. A class action lawsuit is one where a person sues not only on behalf of themselves, but also for others “similarly situated.”

The Burger King Coupon says “Free Croissan’wich with the purchase of a Croissan’wich Sandwich.” The woman who sued used that coupon. She alleges that Burger King charged a higher price for the Croissan’wich sandwich that she had to pay for in order to get a second one for free.

The woman’s lawyer argues that a consumer who used the Burger King coupon would have the expectation that “they will pay the same regular price for two identical Croissan’wiches as they would pay for a single Croissan’wich.” Wording in the lawsuit alleges that customers who used the Burger King coupon “unknowingly are forced to pay an inflated price for the first Croissan’wich they purchase in order to receive the second one for ‘free’”.

It is unclear what the result of the lawsuit will be, or how long it will take to get through the court system. Burger King does not appear to have made any public statements regarding this lawsuit.

What can consumers learn from this? It is a good idea to do the math when you use a BOGO coupon. Pretend you didn’t have a BOGO coupon and wanted to buy one item. What does that one item cost? When you use the BOGO coupon, pay attention to the amount of money you spent. If the math doesn’t add up, it is time to ask some questions.

It is also a good idea to read the fine print on the BOGO coupon. Make sure the coupon has not expired. Check to see if the coupon has limitations on it. Can it only be used on certain days? Can you use it at any time, or only during a specific few hours of the day? Can the BOGO coupon be used if the item on the coupon is currently on sale?

Find out of the BOGO coupon can be combined with other offers. Many of them cannot. For example, if Burger King had a special deal going on that allowed customers to buy a Crossan’wich for $1, that doesn’t mean that the price of the Crossan’wich for people who used the BOGO coupon would be $1. Those are two, separate, offers.

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People who absolutely love couponing might end up with a stockpile of coupons. This is great, because it means they have plenty of options to save money on their next grocery shopping trip. Some people use their couponing skills to create an at-home stockpile of food for their family. Both of those practices are legal – until and unless someone tries to sell their stockpile.

The Coupon Information Center (CIC) is the consumer’s best friend when it comes to coupons and couponing. If you are unsure about how to use a coupon correctly, or what coupons are known to be fraudulent, the CIC can help you figure that out.

Stockpiling coupons is legal if you do it right. It is legal to subscribe to your local newspaper in order to receive the coupons that come with it. It is legal to go to Coupons.com and print out the coupons you want to use. It is legal to use coupon apps with digital coupons. All of this is fine.

Don’t steal other people’s newspapers and take their coupons. Coupon thieves can face felony charges. Purchasing extra coupons from your newspaper carrier is illegal. It is also illegal to photocopy coupons, and doing so means you could be charged with counterfeiting.

Sometimes, extreme couponers decide to stop. They might reduce their coupons to a smaller amount to make them more manageable. Or, they might be burned out and ready to quit collecting coupons. If this happens to you – DO NOT sell your stockpile of coupons. Selling coupons is illegal.

Extreme couponers tend to fill a portion of their home (or garage) with a stockpile of food. They use that stockpile to feed their family. Some couponers stockpile other goods, such as razors, deodorants, toothbrushes, and toilet paper. All of this is perfectly legal. Keep in mind, though, that selling your stockpile of products that you were able to get at a discount by using coupons is illegal.

The CIC says: “Coupons are intended to give individual consumers a good deal, not provide a method for people to set up unauthorized grocery stores or flea markets in their garages, basements, or backyards. Such sales usually violate the terms and conditions of the coupons themselves and may be in violation of local health codes.”

It is ok to give some of your stockpile to your son or daughter who is living away from home and attending college. You can safely, and legally, donate your stockpile to a food bank. Call them first and ask what they need. What you cannot do is turn your basement or garage into a resale shop.

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The extreme couponing fad may be over for most people. It takes a lot of time, effort, and organizational skills. If you don’t love doing it – it starts to feel like work. Fortunately, there are ways to get the most out of your couponing without going to extremes.

Extreme couponing became popular during the recession. People lost their jobs and suddenly had to find ways to keep their family fed on less income. This interest in extreme couponing led to television programs about extreme couponers (sometimes competing in contests). It gave people the impression that it was super easy to do, and some might have been disappointed to learn that extreme couponing requires a lot of work.

You don’t have to be an extreme couponer in order to get the most from the coupons that you use. Try some of these tips.

Be picky
You find a good coupon for a product that you just don’t see yourself using – or enjoying. Or, the coupon is for a product from a brand your family does not prefer. Don’t use that coupon! Instead, choose coupons for things that you, and your family, will actually use.

Use Coupon Apps
The coupon apps that connect to the store you shop at can save you both time and money. You won’t have to search the internet, and the newspapers, for coupons. The store has them all, right there, in the app. It takes seconds to select the coupons you want to use. These types of apps frequently offer special deals and coupons that are only found in the app.

Loyalty Cards
Get the loyalty card from your favorite grocery store. It doesn’t cost anything. Just like that, you have access to tons of deals all over the store. Those special discounts are only available to people who have the store’s loyalty card. The savings is automatically discounted at the register. You don’t have to spend any time hunting for coupons.

Some of the grocery store loyalty cards allow you to add digital coupons to it. Before you shop, take a minute to check the store’s website and load your loyalty card with coupons for products you were planning on buying.

Get Email from Brands
Some brands have switched from offering coupons on their website, to anyone who visits it, to limiting their coupon offers to customers who have signed up for the brand’s email. Sign up, and you can end up with coupons periodically emailed directly to you from the brand. Print out the coupon before you go shopping.

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