** BTW I am back home! We were gone all week on the most AMAZING adventure you can imagine. I will post details and pictures tomorrow. It was truly one of the coolest things I have ever done. Stay tuned…
There have been a bunch of articles recently about and dealing with the coupon community that I am sickened by, I will share this one with you and see what you think.
This week in Denton, TX, a woman was arrested for stealing the inserts out of papers at a newspaper vending machine (I have no idea what these are called!) You can go HERE to read the article. This was not the first time that she had done this, the owner of the machine was sick of it as it causes him to loose money and staked out the machine where she was finally caught.
Wow, just wow, because you know that by the character that she has already shown that most likely she is also clearing off every shelf, not following coupon policies, re-selling her stockpile and in general making every other honest couponers life out there miserable.
Couponing is such a cool and fun way to provide for your family. How can it also bring out the worst in people?
Also this week thanks to a report from Patti, at my local Walmart someone handed a cashier 20 of the same coupon that was photocopied. They all had the same bar code number. If you are a new couponer, I just want to make sure that you are aware that you CAN NOT photo copy a coupon!! It is illegal. You are defrauding the manufacturer and people have been prosecuted for it. If you are a seasoned couponer and are photocopying coupons, you are stealing, there is no way around it.
YUCK. I hate this side of couponing, there are so many ways to get multiple coupons that you do not need to do anything like the examples above. Unfortunately, people see others on shows like Extreme Couponing and think that having 100’s of the same coupon is the way to go. IT IS UNNECESSARY. I shop for 9 people and was on EC and do NOT have more than 6-10 of any coupon. OCCASIONALLY I might get a few more on a rare occasion for something like Gatorade, but that is NOT very often. If you understand couponing you realize that all these deals will come back around again, and again, and again.
** If you can not afford coupons, there are plenty of places to pick up a few inserts for free.
- Ask your neighbors! Most people throw them away!
- Ask your friends, they also throw them away!
- Start a “coupon basket” at work or church where you can swap coupons.
I have 3 delivered to me for $1.50 total a week, then I buy 3 more on Saturdays at regular price. I pay $7.50 a week for 6 papers, that cost is FAR outweighed by the amount that I save just with those 6 papers alone. Spending $30 a month on papers saves me $600-$800 a month.
As a couponer who has a passion for this and coupons to support my family, I feel very strongly about keeping it “clean”, you will not get ahead by not following the rules. Off my soapbox now…
What do you think?
Part comedian, part Dad, part athlete. He will boss around your children while they play ball.
Just as angelic as she looks, this girl could easily raise a Village by herself, and all the children would grow up to be President.
Self proclaimed, she would be a webkinz dog. Because, "they're cute, and puppies are too. And they're sweet and they always get along with other puppies."
This mini-Martha Stewart can handle ANY craft you send her way. She isn't all bows and rainbows, she's got karate kid moves!
Not "Pick-Me-Up" like caffeine, she wants you to pick her up! AND NOW!
Anything that can be destroyed WILL be destroyed!
Practically Perfect in Every Way for now! Nicknamed "The Panda" she is rolly polly and lives by the motto, "the little one, is KING!"
The resident Labradoodle, Miller got his name because Mom won and got to name the baby! Need something chewed up? He'll take care of it. Especially if it's expensive..
I absolutely agree with EVERYTHING you have said!!! At our local Publix, one of the tellers always has to keep an eye on where the newspapers are – JUST because of people who do the same. They stopped one lady and told her she had to buy the newspaper if she wanted the coupons out of it. She was surprised!!! REALLY?!?! *sigh*!!! 🙁
…if you need more coupons you can also visit Texas Coupon Traders on Facebook and trade with some of the locals..
WOW – that is not far from us!
When I moved to Texas in 09… my friends were couponers… They taught me to always CHECK my paper for the insert… cause people snag them even at Walmart!
I was shocked! But I have learned to CHECK EACH ONE!
I can say I have had a FEW times where the inserts were gone in the top 4-5 papers… SO … To help make sure yours are there… I find that if you grab from the bottom you are about 90% safe!
Thanks for Posting Tiffany! Glad to see she wont be ruining things for Denton Couponers anymore!
I am a new couponer and so sad to hear this. I recently lost my job but still manage to BUY 3-4 papers @ $2.00 each and I also will buy coupons from a clipping service. Dishonesty provides a great injustice to the ones that are following the rules and really trying to provide for their families and the community.
Hello – Just wanted to make a suggestion. Check your local 99 cent super stores. The one by me sells the Sunday paper for $1.50. Good luck finding a new job. God Bless.
Cherie,
we are in Texas and get the Houston Chronicle. Right now there is a deal going on. The Sunday paper delivered for $ .50 if you buy for 1 year at $26. The number is 855.254.8693. They said it’s a state wide deal. It may be worth trying. We were originally told we could get multiple papers but they only stacked my credits giving me the deal for 2 years vs. 2 papers for one year. They said I had to buy at full price of $2 for any more than the first. Our neighbor was a big help though. =-)
I think its sad that people take a good opportunity to save money and provide for themselves, others and their family and turn it into a self profiting enterprise. At this point, I wish the TLC show would go away because I think it is feeding into this craziness. And I am concerned that those who are honest couponers will end up being punished in the end for those who are being selfish.
I go to the local schools in my area and go to the recycle bins. I get box after box of coupons.
lol! I do that too :o)
I think your rant was totally on point..I wouldnt even call it a rant, it was a truth telling assesment of the way some people have become overzealous with coupons. what a dumbazz up there in denton, who will now have some mug shots and a misdemendor record for trying to steal some coupons
Im always checking my coupons when I purchase papers at kroger, heb, walmart or the corner store because I have also been burned by purchasing a paper and the inserts were “missing”.
Since I work in downtown Houston, I will either go by the chronicle building and purchase my papers when I work on the weekend(like today) or head to the fiesta on san jacinto, where a gentlemen sells the paper in front of the door and shows you the inserts.
finally, I wonder why the chronicle doesnt put the inserts in plastic like they do in other states. at least it would be easy for everyone to find
They put them in the package that get put in people yard it always has the ss insert and most the big ads for the week. I get a bunch of them out of the recycle bin when i go.
I’ve seen lately Sunday papers berried in the shelves at my local Walgreens, I guess to stop this for once and for all I would put the papers behind the counter so if you want a paper the cashier has to hand it to you and you must pay for it right in the spot.
Unfortunately the EC show has really have a toll on couponing, it was an art that was know by a few and that it was slowly growing with well trained people (must of them :P) and now everyone wants to be an Extreme Couponers I’ve seen more and more sights were people actually start arguing with the cashiers and manager over 1 cent or because they want their coupon to be taken even when the product does not meet that coupon requirements!! and that is really a shame….
I agree . . . have personally witnessed people taking the coupon inserts at the 99 Cents Only store from papers they did not purchase. Bad behavior . . .
When purchasing my papers, I check each one to make sure the coupons fliers are intact. I purchase 10 paper a weekend, donate all unused coupons to the women who support their husbands in the Armed Services. The leftover papers are donated to the recycle bin at my child’s school. No need to be greedy or illegal. Couponing is a lot of fun and such a wonderful way to save $$$$. Thanks, Tiffany for a great job or sharing.
I’m a Single Mom of 2 Young Daughters living on less than $500 a month…I’m New to couponing but even I know that copying or stealing coupons is illegal I mean its just common sense. I barely have any extra money but I buy my 2 papers a week. It upsets me when I’m at a store and I’m doing everything legally to save money for my family and I see someone blatantly commiting fraud or swiping inserts especially when its someone who has their children with them. I am not an expert on couponing but I know that everytime someone abuses the coupon system it eventually hurts those of us who do things the right way.
I have one paper delivered and in my moms neighborhood they get this free paper that has the inserts so together we have gone around and asked neighbors if they use their coupons, if not we have gotten permission to come take them for our using.
On another note, I am interested in setting up a home couponing class. Could you email me at Sierra.vanhorn @ yahoo.com. (no spaces of course)
Agreed. I pay for 3-4 papers a week at $2.00 each. That’s (at the most) $32 a month. And about every 3 months I manage to save about $1,000. SO WORTH IT. And I dont even have to clear shelves to do it! I think the show should go away as well. Its ruining it for everyone. Sometimes I feel like I spend more in gas than Im saving, having to go to 5 Walgreens, 2 Walmarts, 2 Targets, and 3 CVSs. With 2 kids, it’s hard to run to all these stores numerous times a week. Sometimes I feel like giving up
Don’t give up! If your kids are old enough, have one of them hold the list and cross of the items, and have the other grab what you need off the shelf. Thats what I do…I tell them they are my special helpers, and it makes them feel important, while I get to do what I do :o)
I completley understand your frustration, I have always been an avid couponer to an extent and lately have seen a change in the paper as well. I too have been aggarvated by the selfishness of people stealing the inserts from the paper. I purchase four weekly and the ones I purchased at the stores always are missing all the inserts. SO I have learned from that and here where I live (Edinburg,Tx deep South Texas) they don’t double coupons. So I don’t understand the need to steal them really I bet that those who steal them don’t use all of them. And coupon policies are changing every where because of the sellfishness of others. I completley understand your frustration. I have a family five which means we really utilizes all/most of our coupons depending on the sale; so thank you for such great tips.
We by 10-20 Newspaper every Week, Depends on the Coupons, Weare a Family of 4 , so also 4 grandchildren.Last Week I bought 10 Papers on Qt Inserts was in but by 8 Papers the great coupons Inserts was gone. So I had only 2 of the Dove Soaps, Pickles etc. Frustrating. The good deals by Publix ,the shelfs are cleared out. Not funny anymore.
I must live in a bubble because I have never heard of getting coupons this way. You’re right, it doesn’t take much money to get coupons. You made an important point to new couponers. Thanks!
This is crazy! And sad at the same time! I buy all my papers! And still manage to swap coupons with my entire family including some a state away. And share with my moms coworkers! Another good place to look is ebay!
If you see someone taking the inserts call them or notify management. I am not working and I manage to buy my paper. I think it is ridiculous and just plain wrong that someone has to steal coupons.
If you can afford to drive a Cadillac SUV you can afford to pay for your paper too.
please people read your comments before you post them, proper grammer is a good thing, not a bad one, almost everyone of you has messed up what you are trying to say, making it hard to understand your comments.
Grammar
lol!
Totally agree with you, Tiffany. Although EC has welcomed several newbies to the concept of couponing to save on the family budget, it has also brought about some difficulties in my community. A week ago, I watched as a lady stood slinging items from a Walmart shelf into her shopping cart, seeming to mimic what she had viewed on EC. She wiped out the shelves of several products. For years, I have purchased a couple of extra copies of my local paper at the neighborhood $ Tree. The past two weeks, a woman has walked in when the store opened and purchased the ENTIRE store stock of Sunday papers. In fact, all local carriers of our Sunday paper are sold out within minutes of the arrival of the papers. Couponing should be about helping your family’s finances and helping those in need. It is sad that some result to greedy tactics and stealing to obtain coupons.
I so agree that stealing the inserts and not paying for all the papers you get at those paper machines is STEALING!!! I can’t imagine how anyone who has to steal to do this gets any joy out of this. I buy 5 papers a week. I am on disability and have to pay rent and utilities on 700.00 a month but I eat and pay my bills and do it legally. Doing it illegally just takes the joy out of it. Someday the Companies are going to just get fed up with all the fraud and stop us from using coupons. Don’t clear the shelves, be kind enough to think of the next person who is on a limited income and leave something there for them. I have gone to the food banks to offer to help people learn to coupon and one of the first things I tell people is DON’T COPY COUPONS. ITS FRAUD!!!!!! If you can’t afford a paper go to the library and print some off line. Go the the emplyment office and ask them to allow you to print some offline. The office here will allow you to do this. Stealing takes the fun out of everything, and makes the manufacturer rethink the effectiveness of the coupons. Be a smart couponer. You were right on Tiffany and I learned alot from you. Thanks and God Bless you and Paul, and the Litter.
I live in NM and noticed a trend of piles of papers missing from the machines. (The theory is that people pay to open the thing and then take the whole lot). We used to have no problem getting papers!! I now buy my paper from Albertsons but will be sure to check it for inserts!!!
Here’s one that I read quite a bit that bothers me… What about taking peelies off of products in the store??? Isn’t that stealing too? If I feels wrong then it would be and I find that my heart would race when I would try. those are incentives put on by the manuf. to get people to buy their product.
Since couponing got as popular as it is now I ALWAYS flip thru all the papers I buy to make sure they have the inserts , I feel like I look retarded in the store flipping thru the inserts but I dont care. Its sad that people do that, on a tight budget myself I buy 2-3 papers and I get extras from family and friends 🙂
@ Melinda – good one!
@ Tiffany – Thank you for the ‘Rant’. I am new to couponing because of EC and while I do pick up some great ideas from the show, I am also appalled at some of the methods that they show. I have learned more from you and other websites devoted to couponing than anything on the show. I have also experienced papers with no inserts and also find that taking from the bottom is the best option.
Thank you! I totally agree. We can all benefit if everyone just did what they were suppose to do. This is a rule of life plan and simple!
I try and buy only 1-2 papers each week; of course my parents and coworkers share their extra coupons with me; I also visit our local recycling center and am always able to drop off my newspapers and pick up a couple inserts. Also I always use my RR, ECB etc to but my papers.. less OOP.
I always have to flip through my Newspaper when I am buying it at Walmart just to check the inserts are in there. I bought one a few weeks back without the inserts. i went back and returned it.
Thanks for addressing this Tiffany. It is starting to get out of control. We need to be a community not a competative sport seeing other couponers as opponents!
I live in the DC area and our inserts are in plastic wrap but there are sometimes missing inserts too (I think because they are stuffed by computers because sometimes you also get two). I always check before leaving the store but I am upset that people are trying to do strange and illegal things with coupons. I have tried to limit myself to two papers and not go crazy with all of the deals.
I feel if you are going to use the product then buy donate it or give it to family members, but how are some of these people going to use all the products before they expire? Unless they do the above such a shame if they end up throwing them away.