Today’s Wall Street Journal has a story on coupon fraud, particularly with regard to internet coupons, is on the rise:
In January 2008, Nestlé Purina Petcare Co. issued 250 coupons for a free bag of its adult dry dog food. As of May 5, 2,754 coupons for the product have been redeemed, the company said, but declined to comment further on coupon fraud.
It’s always sad when people try to beat the system and make photocopies, scans, or fraudulent copies of internet coupons, thinking if one free coupons is good, ten free coupons would be better. I’ve always tried to stress being as ethical as we can as coupon shoppers – we already get so many things inexpensively that we truly don’t need to push things even further. Unfortunately, some people do, which ultimately does hurt us all as coupon shoppers, as we may be faced with even more scrutiny (even though we’re couponing legitimately) as stores try to reduce their losses.
JOAN CASTILLO says
Just read your post ,Didn’t see it earlier . Feel really bad about this going on . I can’t imagine with all the great deals why people would stoop to this level. Their sure are some other ways of making money you would think . . This in time could ruin the coupon world for all us :(
maggie says
I have been wondering for a while now how long these great deals can last. Not just because after reading about fraud (which is really wrong and hurting all of us), but also because of the economy. How long can companies like Conagra, Kraft etc. keep offering deals like they have done so many times? If they can’t make it in this economy, we will also end up losing that way.
And how will a company like Catalina be effected by the economy?
As I was updating my prefered card a while back, one of the guys helping me mentioned that Jewel eventually wants to go to on-line offers only. So I guess uploading your card at home and then go shop (like Dominicks started doing)… It makes sense, especially with all the fraud going on, to get rid of the paperstuff.
So I just have a feeling that I should enjoy these offers while they last, not knowing how much longer it will be available!