After this week’s revelation that the winner of TLC’s Extreme Couponing All-Stars challenge used counterfeit coupons to win, I received an email from Jessica Hacker. Jessica is an Extreme Couponing Season 1 alumnus who was also featured in the All-Stars shopping challenge on TLC. I spoke with her Friday morning via telephone about her experiences on both seasons of Extreme Couponing.
“When they got a hold of me to do it in the first place, they seemed really intrigued. I wasn’t worried about how they would make me appear at all. And I was happy in the direction it went,” Jessica said. “But then the show went off the deep end. It really drove me mad.
“On All-Stars, I’m seeing all these coupons Chris used and thinking, buying those coupons off Ebay and not knowing they’re fake? That’s a rookie mistake. We’re talking about going on national television promoting yourself as an expert, and you’re honestly going to think you didn’t know those were fake? There was a huge uproar on my blog after this episode. It’s great that you put it out there. People do need to see it, because this drives me nuts.
“We sat in the living room and watched me be beat by a bunch of cheaters. Anyone who knows anything about coupons will know what happened there,” she said.
I asked Jessica about her experience filming with the show.
“At my first filming, we shopped at Albertson’s locally [in Idaho.] Later Sharp [Entertainment] hit me up about doing the All Stars,” she said. “I did the All Stars because it was for charity. Albertson’s has been really great with me here, so that’s where I wanted to shop again. But they emailed and said they were unable to come to an agreement with Sharp and declined the offer to film here. So then, Sharp let me know they would either send me to Nebraska or Vegas to shop. I was totally up for the challenge and knew it would be different shopping somewhere else for All-Stars. They do make sure you get the ad a week ahead for planning.”
Jessica continued, “I remember when I was filming there, they wanted to keep it hush-hush that I filmed out of state. I thought, whoa, you just filmed me in front of a store with a sign called Glazier’s. On my site, I didn’t say anything because I couldn’t – all my followers are asking ‘Where’d you shop, where’s Glazier’s?’ But I couldn’t say anything to my readers because I was under contract. Anyone in this area would know we don’t have a Glazier’s though. And really, they used the same cashier for me as the All Stars! My readers recognized the same cashier. Someone asked if they [the show] have their own cashier that they were traveling around.
“I thought when I got down there [to Las Vegas] that that’s where my competition was filming too. But they [Sharp Entertainment] were very, very vague. They wouldn’t give info as to whether they filmed with the other people yet or what was going on. I didn’t know who my competition was until I got the shopping done at Glazier’s and did the little pieces for camera with us attacking each other. Then I found out it was Perry. I found out they sent Perry to another state too to shop. She shopped in Michigan at a store that doubled coupons. It’s a night and day competition when they send her to a store that doubles but sent me to Vegas, where they don’t. It didn’t seem fair. Their answer when I asked anything was ‘Remember to play nice.’”
“The whole time I watched them change the rules, for which I have a hard copy of right in front of me. On the bottom, one on the rules was that we would be scored on a 10 point scale. Later it changed to be decided on the highest percentage of savings. What was the point scale for then? In my mind, I wanted to be level in all the areas, a decent percentage of saving here, different kinds of products, aiming for that point scale. I’m thinking since we’re donating, I wanted to do a well-rounded trip for the things that they needed. So, the things I bought were things families could use to make an entire meal, take a shower, do their laundry, shave their legs. We were shopping for a purpose.
“Then, to actually watch it and watch my competition, Perry — she was using coupons for things she didn’t even buy, and she got away with it to beat me on percentages, putting herself out there as this great couponer. We had to send shopping lists before we got there, and we also had to send them a list of our coupons before we got there to make sure everything was legit. It said someone would be reviewing our coupons and shopping trips to approve them. And so when Perry sent them a list saying she will use sponge kit coupons on single sponges… someone was okay with that?
“It blew my mind when I hadn’t made it at the end… come to find that the rules they gave us had nothing to do with why they won.”
Jessica had suspicions about the free coupons used on the All-Stars finale too. “They don’t show that they’re buying them [the coupons.] I did a post about it on my blog saying if they were all legit, this is about what it would have cost you to buy free coupons to do that trip.”
She added that there was a blowup on Joni’s Facebook page (Joni was one of the final 3 contestants on the show) after the finale episode aired. Jessica said that she called Joni out on buying coupons for the show. “‘What does it matter how much we paid for the coupons,’ Joni said. She said she [Joni] was going to come out with a detailed description of where she got those coupons, but then she didn’t. She began attacking me and saying I was a poor loser and poor sport and to get over it. Joni is a very religious person, but she uses that as her guidelines for what she’s doing and why she’s doing it. How can you feel good about yourself by cheating?
“I am all about winning, but I thought we were there for a purpose too,” Jessica said. “I thought, ‘So you mean to tell me that you spent thousands of dollars to buy fake coupons to go buy product to donate? Why not just donate the thousands of dollars? Do you realize the price you paid for every one of the fake pizza coupons, you could have donated legitimately?’ They stole from a very nice store that is independently-owned. That store is gorgeous, absolutely beautiful and an amazing place to shop, and it will cost Mr. Glazier a pretty penny.
“My decision not to renew my contract with TLC came down to that. After the way the All Stars season went down, it soured me. With my first episode, they were legit with me, honest, and it was a good experience. But nothing at all about the All Stars was good. It was frustrating how they blatantly chose to ignore things, and it could have been a great one to watch. They said it was a big deal with rules to follow, and everything would be donated. But when it came down to it, none of the rules mattered. When I questioned them on it, they didn’t respond. And, because I was under contract, they warned me not to bash anyone on the show either. It’s too bad they’re going in this direction and it makes me wonder whether there will be another season.
“The first time around, it was great and I loved it. I wouldn’t have changed anything about that and the opportunities it has brought to me. But it doesn’t change where they’ve headed with the show, and I don’t want to be associated with it. It shouldn’t be like that. In my first filming at Albertson’s, they wanted me to make my trip bigger. TLC said they wanted everything bigger. They weren’t that impressed with my haul at first. And that week I didn’t need any more ConAgra [food products,] we had a ton. I bought extra anyway and wanted to drop the bags in the food pantry bins at the end of the aisles [in the store] and donate it. The show producer wouldn’t let me and said ‘it would look better if we took the big haul home.’ I said, “I think it would look better with full food pantry bins.” The only reason I did the All Stars was because it was for charity.
“There’s so much that goes on that you don’t see. It amazes me that nobody is able to get anything done about the fraud. Any kind of news about it disappears rather quickly. I appreciate the things you’re doing to get to the truth. When I was under contract [with TLC/Sharp Entertainment] I couldn’t say a dang thing, but I was reading your blog thinking, ‘thank you!’ There are still people defending the fraud on the show! I have no use for people like that at all. When this story broke, I’m seeing and hoping, watching and waiting for some kind of comment and … there isn’t. They [TLC] act like this doesn’t exist. It makes me wonder how much and how often it happens on the show.”
Images from TLC’s “Extreme Couponing” used under Creative Commons license.
Jessica blogs at www.livingonacoupon.com. I appreciate Jessica reaching out to share her experiences with Extreme Couponing, and I’m always open to discussing experiences with other people that have appeared on the show as well.
LuluD318 says
I am so happy you write these articles. I have NO idea what goes on!!! It’s also nice to see a good person on the Extreme Couponing show instead of those other dirty dogs.
DanaMc says
I’m glad Jessica took the time to tell us what she saw and experienced. I haven’t watched Extreme Couponing since the first or second episode.
It was just too much hoarding and fraud.
I had no idea there was an All-Stars challenge at all.
Jill, thank you for consistently getting the word out that you can shop for your family and you local pantry or shelter for very little money with a reasonable amount of effort. And, you don’t have to lie, cheat, or steal from the manufacturers or the stores to do it.
Supermom10 says
Thanks for interviewing Jessica and posting this article. I watched this show a few times and was turned off by what I saw, diving for coupons (gross) and the extreme stockpiling. Yes, I have a stockpile, but there is a limit – except for all my shampoo & conditioner!
cmsvmom says
If you want to complain to the FCC about the fraud and illegal activity openly endorsed by TLC on Extreme couponing, here is the form. Armchair activists, unite!
https://esupport.fcc.gov/ccmsforms/form2000.action?form_type=2000Aavenger says
Someone posted about the quiz show scandals (60s?) After that the government put in place rules for TV shows that were competitions. I wonder if Jessica and everyone else that wasn’t treated equal would have a case against Sharp because they all have to be treated equal on a game show.
I don’t see her as sour grapes at all. but anyone could see that one shopper who goes to a store with double coupons and allowed to use coupons for stuff they didn’t buy is going to beat one in a store that doesn’t double where you have to make sure your coupons are legit.
Very interesting about TLC having to approve coupons people used for All Stars. Who is the genius that approved those fake Tide coupons. I think Chris broke a rule too if he got more coupons from his friend the night before. They showed that on the show, were those coupons approved by the show also? My guess, not. No one else was allowed more coupons at the last minute. And now it sounds like the pizza coupons could be fake too.
I will post this in the other thread but I watched this week’s episode on the DVR. Can you believe they intro’d Joel with footage of him using the fake Quilted Northern coupons that everyone knows is fake? Like they couldn’t re edit that episode in the month since that news came out? Nope, it’s good TV! Show it again!
This just keeps getting better. (Well worse.)
christina23 says
Just the last few days with the story about the Tide coupons and other examples of the fraud and misuse but the stores and manufacturers are not doing anything about it makes me think “why should I worry about being by the book”. I mean the clipping services have big web sites and don’t tell me that the manufacturers couldn’t stop this but they let it happen. When they temporarily investigated the sites a while back they let the ones who could prove they got the coupons legitimately continue.
Why should I follow the rules when the people setting the rules (manufacturers who write the terms on the coupons)don’t even follow their own rules? It is so frustrating but in the end I don’t have to live with those individuals and I don’t have to look cheaters in the face each morning in the mirror. I only have to look at me and I like being able to look at someone who tries to do the right thing. But it is tempting sometimes to say “What the …!”
Am I the only one who feels this way?
bargainsleuth says
As usual, Jill, you set the standard for ethical couponing. I am very happy to hear the experience of someone who was on Extreme Couponing and the behind-the-scenes aspect of the show.
But maybe I haven’t had enough coffee this morning. Jessica was talking about her competition, Perry. Then later, she starts mentioning a blow-up on Joni’s Facebook page. I’m confused??? Was Joni on the show, too? Did I miss the sentence where this person was introduced into the conversation?
Flag1 says
Thank you for posting the response from Jessica. At least we know someone early on was legitimate as far as we know.
Sonicwarrior says
Thanks for sharing the insider info. It all makes sense and confirms many suspicions.
couponhunter101 says
Stealing from the rich, give to the poor sort of thing. Shame on her.
BusyMom says
Hi Jill – It’s nice to hear Jessica’s perspective as a former participant in both TLC’s Extreme Couponing and the All-Stars show. She had some great feedback to share, and it continues to reiterate what we’ve all known and have been learning from your blog.
I have a concern with Jessica, though, and I wanted to bring it up because her couponing practices seem to conflict with a topic discussed in one of your recent posts. Jessica was filmed as a part of TLC’s Black Friday special and shared the camera with her friend and fellow couponer Marissa. Marissa runs the coupon clipping service and Facebook page, Coupon Connection. Coupon Connection has been around for almost a year now. When Coupon connection first started posting pictures on Facebook, there was obvious coupon abuse and misuse going on (using Crest Whitestrips coupons on Toothpaste, using the Similac $5/1 formula coupons that were intented for 1 person/day on a cartload of formula, etc.), and she continued to post pictures on Facebook about this and was teaching her friends to do the same too. That’s a whole nother rant about Coupon Connection and actually not the reason I wanted to bring her up. Marissa has also posted pictures on her page about stacks of inserts coming in the mail and when asked about them, she tells her readers she gets them for free and she gets them from different parts of the country, including Virginia. People ask who she gets them from and she says that she can’t reveal her “sources.” As I am sure you know, Coupon Connection, like other clipping services knows someone associated with the printing or distribution of coupon inserts and/or newspapers. You also know that, like other coupon clipping services she is not obtaining the inserts in a way that is intended by the manufacturers and the CIC and redeeming those coupons obtained through clipping services is fraud.
Coupon Connection will often post on her website about going coupon shopping with Jessica Hacker, and I can’t help but think it must be nice of Jessica to be friends with someone who has literally THOUSANDS of coupon inserts each week! If you put two and two together, it’s not hard to figure out that Jessica either buys or gets her coupons from Marissa who runs Coupon Connection. For this reason I am dissapointed in her couponing practices. While Jessica may not tell her readers how she gets all the coupons she does, it’s obvious she’s contributing to the fraudulent activity that plagues the coupon industry by obtaining coupons through her friend Marissa that runs coupon connection.
When I watched the TLC Black Friday Special, I also observed coupon misuse by Jessica. She used a coupon for $30/1 Norelco Senso touch Razor on a different model at Best Buy. There was a lot of controversy over the use of this coupon, but the fact of the matter is the coupon clearly said it was for the “Senso Touch” model, and there are many razors (all over $100 in price) that clearly say on the front of the package that they are the Senso Touch Razor. The model Jessica purchased was just under $30.
Thank you Jessica for sharing your information about TLC’s extreme couponing. You still get two thumbs down in my book, though.
Scoop says
I enjoy the show, however I use coupons with integrity! People will do what they do.