When SavingStar first came on the scene in 2011, shoppers noticed that SavingStar offers were applied whether or not manufacturer coupons were used as well. Regarding this practice, SavingStar issued the following statement:
SavingStar eCoupons will work whether or not you combine them with other services’ coupons, but they are not intended to be used this way. Manufacturers typically have policies limiting use to 1 coupon per purchase, but it is up to each shopper to adhere to these policies.
Recently, I’ve had several readers write and ask if this is still true. So, I reached out to SavingStar for clarification. Here is SavingStar’s response:
Our position has not changed. The quote you shared from when you asked us earlier still stands, although we have amended the statement a bit to say that using manufacturer coupons with our One or Many deals is not a problem.
SavingStar eCoupons may be considered rebates by some because the value of the eCoupon is deposited into your SavingStar account after the purchase, like a rebate, rather than being given at the checkout in the store. But, the brands are still funding the value of the SavingStar eCoupon as a manufacturer coupon. Our technology does not prevent a shopper from combining our offers with coupons from other services which is why we say that our eCoupons are not intended to be used this way, rather than saying it’s not allowed.
It is true that many bloggers are telling their readers to use SavingStar eCoupons with other manufacturer coupons, and we do not encourage this. Basically, a brand is not intending to provide money off a single purchase twice.
So, what’s new and different is this: SavingStar IS allowing manufacturer coupons to be used in conjunction with its “One Or Many” ecoupon offers, like the $5 off $20 Charmin, Febreze and Mr. Clean promotion that’s currently running.
And, realistically, if you load your SavingStar offers the way I do (going in and loading everything that interests me) it is tough sometimes not to double up if you forget what you loaded at the beginning of the month, then use a coupon on one of those items later. I have had the Charmin/Febreze/Mr. Clean offer loaded since it was announced, and since then I’ve picked up some clearancce Febreze sprays and candles that were a steal with coupons. I’m getting SavingStar credit for buying them as well, but as it is a “One Or Many” offer, using coupons in conjunction with it is permissible.
How SavingStar works:
llamalluv says
That *really* reads as a “wink, wink, nudge, nudge” from Saving Star.