It happens to all of us. You are shopping and you see a good deal on a product. You look at the package and notice that there should be a coupon (what we call a peelie) but it is missing!! Someone stole the peelie! Someone is being dishonest! Or……..are they?
Earlier today, we had an issue with a local HyVee store running a promotion on Velveeta. People were reporting that the store removed all of the peelies from the boxes so that no one could use them? What in the world was going on? Like you, I thought the store pulled them because they did not want anyone to use them. Fortunately, I was able to speak directly to the Assistant Store Director and get clarification. Here’s what happened (and can happen at stores across the country):
When a store wants to run a promotion, they work directly with the manufacturer and are offered the discount. In some instance, the manufacturer, will state that the price can be $x.xx after the coupon on the packages (the peelie). What tends to happen is dishonest people walk through the store and take the coupons from the packages, meaning that the customer misses out on the discount.
MY LATEST VIDEOSStores, trying to help ensure everyone gets in on the savings, will go through and pull off all of the coupons. They then reduce the advertised price to what it would be after the coupon. This way, no one steals the coupons and everyone gets that same bottom price. Confused? Let me try to explain this with an example (which is the instance for a local offer).
Velveeta Cheese is $4.99. When the consumer uses a peelie coupon for $1/1, they will pay $3.99. If the coupons are all removed from the packages, the consumer will be stuck paying $4.99.
If the store removes the peelie themselves and submits the coupon to Kraft, they can then offer the price that it would be if you used the coupon. Since the store is being reimbursed $1 for the product, they, in turn, reduce the price down by $1. In this instance, that resulted in the product being advertised at $3.99. This way, everyone gets the exact same price. No issues of theft.
There are instances where a store misses the peelies and that means you were just a lucky shopper and received an even better deal. Stores really do want to work with customers and help them save money. Sadly, with the increase of coupon theft in stores, this is what they have to do. Understanding how this process works helps us all in the end – and we all save at the store.
*Note – if you paid $2.99 after coupon for Velveeta in Kansas City, then you were one of the lucky few who ended up finding one of the boxes which were overlooked and should have had the coupon peeled off of it.
Kerri says
I have no problem with this, I just hope the store advertises the price as “after instant coupon” or something similar, so that it’s made clear no other coupon can be used on the purchase. I HATE it when I trek across town for an advertised price only to find out the deal I thought was going to be so great with my in-hand manufacturer’s coupon won’t work because a coupon is already being applied to get that price.
Melinda says
Thanks for this clarification. It is nice to know that stores have a method to prevent the theft of peelies as I find it very frustrating.
Kristen says
Sounds more like price fixing…and I am never happy about price fixing.
Tracie says
It really isn’t. The store does not submit the coupon until after the product is sold. Sadly – people are stealing these coupons left and right. It is being done to try to help people really save and prevent people from stealing.
emily cummings says
At my store a couple weeks ago, I saw employees getting ready to put out a cart of lifewaters for $1 with a $1 coupon taped to each individual one. They were conferring with one another about the cart and coupons. The next day I went back and they had removed all the coupons. No free lifewaters. I thought that was pretty lame.
birdsandsoap says
I take issue with the “shaming” for taking a peelie. A manufacturer puts them on their products with the intent of them being used and encouraging you to buy the product, it is called a “peelie” for a reason. You can peel it off when you would like, you are not required to purchase the product to take/use the coupon. If that were the case, there would be security guards near every item so that no one would take a coupon “illegally.” That doesn’t happen because it’s not illegal. I do will not feel bad for taking a peelie and buying the product when it goes on sale. I think that when it comes to taking a peelie, it should be done with the same consideration and respect as with any other couponing scenario; take one or two and leave the rest for others.
I do not feel that it is dishonest in the least bit. It is no different than finding a tearpad next to a product and taking a couple. Otherwise, the mfr. would not make them removable. I’ve been reading coupon blogs for years and it always irritates me when I hear this public shaming. I’ve read so many scenarios of people taking tearpad coupons, multiple copies of pamphlet coupons and so on. If manufacturers imposed these “rules” for peelies, they would do away with free (not purchased with a newspaper) coupons altogether.
Manufacturers are smart and they continue to disburse coupons in this manner for a reason. It is successful. Whether you buy the product impulsively because it has a coupon on it, or wait for a sale, they are still selling product.
I’ve seen P&G products with advertised “$5 in coupons inside”- if you opened the product to swipe the coupon without buying it, that is certainly stealing. They’ve also limited some products to “4 like coupons per transactions” to deter multiple purchases. If manufacturers took issue with peelies and the procedure in which they were allowed to be use, I’m sure they would follow suit with similar wording.
This whole retailer coupon removal is a different story. It is at the discretion of the store to alter the price. If I found that going on repeatedly, I probably would quit shopping at that store. My local Fred Meyer is always advertising a low sale price, but their ad states “with in-store MANUFACTURER coupon.” I’ve learned over time that it is nothing to get excited about when they pull that.
emily cummings says
Agreed!
Marla says
I worked as a grocery store merchandiser until sidetracked by an injury 2 years ago for some of the top brand name companies, including Kraft and I can tell you right now, the manager was feeding you a pile of BS. POS (point of sale) coupon stickers are NEVER to be removed by store personnel unless they are expired.
The removal and redemption of the coupons by the store before the product was actually sold is fraud.
My best friend still works for at my former company and still is placing the coupons on products today. Nothing has changed, unless expired, the merchandisers are the only people other than the customer authorized to remove those coupons. If you see them missing again, I suggest calling the company listed on the product’s 800 number and telling THEM what you were told by the store management.
Thomas says
If the peelie is attached to the box, and you have not bought the box, It is very dishonest to take the peelie off of it whether you think it is stealing or not. However, when the coupons are on pads for all customers to use, the grocer wants you to take it with the possibility you will use it.
Mindy says
I agree with Birdsandsoap… as long as you are taking a peeling to use on that product later and not to sell on ebay, it isn’t stealing or dishonest.
birdsandsoap says
Well, Thomas, I guess you can keep your own set of rules. This form of “couponing legalism” is how cults start, haha.
Thomas says
The fact is, if it is attached to the box, it is part of the box. So if you are not buying that box, then it is taking a piece of the box without paying for it. Surprised at how dishonest people are nowdays.