[LyndaSLP]

I posted this as a reply in another thread, but just to make sure all members (new and old) read/see it, I am posting it as a separate thread:

Due to various different conversations lately, I feel the need to make sure that everyone understands where AFC stands on this topic.

AFC WILL NOT TOLERATE ANY DISCUSSIONS ON HOW TO USE COUPONS IN A MANNER OTHERWISE EXPRESSED IN THE TEXT OF THE COUPON.

AFC WILL NOT TOLERATE DISCUSSIONS ON USING COUPONS IN A SNEAKY, SHADY, DISHONEST MANNER (WHETHER IT IS BARCODE DISCUSSIONS OR SNEAKING IN EXPIRED COUPONS TO STORES THAT DON'T ACCEPT EXPIRED COUPONS).

IF THE COUPON STATES "GOOD ON MINUTE MAID FRUIT PUNCH" THAN IT IS NOT GOOD ON MINUTE MAID OJ. PLEASE DO NOT DISCUSS USING COUPONS ON PRODUCT ABC, WHEN THE WORDING SAYS TO USE THEM ON XYZ -- EVEN IF THE ONLY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN "ABC' AND "XYZ" IS FLAVOR (IE: MY MINUTE MAID EXAMPLE).

IF THE MFR WANTED THE COUPON GOOD ON 'ABC', IT WOULD'VE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE WRITTEN INFORMATION. I UNDERSTAND THAT COUPONS CAN WORK DIFFERENTLY THAN THE ACTUAL WORDING.

WHAT I NEED PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND IS.....
AFC WILL ONLY ALLOW "COUPON USAGE" CONVERSATIONS TO PERTAIN TO USING THE COUPON AS WRITTEN


PLEASE RESPECT THESE RULES OR THE MODERATORS WILL HAVE TO START HEAVILY MODERATING POSTS.

THANK YOU!

Comments, questions, discussion may be held on the following 2 topics that fall under "how to decode/read barcodes of coupons"
1. How to differentiate between a true store coupon vs mfr coupon.
2. How to tell if a coupon will double.

And, to help one and all, here are the answers:
1. Thank you Lilacq for this information: Mfr coupons begin with a 5 or 9 or 99 & are not followed by 00000.

2. If the barcode starts with a 5 = it will double as long as your grocery store doubles and it falls within the value guidelines of your store's doubling rules.
If the barcode starts with a 9 = it will never double.


Any questions? Please ask.

Originally Posted by LyndaSLP

Added Sept 8, 2007:

OK... I AM GOING TO STOP BEING NICE ABOUT THIS TOPIC.

FIRST TIME SOMEONE POSTS REGARDING THIS TOPIC = WARNING

SECOND TIME = BANNED FOR LIFE

DOES EVERYONE UNDERSTAND???

[Faith]

[J9723]

Thank you Thank you

[Doreen]

Yes Mam!

[AngieP]

great reminder

[GrannyGodley]

We appreciate all that the mods do.

[LisaArbo]

Nicely said Lynda! That is why I love this site!

[skyesgranny]

EXCELLENT POST! Thank you.

[adnil]

Thank You Lynda
For Reminding some of us that there are some rules to be followed while being a member here on AFC.........

[CleverClare]

Amen, this is one of the best reasons to belong to this site. I do not tolerate
these bad habits.

It only causes the companies to stop doing "things" and then we akk suffer.

clare

[mab171]

Amen

[lilacq]

Originally Posted by LyndaSLP

AFC WILL NOT TOLERATE ANY DISCUSSIONS ON HOW TO USE COUPONS IN A MANNER OTHERWISE EXPRESSED IN THE TEXT OF THE COUPON.

Every site of course has the right to make its own rules.

Originally Posted by LyndaSLP

AFC WILL NOT TOLERATE DISCUSSIONS ON USING COUPONS IN A FRAUDULENT MANNER (WHETHER IT IS BARCODE DISCUSSIONS OR...

Any questions? Please ask.

Isn't fraudulent/fraud a legal term? After much investigation, I've never found a legal basis that maximizing the barcoded offer is fraudulent. There are precedents in contract law that the most detailed part of an offer can't be precluded by a limited contrary statement.

Also I often read that people have concerns in their couponing as to whether or not the retailer will be reimbursed. That reimbursement to the retailer is based on the barcode, not the text. Often the barcode not only expands the text, but also contradicts the text in a manner that the retailer may then not be reimbursed (though in most cases that would only apply to small indy retailers, except as to the amount off).

Mfrs also sometimes specify in mailers (or verbally in phone calls) that the coupon is good for their other products or some of their other products.

My point is that I agreed with the first quote that any site sets its own rules, but as to this second quote why call something fraudulent without legal basis (& when it's not fraudulent) as opposed to simply saying don't decode coupons here?

Also does this rule include not explaining how to determine the difference between Mfr & Store coupons, & how to determine if a coupon can double scan in stores that double (as textual errors/mis-labels often occur in both of these situations)?

[bodacious]

Right, we don't want to pick up any bad habits.

[LyndaSLP]

Originally Posted by lilacq

Also does this rule include not explaining how to determine the difference between Mfr & Store coupons, & how to determine if a coupon can double scan in stores that double (as textual errors/mis-labels often occur in both of these situations)?

These 2 things MAY be discussed. I will put a disclaimer on my notice.

Originally Posted by lilacq

My point is that I agreed with the first quote that any site sets its own rules, but as to this second quote why call something fraudulent without legal basis (& when it's not fraudulent) as opposed to simply saying don't decode coupons here?

Ok... "fraudulent" was not the best/correct term to use.
Simply stating "don't decode coupons here" doesn't cover the discussion on 'slipping expireds into your pile of coupons' Also, I find discussions don't revolove around the terminology of "decoding" but on "! I accidently gave cashier a coupon for Product X when I was buying Product Y. It worked fine! Heads up to everyone on this" Those discussions are on AFC.

[lilacq]

Originally Posted by LyndaSLP

These 2 things MAY be discussed. I will put a disclaimer on my notice.

TY

Originally Posted by LyndaSLP

Ok... "fraudulent" was not the best/correct term to use.

TY

Originally Posted by LyndaSLP

Also, I find discussions don't revolove around the terminology of "decoding" but on "oops! I accidently gave cashier a coupon for Product X when I was buying Product Y. It worked fine!

I agree that trying to sneak something in with a wink/indirect type post is not proper in situations where a rule would prohibit a direct honest straight forward statement.

[KellyMarie]

This post was not made to be debated. It is AFC's policy, has always been AFC's policy, and will continue to be AFC's policy. If you agree, fine, if not, fine...there are places on the net that discuss de-coding and fraudulent coupon usage, we are not one of them.
Now...to make something absolutely clear..the mods have all discussed this and the last few weeks there have been too many posts about improperly using coupons. For now on, if someone posts ANYTHING relating to improper or fraudulent coupon usage they will be put on moderated status and given a warning. We HATE to do this, we are such a friendly site, but we cannot allow this type of posting.
This announcement is not open to discussion or debate!

[lilacq]

Originally Posted by LyndaSLP

And, to help one and all, here are the answers:
1. True store coupons, usually only have one barcode. Mfr coupons tend to have 2 barcodes. I think that is the only difference. If I am wrong, please PM me the information and I will add it here, giving credit where it belongs.

Sent you a PM with the info.

[southerngirl]

Lynda-- Thanks for the reminder. I don't feel that your original post needed further explaination---but Thank for the clarificaiton- You did a great job.

When someone chooses to be a member of this site-- I feel they should respect the rules AND the moderators who are trying their best to keep AFC running smoothly.


Thank you so much Moderators and Admins for your hard work!

[brownyz3]

Thanks

[LyndaSLP]

I corrected the information in the OP re: store vs mfr coupon. Thanks lilacq for the information.

[Teacup3]

Thank you for the watchful eye...

[Drea]

Thanks for your info......AMen...this is a wonderful site, hope it stays that way. Everyone should be honest when using coupons.....I enjoy this site very much, met a lot of very nice people on here too..Keep up the good work...and Thanks for all you do...

[LyndaSLP]

[shopaholic]

Thanks for the special gift you have, Lynda, for being so tactful on the site. I've always respected that about you, and AMEN to your post!! Now let's get back to saving lots of dough!!!!!!!!!!!

[lilacq]

Originally Posted by shopaholic

for being so tactful on the site.

"USING COUPONS IN A SNEAKY, SHADY, DISHONEST MANNER ..." in referring to "barcode discussions" is tactful LOL? (I'm not saying tact is required or is 100% of the time an absolute good or bad thing.)

Isn't it an opinion that insults the honest different views of those who are both decoders (& especially those who are thin skinned)? There are Members & AFAIK staff here who decode. It's also simply understandable that most sites don't want to have to deal with threats from the CIC (even if those are empty threats) & have similar rules or separate private forums for that reason.

The quoted terms replaced/edited "fraudulent" which was factually incorrect.

It's one thing to say what a site's rules are. It's a totally different thing to voice an opinion that directly insults as oppose to simply disagrees with other views. IMO tact would not include those terms or would at most state only one of them preceeded by 'respectfully IMO'.

I didn't comment at first on those specific opinions, but to call it "tactful", c'mom LOL?