[jackinoski]

Be careful...I am a cash office specialist in a Target store and we are cracking down on fraudulent coupon use. Our cashiers are all trained not to accept any coupons that don't scan, expired, etc... They are warned that they can be fired for repeated misuse of the coupon override key. Most web coupons state one coupon use per purchase. Would you feel guilty if your coupon spree was the one that lost a cashier their job?
Yes, Target coupons can be combined with Man coupons with no problem.

[Kmchamplin]

Thanks for posting! We at AFC try VERY hard to keep any mention of a forged coupon out of the hands of the members. We definately do NOT promote using expired coupons at all.

Though the one coupon per purchase means that they can purchase 10 items and use 10 coupons since they are purchasing 10 items.

[ikkims]

Yea, someone who can help us understand the store policy's and the special needs of the checkers and store employee's. I want to use coupons and any helpful post from someone who has knowledge on the receiving end is greatly appreciated. Hope this isn't your first and last post.

[Anissa]

Just wanted to stress for the newbies that 'One coupon per purchase' does not mean you can only use one coupon per transaction. EACH item is a purchase, so if you are buying 5 lipsticks (example) you can use 5 of the SAME coupons for it.. or 5 Manufacturer coupons + 5 Target Generated Coupons.

[mama2two]

This whole "1 coupon per purchase" misconception seems to be very common at Target... I ran into this twice over the weekend....happened only 1x before and store manager corrected it...
I was gonna let it go, but guess I need to call the store manager and make sure I review this with him AGAIN....
IE I buy 10 boxes of band-aids, I can use 10 coupons, etc...

[dfed913]

No worries here Jakinoski... at AFC we are straight up. We DO NOT promote using expired coupons and we understand the difference between one coupon per transaction and one coupon per purchase and one coupon per item.

Thank you for the warning, but really, I think the shoppers on THIS board are good.

[danielephant]

Thanks for the reminder!

[scrapquick]

Would you feel guilty if your coupon spree was the one that lost a cashier their job?

I find that a bit inflammatory. There seem to be certain valid times when a coupon will not scan other than a forgery. Saying that it would be a customer's fault for an employee losing their job is somewhat ridiculous. The onus is just as much on the company to be aware of how coupons can be used as it is for us consumers to use them properly.

In addition, it's not as if it is fraudulent or illegal for a consumer to use expired coupons- it is merely the policy of the store not to accept expired coupons. I say this because some stores, notably Cub Foods (which is DIRECTLY across the street from my local SuperTarget) has a stated policy of accepting expired manufacturers' coupons for a full 90 days past expiration.

So guess where I may be more inclined to spend my money?

Since you have only 1 post here, it is hard for me to blindly accept your post at face value. We really have NO way of knowing if you are who you say you are but this forum basically speaks for itself ~ you will find no evidence of fraudulent activity here to the best of my knowledge.

[cancan]

Originally Posted by scrapquick

I find that a bit inflammatory. There seem to be certain valid times when a coupon will not scan other than a forgery. Saying that it would be a customer's fault for an employee losing their job is somewhat ridiculous. The onus is just as much on the company to be aware of how coupons can be used as it is for us consumers to use them properly.

In addition, it's not as if it is fraudulent or illegal for a consumer to use expired coupons- it is merely the policy of the store not to accept expired coupons. I say this because some stores, notably Cub Foods (which is DIRECTLY across the street from my local SuperTarget) has a stated policy of accepting expired manufacturers' coupons for a full 90 days past expiration.

So guess where I may be more inclined to spend my money?

Since you have only 1 post here, it is hard for me to blindly accept your post at face value. We really have NO way of knowing if you are who you say you are but this forum basically speaks for itself ~ you will find no evidence of fraudulent activity here to the best of my knowledge.

I agree with this completely. I also want to point out that the coupon override key has plenty of legitimate uses -- for example, if a customer wants to use a $1 Johnson & Johnson coupon on a 94 cent Buddies Bar. I have found that many Target cashiers have not been well trained when it comes to the correct (that is, what is fair, honest and legal for Target, the customer and the manufacturer) use of the override key in these types of situations, and that is frustrating for everyone.

[Gossamerwings]

Most of the coupons that wont scan are Target coupons!!! The other ones are like Cancan mentioned. The coupon has to be adjusted. Target's coupon policy states no overage, the coupon will be adjusted to the amount of the item. The other one that beeps, the cashier needs to enter an amount.

[superk]

I have so many concerns about what was posted but my question...what is a fraudulent coupon? I use what is on this site or what is in the paper, etc. Other than that, I seem to only have problems with target coupons when I shop there. How would the store know to identify against a target coupon that doesn't beep and another when they use the override key.

I haven't been around too long but I am sure none of use would take the time to share our deals and coupons if we were doing it fraudulently. Why would you share this with us? Has there been postings for you to be concerned otherwise?

[mothermayi]

Exactly! The only ones that don't scan are Target issued! Even if I print them at the gift registry thing, they STILL wont scan.

Sounds like a Target problem, to me.

[LadyShutterbug]

What I want to know is how do I prevent a Target coupon from beeping?!?! I have tried everything! Printing at best quality, making them bigger or smaller, etc... half the time they still beep! What's an honest poor folk like me to do?

[applerama]

Originally Posted by mothermayi

Sounds like a Target problem, to me.

yeah one of mine didn't scan today, which I thought was really weird
You would think of all coupons, THEIRS would scan

[orangegrove7]

The only coupons I have problems with are Target coupons from the generator.

[batmansblonde]

I have had Target coupons go through with no problem and then I've had some that won't go through at all.

FYI: When I called Target about overage, they will allow a coupon to go through as stated on the coupon as long as it does not result in them giving you CASH back - which is not the same as overage.

[SophiesMommy]

Originally Posted by scrapquick

I find that a bit inflammatory. There seem to be certain valid times when a coupon will not scan other than a forgery. Saying that it would be a customer's fault for an employee losing their job is somewhat ridiculous. The onus is just as much on the company to be aware of how coupons can be used as it is for us consumers to use them properly.

In addition, it's not as if it is fraudulent or illegal for a consumer to use expired coupons- it is merely the policy of the store not to accept expired coupons. I say this because some stores, notably Cub Foods (which is DIRECTLY across the street from my local SuperTarget) has a stated policy of accepting expired manufacturers' coupons for a full 90 days past expiration.

So guess where I may be more inclined to spend my money?

Since you have only 1 post here, it is hard for me to blindly accept your post at face value. We really have NO way of knowing if you are who you say you are but this forum basically speaks for itself ~ you will find no evidence of fraudulent activity here to the best of my knowledge.

[neekyme]

There are many legit coupons that will beep and need k1'd - with all the system updates and the way that sometimes one coupon attaches to the wrong item and everything.

As long as you are using a coupon the way it was intended to be used, and not photocoping ips or trying to use more coupons than items, I don't feel there's anything to get worried about. Target will be reimbursed.

But I've had many coupons beep and need overridden., I've had a coupon attach to the wrong item and then the coupon that's actually supposed to be for the item beeps... I think the problem is that their computer system usually only looks at the family code of the coupon and goes by that. So if you put a 5$ P&G item on the belt first, and then a 2$ P&G item, when you give your coupons, if you give a 1$ P&G coupon first it will attach to the 5$ item - and when you give a 3$ P&G coupon (for the 5$ item) it will beep because a coupon is already attached to the 1st one and 3$ is more than the 2nd item.... Not sure if that makes sense to anyone - but I've had it happen alot. I try to make sure I put the items on the belt from most expensive down - and then hand over the coupons the same way (Free or BOGO first, then highest to lowest MQs and then TQs last) Just to try and keep the beeps to a minimum! What average consumer would know that??? So for Target to crack down on their cashiers for their computer systems faults is not right.

But is Joe Smoe walks in with 30 IPs with all the same code or altered dates or text...then that's another thing - that's clearly fraud and the cashiers should be looking for that - not for us crazy coupon ladys (and guys) that just prefer to only buy with a coupon and a sale to save $$!

As far as forged Target coupons...wth? I know there are some going around that have been altered or ones that were mailed to people sometimes gets scanned and passed as a printable - but other than that how can you forge a target coupon? Why would you want to? LOL If it's a Target Web Coupon you can print as many as you want or have the ink and paper to!

[Kmchamplin]

Okay ladies and gents! Even if a person is a one time poster, it doesn't mean that the person is saying anything bad. I move this post into it's own post as it was buried under another post that was really OLD about using coupons that were ALTERED!

I know personally that there is a site out there that is okay with people altering coupons and then using them. Of course they are going to beep because they have been altered ...ie exp date changed, amount off changed, wording changed, etc.

That is what the OP is trying to say.

I do know that they do get warned for using the K1 key too many times and it is looked into as to why they do it. As far as someone getting fired? I haven't a clue. BUt the OP stated that it can happen. I know that I would feel aweful if I was using 50 Target coupons for the coffee at one time, cashier let me use them all, and then later got fired over it.

I do know of 3 CVS employees who have been fired and are being sued for over $10,000 for accepting the coupons that people were stacking way back when. Not fair at all as corp didn't say no and neither did their loss prevention. These cashiers had no way to know that they weren't allowed, but they are now being held responsible for what they did.

SO play nice in here and respect what the OP has to say.

[patbruck]

honestly, the cashiers that get fired for abusing the k1 key probably deserve to! I can't tell you how many times I have a stack of coupons and the cashier doesn't even bother to verify that I bought the item, just grunts and pushes the 'magic button'. the fact that the register beeps at some coupons is a signal to the cashier that the machine can't match something up. most of the time it's nothing major - for instance the 2/2 pampers last month ALWAYS beeped for me. whenever a coupon beeps,I have no problem pulling the item out of the bag so they can make sure.

the forgery is a reference to a fake coupon that was going around last summer. someone had scanned a mailed coupon onto the computer and once it hit the net, well the rest is history.

I've never had a mfr coupon not scan - only the target IP's. usually the hand scanner does the trick.

I think this is really a training issue. cashiers need to be educated on what kinds of coupons they accept, how many of a coupon is acceptable (at that particular store, of course) and if the register beeps - take a split second and make sure the product is there before you hit k1!

just my opinion, of course.

[grace.maddie]

my guess from the # of posts op has is that this is a troll.
i don't think anyone on here has anything to worry about since we are all legit.
i also think the work fraud gets thrown around a lot when its not and on the whole target employees need to know that just because i have more than one target coupon-it is not a photo copy! we have no need to photocopy since we can print out as many as we need anyway. this sooo annoys me to be called a fraud and hear the cashier calling and saying" this lady is up here with a coupon that is obviously a photo copy" is so annoying, rude and insulting.

[Kmchamplin]

There is ANOTHER bad target coupon going around. We have had several members asking for us to put up the coupon. It is another $5 off $25 purchase. It is an ALTERED coupon and people are using it. Kind of shame that people have to do that.

Cashiers also have to have a certain % based on ringing items and time it took. I don't quite understand it, but check out the % after your transaction is done.

[Kmchamplin]

The OP has been here since August of 2007! I highly doubt that the person is a troll and is NOT accusing any of us personally. Just letting us know what he or she is seeing.

[linz152]

I can absolutely see what OP is saying. And since they have not necessarily been hanging around AFC very long, they don't know that we are on the up and up on things. So I totally get what he's saying about fradulent qs and all that.

However, IMHO it's the store's job to train their cashiers. You can't control the customers. You can train and educate the cashiers. While I would never knowingly use a fradulent coupon I also don't honestly *know* if it's okay to use 50 TQs in one transaction. The store manager at my local Target has said to go for it. I always try to check out anything I'm unsure about as I absolutely don't want to get anyone in trouble. But the ultimate responsibility lies with the cashier. Not me.

I think all of us "couponers" have the same frustration and that is complete inconsistency from one cashier to another in any given store.

I'm certainly not trying to be inflammatory. I just am always a little thrown off when it seems that the responsibility for any given store's policies is put on my shoulders and not on those of the employees.

Just my 2 cents,
Linz

[Kmchamplin]

I agree that the OP may not know that we are on the up and up, but wants to make us aware of what may happen if there are lurkers who are trying to use bad coupons.

I have had my fair share of coupons beep and the cashier having to hit the K1 key. They know me at the Target store and know that I will be in sooner or later if there is a problem with a coupon.

I also know that I would in no way want anyone to get fired at my Target store that I visit most often.

I believe that the OP was just stating a fact that is happening. None of us wants to see anyone let go, but it can happen. Is it our fault...more than likely not. But giving overage isn't okay in their written coupon policy at Target, though we more than likely get it when they hit the K1 key.

No they are not always trained and it doesn't seem to be a top priority for them all the time either.

The OP was just stating what he or she is seeing happening.