[actionslide]

I bought these of ebay and am worried they are fake. Can someone confirm either way.
Thanks
Steve.
Free solo product any one plastic or paper item max value $4.00
manufacturer's coupon expires 3-31-12
upc 41165 00001

[ambtay79]

I think maybe u should contact solo

[digginout]

I saw the same coupons on there and was wondering the same thing.

[delsol1]

What is making you think they are fake? I have some also, but haven't used them yet.

[swanson4kids]

The coupons are already expired?

[delsol1]

Originally Posted by swanson4kids

The coupons are already expired?

Oh I missed that. Mine aren't expired.

[carrie318]

I used 2 today that I got off eBay and they rang up fine. How can you tell if they are fake???

[server18]

My guess is if there are multiples FREE coupons for any product they are fake. There was that huge bust the other day here in PHX, not saying that's where they come from, but be careful

[joshmamabear]

Originally Posted by server18

My guess is if there are multiples FREE coupons for any product they are fake. There was that huge bust the other day here in PHX, not saying that's where they come from, but be careful

I agree, if you see the seller is offering 20 lots of a free coupon, that is a telltale sign they are 99.99% fake. when I watched the video with slideshow of all the free product coupons confiscated from SSS, they are of high quality and look exactly like those the manufacturer sends They even have hologram stickers sold for add'l $3 if customers want them in case their stores look for hologram stickers especially on those fake frees that are high dollar values like pet food FREEs.

Sgt Lake of the Phoenix police and Bud Miller of CIC also mentioned that those who are caught using any of those coupons from SSS will be charged so IF anyone bought their FREE product coupons online, it is best to be safe than sorry. JMHO.

[socialoffender]

You should go to the coupon information center website. I didn't see it on there tho

[sSsLiZARdSsS]

Originally Posted by socialoffender

You should go to the coupon information center website. I didn't see it on there tho

The fakes aren't always on the CIC website.

I agree with joshmamabear: NEVER buy frees or high value MQs from the Internet. This means eBay, etc. Stick with known insert MQs and you'll be fine. These counterfeiters are slick and are getting them printed to look completely legit. Unless you get it in your snail mail directly from the company itself, I would consider frees and high value MQs on sale over the Internet as FAKES. If you knowingly (or even unknowingly according to Mr Bud Miller) use them and you can be held liable. I wouldn't use those Solo Qs even if they scan just fine.

[joshmamabear]

Originally Posted by sSsLiZARdSsS

The fakes aren't always on the CIC website.

I agree with joshmamabear: NEVER buy frees or high value MQs from the Internet. This means eBay, etc. stick with known insert MQs and you'll be fine. These counterfeiters are slick and are getting them printed to look completely legit. Unless you get it in your snail mail directly from the company itself, I would consider frees an high value MQs on sale over the Internet are FAKES. If you knowingly (or even unknowingly according to Mr Bud Miller) use them and you can be held liable. I wouldn't use those Solo Qs even if they scan just fine.

SSS is truly a slick syndicate with a lot of affiliates (since the bust, all alliances suddenly went out of business ). Anyone who saw the video of all the FREE (fake) mfr coupons they have will begin to have doubts if they are holding one similar to it because they look EXACTLY like the homemailers from mfr for praise/complaint. I guess this is the reason why they were going through the clearing house and manufacturers paid them UNTIL now. It is interesting to find out what triggered this sting operation and how/why this syndicate was allowed to operate for years w/o being noticed (?!)

Your best assurance of getting authentic free MQs are ONLY those mailed to YOU by the manufacturer(s). It is best to keep the letter they came with just in case you're questioned at the store.

For those who bought them anywhere online, (not just ebay since resellers on ebay bought them from SSS and its affiliates) know that you are taking the risk of being questioned of their source should you be caught in possession of them and/or try to redeem them @ stores. For those who bought the free pet food coupons (Iams, Eukanuba, Purina, etc) with high max values and you were asked add'l $3 for the hologram to make them look authentic (?!), know those are 100% fake.

By now, ALL retailers have been notified of this. It is best to just discard them as suggested by Sgt Lake rather than be caught using them and get in trouble.

[carrie318]

Thanks everyone! I did get them off eBay but they only charged me the stamp price so basically I got them for nothing and they only had 2 listed but thanks for the info I'll be sure to only use ones that may come in the mail from the companies themselves :-)

[ctacktor]

I can't tell you about that coupon, but I was skeptical about an eBay coupon that I had purchased one time and I had contacted the company and sure enough they were fake as the company did not have such a coupon that was current. The seller refunded my money, but still insisted they were valid coupons.

eBay is sketchy so be careful!

[mommyof1beauty]

Originally Posted by joshmamabear

I agree, if you see the seller is offering 20 lots of a free coupon, that is a telltale sign they are 99.99% fake. when I watched the video with slideshow of all the free product coupons confiscated from SSS, they are of high quality and look exactly like those the manufacturer sends They even have hologram stickers sold for add'l $3 if customers want them in case their stores look for hologram stickers especially on those fake frees that are high dollar values like pet food FREEs.

Sgt Lake of the Phoenix police and Bud Miller of CIC also mentioned thatt those who are caught using any of those coupons from SSS will be charged so IF anyone bought their FREE product coupons online, it is best to be safe than sorry. JMHO.

I would have to agree too with joshmamabear. When it comes to FREE coupons for product, NEVER buy from the internet, no matter what.

I usually get my frees from writing product companies (which is a diff thread here altogether). I would never get my coupons on ebay for frees. The fact that they ring up fine does not mean that they are legit.. usually MFR's do not send multiple frees to someone.. max 1-2, that's it. So if it's multiple, then that's a red flag.

HTH.

[bnorris10]

You know one thing about buying these frees online is that it could be someone who made the fake and obviously if they are the only ones who use the fake coupons they will know where they come from so they have to spread it around this way tons of them are being used and it will make it difficult to pinpoint who did it