After the counterfeit coupon incidents of 2003, which resulted in huge monetary loses, many retailers stopped accepting online coupons altogether. It wasn’t that retailers and manufacturers wanted to walk away from online coupons. They understood that eventually there would be a need for this service. They simply needed time to come up with an executable plan to ensure that coupons from online sources were legitimate.
Manufacturers and retailers partnered with reputable coupon sites in order to solve the problem of counterfeit coupons. If you want your local store to accept the coupons that you print off your computer, you’ll have to use these same sites. Two legitimate sites are Coupons and SmartSource. These are both US sites. If you're interested in coupons for other areas, you can enter "printable coupons" or "free coupons" plus your country or city into most search engines and get several results. You can also go to a manufacturer’s website for specific coupons. Never purchase coupons from an online auction site, as they are likely to be counterfeit. As a general rule, if you have to pay for a coupon, you should be immediately suspicious of their validity.
Legitimate online coupons are required to have certain information. The will all include a scannable bar code, an expiration date, the manufacturer’s address (for the retailer to remit the coupon), and standard terminology such as “one coupon per customer.” The exact terminology may differ, but there should be some conditions on the coupon, even if it’s only “no photocopies accepted.” If your coupon doesn't have this information, assume that it cannot be used at most retailers.
Even if you’ve obtained the coupons from a legitimate source and the coupons contain all required information, an individual store still might decide not to accept your coupons. If you are worried about your coupon not being accepted, there are some steps you can take before you’re left standing at the checkout.
Once you’ve printed your coupons, do not clip them out. Leave them on the full sheet of paper, and make sure the URL is visible either at the top or bottom of the sheet. This way, the store manager or clerk can see the name of the website where you obtained the coupons. Often the manager will be familiar with the website but not the individual coupon. This can go a long way towards having your coupons accepted.
Before shopping, stop at the customer service counter and get your coupons approved. Ask for the store manager if you have to. If asked in advance, most store managers will err on the side of the customer and allow the coupons. Make sure you get the name of the manager, just in case there’s an issue at checkout. You might even ask the store manager to sign the coupon sheet as verification that he or she approved your coupons in the first place.
If you’re shopping at a large chain of grocery stores, take a few moments to contact the corporate office. You can generally find contact information on the company website. Ask to be provided with a letter that outlines corporate policy on accepting online coupons. Most companies do accept them, so a letter should be easy enough to obtain. Alternatively, you might be able to find such information directly on the corporate website. Either way, print out the information and bring it with you when you shop. You can then show it to clerks and managers as proof that the company does indeed accept online coupons.
With food prices on the rise, online coupons are becoming increasingly popular. It only makes sense to do your best to ensure that your coupons will be accepted by your local retailer. Visit only legitimate sources, don’t clip the coupon, and seek prior approval if you’re in doubt, and you should have no trouble when it comes to using your online coupons.
