Fake Coupons

In my last post, Paying for Manufacturer Coupons, I talked about paying for manufacturer coupons on eBay. In this post, I want to alert you to the possibility of getting fake coupons from eBay sellers, questionable coupons sites, or spam emails. These fake coupons are the ones found on the internet that coupon clippers print out themselves at home, and not the coupons that come in the Sunday paper.

Coupon fraud is on the rise as the county’s economy worsens. Fake coupons cost grocers, retailers, and honest coupon clippers. Generally, if a store suffers large losses that it cannot absorb, the losses will be passed on to all the stores’ customers in the form of higher prices. Moreover, the fake coupons will make the store’s management reluctant to accept printed coupons.

Counterfeit coupons are difficult to spot because they look like real coupons. Nevertheless, there are a few clues that will help you tell them apart.

Clues include missing redemption dates or missing barcodes on the fake coupons.

Another clue is if the coupon is for an unusually high dollar-off such as a coupon for $3.00 off a $4.00 product. Generally, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.

In addition, consider when the coupon is coming from. If the coupon is being passed around by chain e-mails, chances are that it is a fake and worthless. Legitimate coupons generally can only be printed from the site that offers them and can’t be forwarded in an e-mail as an attachment.

If you do find an online coupon that you are interested in, especially if it is from a site you are not familiar with, you may want to check The Coupon Information Corporation (CIC) to see if the coupon is a fake. The CIC is a non-profit association of consumer product manufacturers set up to fight coupon counterfeiting and fraud.

The CIC web address is Cents-off.com and should not be confused with CentsOff.com, which is a coupon clipping service.

Great deals at local supermarkets this week

Here are some advertised deals at your local supermarkets around Old Bridge for this week. ShopRite prices are from Dec. 21-Dec. 27, 2008. A&P prices are from Dec. 19-25, 2008.

Produce and Vegetable

In the produce department, ShopRite has 5-pound box of Clementines for $3.99; 5-pound box of Sweet Potatoes for $1.99 - both with the ShopRite Price Plus Card; White or Green Asparagus for $1.99 a pound without the ShopRite Price Plus Card. A&P also has Green or White Asparagus for $1.98 a pound without the A&P Card.

Meat

ShopRite has Pork Chop Combo for $1.69 a pound; Pollo Fresco Chicken Leg Quarters for $.69 a pound; Butterball Hen Turkey for $1.99 a pound; and store sliced Farmland Domestic Ham for $2.99 a pound – no Price Plus Clud Card reqired for these prices. A&P has for sell Shady Brook Farms Fresh Whole Turkey for $.98 a pound and Hillshire Farm Smoked Sausage or Polska Kielbasa at $5.00 for two 16 oz. packs – both prices good with no A&P Card required.

Beverages

ShopRite is offerring ShopRite Apple Cider for $2.99 for a gallon jug - with Price Plus Clud Card, and 51 oz. or 59 oz. Tree Ripe Organge Juice for $1.77, with no Price Plus Clud Card.

Canned Goods and Prepared Foods

ShopRite is offerring four cans for $2.00 of Campbell’s Gravy - with the Price Plus Club Card.

Diary and Snacks

ShopRite is selling La Yogurt Yogurt at $3.90 for ten with Price Plus Club Card; Norwegian Jarlsberg cheese at $4.99 a pound – no Price Plus Club Card needed; and Fisher Peanuts for $1.74 with the Price Plus Club Card. A&P has Axelrod Yogurt for $.99 for three 6 oz. continer and 128 oz. jug of America’s Choice 1% Milk for $2.99 with A&P Card.

These are some of the great deals to be found at two of your local Old Bridge supermarkets. Did I mention that both ShopRite and A&P will double your manufactures coupons. Good shopping and savings.

Great deals at local supermarkets this week

Here are some advertised deals at your local supermarkets around Old Bridge for this week. ShopRite prices are from Dec. 14-20, 2008. Pathmark and A&P prices are from Dec. 12-18, 2008.

Produce
In the produce department, ShopRite has Fresh Broccoli Crowns for .99 a pound and Large and Luscious Blueberries in four ouces containers are going for $5.00 for 3 containers. ShopRite Price Plus Card is not needed to get these prices. A&P is offering Del Monte Extra Sweet Gold Pineapples for $2.99 each and 5 pounds Seedless Clementines for $4.97 each. These prices do not require the Card.

Meat
ShopRite has Prime Rib Roast for $4.99 a pound with the ShotRite Price Plus Card, whole pork shoulder for $.99 a pound with no Price Plus Card needed and Marvel Turkey slices for $2.99 a pound with no Price Plus Card needed. Pathmark is cutting 40% off per pound of Black Angus Boneless Beef Roast, Master Choice Rib and Loin End Pork Chops at $1.19 per pound (with Card), Master Choice Chop Combination at $1.39 per pound (with Card), and Carolina Turkey Breast for $4.99 a pound (no Card required).

Beverages
ShopRite brand Apple Cider is $2.99 per one gallon jug with the ShopRite Price Plus Card. Pathmark brand 2% milk, American’s Choice, 2 gallons for $6.00.

Canned Goods and Prepared Foods
A&P has College Inn Broth five cans for $2.00 and Capatriti 100% Pure Olive Oil for $9.99, both with Card.

These are some of the great deals to be found at three of your local Old Bridge supermarkets. Of course, with couples they are even better deals. And in the Old Bridge area supermarkets - its double coupons everyday. Good shopping and savings.

Fake Coupons

In my last post, Paying for Manufacturer Coupons, I talked about paying for manufacturer coupons on eBay. In this post, I want to alert you to the possibility of getting fake coupons from eBay sellers, questionable coupons sites, or spam emails. These fake coupons are the ones found on the internet that coupon clippers print out themselves at home, and not the coupons that come in the Sunday paper.

Coupon fraud is on the rise as the county’s economy worsens. Fake coupons cost grocers, retailers, and honest coupon clippers. Generally, if a store suffers large losses that it cannot absorb, the losses will be passed on to all the stores’ customers in the form of higher prices. Moreover, the fake coupons will make the store’s management reluctant to accept printed coupons.

Counterfeit coupons are difficult to spot because they look like real coupons. Nevertheless, there are a few clues that will help you tell them apart.

Clues include missing redemption dates or missing barcodes on the fake coupons. Another clue is if the coupon is for an unusually high dollar-off such as a coupon for $3.00 off a $4.00 product. Generally, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.

In addition, consider when the coupon is coming from. If the coupon is being passed around by chain e-mails, chances are that it is a fake and worthless. Legitimate coupons generally can only be printed from the site that offers them and can’t be forwarded in an e-mail as an attachment.

If you do find an online coupon that you are interested in, especially if it is from a site you are not familiar with, you may want to check The Coupon Information Corporation (CIC) to see if the coupon is a fake. The CIC is a non-profit association of consumer product manufacturers set up to fight coupon counterfeiting and fraud.


The CIC web address is Cents-off.com and should not be confused with CentsOff.com, which is a coupon clipping service.

Paying for Manufacturer Coupons

In my post, Where to Find Grocery Coupons, I briefly mentioned that you could actually buy coupons on eBay, if you don’t want to spend or don’t have the time to hunt down and clip the coupons yourself.

People end up with coupons that they can’t use and sell the extra coupons on eBay. Some people sell coupons on eBay as a side business to make some extra money. The coupon seller usually gets his supply of coupons from online coupon websites, directly from manufacturers, and clipping them from the Sunday paper.

eBay rules prohibit a seller from selling the actually coupons. To meet eBay’s rules, a coupon seller doesn’t charge for the coupons but instant charge for the service of clipping and sending you the coupons.

The eBay rules about selling manufacturers coupons also requires that the coupons must be transferable, meaning the seller is required to send you the physical coupons and not simply send you printable coupons by email.

Paying someone else to get manufacturer coupons can save you time and money. If you do decide to get your grocery coupons from eBay, just be sure you know exactly what manufacturer coupons you are buying, that the coupons have not expired, or that they will not expire before they get to you. Make sure all this information is clearly listed in the auction description.

Keep in mind that with coupons on eBay, you are paying for the coupon clipping service and not for the free coupons. Make sure you don’t over pay to get the coupons.

New Grocers

I came across a news item about the Canadian Tire Corporation moving into the grocery business. The Canadian company already has interests in retail, financial services and gas stations and sells a range of products such as sporting and outdoors goods, small household appliances, gardening products, automotive parts, clothing, footwear and snack foods.

In the United States, retail businesses have decided long ago to expand their product offerings by selling groceries. Traditional retailers such as Wal-mart, Kmart and Target all have newer superstores that have a supermarket as part of the discount store. Drug stores such as Walgreens are setting aside more and more shelf space for grocery items.

However, this new competition also forced some traditional grocers, such as A&P and ShopRite, to move in the opposite direction and now they sell clothes, electronics, home furnishings, and other non-food items.

These developments certainly have benefited the grocery shoppers specifically and consumers in general with lower prices and more choices. However, for the grocery shopper who wants to save money using coupons, all these stores selling groceries means more work: more flyers to leave through, more comparison-shopping and maybe more stores to visit.