Taking peelies from something you don't buy?

[lisa89]

So I was going through the store tonight & found some peelies on some Glad boxes. Started peeling a couple & then told my 5 yo dd to peel one also. She talks so loud & she said something & I said "shhhh" And then she says "why are we stealing these mommy?"

Yikes! I guess we were....because I wasn't buying the product. Is it really ok to peel these off? I'm new to this & have done it before but never been questioned like that! I did it about a month ago when my ds was with but with that I peeled it from one product & used it on another (Kotek), just different sizes.

[hotcouponmama]

I think you're going to get mixed results on this. Some people say yes, others say no.

I don't mind peeling a few, particularly if I am going to use them right then. I have read where people swipe every single one. But stealing? Not likely. And as to hang tags and such, the manufacturers reps I have talked to don't really seem to care. And I love the product demo people - they practically BEG you to take them from them so they can get the heck out of there.

[shery123]

if they didnt want us to have them they would stick them in the box so u had to buy the product .. :) if u take a peelie from a product prob means u will use it on another size ect or a different store that doulbes coupons so they still are selling there goods:)

[server18]

I'm mixed on this one also. I know that I try to be discreet about it. If I see someone coming down my isle I will stop, especially customers as maybe they don't know and think it is stealing. We have so few here anyway, but still feel guilty and get nervous doing it.

[riffparker]

read the peelie and see if it says "cash value ____" or "no cash value"

if no cash value then it is not stealing

if "cash value _____" (usually a fraction of a penny) then it MAY be considered stealing, but you'd have to take hundreds if not thousands to make restitution of one penny so it would be pretty hard for them to justify spending the money to prosecute you

[BzyBee]

The coupons are there for us to use...a few say 'NOW' but many do not. I take only as many as I would have gotten in a Sunday insert (8-12) but not usually more than half of what is out. So if I see only 10 peelies I will leave 5. I also leave the remainder up front so others can see them. If they are all still there the next week I will take a few more...only if I know I can use them.

[pennywatcher]

I'll weigh in on the other side of the debate. I consider peelies to be part of the packaging so I don't take them. I wouldn't take a BTFE or a UPC off a package. I think they are something of value the consumers get to encourage them to buy that product at the moment. I wouldn't take a sample of conditioner that was hanging around the neck of a bottle of shampoo.

That's where my conscience lies on the matter. Like hotcouponmama said, you'll hear differing views. Whether it's _legally_ stealing, I don't know.

The hard question for you is, if you determine/decide it's OK, how do you explain the difference to your young daughter?

[amti]

I take peelies, but only what I think I will use and usually when I am buying that product then and there. I don't take them to sell or trade. Imho, taking them to sell or trade and/or taking them all is crossing the boundries. If I find a peelie that has been peeled on the floor or shelf, then I consider it a lost coupon and will claim it.

My husband thinks taking peelies is stealing, because it is on the package and meant to be used for the person buying that package. I guess he considers the "intended" purpose of that coupon. Yes, it is to buy that product. But it is also placed on that product to be purchased at THAT store. Sort of like a nonadvertised sale or promo. I sort of agree with that concept. What I add to his concept is WHEN. WHEN will I purchase THAT product at THAT store? I prefer to wait until there is a real sale on that product before I purchase it at that store with that peelie. So I will take a couple to hold on for THAT product when it goes on sale at THAT store.

[chanfu]

I generally don't believe in taking peelies if you're not buying the product. However, I will remove a peelie and save it for later if I'm planning on using a higher value coupon or a coupon that expires sooner. Often if you don't do this, the cashier will automatically remove and scan the peelie and then you don't get to use your other coupon. I did this recently when Hy-Vee had Jolly Time popcorn on sale for 10 for $10. I had $1.50 off 1 printables for the Better Butter kind (making the popcorn free + 50¢ overage), but all the Better Butters in the store had 50¢ peelies on them. You can bet I removed all the peelies on the ones I was buying before checking out.

I will occasionally take a hangtag if it's easily removed from the bottle and doesn't contain a free sample. I don't like how I feel when I do it, though, so I genereally reserve it for very highly desired coupons, and only take one of them.

I take winetags with impunity, since the general consensus seems to be that nobody cares if you take them. But as with tearpads and booklets, I never take all of everything, just as a matter of ettiquette. My general rule is if there's lots I'll take a handful, if there's only a few I'll take two, and if there's only two I'll take one.

[angielee]

I personally Have NOT taken any Peelies. Im too on the fence on it myself. I figure its on the box so the person buying it can use it. I have been tempted but would have been VERY uneasy doing it.

[nena21]

If your DD thinks it is, it would be a good idea not to do it in front of her anymore. Kids have a little more sense than us sometimes :) and I dont think you want her going around taking peelies and having a "grown up" bug her about it.

Is it ilegal, not really. Is it right? (see the end of my post)

Ive taken a couple but only if Im planning on using them (not to re-trade them). Example would be the .55/2 old paso. Ive taken 3 at a time from FL because I will buy them at HT where they double and get them cheaper.

Moral of the story: dont be a vacuum :whistle: Take and let others take :Nod:

[MsM]

I've tried in the past but I felt like I was stealing so I don't do it now. :shrug1:

[la_tartaruga]

I do take peelies but within reason. I only take a few and always use them myself or give them to friends who will use them (never for trade). Here is the deal I have found several peelies that are expired peelies which for me means that there is not enough demand for them, and this makes me feel that it is ok for me to take a couple.

However, I agree with the other comment that you may want to refrain taking them in front of your daughter because she cannot distinguish the difference; you don't want her to get the idea that stealing is ok!

Good Luck!

Lisa

[mmb1996]

So training my kids to peel the peelies for me when we shop probably wasn't a good idea? :hysterical:

[kurlisola]

I don't think it is stealing. I think taking all of them is a bit greedy (but I'll admit that I did take alot a couple of times-lol). I usually take from 4-10.

[niftyneon99]

I don't think it is stealing, I take them to use, trade, give away. Someone's going to buy that product and that someone ought to buy it with a coupon!

[luvmy3boys]

My ds said - why are you taking all those things off the boxes? I kind of didn't know what to say. So then I didn't take anymore, LOL! Usually he is not with me when I go. So the other day I saw two that I couldn't pass up (.50/1 any dannon). So I go to take one and then he wants to take the other one b/c he thinks it is a sticker and then he got mad when I wouldn't let him put the sticker on!! LOL!
I am like the majority, I just take a couple, not a bunch. I rarely, if ever, trade them b/c I didn't take too many. I might throw it in a potluck or something. But I do look over my shoulder why doing it so I don't like to do it often!

[pwetypweas]

I take them - I leave some but take enough that I think I can use or give to someone else... cause otherwise I (or someone likes me) comes along later and finds an expired coupon! (I've found a LOT of expired peelies lately - such a tragedy) -- someone ought to get some use out of them!

[lisa89]

So training my kids to peel the peelies for me when we shop probably wasn't a good idea? :hysterical:

THanks for all the replies. I still have mixed feelings about it. And I think that is the deal. It doesn't necessarily feel like stealing, but it doesn't feel right, if that makes any sense! I was at Family Dollar today & the Gladware had some. I took 3 or 4, just felt wierd doing it like I was gonna get caught or something, you know? So for myself, I'll probably not do it anymore, unless of course it's a REALLY good one & I know it's on sale right now down the street or something ;-)

And I won't do it with my daughter with. Now my 8 yr old son, well I'll have to watch with him as well. He was the one that helped when I did take them off a bunch of kotex at Target that time & so now I know he looks for them when we are out.

I think it's best to just let the kids pull the blinkies out ;-) They love doing that!!

[couponaddicted10]

I feel like taking a few peelies is okay as long as

A) You dont take ALL of the available peelies
B) You dont damage the products.

[PHmom]

I have one more thing to add - I will definitely take them if they're on the wrong product! I was in a store today and they had some for $1 off Pepsi, diet, etc and had put them all over 12 packs of drinks that were not included in the coupon. They were also on all the 12 packs of the brands that WERE included so if someone wanted those brands the peelie would've still been available, I just grabbed the ones from the wrong sodas so now I'm trading them to someone who can use them. And, as several others have mentioned, I see expired peelies all the time (just saw some great ones the other day for .75/1 Quaker granola bars that I would've loved to found before they expired as DS likes those) so I have to think people don't use them anyway.

[6months]

I will take peelies, not all (but sometimes it's hard! Like BOGO Shake N Bake LOL), but I have found so many expired ones that I think if they don't get taken and used, the manufacturers will stop making them. Promos cost money and if the promo doesn't get a lot of use, they move on to something else.

I also think that many people just throw them away. My MIL couldn't care less whether something has a coupon.

[queenofthehivemomof5]

I take them, take a few, leave some for others, comeback next week and if they are still there I will take a few more, leave some for others. I have asked the store managers at my local stores (I dont have but a handfull) and they don't care, told me to peel away. Heck I was in one day when they were putting some peelies on bread and I asked if I could have some and the guy handed me half a roll with over 200 coupons on it.

I think if you are in doubt, why not just ask the store manager if its OK to peel a few coupons to save for later? I would guess that they are going to say that they don't care, and what is the worse they can say? No..and there you have it, don't peel from that store.

I beleive in the same rules as CA10...leave some for others and don't damage the packaging.

I will never forget finding $1.00/1 Kellogg peelies the first year I started couponing, I would peel a few and come back the next week and peel some more, For months those peelies where there, and I peeled a few for myself and for trading, but months and months went by and eventually they expired and there were still hundreds of boxes with those hot peelies on them that went and expired.

[Oviedo_Chicken]

Well I am a rep & I have to do alot of foot work to get those on the boxes.So when the companies come behind us to make sure we did the job it appears we didn't when they are taken off.Also some companies I represnt will not do the peelies at all!!!because of this.They instruct us then while we are preparing to rotate or etc & a customer is looking at the product then ask if they want a coupon don't put them on the product!

In essence it makes it bad for everyone.However before this job I would do it,now I don't!

[backyrat]

Is this considered illegal or just bad or good luck depending on how you look at it. I try not to do this, but at CVS the other day, there was a peelie on Johnson's Cocoa Butter lotion, but it was for $1 off cocoa butter wash. I took it anyway, thinking maybe they put it on the wrong product by accident since it couldn't be used on the product it was on, but I still felt guilty. Just wondering what everyone else's opinions and thoughts were. And what the law is on that as far as being coupon fraud.

[pedspeech]

I don't think it can be considered fraud unless you used it for the item not intended (in this case, using it on the lotion instead of wash). I generally don't feel too guilty taking a couple when I see them in the store, but I never stand there and take more than 2-3 (granted, if they are still there every time I see them I take another couple if I really think I will use them). The only time I don't do that is when the wording on the coupon says "Save $ on the purchase of this product"- in that case I do think it was the manufacturer's intent for you to use it then and there. The situation that you described is different, the way I see it Johnson's just wants you to buy their cocoa butter wash, just like getting a tearpad or blinkie. Again, this is only IMHO!

[SyLph211]

I hope this isnt bad coupon karma or something. I take them when I see them and if its something I will use. Usually its only a few at a time and I always leave some for someone else. If its on a product that says use now etc I will not touch it as PP said. I feel guilty taking wine tags. Oh the horror I feel and sometimes I get a little twinge of guilt when I pull tearpads off...

[livingalmostlarge]

No way bad karma. I don't take anything I'm not buying, but I've honestly never taken anything. I never did the teen thing of shoplifting or cheated. Bad karma, comes back in spades. I will take blinkies or a few from a tearpad, but not something off a box that I wouldn't use. I'd buy the product.

FWIW, I've had a lot of luck in my life and I think of it can be attributed to passing on good karma.

[giveandreceive]

I don't consider it bad 'luck or karma.' What I can think of right now is a peelie that was on a Wet Ones container.; The peelie said (I don't remember the exact wording) 'use on Wet Ones container OR BOX of wet ones singles.' So the company put it on there knowing people weren't necessarily going to use it on the product it was ON. Remember not everyone uses coupons, even when they are on them, so I consider it a coupon being saved from the trash.

[jujubee]

I take without remorse, I still get lots of good coupon karma. Do what you feel is comfortable.

[ponsonby2]

It just doesn't seem right to me. If the manufacturer wanted anybody who passed by to get a coupon, there would be a tearpad or a blinkie. A peelie is a "gift" from the manufacturer to the person who is buying their product, whether it is that product or another product from the same manufacturer. It is meant to encourage you to buy that product.

In fact, I was surprised when I was reading one of the deal threads here yesterday and I realized people were talking about taking peelies off of items they weren't buying. It never crossed my mind before that.

[backyrat]

Ok, as long as I am not the only one and it is legal, etc, I am ok with it. I mean, it isn't like I took all of them, just one to use right then. They couldn't be used for the item they were on, why would they do that anyway? I guess if you were buying the lotion that might encourage you to buy the wash too, they sell 2 products instead of just 1. That is actually the first time I have seen a peelie on something that couldn't be used for that item. I guess from now on I won't feel bad taking 2 or 3 if it is something I KNOW I will use. I do plenty of good with my coupons by donating to shelters too, so I see it as all working out in the end. I donate way more products than I have ever taken coupons for including peelies, blinkies, and tearpads.

[Mexi]

Ok, as long as I am not the only one and it is legal, etc, I am ok with it. I mean, it isn't like I took all of them, just one to use right then. They couldn't be used for the item they were on, why would they do that anyway? I guess if you were buying the lotion that might encourage you to buy the wash too, they sell 2 products instead of just 1. That is actually the first time I have seen a peelie on something that couldn't be used for that item. I guess from now on I won't feel bad taking 2 or 3 if it is something I KNOW I will use. I do plenty of good with my coupons by donating to shelters too, so I see it as all working out in the end. I donate way more products than I have ever taken coupons for including peelies, blinkies, and tearpads.

I wonder what the stores would say about it. I have done it before but have always felt like I was taking something that really wasn't mine to take.

I remember when there were Fresh Step Cat litter peelies on the litter containers. People were taking them and selling them on ebay. They were buy 2 get 1 free.

[chanfu]

I generally don't take peelies if I'm not buying the product. It doesn't feel kosher to me, but that's just me. I will, however, remove a peelie from a product I am buying so that I can use a higher value coupon for it, and then save the peelie for later use. I also will use peelies I get in trade, but I usually won't request them.

The one time I have taken a peelie from something I wasn't buying was in a unique situation where I felt it was justified. Hy-Vee had free samples of Genisoy soy crisps in their Health Market, with the empty bag attached to the sample container, so that people could check the nutrition information on it. There was a peelie on the empty bag for Genisoy Protein Bars. I took it, because obviously nobody was going to buy that bag.

I take winetags with impunity, because the general consensus here seems to be that nobody cares if you take them off the bottles. I will occasionally take a regular hangtag, but will feel some pangs of guilt for it. I only take tags, though, that can be easily removed from the bottles without damaging them, and which don't have free samples or other freebies attached to them. And as a matter of courtesy, I try not to take all of anything.

[VJWilson27]

I take peelies that I know I will use. I don't sell them or trade them. I do kinda feel a bit "sneaky" from time to time... but what sealed the deal for me personally was when I found $1/1 coupons on literally DOZENS of Johnson's items in FIVE different stores that were EXPIRED... since 12/31/07. I guess that was a wake up call for me. Alot do go to waste. I usually grab one or two peelies at a time. (Sometimes, more if there are tons, but like if there's only two, I'll just take one) But I really don't think it's bad coupon karma or anything like that.

I say just do what YOU feel comfortable with.

[dsilva51]

Hey, at least you find Peelies! LOL None in this neck of the woods! LOL

[Sally Nevermind]

It really all depends on how you look at it, I generally don't take them, unless I need them that purchase or plan to buy it next week (thanks to the previews) I never take more than I would need (1 or maybe 2). More or less though I don't take them purely because they tend to be sticky and ruin my other coupons, or they end up getting lost amongst all the other coupons I have.
But I would say 90% of the time the peelies I find fall into 1 of 2 categories, either they are way past expired, or they are on products I already have a better coupon for, for example I find them a lot on diapers for $1/1 when I have a $2/1 in hand already. Plus I think some people don't even care about them and they end up in the garbage with the empty container at a later time anyhow. So from my experience anyhow, I say the best thing to do is take it if you need or or will use it eventually, if not leave it for the next guy. But that is just my opinion, lol.

[couponnewbiemich]

I take without remorse, I still get lots of good coupon karma. Do what you feel is comfortable.

I second that opinion.

[pennywatcher]

One thing that came up in that thread that I hadn't thought about before is how the reps look when the auditors come through. If all the peelies/hangtags are gone then it looks like the rep didn't do his/her job.

[ilovebucks]

I never take peelies off of products that I am not buying. They're not intended for anyone to rip them off and use as they please, they're meant for the person purchasing that product. They're actually attached to the product. I definitely am not interested in karma, but I just consider it wrong, so I don't partake!

[niftyneon99]

I'll take it if I can use it, and if I can't use it I'll take a couple for someone else who might need it

[spadesbouncer]

Well, i will take no more than 3 no matter what it is.. Even buy one get one free.. and only if they have alot on the other packs..

Here is my favorite peelie... AND i don't hav e to feel bad about it...

Pepperidge farms cookies... Peelie said buy 2 get 1 free..

SO what do i do?? I buy 4 get 2 free and each bag had a peelie on it.. So i used 2 and had 4 more and never had to take a thing...That is my kind of peelie.. You can't get in trouble because you are not stealing and you are buying each one..

But no i will not take the all of them.. and tearpads are the same way..

[queenofthehivemomof5]

1. No its not illegal. The monetary value of a coupon is 1/100th of a cent so you would need to take 100 peelies to even make a $1
2. If you are in doubt, just ask. I am always amazed at folks who worry about this stuff being wrong. 9 out of 10 times if you ask the store...they don't give a flying rip. LOL So if you are worried that you are going to be taken to jail for peeling off a peelie, ask them if its OK. I have asked at all my local stores and all but one said it was OK. And the one store that it was not OK at, I dont peel them, no biggy.

3. There is peelie etiquite though. Don't take them all in one fell swoop. Take a few leave some for others. If you see the same peelies there next week take a few more. Don't damage the packaging when you peel them off. Just use common cents.

4. Peelies are just coupons, peices of paper, just because they are stuck to a product does not mean that you need to purchase that products. I don't know how many times there has been a peelie on a product that was for the wrong product or the wrong size or what have you

[6months]

I never feel bad about taking a peelie or three. I also will "front" at least one from the back so that the next shopper who comes along can see the coupon. I have tons of good luck shopping and also good coupon luck. I am a lucky person all around.

I never take an entire tearpad or all of anything.

I chatted with our SmartSource rep one day (actually, whenever I see her) and she told me that noone cares if you take coupons to use later, she even went so far as to encourage it as long as they are used. The more that are used, the better SS looks. She, btw, had not only blinkies in her basket, but also hangtags and I don't know what else.

[meen]

i do take peelies very occasionally after debating within myself that it is not bad if i take one or two and i'm not ripping the whole set.

sometimes i won't if someone else comes there and sees me standing and staring at the product. may be they would think i'm waiting there to steal something lol. it's a momentarily decision for me. if i feel ok that time i'll take if not no

[brixtonrileightaylor]

I did this today and felt SO guilty, I ended up putting the stuff in my cart like I was going to purchase it then put it back like I just decided not to. I took some blinkies from Albertsons today *felt bad about that too* but they wre for 2 free potpies when you purchased 10 banquet dinners and I knew another store had them on sale for only 68 cents.

[sam]

I broke my "only 4 rule" yesterday...I took all the $2 off Sorrento Sticksters. I'm sorry, but I just couldn't help myself and with the Publix coupon out now it makes them only 50 cents a pack. My kiddos love cheese and those things are convenient but not cheap!!

[BBgirl]

OK guys do be mad at me OK? Do you take peelies off product in the store you are not buying? Like on Sunday I found buy 2 get 1 free Kellogs cereal on Kellogs cereal. Should I have taken some even though I wasn't buying cereal or are they for the people overpaying for cereal now to save later? And if so how many do you take 1, 2, 3, or as many as you will use? Just wondering what's OK and what's not? Can you use peelies on that same purchase? Ya' know let peel it off nad hand it the cashier?

[BrandyMcK]

well i think it's rude because the other customers could of saved some money = ( but if you are buying it then yeah go ahead and use it that's what it's for...

[Ginya]

I am very new here, but very surprised at the fact that people take whole tear pads, lots of peelies, etc. That means I might not get any. How would you feel if the person just ahead of you at the cereal (or whatever) took all, and you got none? I know many are wasted, but taking more than a few from a tear pad or blinkie and off products I am not buying just seems unfair at best. If I feel secretive about something, or don't want my child to know I am doing it, have to wonder if that is an indication I should not be doing it.

Ginya:shrug7:

[idahogirl]

I took one off an item yesterday it made me feel guilty so I didn't take anymore! I think if I feel like its stealing then I shouldn't do it!!

[Viv]

Well, personally I think we can "justify" what we do but does that make it right? The peelies I'm familiar with say use now, or good now...so personally I believe they are there for that product only and consider it unethlical to take them
viv

[beth119]

I am guilty of swiping a few peelies. I do not take ones that say "on this box, product, etc..." . I once asked the coke rep about taking a few. He said it was alright with him because the product expired before the coupon did. Hmmmm.....

[trosario]

ok, here's something that i have just starting seeing at the store where i shop. i was walking down the juice isle and saw a huge roll of peelies hanging next to juice - it looked like a roll of stickers. in the pet isle, i saw an employee taking the stickers off the roll and sticking them on bags of cat food. he left the rest hanging next to the product. has anyone seen this? i have to be honest and say that when i see peelies that i know i will use, i peel off a few from the packages, but i do feel guilty. when i saw the roll hanging, i tore off a few and didn't feel so guilty.

[derketchup]

1. No its not illegal. The monetary value of a coupon is 1/100th of a cent so you would need to take 100 peelies to even make a $1

Actually qothmo5, it takes 100 peelies to make $0.01. It would take 10,000 to make $1.00. :wink068:

[beth119]

1. No its not illegal. The monetary value of a coupon is 1/100th of a cent so you would need to take 100 peelies to even make a $1



I got a little curious about this so I asked a very close friend who is also a local police seargent. This is what he told me.

You can be arrested for stealing anything, regardless of whether it has monetary value or not. Would a store waste their time calling the police? Probably not (although he did say Walmart has had people arrested over donuts and candy bars).
He said that as far as prosecution, it could be charged as destruction of property. Again, would a store wasted their time? No.

It really makes me wonder now what the legal guidelines to this would be. We take blinkies, they are meant to be taken. Are the peelies really meant to be taken? I think I am going to email a few companies and get there opinions. Then it is straight from them.

[queenofthehivemomof5]

Actually qothmo5, it takes 100 peelies to make $0.01. It would take 10,000 to make $1.00. :wink068:

your right! My math is bad sometimes!:smile:

But I don't feel guilty for taking peelies and other coupons. Each person needs to do what they feel is right for them. I am still in the frame of mind that you are not stealing, and if you just ask your store manager they probably woud not care anyways. Yes you should leave some for others and all that stuff, but taking a few to WAIT for a good sale is smart. If I take a $1/1 GM peelie that is today on a $4 box of cereal, I put that peelie in my binder and wait for the GM cereal to come on sale for a $1 box that is just smart.

Anyways my concience is clear cause I have asked and been given the go ahead to take a few peelies now and then. I just found some free bread coupons that were stuck to the bread and some diet pepsi peelies (on 12 packs but they are good for 2 liter bottles too)

[thecouponlady]

Tonight I just saw a bunch of Kellogg's cereal with expired B2G1 free coupons. What a waste.:sad22: I think I am going to start taking more of these things. I do not know why they were never used. That means that box has been on the shelf quite sometime. This was at a supermarket too. I normally only take 2 unless I see a vendor and then I ask for some. I have only been told no once.

[TheyCallMeMom]

I got a little curious about this so I asked a very close friend who is also a local police seargent. This is what he told me.

You can be arrested for stealing anything, regardless of whether it has monetary value or not. Would a store waste their time calling the police? Probably not (although he did say Walmart has had people arrested over donuts and candy bars).
He said that as far as prosecution, it could be charged as destruction of property. Again, would a store wasted their time? No.

It really makes me wonder now what the legal guidelines to this would be. We take blinkies, they are meant to be taken. Are the peelies really meant to be taken? I think I am going to email a few companies and get there opinions. Then it is straight from them.

good thinking.

the peelies are to encourage purchases, but how may people use them.. I have seen people ring up and not pull the peelie off a "now" peelie...

I have one in my coupon stash.. and I didnt buy the product

[MaryMary]

I got a little curious about this so I asked a very close friend who is also a local police seargent. This is what he told me.

You can be arrested for stealing anything, regardless of whether it has monetary value or not. Would a store waste their time calling the police? Probably not (although he did say Walmart has had people arrested over donuts and candy bars).
He said that as far as prosecution, it could be charged as destruction of property. Again, would a store wasted their time? No.

It really makes me wonder now what the legal guidelines to this would be. We take blinkies, they are meant to be taken. Are the peelies really meant to be taken? I think I am going to email a few companies and get there opinions. Then it is straight from them.

The store may argue that we are taking the promotional items designed to help their sales. To prove their point they have to present data confirming that this particular coupons (not discounted prices, displays and other coupons) help their sales volumes. Would the store do such a research over the case of peeled coupons? Likely not. :smile: As a point of argument can be added that many customers buying the item with coupon attached do not care if that coupon will be redeemed. More, by taking these peelies off the packaging there is more chances that it will be used on the product promoted, not just thrown away. The store, on another hand, may say by taking a coupon from their store we lessen the chance it will be redeemed here. The answer should be that the coupon belong not to the store but to manufacturer. Yes, we might mess up their marketing studies because that's the reason they authorized coupons in 1 market over another, but the benefit of the moving inventories overweights it. We, hard core couponers, are known for atypical couponing behavour.. :biggrin:
I do not know how anyone can be charged with destruction of property if the packaging is still intact and in saleable condition when peelies are removed. Sure I've seen BTFE removed from the cereal bar boxes, this is destruction of property indeed.

Calling police over a candy bar can be understood as rather preventive measure: someone stealing candy bar and donuts today and able to get away with it may try to take something more valuable tomorrow.

As was noted above, taking peelies and how many of them is a matter of personal comfort, may sometimes depend of the mood of the store manager..

[derketchup]

I personally don't see anything wrong with taking a reasonable amount of peelies that you yourself will use. I think it's wrong to take a bunch to trade them, but that's just one girl's opinion.

I can't even tell you the number of times, before I became serious about coupons, that I bought items, got home, went to open them, and noticed a coupon stuck on them. So that means not only did I not notice it was even there when I bought it, but neither did the cashier!

Now, I always peel off my own peelies because I don't trust cashiers.

[beth119]

MaryMary- please don;t get me wrong. I take peelies all the time :) I was just curious of a legal standpoint. I like what the Coke guy told me, the product usually expires before the coupon.

I would think if they are putting a coupon on something that doesn;t expire until 5/2008, and the cereal expires 10/07, then they are meant to be taken and used later. I emailed General Mills just to get their opinion. It will be interesting to see what they have to say. That put out a lot of peelies.

[MaryMary]

I do take peelies too, often more then a couple, but make sure there are some left. Recently I took a bunch from the product thrown in the clearance bin..
IMO, a response of GM or other company will depend on how knowlegeable your respondent on this subject. Often I found they go with a common opinion which not always represent true position.

[beth119]

Well, I finally got a reply back from General Mills. They seem to have no real opinion...hmmm. I know they aren't the only peelie company out there, but they seem to put out an awful lot of them. Here is exactly what they had to say.

Dear Mrs. xxxxxxxx:

Thank you for corresponding with us on the Internet. You would have to ask the grocery employees about those coupons. However, we are sending you some General Mills discount coupons which you should receive within 2 weeks. If we can be of service to you again, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

We hope you will continue to choose our products.

Sincerely,

Jeana
General Mills
Consumer Services

[pokey]

I figure if you have to look around and see if any one is watching you,
then maybe it is wrong to take them. :shrug7:

I always worry about being on camera in the stores. I know they ALL have cameras.
One of the most watched departments is the alcoholic beverages.:smile:

[bluedaisy]

I don't take peelies. I've always figured it is for the person purchasing that particular item to take.

[nana2boys]

I guess for me, on some things, I go by the saying "Just because I could, doesn't mean I should."

[skishopgirly]

Well I am a rep & I have to do alot of foot work to get those on the boxes.So when the companies come behind us to make sure we did the job it appears we didn't when they are taken off.Also some companies I represnt will not do the peelies at all!!!because of this.They instruct us then while we are preparing to rotate or etc & a customer is looking at the product then ask if they want a coupon don't put them on the product!

In essence it makes it bad for everyone.However before this job I would do it,now I don't!

I would think that the company receiving copious numbers of these coupons from retailers redeeming them, would show that they were in fact a worthwhile promotion. --- This versus them not receiving ANY peelies for redemption, because they just sat on the box of a product that isn't moving.

The companies bottom line is a sale. I'm not sure that they mind one way or another where you buy their product from, as long as you buy it. And if that coupon at store XYZ made you buy the product at store TUV...then they are still making a profit. Somewhere.


....Especially when you consider how many companies will send you free coupons just for making an inquiry/praise/complaint. They want you to buy their product. Coupon. Or. Not.

[misse]

We do not have many peelies here. I was talking to coworkers the other day about it and they do not clip q's. they said they never use the peelies, do not even read them. I will usually get 1 or 2 but nothing obvious.
I have never had a cashier pull the peelie off and scan it. if i do not hand it to them it does not happen.

[CouponingCraze]

I wanted to get some feedback on using peelies that are found at the stores.

If I saw a peelie on "Y" product that qualified to be used on numerous other products, is it wrong to peel that peelie off of the "Y" product and use it on other products that I am purchasing in this same store (same visit)? We are talking about 10 peelies.

Confession:
I did this already and another lady customer yelled at me and said I was wrong to peel those peelies off. I never thought twice that I was wrong until she confronted me. She said the peelies were for that product and none other. I said the coupon states that it could be used on other products as well and I pointed to my cart and said I'm buying those products that qualified. So long story short. I do feel guilty because the peelies were not necessarily on the products that I was purchasing even though it qualified.

So is this a "no-no" and don't do it again unless I'm purchasing those products that had the peelies?

I'm probably gonna get flamed but it's okay. I just wanted to know so I know what to do next time.

[Mikki 316]

I don't know what the proper etiquette is. All I know is I'm chicken to do it. It "feels" wrong to me, like I'd be stealing, so I don't do it. I'm interested to know what others think about this. I see lots of auctions on other boards for peelies and always wondered where they get so many. Thanks for posting this question.

[couponsmakecents]

I have taken peelies off on product Y when it says good on any product. I don't take all of them just what i am gong to use. HTH

[crazybmb]

I do feel guilty, like I'm doing something wrong

[BzyBee]

Well I never base my own feelings on the rantings of crotchety old ladies at the grocery store. You were using the coupon on the intended product. You took what seems (to me) to be a reasonable number, leaving some for others which was considerate.

So what if the lady (and I use that term loosely) fussed at you?? What if she told you she didn't like your haircut or that your blouse was the wrong color?? Some people need to be ignored and she sounds like one of them, IMO.

Having said that, my DH doesn't like to take peelies, he will point them out to me but won't remove them himself...LOL

Regarding general etiquette, it is up to the individual IMO. Personally I don't usually take more than I would have if it was an insert coupon, 8-10. I try to take them from the back when possible, leaving plenty on display and easy to get to in the front of the display/shelf. I don't generally take more than I can use and I don't generally trade them. If I go back to the store next week and the blinkies are all still sitting there I may take some more...Hate to have a good blinkie go to waste. :wink068:

[couponfanatic]

I've seen several discussions on this before, and people do tend to ahve some strong feelings. Some say do it, some say don't.
My Personal opinion/rule is I will take some-only if I can use them, and i try not to take all of them. I have been in the store enough when someone has already taken all the peelies, and it's on something I actually plan to buy. Try to leave some for someone else.
I'd leave it up to your own feelings and do what you want.
For the lady who yelled at you...I'd tell her to mind her own business. If the Q says on Any of XXX or YYY, that's what it's for. If they want it for that product only they will print "$X off This Package" or "Void Unless Removed By Cashier".

[PHmom]

I don't think what you did was wrong at all, you used them on the products listed on the coupon. That's what they're there for, to sell products.

In general, I don't have a problem with taking a few peelies. As PPs have stated, I don't take them all and I try to take them from the back and make sure to leave some for others. I will also take them when there are too many to be used, for example: the Kellogg's b2g1f coupons - you can only use 1 coupon for every 3 boxes of cereal, so if every box on the shelf has a coupon then some will just go to waste, so I have no problem taking those. I have also seen peelies on the wrong product (peelies for $1 off Pepsi products placed on Dr. Pepper, which was not listed on the coupon), I have no problem taking those either.

[CouponingCraze]

thanks everyone for the response...

I also asked the manager as I was leaving the store with said products if I saw peelies on "Y" product and the coupon could be used on other products, are we allowed to take them and use them on the other products at his store. I pointed out very clearly to him that it could be used on "xyz" also. He was very nice but said no. If the peelies were on "Y" product (even though they qualified for other products) then that peelie has to be used on the "Y" product. I said okay and so I guess that is why I feel so guilty (since the lady customer yelled at me and so I just wanted to know from the store what there policy on peelies were) but it was all after the fact that I purchased the "xyz" product.

I didn't post this earlier because I wasn't sure if the manager was off his rocker. LOL.. you know how sometimes some store managers are from "another universe".

But I guess I will not pull the peelies off if I'm not buying "Y" products at that store since the manager did tell me "no" already.

[derketchup]

Peelies aren't placed by the store. They're placed by people who work for a 3rd party (very similar to mystery shopping).

So don't let the manager of the store tell you how to deal with "property" that doesn't belong to him.

[PHmom]

Peelies aren't placed by the store. They're placed by people who work for a 3rd party (very similar to mystery shopping).

So don't let the manager of the store tell you how to deal with "property" that doesn't belong to him.

I totally agree - I have seen reps from Kellogg's, Kraft, etc placing peelies and they have told me to "help myself" when asked "do you mind if I have a few of these?" I don't think the store manager has any right to say yes or no to that question. Again, peelies are placed by manufacturers to sell products. You are buying said products so I'm sure they're happy. :wink068:

[Ani]

I was always under the impression that peelies were like a little bonus for buying X product. I'd be disappointed if I went to buy X product, and someone had taken off the peelie to buy Y. It would feel like opening my Sunday paper and someone having taken the coupons out. Consequently, I don't take peelies off products unless I am purchasing the product that the peelie comes off of.

I don't think you necessarily did anything "wrong", I just think it might be disappointing to others buying the product. If you feel alright about, I think it's fine for you to do. I just don't feel alright about it, so I don't do it.

Just my two cents.

[derketchup]

Although I'd never actually know the reason why a peelie was missing, I wouldn't mind if someone took off a peelie to buy something else the peelie was good for.

I think I would just mind people taking peelies to sell on eBay, or out of spite.

[Trader1244]

One store person told me that a peelie on an item "belongs" to the item it is on. If you don't take - and pay - for the item then it can be considered shoplifting.

In other words if you buy the product - at the register - it is your choose to us that peelie on that purchase or leave it on the box until you get home Then you can use it on anything that is allowed to be used for

[JulieNMM]

I took some peelies yesterday from packages of cheese that were 24 ounces. They said they could be used on any packages 12 ounces and up. So I used them with the 12 ounce packages. I kind of felt a little guilty about that, but it is the same product just a smaller size so I did it anyway. I personally would not take the peelies off a bunch of things if I didn't intend to use them right then and there. Seems wrong to me, but I'm not sure why.

I'm glad to see this thread because I have been wondering about this, too.

JULIE

[chasenluke]

I guess even though I wouldn't do it I won't mind someone else. I am new to this and I cannot say how many times I have gotten home to realize I could have used one! I save them but it would have been nice to use them right then and there.

[too-old-now]

I don't want them to go to waste. I take what I will use, which typically is most of them.

I am not ashamed of taking nearly 200 Old El Paso peelies this month, since it meant free shells and seasoning for the food pantry/soup kitchen.

Some folks think it's wrong of me to take some from A&P and use them at Shaw's. That's fine, they are entitled to their opinion.

I've recently gotten neg rep for noting that I scored nearly 3 dozen Coke Zero peelies - some folks thought I was excessive and mean to others. Perhaps they were jealous of me using them with rainchecks, so it meant the 12-pack were only .49 plus deposit. But, I don't care, it was well worth it to me to hear how appreciative the food pantry was to get unexpired soda. It made me feel like Robin Hood as I'm practically "stealing" from the rich to give to the poor.

Do what you're comfortable with. Nowadays folks don't remember Jiminy Cricket - Always let your conscience be your guide.

[wannabefree]

Thanks for the info. I didn't know that a third party sticks those on. I thought they came from the warehouse that way.

On a similar subject, I talked with a beer rep today at Walmart and asked about beer MIR's. I live near the Talladega raceway and a race is coming up soon so there are promos everywhere. He said that I would find them at some grocery stores but never Walmart. It saves me from looking there now.

Did anyone else know that???? (of course you guys are pros!):biggrin:

Janet

[faeryedark]

I don't see a problem with it as long as you use them and use them for the item(s) specified and don't get excessive. they're manufacturer's Q's after all.

[too-old-now]

Some peelies come that way from the warehouse, like the Old El Paso ones. I'm sure some folks would consider my taking well over 200 of these to be excessive, even though I've used them all. Others will applaud me. I'm sure I'll get both positive and negative rep about this.

Others, like the Coke Zero ones, are put on by the coke delivery guys.

[hopeky94]

I stopped feeling bad about taking a few peelies after a couple of times of leaving peelies on products I was buying (because they said they "had to" be removed by the cashier) and then getting home and realizing the peelies were still right there on the boxes! :( (Note: this was before I started couponing "seriously" so I hadn't noticed by my total at the register!) So then I had to wonder how many non-couponing folks had bought those products and never paid any attention to the coupon, so it ended up in the trash?? Oh, and then there's the occasional peelies I still find on some non-food items-- that expired 10 months ago because items didn't sell and/or stock wasn't rotated properly...

Not many people see "coupons=money" the way we do... it's just an annoying paper or sticker to them, since they can't take it and spend it anywhere they want on anything they want (like they can "real money").

Basically my view is, we're helping:
1) the manufacturer- b/c we're buying their product
2) the store- b/c they get reimbursed + 8 cents (and know couponers will return to find more coupons- LOL)
3) the non-couponers- they don't have to mess with the annoying little stickers/papers
4) and of course, us- we're getting the bargains on things we need! :)

That's my take on the subject, FWIW... :o)

[kdownie]

I like your answer Hopeky94!

[kdownie]

Some peelies come that way from the warehouse, like the Old El Paso ones. I'm sure some folks would consider my taking well over 200 of these to be excessive, even though I've used them all. Others will applaud me. I'm sure I'll get both positive and negative rep about this.

Others, like the Coke Zero ones, are put on by the coke delivery guys.

I am just glad I am not in your area!!! :smile:

[too-old-now]

I am just glad I am not in your area!!! :smile:

But if you were, I'm sure you wouldn't mind getting virtually unlimited triples every week.

If there were someone else in this area that would help stock our food pantries, I would gladly slow down. This has been one heckuva week.

Thanks to all for the reps - both positive and neg - about my peelie harvesting habits.

[map332]

I wish I had the guts to do it but I would be too scared. I never did it and I don't think I ever could.

[kdownie]

But if you were, I'm sure you wouldn't mind getting virtually unlimited triples every week.

If there were someone else in this area that would help stock our food pantries, I would gladly slow down. This has been one heckuva week.

Thanks to all for the reps - both positive and neg - about my peelie harvesting habits.

You get unlimited triples? Wow - I have never had a single coupon tripled. That is great! I know your food pantry is very grateful! Way to go!
I just meant I wouldn't want to have to rush to the store to get the coupons before you got there! I'd have to grab a parking spot before you, get the baby out of the car, and high-tail it to the aisle with all the peelies!:hysterical: At least I would get some exercise!

[orchidofpurple]

I'll take them if I they are for products I use. What irks me the most is finding expired ones and where I am they are all over the place. Its so depressing to see them.

To the PP!
I'm picturing shopping cart races. Too funny!

[misseve]

i say do not take them .because the next shopper will not get any. today i whated a iten all peelies where gone

[coupondink]

I think you should use your own discretion. To heck with the flamers and the crabby lady in the store.

In my very humble opinion, my rule is this: if the item I want to buy should have a peelie, but someone else took the peelie off, I will happily take one off of another item (say I want to get honey BBQ sauce, and it clearly shows a mark where there was a peelie, but is gone now...but the classic BBQ sauce all have the peelies)..I will take the peelie off the item I am not buying and use it for the one I am buying.

However, I would never take peelies off of items I am not buying. I think it is unfair for the person who actually buys that item.

[temroy2]

Personally, I wouldn't take them unless I'm buying the product they're attactched to, but I wouldn't judge someone who did. I only recently started couponing seriously (well, somewhat seriously) and if I see peelies on certain packages of a product I'm buying then I'll make sure to only take the product with the peelie.

[miacat]

I don't generally take more than I can use and I don't generally trade them. If I go back to the store next week and the blinkies are all still sitting there I may take some more...Hate to have a good blinkie go to waste. :wink068:

No offense, but if you take even one more than you're going to use right then, on that shopping trip, that is wrong, imo. Actually, it's stealing, isn't it? Not getting onto you, but just wondering?

I couldn't get enough of the busybones I wanted to buy right then, because someone had taken the peelies, are probably selling or trading them, and that disadvantaged me and other shoppers in an unfair way.




As the OP's question, I wondered this with the busybones. They were only on the dental variety, but were good for the regular kind too.

They were b2bo, so I bought enough of the dental to feel ethical, but really I think it's fine to use on just the others. If the m meant them to only be used on the 'y' product, it would have stated it on the q.

I think you answered the lady sufficiently, and you could take it to a store manager if someone continued to give you a hassle:smile:

[miacat]

I'm confused on q + peelie. Some stores seem to see that as different than using two q's, but the peelies are a m q too, so I don't get it,,,,,,, but to me, if the store will do it, they are the ones responsible, aren't they?

Serious couponers are not clear on what is stacking and what isn't, how could any reasonable person be?:shrug7:

[miacat]

I don't want them to go to waste. I take what I will use, which typically is most of them.

I am not ashamed of taking nearly 200 Old El Paso peelies this month, since it meant free shells and seasoning for the food pantry/soup kitchen.

Some folks think it's wrong of me to take some from A&P and use them at Shaw's. That's fine, they are entitled to their opinion.

I've recently gotten neg rep for noting that I scored nearly 3 dozen Coke Zero peelies - some folks thought I was excessive and mean to others. Perhaps they were jealous of me using them with rainchecks, so it meant the 12-pack were only .49 plus deposit. But, I don't care, it was well worth it to me to hear how appreciative the food pantry was to get unexpired soda. It made me feel like Robin Hood as I'm practically "stealing" from the rich to give to the poor.

Do what you're comfortable with. Nowadays folks don't remember Jiminy Cricket - Always let your conscience be your guide.

If you used them all for the purchase right then and there, in that store, and the q didn't have wording prohibiting that, I don't see what was wrong with that. :smile:

[nrpeace17]

I'm confused on q + peelie. Some stores seem to see that as different than using two q's, but the peelies are a m q too, so I don't get it,,,,,,, but to me, if the store will do it, they are the ones responsible, aren't they?

Serious couponers are not clear on what is stacking and what isn't, how could any reasonable person be?:shrug7:

The cashier may have allowed the use of a mfr along with the mfr peelie on the product, but it violates the verbage "limit one coupon per purchase" on the coupon itself. If the peelies are store coupons, that is different. Those can usually be stacked. I have had cashiers try to peel off the peelies on products to use on my order, but I thank them and say that I already have a mfr ready to use for that product. It is my own personal responsibility to use coupons properly.

[queenofthehivemomof5]

I live in an area with no other couponers. I have seen really great peelies sit on a product for months and then expire (Think $1.00/1 any General Mills Cereal peelies). So my view is that if I do not take some for myself to use or to share with others (yeah I trade them) then they just go unused and expire.

So what I have done is asked my store managers...they don't care. (YMMV). I peel a few and always leave some for others. If I come back another day and there are still more peelies I will peel a few more, etc etc. I usually peel around 5 per trip. This leave plenty for others. And I try not to damage the packaging by peeling coupons. If I rip it... I buy it.

Coupons have a value of 1/100th of a cent...so you would have to peel ALOT of peelies to make a case for theft. Coupons are not items they are promotional advertising material.

If the coupon say good on products Y and Z then you sure betcha you can peel from Y and buy Z. I also don't see why you can't peel from one store and purchase at another. I do it all the time. I also peel peelies and save them for when the sales are right. I remember peeling a few GM $1.00/1 peelies each week and had 20 or so saved up and then Smiths ran the GM cereals for $1 a box. I was telling everyone and thier grandma that they could get the peelies at Albertsons and use them at Smiths and I think only a handfull of folks took the effort to run to two stores. I went back and grabbed a few more myself. But when all was said and done there were still like 100 peelies that sat and expired. That kills me.

[miacat]

The cashier may have allowed the use of a mfr along with the mfr peelie on the product, but it violates the verbage "limit one coupon per purchase" on the coupon itself. If the peelies are store coupons, that is different. Those can usually be stacked. I have had cashiers try to peel off the peelies on products to use on my order, but I thank them and say that I already have a mfr ready to use for that product. It is my own personal responsibility to use coupons properly.

That's what I determined from everything said in the thread specifically on the stacking topic, but so many people and stores feel differently,,,,,,, I started to waver, lol.

I don't want to misuse q's, but I also don't want to miss out on savings being overly conscientious, and not using things I am actually allowed to.:shrug7:

[8isenuf]

IMO it is wrong to take the peelies if you are not buying the item. As many others have said if you take them all, a few or just half of them what about the other people who come along to buy that product and the peelie is gone. I would be MAD! :mad20:I also think its wrong to take all the rebate forms found in the stores so you can sell them later or trade them.

[justmeagain]

HHMM........guess I never thought about it at all. last week or maybe the week before, DH and I found a TON of peelies....I think we got like 45 or so.......but there was still a lot left....we didn't take them all and they are good on a variety of products and don't expire until next year. That is the first time ever that I have got so many peelies. I don't usually see peelie here! If I see a peelie and I know it is something we will never use at all, then I don't bother. I have taken MIR's.........not all of them of course---not even close! and I did have an auction on this site for some of the MIR's. I guess I just looked at it like it enables me to trade for coupons that I don't get here. I never thought of it as being wrong but now I'm wondering......Sure didn't mean to do anything wrong and I always want to do the right thing.

[8isenuf]

I never thought of it as being wrong but now I'm wondering......Sure didn't mean to do anything wrong and I always want to do the right thing.

Sorry . . .not trying to make anyone feel bad . . I just get angry when I try to find peelies and rebates that should be there and they are gone and I have to pay someone to get them. Very frustrating . . . :banghead:

[meems]

Sorry . . .not trying to make anyone feel bad . . I just get angry when I try to find peelies and rebates that should be there and they are gone and I have to pay someone to get them. Very frustrating . . . :banghead:

But what about rebates that are only put out in limited areas, and people trading makes it possible for you to get one at all?

To the OP, you used those coupons in their store, it resulted in a sale that you might not have purchased otherwise, IMO that is what the mftr. goal is!

[lovelyrita]

I don't think it's wrong to take peelies from products I'm not buying. I would never take all of the peelies but will take a reasonable amount based on how many are out. A good example is the GM $4/4 peelies, everytime I went to Publix for a month, just about every box of GM cereal had this on it. It seemed that no one was taking them, so I took them everytime I went in. That doesn't seem wrong to me.

[yellobelle]

what i do is check the expiration date, and usually the peelie has a longer expiration, so i use the insert manu coupon right then and hang on to the peelie for later. this does NOT apply to the occasional peelies that say they must be removed by cashier.

[temroy2]

I'll keep that in mind the next time I encounter a peelie. Thank you for that info, Lindsey. :Wave2:

[faeryedark]

I can *see* both sides to this discussion. I used to shop at a large bent and dent (before i got into the major couponing...sometimes still do for special things) anyway, I can't tell you how many boxes of taco shells , cereal, etc. that had peelies still on (some exp. some not) to me that's a waste. I guess, as I see it it could go either way.

[nwflgl]

I have always wondered this.....i guess I have always thought it was stealing? JMHO....but now I dunno what I think. i would really worry about being browbeaten like a PP.......I am learning to stand my grouond but still shy away from confrontation....it really scares me.

[CouponingCraze]

Wow... I haven't read this post in a long time (original poster) but reading everyone's response does help me decide what is right and what is wrong in my mind...

As for me...
I will continue taking peelies off products that I will buy now or later (I hardly trade so that's not applicable to me). I will take a reasonable amount and leave some for others if I'm not purchasing it all right then and there. But if I'm buying tons of those items, I will take a peelie for each item I'm purchasing.

As for me, if I'm purchasing a product and there was a peelie on the product but it was gone by the time I got there to purchase said item... I know next time to go earlier. LOL... ((PP and the racing shopping carts :hysterical:)) I really dont mind if the peelies are gone on the said products that I was planning on buying anyways. I mean I wasnt going to the store for the peelie in the first place. I was actually going to the store to buy "the product" and if there was a peelie on the product that I could use then great! if not, I'm okay with that too because I wasn't "banking" on the peelie being there in the first place.

As for the PP and the 200 peelies, good for you. hehe... I am not brave enough to do that but if I was and I know those 200 products were helping people that I see day in and day out, I would care less too and take them all to buy "those products" :BigHand:.

Thanks all for this peelie ethical debate. LOL

[sbp]

This is a question that comes up time and time again, and bottom line is that everyone has to decide for themselves what they are comfortable with. Some think that there's nothing wrong with taking a few, others think that taking more than a few is fine while others will argue that taking any at all without purchasing the item is just plain wrong. In other words there is no right or wrong answer.

I have deleted a few posts from this thread. Expressing your opinion about the matter is fine as long as it done in a respectable manner.

Since this is such a valid question, I have merged this with a thread from a few months ago, just so everyone can see a few more (respectable) opinions on the subject and am also locking it from any further comments.

[LauraKay28]

I got great overage today at Walmart by taking 5 peelies off the Hydriance hair color, and using them on Nice n Easy which was clearanced at $3. But my mother-in-law says I can't do that. So, what's the law? Obviously, I don't want to do anything wrong!

Anyone know?

Thanks!

[joshmamabear]

I'm not sure if there's any law on taking peelies off an item.

btw, can you give the UPC of the Clairol that is on clearance? TIA.

[jeep.gal]

I'm confused... you used them on what the coupon was for, right? WHAT is she saying is illegal? If it's the fact that you took it off of one product for another, the coupon shows all kinds, and says "on ANY" nice'n easy.

[crossstreet]

What's the difference between taking peelies off of a product and taking wine tags? I'll take wine tags but not peelies.

[mama22qts]

Well, if the peelie says 'on this purchase' or 'on this item', then I'd probably leave them there, but most of the time the peelies are for another item anyhow, and I don't have a problem peeling them off and using them on what they are for. Nowhere does it say that you have to buy the item that the peelie is on.

There are some that say 'not valid unless removed by cashier' that I probably would leave alone. Other than that, I don't see a problem with taking a modest amount.

[LauraKay28]

Well, y'all are making me feel better. Thanks. =) I peeled off 5 coupons for $5 off ANY Nice n Easy. They were not good on the product that they were stuck on. So, I guess MIL was thinking that I can't take something stuck on another box.

These are the root touch-ups, and one of the boxes actually rang up at $5.97, but the others were at $3. Thankfully I caught it, even with 3 kids around, and the guy took the $5.97 off, re-rang it as $3, and THEN, took off $3 for the price adjustment. I guess this is a policy if something doesn't ring up right? I didn't even say anything!

The UPC's were 038151901243 and 038151901251 for the ones that rang up correctly.

An overage of $10 plus the $3 he gave me for it ringing up wrong! Yay!!!

I just happened to walk past the clearance, and couldn't believe these were there, since another poster wrote about the $5 peelies.

Great day at Wallyworld!

[angelmvm]

I am relatively new to the couponing scene.. and am starting to get the hang of some things. One thing I haven't seen addressed is peelies..

I've seen them on items I never would buy. I feel bad taking them off (so I don't), as they are obviously designed for the purchaser of the item to which they are attached. Some SPECIFICALLY say, to be removed by cashier.

So, if you remove a peelie that doesn't say remove only by cashier.. is it :::GULP::: coupon fraud? .... or just bad form?

OR am I way off, and it's every couponer for her(or him)self?

:shrug7:

[BusyBeeMommy]

Do you have to purchase the product you take a peelie off of? I feel kind of weird taking the peelie off the product and not buying it lol Thanks!!

[cdeschepp2]

Just have to vent a little....I can understand people taking some of the peelies off product to get a good deal....but do they have to wipe out over 80 products in 3 stores! Every walgreens in my city got hit...went in at 8am and they were there...went home to get my coupons for b1g1f refills and give some to my friends to get free smelly refills and warmers went back and EVERY single one had been taken...went down the street....the same....down the street....the same

I know times are tough but leave some for the rest of us please.

[AniGirl]

I'm guilty of taking peelies here and there :whistle67:, but I limit myself to one!

[sati769leigh]

oh WOW! i am guilty of maybe once or twice snagging a spare peelie but not ALL of them!

[MnM's Mama]

Overly ambitious peelie peeling people perturb me!

[froginpigtails]

same here!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have been trying to buy the refills with free warmer peelies and they are all STRIPPED. NONE LEFT
not fair

[tipsy]

guy's ever thought that it's not the couponers taking them but the store when they stock them? I know conspiracy theory but maybe they don't want to have to deal with the coupons so they remove them? just a thought...

[mrsrudyjax]

My guess is those peelies will make their way to Ebay. I feel the same way OP - sorry that happened to you.

[cdeschepp2]

I know it wasn't my store employees...most coupon friendly people I have ever met in my life...if you want to do 40 transactions they'll sit there for an hour with you and laugh at the savings :) Most of the employees didn't even realize this batch had coupons on them since the manager put them out lol and the manager is the one who asks me if I have any extra 5/20 coupons cause she forgot to print hers :)

[sati769leigh]

I'm guilty of taking peelies here and there :whistle67:, but I limit myself to one!


AH HA!! so you are the one! LOL:giggle2:

[rfspen]

:shrug7: And I feel quilty about taking one, there are cameras in every store, and Walgreens has mirrors at the back of their stores. The manager looks at me odd enough when I go in, especially on Fri. double dip, and he never has the next month's rebate book out, and I have to ask for it.

[MamaBird06]

I feel weird enough taking the coupons from tearpads/blinkies, I couldn't imagine taking them from the products. I was rather annoyed when all the coupons were taken off the eggs at hyvee. But they did get more in the next week so i was able to get the coupons (and eggs) then. But i was just thinking the other day, maybe if i see some good peelies i will just take a couple,since i rarely find them when i actually go to buy the product!

[isis]

Sometimes it IS the employees. My brother is a Nabisco rep and one day he spent the day sticking peelies on the products. The next week, the items were on sale and using the coupons attacted made them either free or close to it. He was doing his orders and noticed all the peelies were gone, so he asked a worker stocking the shelves what happened. He said the manager told him to peel them off. My brother liked to die and had a chat with Mr Manager. Apparently, he didn't understand the idea of coupons attached to the products pushed sales!!

[ritzeeINtx]

:howdy: Just a little information to add to this. Certain companies have the exclusive rights to all shelf channels (this is the part of the shelf you see the machines attached to.) in all the stores. They pay high dollars to secure this right. I worked for them in the Dallas / Fort Worth area. One of the things we were to do is take down all competitors coupons (be it tear pads, other coupon boxes that showed up in the price channels) and some of the people would go so far as to take the neck tags (these are the coupons that hang around bottles) and peelies too. They mainly hire retired people to do this job since they do not pay really good. So allot of this might be these guys doing this. They had a schedule to service and do ad changes. So they were usually in the stores at least once a week if not every two. Just FYI. Hope this helps you.

[JOURDYSMOM]

I limit myself to 5 at a visit...once a week... and normally only for items I buy or use

[luvmy3boys]

I rarely peel and it took all I had to hold back today when I saw all those free peelies. I did not want to buy the stuff so I didn't peel. I have changed my attitude about it. I used to peel all the time, now I don't.

Sorry they were all gone.

[michelle1233]

our store emplyee dont take them either. i have walk down the alise and i seen people stand and pull all them off. and their is not much you can say.

[purplefdu]

My guess is those peelies will make their way to Ebay. I feel the same way OP - sorry that happened to you.
Or someone's havelist or auctions....I see them often in groups of 10 or 20 or even more and just kind of get sick to my stomach. Sometimes i wonder if the stores or employees sent to put peelies up are swiping them before even putting them out.

[txqgirl]

yeah they are already on ebay. i went there to find out what is should be lookin for in stores :mad19:

[Benz1968]

lol..Out of the loop. :giggle2: Read the whole thread and don't know which peelie is being spoken about. Can someone please tell me. :wink7:

[navybaby1113]

I feel weird enough taking one or two. I could never take all of them off the products.

[cdeschepp2]

it was the pink peelie at walgreens that were on the glade oil refills good for a free warmer up to 4.99 :)

[Aspenlover]

I feel weird enough taking one or two. I could never take all of them off the products.

I feel the same way. I took off one peelie just yesterday and I felt like I was stealing. It was for a product that I knew had a TMF peelie on it. I had forgotten my coupon for the product when I first saw the peelie so I left it, went home and got the coupon and by the time I got back they were ALL gone and there had been over a dozen. This time I took the peelie FIRST, but only one and I'll go back with my coupon and buy the product.

[bestcouponer]

it was the pink peelie at walgreens that were on the glade oil refills good for a free warmer up to 4.99 :)
just curious where are you located i had the same problem at my walgreens and I'm located in Jonesboro, AR

[~~Who,Me?~~]

I hate when people take peelies. I always encourage people to ask themselves this--Would you do it in front of store personnel? If your answer is no, then I think you know it's wrong. If you would and the staff has no problems with it--then peel away I say--I'll be mad at the staff instead of the peelers.:wink7:

A couple of years ago, there was an awesome Huggies wipes deal at Target. What made it even better was that the tubs of wipes had peelies on them for a bath product. I bought literally dozens and dozens of tubs of wipes (14 cents each!) and every.single.one. of them was missing the peelie. You could see where it had been there and removed.

Take the high road--there are enough good deals out there to be had without taking peelies off of products you aren't buying.

[ILv2Shop]

In another thread I just read, a lady said its against the law. She saw a lady being arrested for it at Walmart. This is definately heresay as I'm reapeating what another poster posted but if it is a law, that would be a good reason to avoid the temptation. Tried Googing it but didn't come up with any laws about it. Hmmm.

[neverfullprice]

Sounds like my town! I never can find peelies!

[cdeschepp2]

Northern Indiana here

[ronnangela]

If you think about it.. it could be several people. Say 10 people each go in and take 2 peelies. There goes 20 coupons. If the manufacture want to make sure the people buying the products get the coupons they really need to make them part of the box. While I did not witness it in Walgreens I have seen peelie peelers at Meijers. I watched 3 people each take 2 or 3 of them in a matter of less then 2 minutes. Nobody was being greedy taking too many.. but if just 3 people take a few in less then 2 minutes. It is fair to say that after a day or 2 they could all be gone.

[PirateQueen]

A moderator posted a little after that to let everyone know it is NOT against the law.


In another thread I just read, a lady said its against the law. She saw a lady being arrested for it at Walmart. This is definately heresay as I'm reapeating what another poster posted but if it is a law, that would be a good reason to avoid the temptation. Tried Googing it but didn't come up with any laws about it. Hmmm.

[whatsfree4me]

:howdy: Just a little information to add to this. Certain companies have the exclusive rights to all shelf channels (this is the part of the shelf you see the machines attached to.) in all the stores. They pay high dollars to secure this right. I worked for them in the Dallas / Fort Worth area. One of the things we were to do is take down all competitors coupons (be it tear pads, other coupon boxes that showed up in the price channels) and some of the people would go so far as to take the neck tags (these are the coupons that hang around bottles) and peelies too. They mainly hire retired people to do this job since they do not pay really good. So allot of this might be these guys doing this. They had a schedule to service and do ad changes. So they were usually in the stores at least once a week if not every two. Just FYI. Hope this helps you.

I don't think this is fair to the other companies that pay to have the peelie on their product. If you ask me it is stealing.

I always felt like the peelie belongs to whoever buys the product. They are there for somebody to use while purchasing that bottle or whatever. You are talking part of the package when you tear them off. To me it is almost the same as opening a package to take out whatever bonus is included because it is free any way.

[BoydTeam]

If anything taking the peelies off products you aren't buying is bad Karma.

I took a peelie once during a Wags trip and that transaction was a nightmare. I never took a peelie again. I'm superstitious. With the gas money I spend to go take peelies off products, I can sit at home and buy them off ebay while sipping my coffee and watching some TV.

[mama22qts]

So funding the folks who peel them off isn't bad karma??

[jessalee3]

I have a weird coupon conscience and can't take peelies if I'm not buying the product right there. Sometimes it sucks when you want to buy a product and all you feel is the sticky residue. I've seen people taking tons of them off products at one time. It seems to be getting worse.

I guess people do what they feel comfortable with and times are tough, the competition for the deals is fierce. I believe in a sort of coupon karma too so if something doesn't feel right to me, I just don't do it. Even when I see a whole tearpad of Lipton pure leaf tea tearpads and know I can use them all, I still can only take a few otherwise the guilt would haunt me!

[BoydTeam]

So funding the folks who peel them off isn't bad karma??

Nope.

[daniela6968]

Albertsons had a peelie on the Sunkist 12pk. Save $1 on one 12pk or 2 - 2ltrs of Sunkist. Obviously, you had to peel them to use them for the 2ltrs. Since Kroger has a better deal, I took 6 of them. If you buy 5, you get 1 free. So, $5.64 for 6, minus .94 for the free one, minus $3 in q's is $1.70 for all 6. .28 cents each! If Albies weren't so far away for me, I'd go back for more.

Why shouldn't you be able to use them where YOU, the consumer, would benefit better from them? You are still buying the product. IMHO

[goodplans]

I know my store takes peelies, because my coupon~friendly employee friends give me one or two to use with my purchase. So, it might be employees doing it from time to time.

[mama22qts]

I was at Walgreen's today and I didn't see any of the peelies you're talking about, but I have to admit I took one of each of two different ones I saw...I know I'll use them later on.

[Benz1968]

So funding the folks who peel them off isn't bad karma??


ok that comment is hilarious :hysterical:

[Benz1968]

Nope.


And so is your innocent response. :hysterical: In your mind it's all good. :giggle2: I mean that in a funny way not smart alec way.

I'll take a peelie just not all of them. Just admitting I'm a peelie taker. So I'm not pointing any fingers. :whistle67:

[mama22qts]

:giggle2:
ok that comment is hilarious :hysterical:

[tipsy]

the only way I'll pull a peelie is if I am buying a product and the particular variety I want has no peelie but another variety of the same product does then I might pull one to get buy the product right then. That technically might be wrong also but that's what I do.

[BoydTeam]

And so is your innocent response. :hysterical: In your mind it's all good. :giggle2: I mean that in a funny way not smart alec way.

I'll take a peelie just not all of them. Just admitting I'm a peelie taker. So I'm not pointing any fingers. :whistle67:

I just tell myself that those peelies are legit and some super fabulous couponer tore them off her wonderful (purchased) finds and is sharing the wealth :giggle2:

[mama22qts]

I just found a bunch of Kellogg's $1/1 and you can bet I pulled off as many as I can use...

[BBgirl]

I just found a bunch of Kellogg's $1/1 and you can bet I pulled off as many as I can use...

I believe if the the manufacter didn't want us to peel peelies they would put the coupon INSIDE the package with a coupon for ____ included inside on the box. I'm a peelie peeler. I don;t take all but I try to take what I will use.

[irishlass]

:surrender1:I give up.....I admit....I have been known to pull a peelie now and then :giggle2:

[UrbanMama]

I have done it too, but the last time my 3yo was with me and he said "No no mommy".

Made me feel a little guilty......

[TheWoman]

I just tell myself that those peelies are legit and some super fabulous couponer tore them off her wonderful (purchased) finds and is sharing the wealth :giggle2:

I have a bunch of peelies that I actually got that way, believe it or not.

[MamaSvs]

I have done it too, but the last time my 3yo was with me and he said "No no mommy".

Made me feel a little guilty......

I peel. I only will take a few at a time. I never, ever peel all and I often let others know that they are available. I don't agree with taking all the coupons but I like to take a share the wealth attitude towards my couponing/saving.

My 6 yr old loves to coupon with me. He also will peel only taking one or two at a time. I agree with him when he says "they puts these here cause they want you to think about buying this stuff." If the coupon was exclusive to that product the manufacturers would make the coupon valid on actually purchasing that item. Coupon issuers are not stupid. They know that peelie coupons attract attention and ultimately get consumers to purchase their product - whether it is at that time or at some time in the future. They have specific reasons for putting coupons on the inside/outside of products. Many times they can not put tearpads on a display/shelf. Peelies/hangtags/etc. are they only way they have of distributing those q's. I wonder if those who are against taking any peelies ever take q's from a tearpad without purchasing that product?

[abond0017]

I peel. I only will take a few at a time. I never, ever peel all and I often let others know that they are available. I don't agree with taking all the coupons but I like to take a share the wealth attitude towards my couponing/saving.

My 6 yr old loves to coupon with me. He also will peel only taking one or two at a time. I agree with him when he says "they puts these here cause they want you to think about buying this stuff." If the coupon was exclusive to that product the manufacturers would make the coupon valid on actually purchasing that item. Coupon issuers are not stupid. They know that peelie coupons attract attention and ultimately get consumers to purchase their product - whether it is at that time or at some time in the future. They have specific reasons for putting coupons on the inside/outside of products. Many times they can not put tearpads on a display/shelf. Peelies/hangtags/etc. are they only way they have of distributing those q's. I wonder if those who are against taking any peelies ever take q's from a tearpad without purchasing that product?



I agree with this completely and have never once felt even a bit guilty for taking them, although I do not take them all (unless there are only one or two to begin with).

I have seen plenty of peelies that specifically say "valid only on this purchase" or "must be removed by cashier" (I dont take these). So, I know that by not including these limitations, manufacturers are making a consious decision to allow people to take them and use them on future purchases if they like. I have even been given them by a vendor who was in the process of attaching them. He knew I was not going to be using all of them at that time.

My mom wont take them because she feels like she is stealing from the store no matter how much I try to convince her. The store doesnt own the coupons...the manufacturer does and they could control it if they wanted.

[SweetLexie520]

The only time I've taken almost every peelie I could find was at Aldi (where they don't even accept them, lol!) The coupons were on the strawberries, and they were $1 a carton of Green Giant strawberries if you buy a certain cereal (I got q's listing both Fiber One and Special K). I said "almost every peelie" b/c I only took them off the cartons of strawberries that were so moldy and leaky that NO ONE was going to buy them. :sick77: Aldi has a knack for putting out moldy strawberries, lol!

They don't expire till Jan. 09 I think. I was hoping that GE would sell these strawberries, but I haven't found a store in my area that carries them yet.
I'll probably auction them eventually...:giggle2:

[shannondw1]

:whistle67: Peelie steeler here!:whistle67:

Yeah ok a few months ago I wouldn't have even known what a peelie was or that there were free products out there! So a couple of weeks ago when I was at Wags trying to get the Alka-Seltzer deal I noticed these bright orange stickers on the front...OMG are these the mysterious peelies everyone is talking about - now I know what a peelie is! So I take a gander OMG it's for up to $4.99 on this product or similar glade so I took 4 of the 3.79 refills and 4 of the plugs so 8 in all and I left more I wanted to take all, but I couldn't!! Now unless it's a free peelie I'll only take 1 or 2 like I did on the cookies (free Milk w/purchase) only took 2 of those. But I'll totally use all those glades so no waste. And I did share the wealth; they lady behind me asked how I got all those so cheep and I told her about the coupon right on the package. She didn't bother to run over there and get some but her loss. I went back a few days later and they were still there so I took 2 more and got the refills. I did feel a little like a thief:hysterical:
I'm hijacking the coupons nobody move!

[browntl5]

Ethics and squeamishness aside (I really am a sharer, I swear!), does anyone know what the actual store or manufacturer policies are on this? I had never taken peelies off of one product and bought another with it until tonight. Rite Aid had Kotex LiteDays for 99 cents, and there were $1 off peelies on the Kotex pads for any Kotex product. I took four and got four boxes of LiteDays for free.

So does anyone know if there are policies against what I've done? I don't want to do anything against the store policies.

Thanks!

Never mind -- I found my answer at http://www.hotcouponworld.com/forums/1306242-post19.html.

Looks like it's not illegal and no one cares.
Woohoo! More free panty liners!
:evillaugh4:


:fall2:

[Onward]

I can see my late German grandmother standing behind me saying, "If it's not yours, don't take it!" IMHO the manufacturer stuck a peelie on a product for the person buying that item. If I took a peelie off something I wasn't buying I'd be waiting for sirens to blare and lights to flash.

Of course, I never go in the 'Exit' door, either, so I might be a little overboard on following rules.....

[hburmeister]

I don't think this is fair to the other companies that pay to have the peelie on their product. If you ask me it is stealing.

I always felt like the peelie belongs to whoever buys the product. They are there for somebody to use while purchasing that bottle or whatever. You are talking part of the package when you tear them off. To me it is almost the same as opening a package to take out whatever bonus is included because it is free any way.

im in agreement here...just this past saturday, i was at walgreens taking advantage of their bleach sales and tylenol. bleach 60 oz bottles were $1.49 with their ad Q. there were Q in one of the inserts where you save $2 on clorox wyb any size and a 4 oz tylenol. The tylenols had $1.50 Q peelies on them. I was sooooooooooooooooo thankful that the peelies were STILL THERE! YAYYYYY anyway, 2 tell u the rest of the story, i got a $5 rr since i purchased 3 of the tylenols and it made the bleach free cuz of the $2 Q and gave me $0.51 towards the tylenols! yipppeeee for peeelies! LEAVE THEM ON THE PRODS! TY TY TY:BigHand:

[hburmeister]

I can see my late German grandmother standing behind me saying, "If it's not yours, don't take it!" IMHO the manufacturer stuck a peelie on a product for the person buying that item. If I took a peelie off something I wasn't buying I'd be waiting for sirens to blare and lights to flash.

Of course, I never go in the 'Exit' door, either, so I might be a little overboard on following rules.....

i, like u, go in the in and out the out.....i think it has a little to do w/ values and morales.....i guess i could be wrong, i'm thinking no:whistle67:

[rrpate]

:surrender1:I give up.....I admit....I have been known to pull a peelie now and then :giggle2:

me too... only on ones i will use... and i share them too! they do get used. never take all either.

[Sahmy]

Or someone's havelist or auctions....I see them often in groups of 10 or 20 or even more and just kind of get sick to my stomach. Sometimes i wonder if the stores or employees sent to put peelies up are swiping them before even putting them out.

The company I work for checks ebay and other sites regularly. They will (and have) fired people for selling the coupons.

The instructions are usually to dispose of all unused coupons once they are removed from the store. One of the first things you are told is disposing of them on ebay gets you in trouble. :biggrin:

[goodplans]

The company I work for checks ebay and other sites regularly. They will (and have) fired people for selling the coupons.

The instructions are usually to dispose of all unused coupons once they are removed from the store. One of the first things you are told is disposing of them on ebay gets you in trouble. :biggrin:
I've often thought I'd like to "take out the trash" for my friendly, neighborhood Walgreens. Strictly to help out, of course...:whistle67:

[VJWilson27]

I'm a peelie peeler... LOL But only when I KNOW I'm going to use them or at least I know someone who will use them and never all of them. Like back during the last robitussin sale, I knew that CVS has $1/1 peelies on their robitussin. I actually went as far as to count what "flavors" of robitussin Wags had and then drove to CVS to get those exact peelies, and drove back to use them... :biggrin:

[Tamara]

I believe if the the manufacter didn't want us to peel peelies they would put the coupon INSIDE the package with a coupon for ____ included inside on the box. I'm a peelie peeler. I don;t take all but I try to take what I will use.

Amen! :hysterical:

[~~Who,Me?~~]

I believe if the the manufacter didn't want us to peel peelies they would put the coupon INSIDE the package with a coupon for ____ included inside on the box. I'm a peelie peeler. I don;t take all but I try to take what I will use.


I disagree--then they'd make tearpads if they really didn't care. But hangtags and peelies are clearly intended to be used on that particular product.

[vintagerose61]

My guess is those peelies will make their way to Ebay. I feel the same way OP - sorry that happened to you.

I bid on Ebay for two warmer coupons for free warmers a couple of weeks ago and guess what? When they came they were peelies!!! I had thought that they would be weekend insert cutouts. :whistle67:

[abond0017]

This is what I compare it to to I know Im not doing anything wrong.

There are manufacturer qs that have store logos and then there are some that say "redeemable only at ___." You are allowed to use the ones with just a store logo at any store...the logo is just a suggestion on where to use the q...if they wanted it to be used only at that store they would indicate it with the appropriate verbage. Right?

Its the same with peelies. Like I said before, if they were really intent on making sure you never took that peelie to use later...they would put "only on this product" or "void if not removed by cashier". Having it attached to the product is just a strong nudge for you to use it right then and there.

Logically it doesnt make sense that you are forbidden to take them and use them later. The manufacturer could make it so if they wanted that to be a rule. They arent clueless. They know it happens.

And I do have good morals (and I am considerate when taking them)....but how morally sound I am is moot when its an imaginary rule that is the deciding factor.

[~~Who,Me?~~]

This is what I compare it to to I know Im not doing anything wrong.

There are manufacturer qs that have store logos and then there are some that say "redeemable only at ___." You are allowed to use the ones with just a store logo at any store...the logo is just a suggestion on where to use the q...if they wanted it to be used only at that store they would indicate it with the appropriate verbage. Right?

Its the same with peelies. Like I said before, if they were really intent on making sure you never took that peelie to use later...they would put "only on this product" or "void if not removed by cashier". Having it attached to the product is just a strong nudge for you to use it right then and there.

Logically it doesnt make sense that you are forbidden to take them and use them later. The manufacturer could make it so if they wanted that to be a rule. They arent clueless. They know it happens.

And I do have good morals (and I am considerate when taking them)....but how morally sound I am is moot when its an imaginary rule that is the deciding factor.

So then, are you willing to peel them off of products in front of store staff?

[JOURDYSMOM]

So then, are you willing to peel them off of products in front of store staff?

Yes, and I am willing to tell them how I use the said Q's to get a good deal too! I share nicely!

[faeryedark]

So then, are you willing to peel them off of products in front of store staff?
I have, I'm like wow! This 'll be a good deal when they go on sale, give 'em a cheesy grin and walk off. On occasion, they'll ask if I know where/when the sale is.

[quiltingdiva]

I will admit to peelie peeling. I rarely do it anymore, because most of what I find isn't useful to me. I only peel it if I will personally use it, not to trade or sell.

However, I liken this to taking winetags. I very rarely ever find any winetags, I know they are put out, because a friend of mine works at the main grocery store I shop at. She said that they just disappear within the day that they are put out it seems. :frown:

So are those of you that are opposed to peelie stealing also against taking winetags off bottles that you don't intend to purchase?

[queenofthehivemomof5]

I am a peelie peeler. And I will take more than I will use myself. I take 5-10 a visit and if there are more the next time around I will get some more, I am the only couponer in my area and if not peeled the peelies will sit and expire. The ones I won't use I trade (if anyone has ever looked at my have list I offer the option of PPHF of a penny a coupon plus shipping so I am not making money off the coupons its more about sharing to me)

And yes I would peel infront of store staff and have in-fact asked if it is OK with 4 store managers and they all said that they did not care as long as I did not damage the package.

Do what you feel comfortable with I guess but IMO (and it may be unpopular) is you snooze ya loose. Get there first to peel the peelies and get your deals.

[moonflower]

I am a peelie peeler. And I will take more than I will use myself. I take 5-10 a visit and if there are more the next time around I will get some more, I am the only couponer in my area and if not peeled the peelies will sit and expire. The ones I won't use I trade (if anyone has ever looked at my have list I offer the option of PPHF of a penny a coupon plus shipping so I am not making money off the coupons its more about sharing to me)

And yes I would peel infront of store staff and have in-fact asked if it is OK with 4 store managers and they all said that they did not care as long as I did not damage the package.

Do what you feel comfortable with I guess but IMO (and it may be unpopular) is you snooze ya loose. Get there first to peel the peelies and get your deals.

Ditto

[Clipper]

The only time I've taken almost every peelie I could find was at Aldi (where they don't even accept them, lol!) The coupons were on the strawberries, and they were $1 a carton of Green Giant strawberries if you buy a certain cereal (I got q's listing both Fiber One and Special K). I said "almost every peelie" b/c I only took them off the cartons of strawberries that were so moldy and leaky that NO ONE was going to buy them. :sick77: Aldi has a knack for putting out moldy strawberries, lol!

They don't expire till Jan. 09 I think. I was hoping that GE would sell these strawberries, but I haven't found a store in my area that carries them yet.
I'll probably auction them eventually...:giggle2:


Oh heck yeah, I'd have taken every last one of them because they're not redeemable at that store.

[abond0017]

So then, are you willing to peel them off of products in front of store staff?

Yes...and I have...they said nothing.

Although I do try not to do it in front of them if I can...but not because Im doing anything wrong...just because as many couponers have experienced, there is always someone who wants to tell you what you are doing with coupons is wrong becuase they know everything...and I dont like confrontation.

[dani84m]

I disagree--then they'd make tearpads if they really didn't care. But hangtags and peelies are clearly intended to be used on that particular product.


I disagree. Sometimes the peelie has nothing to do with the product. An example: at my store there is a box of cat litter that has a .50 coupon for clorox cleaner. Tell me why i have to spend 8-9 dollars just to get .50 off the clorox. That is no incentive for me to buy the clorox.

Also if they were intended to be used at that particular time then they wouldnt have expiration dates that are months away.


I try not to take too many. If its something i will definately use i might take a few more. I would never take all unless i knew they werent going to be used.

[ShoppingCartDiva]

I peel peelies every time I go in, 1 or 2.
But almost all of them, in many of the stores I go to, will NOT be used by expiration date.

[Timswife81404]

I've saw mention of peelies and people getting them, and I was wondering....Do you peel the peelies off of products you aren't buying? Like to save for later or whatever?

[hbaqueen]

Hi
If you go under coupons by source and then peelies there are many conversations on this. the answers will be from day to night
Some people peel away without a care in the world, others only peel if buying right then and others will take a few but not all.
I dont think there is a right answer do what you feel is right but please have some consideration for other couponers.

[puakinikini]

Yes, that is what people are doing. This is somewhat controversial, as some will tell you that is not right to take the peelie if you are not buying that product at that time.

[Timswife81404]

Thanks. I was just wondering if I was understanding it right. I've thought about doing it, but I've always felt like I would be stealing and that someone would see me and tell on me. LOL.

[cuzisaidso]

bump

[martinigirl90]

Not sure If this is ok to post or not, just wanted to let you all of you know, that today at Kroger's there was a lady peeling the pop-tarts
coupons off $1. She was caught and the store manager was saying that she could face charges for "THEFT" since she was putting them in her purse and NOT buying the product.

It wasn't a pretty, it got a little bit messy, we do not know what happended to her, we continued w/our shopping.

I'm in Houston and I just wanted to share this with all of you.

Once again " Not sure if this is appropiate to share here or another thread"

[Ggbwg]

It's not illegal as far as i know. I have peeled them off right in front of a manager before. He just looked to see what i was doing and went on about his business. Never said a word to me.

[NIGHTB1022]

just my 2 cents, it irritates me to no end when i go to buy a product that had a peelie on it and it is gone. I mean seriously, that is low to swipe the peelies, it's one thing to take the blinkies as they are loaded in a machine for that purpose, but to take the peelies in my book is theft if you don't buy that product. You are stealing it from a future couponer, think about that.

[homescrapper]

Couldn't agree more!!!

If it's not stealing from the store it is stealing from the owner of that box of POP TARTS ... Seriously is a 1.00 Q worth it!! :mad37:

[faeryedark]

OMG!!! It's the great peelie debate all over again.
As far as I know, it's not illegal, and I too have done it right in front of the manager. I usually don't take many but I do take 'em esp. if I know of a better sale elsewhere or know that one is coming up.

[bbmeridian]

Is it considered stealing if you take a peelie off a package but don't buy the item?

I was really bothered today when I was watched by the store manager for taking a bogo off of a box of apple jacks to use on rice krispies. It looked like he was trying to figure out if he wanted to confront me an I feel really guilty now.

Does anyone know how the stores feel about this?:sad:

[savalotmom]

This is a sticky issue..More about your personal ethics than anything else..I don't know the store rules about this, but you have to do what allows you to sleep at night. For me, if a peelie exists on a product available for purchase, it is intended for the person who purchases that item. To pull it off and take it would not allow me to sleep that night. Note your title..."Peelie Stealing".. No judgment, just my opinion. Curious to see what others think about the issue.

[mrsjschultz]

No. It is not considered stealing to take a few peelies off an item.

[Brahim]

If you see a product with a peelie, and it doesn't say you *can't* remove it...should you ethically? can you legally? I saw tons of these today and wondered.

Also, ethically how many tear sheets is ok to take? Or just grab the whole pad?


I wonder....

/philosophical coupon musing!

[shetlandponyluvr]

I, myself, think it's alright to take a few peelies, but not all of them. Same way with tear pads & blinkies.

[Doreen]

:wavehi: Leave some for me to use! Thx-->:biggrin:

[faeryedark]

First, I would never take a whole tearpad. As far as legality, there's generally people that put the peelies on (I've seen them in the stores) and they don't care. The coupon is for the consumer to use on the product specified.
I do take some (first i'll check the exp. date and whether it'll double) and if the date is not too close and it's a decent Q I'll grab some. I'm starting to get a hang of certain sales and clearance cycles @ my fav. stores...so i'll hold them until I can use them to my maximum benefit.
case in point, I grabbed some 65 cent off Solo peelies a few months back. a month later the paper plates went on sale for $1.23 p/pack...free plates for me.

[jenrose]

With peelies you frequently have to peel them to read the full details of the coupon. I usually don't take more then 1-2 in a trip depending on the peelie. Once you peel it to read it only a few of them will be able to put back on the package anyways.

With the blinkies I only take as many as people have pulled out then put up top or 1-2 if there are none already pulled.

Hangtags are my biggest issue. They tend to be on better products but not currently on sale so I try to grab a few of those to use in future weeks when they do get on sale :whistle67:.

Just don't get greedy and all is well. :wink7:

[Virusfdu]

If yo have to ask about the ethical/moral side you already know in your heart the answer...looking for someone to tell you its ok to take all the peelies or the whole tearpad won't make you feel better for long.

I always take a couple if we see something. Yes we may really need them all, but I'd hate to find the empty pad or peeled boxes and know someone took them just to trade or use them all and be greedy. They may not care but we all know they don't intend one person to redeem 50+ coupons.

[pnault17]

I don't grab on things I don't buy. :shrug7:

If I know it will work for an upcoming WAGS or CVS deal, I might grab a few, but not more than that.

If it's something I use CONSTANTLY, I will grab a few.

Case in point, we've got $1/1 Kellogg's peelies right now, and I've grabbed probably 5 or 6 every time I've been in the store. They're on 5 different cereals, and I try to grab a small amount from different areas so no one area is cleared. I figure Kelloggs wants the q's to boost their sales, and I am going to buy their stuff. Just not today at $4.50 per box. :whistle67: But I don't feel I'm cheating the manufacturer or the other shoppers. There's easily another hundred peelies out on the sales floor, and if there are more when I go this week, I'll grab a few more.

[Brahim]

See, I'm not sure it's ethical to take *any* peelies if you aren't buying that product right then and there...

[~~Who,Me?~~]

There used to be a whole sticky thread on the HOTC forum, but I can't find it. You've opened the proverbial can of worms, lol. Most couponers have an opinion about this.

[lalanpnut]

I don't take peelies, period. They were obviously put on that specific product for that purchase, but if that's what you want, go for it. I will save them if I've bought the product for use at a different store with better deals, though.

As for tearpads, I'll take a few extra, but no more than I know I can use, and no more than two for trading/RAOK! Our only store that has tearpads anymore is the commissary anyway, and sometimes the baggers save extras for me before they're put out, so there's really no reason for me to be greedy if I wanted to!

Just know, everyone, that it IS GREEDY if you take more than you can use, or just take them to sell them. It's taking from those who intend to use them.

[Doreen]

Pack your bags, boxes, binders, and peelies.

We could be in for a move to HUTC :)

[Brahim]

oh my! I'm sorry..Is "I didn't know better" a good enough excuse?

[adriansmommie]

I think it is wrong to take peelies off of items u are not purchasing. As far as tearpads go I take what I will use. I think it is wrong to take the whole pad.

[Ggbwg]

Pack your bags, boxes, binders, and peelies.

We could be in for a move to HUTC :)

Yep as we know , people are touchy on this subject :giggle2:

[Sweet_Southern_Mama]

Pack your bags, boxes, binders, and peelies.

We could be in for a move to HUTC :)


:hysterical:

[faeryedark]

Yep as we know , people are touchy on this subject :giggle2:
yep, we've been on this merry-go-round before:giggle2:

[wilsonh]

Thank you for asking a question that I have been too timid to ask here myself! I personally think it is wrong to take a peelie off a product that you do not intend to buy.

[Mitchell]

OK, Peelie Ethics Experts - here's one for you:

I buy 4 bags of Widgets. Most of the bags on the shelf are peelie-free. I get the last 4 peelied bags. The peelies are for "$3 off 2 bags of Widgets."

I use only 2 of the peelies for my 4 bags of Widgets and take the two other packages home still peelified for later use.

Is that 100% acceptable, borderline cceptable, or ethically iffy?

[Doreen]

OK, Peelie Ethics Experts - here's one for you:

I buy 4 bags of Widgets. Most of the bags on the shelf are peelie-free. I get the last 4 peelied bags. The peelies are for "$3 off 2 bags of Widgets."

I use only 2 of the peelies for my 4 bags of Widgets and take the two other packages home still peelified for later use.

Is that 100% acceptable, borderline cceptable, or ethically iffy?

I am certainly not a Peelie Ethics Experts, nor do I play one on HCW. :wink7:

However, you are going to have to make decisions for yourself in the store. You know, that feeling inside of you will let you know how you handle each situation.

Happy Couponing & Deal Seeking

[Mitchell]

I know what my decision is. Was. I took 'em without a second thought. I was just wondering what others thought since it's such a highly charged subject around here.

Had someone been shopping for the same item right then and there I would have offered them a peelie, however. I'm super helpful to other shoppers around me. I gave a $5 off $50 groceries to a guy in front of me today because I can't see myself buying that many groceries at Target and someone should get some use out of it.

ETA - Doreen quoted my type. Waaah!

[Doreen]

Had someone been shopping for the same item right then and their I would have offered them a peelie, however. I'm super helpful to other shoppers around me. I gave a $5 off $50 groceries to a guy in front of me today because I can't see myself buying that many groceries at Target and someone should get some use out of it.

Coupon karma is awesome! :wink7:

[faeryedark]

OK, Peelie Ethics Experts - here's one for you:

I buy 4 bags of Widgets. Most of the bags on the shelf are peelie-free. I get the last 4 peelied bags. The peelies are for "$3 off 2 bags of Widgets."

I use only 2 of the peelies for my 4 bags of Widgets and take the two other packages home still peelified for later use.

Is that 100% acceptable, borderline cceptable, or ethically iffy?
That's fine if ya want. if ya want to leave them for others that works too, or you could use them on afuture purchase. As long as they get used and aren't wasted. I hate to go say to a bent and dent and see packages that may very well be still "in date" but they have peelies that are expired.

[jenniferpy1]

I am certainly not a Peelie Ethics Experts, nor do I play one on HCW. :wink7:

However, you are going to have to make decisions for yourself in the store. You know, that feeling inside of you will let you know how you handle each situation.

Happy Couponing & Deal Seeking


I have to agree. I do sometimes take more than one peelie IF I plan to use them myself, but I won't take them all. I also NEVER take the whole coupon pad....just SOME of them. "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." Thanks to my fourth grade teacher, this still comes to mind from time to time.:wink7: I usually get PO'ed when I find a new display in my local stores, literally only been there a day or so, and the coupon pad is missing. Could ya' please leave a few for me!?! And other shoppers, too.

Although my DH swears I'm going to jail one day for shoplifting, I don't think you can go to jail for taking freebies. BUT if the store has a problem with it, they'll probably let you know.:whistle67:

I've also offered coupons in my organizer to other shoppers who were actually surprised that they could save a $. Another mother got emotional in the store b/c I helped her save $2 on juice for her toddler! Odd, but true.

[pnault17]

:confused77: :oops::mad83::emb1: :emb2:
:nervous7: :scared3:: :flame3: :mediate77:


:mediate82:

:chicken2:

[PennyLyons]

Yesterday at Publix I was standing behind a Rep. as he was putting up Capri Sun. I noticed a peelie on the box. It was crowded where we were so I eased in just enough to reach "at" the peelie. He whirled around with a frown and said "WHAT are you doing"? I said "I'm trying to read the peelie." "Here", he hands me the box, "read it off the box, DON'T! take it off the box".

Yikes! OK dude, relax , "Peelie Police" I'm thinking to myself. I was so got off with, I quickly read the peelie, handed him back the box and scurried away.

Can anyone give me the "Peelie Law"? Please?:thanks7:

[Skyecaitlin88]

don't think there is any.. but im always afraid the :coupon police: are gonna get me! *giggle*
I never realized how many FREE things you could get with coupons, it really feels sometimes like stealing..

[CouponSAHM]

I have no Peelie Law knowledge, but I think I would have cracked up laughing! He does realize not 30 minutes after he leaves most of them will be gone right? My own moral code for Peelies is to take only as many as I might use (usually 3) I have gotten burned many of times by there being none there when I go back to buy the item. I am an active trader but very seldom do I ever have peelies to trade because I limit myself to my own use.

[manders13]

http://www.hotcouponworld.com/forums/peelie-coupons/29246-taking-peelies-something-you-dont-buy.html

[manders13]

there is a huge thread that is now closed because it is a "hot topic"

Because mostcoupons don't have a value ($$ WISE) i don't see how they could arrest you but, you never know.

[loveebella]

I have never taken a peelie off an item I was not buying. I once returned some Miracle Whip I had already taken the peelies off and offered to give them back. Now if I find a peelie that someone else took of and threw..yes I will snatch it up, I guess I have just not found a peelie that has caught my eye enough to warrant me to take it..but I have only being q'ing for a little over a month.

[PennyLyons]

Yeah, stealing, I have mixed emotions about it. I assumed the manuf. wanted us to use them regardless if we purchased the product it was stuck to. Until I started couponing I never noticed the peelies at all. I do the same as CouponSAHM, take only what I will use. I suppose I need to seek the store manager out for his/her opinion. Certainly don't want to land up on the evening news. "Local Business owner arrested for Peelie stealing".

The irony of all this. I had never bought Capri Sun until 2 weeks ago (?) when the Capri Sun was on sale (no peelie on that box btw). I went to it on purpose just to see the regular price because we liked it. Now I have a negative feeling about Capri Sun, the rep put a "bad taste in my mouth". lol

[manders13]

I personally don't see it as stealing, because if it was "stealing" i dont think they would allow us to trade them and you wouldnt find them on ebay because if they were stolen they would be "stolen property" and by buying them you would be recieving stolen property.


I just made a realization,

I have WAY to much time on my hands! LOL

[CouponSAHM]

Yeah, stealing, I have mixed emotions about it. I assumed the manuf. wanted us to use them regardless if we purchased the product it was stuck to. Until I started couponing I never noticed the peelies at all. I do the same as CouponSAHM, take only what I will use. I suppose I need to seek the store manager out for his/her opinion. Certainly don't want to land up on the evening news. "Local Business owner arrested for Peelie stealing".

The irony of all this. I had never bought Capri Sun until 2 weeks ago (?) when the Capri Sun was on sale (no peelie on that box btw). I went to it on purpose just to see the regular price because we liked it. Now I have a negative feeling about Capri Sun, the rep put a "bad taste in my mouth". lol
If you got the same peelies as I did. They aren't even for capri sun they are for O.M. deli creations. WTH so what if I wasn't buying the caprisun but was walking over to the meatwall to buy the sandwiches!!
Don't let the rep-dude deter you from capri sun, it is summer time and the prices are great!!

[mama22qts]

This is the peelie law:

Do what feels right for you, and don't enforce your 'law' on anyone else.

[PennyLyons]

Thanks for the link Mod., and thank you all for your opinions.

[Mom2Natalya]

You know what- I would contact the company and tell them how rude their representative was to you. You are a paying customer, regardless of what you're doing with their coupons. (and hey, I saw those Oscar Mayer creations peelies just today actually). :)

[faeryedark]

Yesterday at Publix I was standing behind a Rep. as he was putting up Capri Sun. I noticed a peelie on the box. It was crowded where we were so I eased in just enough to reach "at" the peelie. He whirled around with a frown and said "WHAT are you doing"? I said "I'm trying to read the peelie." "Here", he hands me the box, "read it off the box, DON'T! take it off the box".

Yikes! OK dude, relax , "Peelie Police" I'm thinking to myself. I was so got off with, I quickly read the peelie, handed him back the box and scurried away.

Can anyone give me the "Peelie Law"? Please?:thanks7:
I don't think there is any either. I take them if I know I'm gonna use them esp. if I know there's asale coming up or know the item is on sale elsewhere.

BTW, I wouldn't feel too bad about taking a few peelies for yourself. I shop @ a"bent and dent" on occasion (generally for things you don't get coupons for...like braces for my carpal tunnel $6 for something that usually retails for $20-$25!!!)Anyway, sometimes I'll see products with the peelies still on them, on occasion the peelies are even still "in date". When I find those I take as many as I can because the B&D doesn't take coupons
However, more often than not they're expired.

[faeryedark]

I have no Peelie Law knowledge, but I think I would have cracked up laughing! He does realize not 30 minutes after he leaves most of them will be gone right? My own moral code for Peelies is to take only as many as I might use (usually 3) I have gotten burned many of times by there being none there when I go back to buy the item. I am an active trader but very seldom do I ever have peelies to trade because I limit myself to my own use.
LOL! I've actually put peelies back. I took a few on what was a good deal on pizza last week, made them $2 ea. So, I bought afew and we tried them and well, YUCK! So, I was in the store yesterday, going thru my coupons in the frozen isle and came across the peelies. Well, I tucked them back in with the boxes...almost felt guilty but maybe the next person will actually like them.

[faeryedark]

This is the peelie law:

Do what feels right for you, and don't enforce your 'law' on anyone else.
I like it!

[Lurkergirl]

I rarely see them myself .If I do see them I only have taken a few here and there .

[Shannon T]

Thanks OP I am new to this and often wondered about peelies & wine tags and if it was OK to take some. All this info is good....