I Was Accused of Coupon Fraud Today!!!

[junebug30523]

Today I went to do the Throat Coolers deal at one of my favorite CVS's. When I presented the Throat Coolers IP the middle aged male clerk said "Where's the original?" I said it was the original I had printed it directly off the internet. He said I obviously was copying the coupons since I had two of them as I was buying 4 of the Throat Coolers. I told him that they were legitimate and that I had been using Ip's with no problem. He read the coupon and said he could not accept them per the wording on the coupon and that if he did I was committing fraud!!!!I then asked to talked to the manager so he called up the Assistant Manager to deal with me. When the Assistant came up he saw the long line that had formed behind me due to the coupon "problem" so he just opened another register to help the backlog. Since my dh and I were late for an appointment I just took back my coupons and left.:sad: It was such a humilating experience! I truly felt like I was being accused of a crime when I was just using an IP which I have done many times! How should I handle this? I've thought of calling the store manager and/or CVS CS. Your input would be greatly appreciated.

[#1RobThomasfan]

Copy the link to the website with the q, then call the General/Regional Manager and tell them what happened. Offer to send the link for the q in an email. My bet is you'll get a big ole apology from the manager and CASHIER and a GC from the store. Make sure you tell them how embarrassed they made you feel.

[GODSPRINZES]

If I were you I would call Corporate on them. I always try to keep a copy of CVS coupon policy with me, or their 800 number. I had a problem with Pier One Imports one time, they didn't want to give me my money back, I stood there in line and called their Corporate Office, while I had them on the phone, the supervisor was on the phone with the manager of the store, when he came up he told me I would have my money back in a moment. I don't argue with people any more, the power is all in the finger's, let your finger's do the walking with a snap. CVS would not be in business without us. Please remind them of it.

[junebug30523]

Thanks so much RobThomasfan! Reps to you! BTW I am also a BIG Rob Thomas fan with or without Matchbox 20!!

[Katmandee]

Definitely call Customer Service at the 800# on the back of your card, they'll be nice! I called for the 1st time recently when a cashier (who knows me as a regular, but legitimate couponer) tried to intimidate me & started making up his own rules. He told me that I should watch out because CVS had just changed their policy the day before & from now on if you bought something that produced ECB's & paid for it with previous ECB's, then it would not print out your ECB's. He also refused to take my coupon for the monitor I was purchasing that was a money-maker deal. I called C.S. mostly just to see if what he told me about the new ECB rule was correct. They said it was definitely not & then put me on hold while they called that very store to "educate" them. They came back & said that the manager wanted to apologize, that the District Manager would be notified & apologized profusely. I didn't know what to expect when I called & was not calling to get anyone in trouble, but they were so nice!

[amciotola]

Sorry to hear about this, but one thing you can point out on the coupon itself that there are different numbers on each one you print. There should be a 3rd bar code on each coupon and those numbers are differnt on every one. Next time you can tell the clerk that if it were a photo copy *all* the bar code numbers would be identical.

I've had to point that out a few times to a cashier, after that I was give no problems.

HTH

[Ellizabeth]

Sorry to hear about this, but one thing you can point out on the coupon itself that there are different numbers on each one you print. There should be a 3rd bar code on each coupon and those numbers are differnt on every one. Next time you can tell the clerk that if it were a photo copy *all* the bar code numbers would be identical.

I've had to point that out a few times to a cashier, after that I was give no problems.

HTH

Unfortunately, thats not the case with this coupon. It does look exactly like the insert coupon and while it is legit and on the website, it gives every one the same link to print a coupon on the site.

I too, got into it with a manager over this coupon. I went out to my car, where I have a laptop w/internet access and wrote down the address of the site asking him to look for himself, but he just got nasty and refused.

Arghhh!!!

Liz

[kval07]

Before you contact CS or the DM, have you contacted the actual store manager? I would do that first. He might not have any idea about the situation. It could just be a lack of communication between the store manager and everyone else.

[DavidKing]

fire off a nasty email to Throat Coolers too and let them know of the problems. They should use coupons.com. I can see a cashier thinking this one is fraudulent.

[amciotola]

Unfortunately, thats not the case with this coupon. It does look exactly like the insert coupon and while it is legit and on the website, it gives every one the same link to print a coupon on the site.

Ok, I see now .. it's a PDF Q. Thanks.