alert to HT shoppers using internet coupons

[cpnmaniac44]

history:
I rarely use internet coupons. Last year, I had two and they were questioned as being real. I was advised by HT CS to take the whole printed sheet with me to the store. I did that today, with scissors, in case they wanted them clipped.

today:
My beloved HT disappointed me.
I had two internet coupons, $1/2 Palermo, printed from their official website.
My coupons printed fine except:
a. they were not fully in color because my printer is low on color ink.
b. there was nothing at the top or bottom of the page to show that they came from a website, and not Office Depot.

The person in line next to me, had the same coupon I had, and they got it from the same place I got mine. So did everyone else.
Well, his coupon wouild not scan so MY clerk went over and had to manually enter the discount.
I told my clerk I had the same coupon, and asked if he wanted me to clip it and he said no.
Well, my coupons would not scan either and he noticed mine was not in color. He went to CS and they said they could not take my coupons because the would not scan.
I asked:
"why did you accept the other person's exact same coupon and not mine?" (I got a stare and no answer)

I said "their coupon was neatly clipped and in color and there was nothing on their coupon to show it did not come from the color copier at Office Depot". The clerk said "it's different".
I said mine are not color because my printer is out of color ink. I can go home and use a relative's computer and bring back two color coupons
(as if the fact that it is color makes it real ????). They decline, and said we can take it this time,

BUT...

in the future

we can not take any internet coupon that will not scan by the computer scanner. I said, I'll go tell all the area HT coupon users of this new rule.
I again asked why was the other customer's coupon taken, and I got the same "zero" answer.

I am not sure what to do. Palermo is in control of the printing of the coupons and sometimes internet coupons have something at the top and bottom of the page, like the date, etc. but these did not.

There are no Palermo coupons out there except these internet coupons, and I was told they had been taking them all week. I was led to believe, they all scanned but mine.

What experience did you have with this same coupon?

Any way to get the website to let us print something beside just the coupon (which can resemble a photo copy?)

The only difference between my coupons and the one in the adjacent checkout line was mine were not cut out and not in color. I suggested, "how do you know that color coupon was not printed at Office Depot. It did not scan either."

I am not about to cheat HT out of $2.00 on a $35.00 order. I actually had a $1/1 Palermo and offered to use that instead of my second $1/2 (if they thought I printed one on my computer and the other one was a phony). They said no, we'll take yours "this time"



I did offer to go home and print more, on another printer. I suggested that "maybe the ink was not dark enough on the upc code". But, the customer beside me had a very colorful and bright coupon so darkness of code should not have been the issue. Their coupon was no more real than mine.

I also even asked for a raincheck and between now and 12/31/10 try to get, and find out, why the coupons do not scan and why the printed pages do not have anything at the top and bottom.

[leqet]

I've used those Palermo coupons int he past and they do look fake when they print out. I'm sorry, but I think you should have clipped them first. Also, I can't recall HT's policy but many of my stores have the policy that they do not take IP's that don't scan. it makes sense for them to make that policy with the number of fake IP's out there. I think the only thing you can do is write to Palermo and ask them to switch to a more offical looking IP coupon like Smart Source or Bricks format.

[cpnmaniac44]

I've used those Palermo coupons int he past and they do look fake when they print out. I'm sorry, but I think you should have clipped them first. Also, I can't recall HT's policy but many of my stores have the policy that they do not take IP's that don't scan. it makes sense for them to make that policy with the number of fake IP's out there. I think the only thing you can do is write to Palermo and ask them to switch to a more offical looking IP coupon like Smart Source or Bricks format.

You may be right.
I debated clipping them, but I just remembered months ago when they suggested taking the whole page. Next time, I'll use a relative's printer if my ink is still out of color ink so they will look like they were fresh off the
Office Depot (I mean MY) color printer. You really can not tell by "looking".

Their policy may state that (I'll go look), so they should have refused the other customer's coupon too. And no telling how many they took during the week that did not scan (maybe YMMV by clerk or checkout line).
In my case, today, it seemed my clerk was one of the employees with the authority to over ride a non scan.

I am not sure the manufacturer, or the customer, has control over which internet coupons will scan, even though I may have one coupon and be in one checkout line, and my neighbor is next to me in the other line with a coupon they got "from my printer" as well. (two customers and coupon source was the same (literally the same).

I'll send Palermo customer service a message, or call them and ask for advice.

I'm sure HT is too busy to avoid such a sale, when a coupon like that is outstanding.

YMMV (or in my case, MMMV) has been very positive, so I was surprised by today's event. Especially since I only had two coupons and I think that is their limit (?), and I offered several alternatives, like a rain check and I'll try to get answers on the scanning, or go home and get color coupons, etc.

[cpnmaniac44]

Internet Coupons

• We gladly accept internet manufacturer’s coupons for product; however no “free” product internet coupons are accepted.
• With the purchase of two like manufacturer’s products, we accept two internet coupons, per store, per day.
• We do not accept internet coupons that do not appear to be originals or that won’t scan.

My issue was they accepted the other customer's and I knew, absolutely, that their source was the same as mine.

I have sent Palermo a message about the "scanning" issue.
It still may be a YMMV thing and I just hit a road block today.

[bjr151]

I had a very similar experience. I have used these coupons on previous visits earlier in the year and told them that they were accepted then so I don't understand why they would not accept them now. After a minute discussion with the manager and the people behind me in line beginning to groan, they finally came over and approved it. I love Pal's pizza so hopefully they can get this resolved so that we can get back to doing what we love to do which is eat!

[cpnmaniac44]

I'll report back to this thread when I hear from Palermo's.

The B2G3 free sale should not have mattered on my mileage today, but it might have been.

You won't find these varieties in any other brand, the goat cheese, etc. YUM.

[ashleyzoso]

I used those same coupons and my coupon scanned just fine. I used the ones from a few weeks ago ($1 of ONE). I used 2 since it was buy 2 get 3 free. I know for sure that my HT will not allow more than 2 coupons on B2G3. They WILL beep after 2 for the B2G3.

[cpnmaniac44]

I used those same coupons and my coupon scanned just fine. I used the ones from a few weeks ago ($1 of ONE). I used 2 since it was buy 2 get 3 free. I know for sure that my HT will not allow more than 2 coupons on B2G3. They WILL beep after 2 for the B2G3.

I had two coupons and mine were $1/2 and I never saw any $1/1 on the internet. I did get a $1/1 today and it was a stick on coupon on top of one of my pizza boxes.

Mine did not scan and neither did the customer in front of me.
I guess next time, I'll clip them and be "less honest". I took the whole page so they would know they came off my printer. Unfortunately, the way they print, there was no "evidence" at the top and bottom, like you get when you print most things, coupons or not.

[ashleyzoso]

I had two coupons and mine were $1/2 and I never saw any $1/1 on the internet. I did get a $1/1 today and it was a stick on coupon on top of one of my pizza boxes.

Mine did not scan and neither did the customer in front of me.
I guess next time, I'll clip them and be "less honest". I took the whole page so they would know they came off my printer. Unfortunately, the way they print, there was no "evidence" at the top and bottom, like you get when you print most things, coupons or not.

The link for the coupon (it was one Pal's website) was posted on AFC. It was a coupon that was identical in appearance to the $1/2 ones. Same as you describe (no markings or "evidence")

[chelle545]

I printed out the $1/2 coupon from their website (I have to admit it does look fake!), printed in black and white (I do not ever use color ink to print internet coupons) and it did not scan at the register. The young kid just called over a manager and they manually entered it for me, no questions asked. I've had this problem any time I print out a coupon that is a pdf, but the managers at my HT recognize me and usually don't question anything and are super nice. I'd be curious to see what Palermo's has to say after you contact them, I wish they would not hand out fake looking coupons!