Dishonest Woman making couponing hard on everyone

[jeweltea]

I met a woman a few months ago at HT doubles and have seen her several times and we exchanged emails. Unfortunately she is extremely dishonest in regards to her coupon usage. I won't go into the details but most of them are downright fraud (and some of the things she does are on quite a large scale) and she brags about it. Now most of the stores around here are no longer coupon friendly and I really believe it is because of her. About once a week she emails me with problems she had at this store or that. Her latest thing is complaining about cashiers to their corporate office. I think she complains several times a week about various cashiers at various stores. One of things she did was ruin any chance of getting Walgreens to special order things. They were willing to special order but she ordered something a couple of months ago and when she didn't get as many as she wanted, she complained to corporate that the cashier was stealing her stuff and keeping it for herself. Now they won't special order for anyone. I have tried to tell her that she may win a specific battle but the stores will make it harder down the road to use coupons but she just continues.

Unfortunately I believe the stores she goes to are taking it on all couponers. I have noticed a difference at Walgreens, Bloom and Harris Teeter. They no longer want to give rainchecks for more than one of an item and if they can find a way to reject a coupon they will. I do not share any deals with her but she does read the blogs so she knows the deals anyway.

[3timesoccermom]

Have you told her your thoughts?

[jeweltea]

I have told her. I also told her that I had heard employees talking badly about people who did some of the things she did and they knew about it. She just said "Well, they let me do it". She just doesn't seem to realize that that is the reason they are treating her (and others now) badly. She has been in several yelling matches with managers at stores and almost had the police called on her but then she just moves on to another store. I am not sure what happened at HT but now she will not go in there and drives to another one several miles away (only one of several stores that she can't or won't go into anymore). HT used to be super coupon friendly but now they are scrutinize every coupon and even reject a lot of legitimate coupons (can't use on this because it not the one in the picture, etc). Honestly she is giving couponers a bad name. Some of the things she does just amaze me that she could even think of them. I also told her that there were good deals even without doing the things she does but she just goes on (I suppose because she is getting better deals although not in the long run).

Another problem is that she wants to teach couponing classes and in fact has told others some of her tricks just as she has told me. I do not know if the others are doing any of this since I do not have contact with them. I would never in a million years do the things she has done. It certainly is not flying under the radar.

[clippyclippy]

She has been in several yelling matches with managers at stores and almost had the police called on her but then she just moves on to another store. I am not sure what happened at HT but now she will not go in there and drives to another one several miles away (only one of several stores that she can't or won't go into anymore).

Hopefully she'll run out of stores....soon.

[everprincess]

She is one bad apple. I would terminate any more contact with her immediately. It's only a matter of time that she will no longer be able to go into any store that knows her. It's sad because for me couponing is supposed to be fun not hassles or drama that she is making out it.

[motherofmolly]

this is a good time to talk to a manager and maybe drop them a line (or an actual "how to manual" on them spotting bad coupons ie fraud and fake coupons. a head letter with a link to CIC website and this one is helpful too. maybe pointing out that you are teaching a coupon class and stress the right way to coupon and condone the fraud and violating rules and that you have found a few in your area that are making a bad impression by doing it the wrong way.

put a bug in their ear and show them how to spot fraud. help the managers protect themselves from her. because her complaints do hurt them even if they are not valid. this might help you in the long run...especially if they can get her off their back by banning her from their stores.

[sonsorae]

this is a good time to talk to a manager and maybe drop them a line (or an actual "how to manual" on them spotting bad coupons ie fraud and fake coupons. a head letter with a link to CIC website and this one is helpful too. maybe pointing out that you are teaching a coupon class and stress the right way to coupon and condone the fraud and violating rules and that you have found a few in your area that are making a bad impression by doing it the wrong way.

put a bug in their ear and show them how to spot fraud. help the managers protect themselves from her. because her complaints do hurt them even if they are not valid. this might help you in the long run...especially if they can get her off their back by banning her from their stores.

Great advice. I'm having the same problem too. One local CVS will take competitors coupon's and another within 5 miles won't because of those that abuse the system.

[kymberly21]

Maybe shoot the Managers a Email and tell them your concerns. Explain that you are a Avid and Honest couponer and are very worried how a limited number of people are causing all couponers to be treated poorly.

Ask the Managers what can be done to Give you a better shopping experience. I have always found that a Inquiry , rather than a complaint does wonders. And Phrasing it just right does help. Letting a manager know that you are consistently having a poor experience , and want to Improve it through Team work often gets the manager motivated.