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.