interesting conversation with Target manager about using multiple MQs

[jessonica]

Hey guys, I wanted to tell you what the store manager just told me over the phone today...... I called my target as soon as I got in my car to leave, because this happened.....

I was using 6 MQs all of them were the same Q, they were the -$1.00 any Reach from coupons.com. The casheir had a manager come over (I thought because of the fact that the Qs had to be adjusted down to match the price of the items). The manager told me that he would make the exception this one time for me, but that because the Qs say limit one per purchase, they are only going to be accepting one per trasaction from now on. I tried telling him that all MQs say that, and that each item within a transaction is a "qualifying purchase" to use a separte MQ on. He was not accepting that. (and I made sure he realize these were MQs, not Target Qs)

I wan't mad, but I wanted to call and ask for the Main store manager, so that he could inform his staff about this, I told him that its only making the cashiers jobs harder because all the couponers are going to be spliting up all their multiple items into separate transactions for MQs now too.

He said this.....He would love for me to call corporate, because they don't like it much either. But he told me that recently, Target managers/stores received a blanket statement from their corporate, about coupon use: They said that for MQs and Target Qs to not allow more than one per trans......because they are having a big problem with coupon fraud.....people are buying MANY items at the same time using Qs (the manager said like 50-100....didn't know TArget had that much stock).....And then they are going and returning the items and getting cash back for the full price of the product. The manager told me that the manufactuers are loosing out big time because of this practice....and he said that TArget has to give the full $ back because they already have and turn in the MQs for the -$ money off.

I told him I was really sorry to hear that, and that is sounds like some petty criminal types are ruining it for all of us that do couponing per the rules.

SO.......I'm just putting it out there, in case anyone else is wondering "why all of the sudden are retailers takeing the term "per purchase" and decideing to view it and make their rules that a purchase is a "transaction".

I'm not upset at my target, I'm dissapointed that this is a problem. The whole reason I called was because this has happened to me now at 2 diff. targets and once at Walmart even.....(although I went to walmart today to use 2 B1G1 Qs on the JOhnsonville burgers.....and they didn't have a problem with it, so maybe that experiance at walmart before was just the casheir I had.)

I'd be curious to hear from anyone that is also running into this at Target lately?



Jess

[missylyn90]

I had the same exact thing happen at WalMart today and its never been a problem before. The cashier was scanning my coupons and stopped at the two Hungry Jack $1.00/1 q's. She asked if I had two different items (the q was for syrup or pancake mix). I showed her that I had two syrups and she said I couldn't use both coupons because the q stated one per purchase. I thought she was joking until she said she could take it off and ring it up separately. When I asked why she said because it says one per purchase to which I replied yes, I am purchasing two...and then dug through the bags to show her. She insisted I couldn't use both even though I tried explaining that per purchase was each item. Per transaction was what she was thinking...but of course I was wrong. I got tired of trying to explain, paid for my things and left. I must thank her for the headache I now have because she stressed me out.

[CSchunk]

I have to say it sounds like your store's manager needs to reread whatever memo he thinks he got.

[tiffieturtle86]

I was using 6 MQs all of them were the same Q, they were the -$1.00 any Reach from coupons.com. The casheir had a manager come over (I thought because of the fact that the Qs had to be adjusted down to match the price of the items).

The only thing I could think of with this scenario and why you had a supervisor called is because you had 6 identical IPs. Because coupons.com only lets you print a limit of 2/computer, maybe that sent up a red flag for potential coupon fraud to the cashier? I am only saying this because I had a supervisor called on me last week for using 4 IPs that all had different PINS (so they too were legal). A supervisor told me they are now starting to train their employees to call for a supervisor if more than 2 identical IPs are used at the same time. Of course, he knew they were legit because of the PINS and let me go, but he said that this is how he was now training his cashiers since the company was getting so much coupon fraud on copied IPs. I suspect this is going to be the case not only at Target, but other retailers for some time to come. Hope this helps!

[clippyclippy]

The only thing I could think of with this scenario and why you had a supervisor called is because you had 6 identical IPs. Because coupons.com only lets you print a limit of 2/computer, maybe that sent up a red flag for potential coupon fraud to the cashier? I am only saying this because I had a supervisor called on me last week for using 4 IPs that all had different PINS (so they too were legal). A supervisor told me they are now starting to train their employees to call for a supervisor if more than 2 identical IPs are used at the same time. Of course, he knew they were legit because of the PINS and let me go, but he said that this is how he was now training his cashiers since the company was getting so much coupon fraud on copied IPs. I suspect this is going to be the case not only at Target, but other retailers for some time to come. Hope this helps!

Yes! Do that! That's what the PIN is there for! I would have no problem if stores started checking PIN #s when more than 2 IPs are used. In fact, I think this is an excellent policy. It would go a long way to stopping the use of fraudulent copies.

When I hear of store personnel interpreting "one per purchase" as "one per transaction, I know I'm just dealing with someone who hasn't been trained properly. This goes for managers as well as cashiers.
I've been hearing it since the beginning of time and I'm sure I'll hear it again.

Also, when a manager starts going on about future limits because of coupon overuse, I also know I'm talking to an inexperienced/untrained employee. Because for a store to limit coupon use to one per transaction because of the few people who are using 50-100 and then returning the purchase for full value is just absurd.

Manufacturers for years have worked at increasing coupon use. It used to be only 1-2% and their concern was in getting more people to use them. Well, now they are getting more of what they want. And if people using 50 in one transaction is too much, they'll do what P&G has done and print the limitation on the coupon.

If the retailer doesn't double/triple, then they have no reason to put such drastic limits in place (like one per transaction!). They get reimbursed for every single coupon that has been redeemed properly. If they have a problem with people buying 50-100 and returning, then address that problem separately.

Supervisors/front end managers really don't know what they are talking about when they lump the typical coupon user in with the extreme/unethical ones. What would they do without us??

Just my 2 cents!!

[Elleseph]

I saw a guy at Target in NW Houston returning numerous sonicare toothrushes ($15 Q) , crest white strips ($5-7q), old spice body wash (prob BOGO) deodorant, battery-op oral -b tootbrushes. He came in with a gift receipt and walked out with $465 on a gift card. When I got to the service desk, I said to the CSR "you realize what he's doing, right?" she said that she did, but there was nothing she could do about it.

I think the woman behind him was doing the same thing but on a smaller scale. She had similar - but lower $amt - items. They didn't appear to be "together", but... This is just WRONG.

BTW, I purchased 6 jugs of cat litter and used 4 identical $1/1 MQs, 2 different $1/1MQ, and 2 $5wyb 3TQs and had no problem using multiple of the same MQs - except that one didnt get "taken off" so I had to go the service desk - which is why I was able to see this guy (and maybe woman) scamming the system.

[jessonica]

Thanks....I enjoyed hearing what you guys think so far. I agree, about the pin #s on the IPs. We have a desktop, a laptop, and now.....for my birthday, I just got a netbook so I can take it to school with me (its really little:).....I'm able to print Qs from each of these legally....so I have 6 prints total I can do, if its a really good Q (otherwise I don't like to wast my ink). I didn't realize that I could point out the separate pins/computer. This could be a help for me when this stuff happens again.

Really, I don't mind spliting the transactions, but it kind of makes you feel like your doing something wrong, ya know? (even though I know I'm not).....I mean, you have your legal Qs, you have your items, you get to the register, and all the sudden, its a problem.

Its annoying to say the least, but I can definately work around if for the really good deals :)

BTW, I did email corporate (they are closed for the weekend or I would have called )...So I'm hoping I'll get a response early in the week.

Jess

[imataken]

I don't understand why people have to take advantage of couponing it in the end it will destroy couponing for us who follow all of the rules.... maybe all stores should do what most of them do in NJ and that is to limit 4 like coupons per transaction there is no reason to purchase 50-100 of the same item in a shopping trip... I also think if someone is using coupons with the intent of returning the items for the full price they should be punished in some way it is coupon fraud... the more people that take advantage of couponing will cause there to be a end to all coupons if you need money GET A JOB.... this is just a all time low for someone to do this... I had a friend who would use a betty crocker cake mix coupon on betty crocker fruit snacks and it would drive me crazy and I have told her many times that she is not following the couponing rules I have never came across anyone who has bought all the items with coupons to just turn around and return them for full cost I thinks its a shame... and this is why I have to deal with cashiers second guessing my coupon purchases cause of people like that

[server18]

Thats just rediculous. Why on earth would anyone have more than maybe two of the sonic brushes and white strips unless of course it was a huge clearance.

Maybe what the stores should start doing is only return one of the same items per day. Ask to see their drivers liscense # and write it on the return slip, which I think walmart does, its been awhile so can't remember. Do anything they can do to inconvience the person that is trying to return so many of the same items. That may help some anyway. I am appauld by all of this

I saw a guy at Target in NW Houston returning numerous sonicare toothrushes ($15 Q) , crest white strips ($5-7q), old spice body wash (prob BOGO) deodorant, battery-op oral -b tootbrushes. He came in with a gift receipt and walked out with $465 on a gift card. When I got to the service desk, I said to the CSR "you realize what he's doing, right?" she said that she did, but there was nothing she could do about it.

I think the woman behind him was doing the same thing but on a smaller scale. She had similar - but lower $amt - items. They didn't appear to be "together", but... This is just WRONG.

BTW, I purchased 6 jugs of cat litter and used 4 identical $1/1 MQs, 2 different $1/1MQ, and 2 $5wyb 3TQs and had no problem using multiple of the same MQs - except that one didnt get "taken off" so I had to go the service desk - which is why I was able to see this guy (and maybe woman) scamming the system.

[klcglad]

Thats just rediculous. Why on earth would anyone have more than maybe two of the sonic brushes and white strips unless of course it was a huge clearance.

Maybe what the stores should start doing is only return one of the same items per day. Ask to see their drivers liscense # and write it on the return slip, which I think walmart does, its been awhile so can't remember. Do anything they can do to inconvience the person that is trying to return so many of the same items. That may help some anyway. I am appauld by all of this

I think that Walmart allows 2 returns without a receipt per month? & they take your DL# so that if you try to go over that then it flags your DL#. & then once the return is flagged from that same receipt, it can't be returned by anyone else either so someone couldn't ask someone else to return it for them once they are flagged. At my job we have a merchandise return form that we fill out all of their information, and if people were doing this HUGE of a return ($465 is REDICULOUS!) we probably wouldn't even allow it. Target should really do some detective work and figure out which customers are doing this, and then the next time they come in to return items like this, call the police! If you are intentionally buying things with coupons and intentionally returning them to earn the cash back, THIS IS STEALING! I really don't understand what is wrong with people that they need to constantly ruin good things for other people by going against laws/rules/ethics!!