Week 1, Lesson 1. What is a coupon?

What exactly is a coupon? Yes, I know it sounds basic, but I really want to start at the very beginning so there is no confusion later. Coupons are simply just pieces of paper that are like currency. For extreme couponers, or even the most beginning couponer, it's just like cash. If you have any doubt about that, drop a few in front of us and watch us scramble to collect them! I have been known to chase down coupons that blew away in parking lots. Each coupon has very specific items on it that everyone needs to know to be effective couponers.

First and foremost there are several different types of coupons. The vast majority of coupons are issued by a manufacturer. You can tell those because at the top, they will say manufacturer coupon. It sounds simple but even the most seasoned hardcore couponer occasionally misreads a coupon. Some stores also issue their own store coupons. Usually those coupons will have a store logo, or say redeemable only at _________. If in doubt, you can read the bottom print. Manufacturer coupons always contain an address of the manufacturer on it.

Coupons do not last forever. They are usually good for a week to a few months. Coupons issued today almost always contain an expiration date. This is usually printed right at the top next to the type of coupon. Sometimes it can be near the fine print at the bottom. I wish there was some uniformity to this, but sadly there is not. Once coupons are expired, they are not able to be used, with one exception. The only place that will take expired coupons is American Commissaries overseas. They will take expired coupons up to six months past their expiration date. Sometimes an expired coupon will go through a register, but it is a good practice to never intentionally pass an expired coupon.

The manufacturer decides what items are accepted on the coupon. Some manufacturers put only certain sizes, flavors, scents, etc on their coupons. Coupons can be very detailed, but they can also be very vague. It is best to always read the description of what the coupon is for. Never rely solely on the picture. Some coupons are good for dozens of products, but only one is pictured, often the most expensive item. Rarely you can even get a coupon where the picture isn't even something you can buy with it. It doesn't happen often but it can. Buying an item the coupon forbids can get you in trouble, so always read and stick to the coupon descriptions.

Manufacturers have also started limiting coupons. Some of the most confusing terminology is "One coupon per purchase" This phrase has costed couponers, cashiers, and managers endless headaches. One coupon per purchase should be changed to 'one coupon per item purchased' to make it more clear. If you buy 7 bottles of shampoo, you can use 7 coupons. Unless the coupon has a transaction or daily limit. Proctor and Gamble coupons often have limits on them that limit how many you can use in a transaction or per day. If it says "Four like coupons per transaction" then you can do multiple transactions and use four coupons each time. If it says "Limit 4 per day" then you can only use four that day at that store. It's a very small difference, but the difference is being a legal couponer and a couponer talking to police about coupon fraud. Honest mistakes are just that, mistakes, but doing it on purpose is a crime.

All modern coupons have a barcode, or four. I am not kidding, some coupons have several barcodes. In order to use a coupon at a store, it must have a barcode or all the barcodes. If you cut off the barcode, its like lighting a dollar bill on fire. Coupons without barcodes can not be scanned and can not be redeemed. Unless you have a box of old coupons that were made before barcodes, you need that barcode. And yes, I have old coupons without a barcode!

There are several places to get coupons. The most common place is still your Sunday newspaper. The paper has hundreds, sometimes thousands of dollars in coupons each week. And the coupons are on a schedule so not all the same coupons come each week. Once a month Proctor and Gamble have an insert with just their products. Smartsource and Redplum also have coupons in nearly every paper. Some weeks there is one insert, or pack of coupons, in it. Some weeks there are five inserts, I have seen up to seven inserts in one week. In addition to newspaper coupons, there are printable coupons that you can print at home from your computer. Coupons can also be found on tear pads at stores, on products, in special books on displays, from registers, or some even come in the mail. Coupons can be found nearly everywhere, I will talk about all the other ways to get coupons in future lessons. 


Here is an actual P&G coupon from this month so everyone can see the elements.