The answer is NO
Stated on each coupon: Redemption of duplicated or facsimiles constitutes fraud.
Each printable coupons has a unique identification code that can be traced back to the computer it was printed at. But remember, you can usually print two coupons per computer, each with it's own unique identification code.
Retailers do not get reimbursed for photocopied coupons. The more retailers get burned because of copies the more likely they are to make using a printable at there store very difficult.
I don't think anyone wants to do something illegal or keep a retailer from getting reimbursed. But, I do understand why new couponers ask this question. So much of couponing seems too good to be true.
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So how does it work when a company does theirs in a PDF version. An example would be 3M or EAS who did them recently.
ReplyDeleteHi Michele - Coupons in PDF format have unlimited prints. It's not a very wise business decision to make coupons available that way. So, you don't see too many as PDF's.
ReplyDeleteJust because it has the ablilty to have unlimited prints doesn't mean its right to print it multiple times. Most pdf coupons are emailed to someone who has signed up with a company's website and the pdf coupon is sent to the email subscriber with the intention and most of the time wording that states that it is valid one person/use. Its actully a very wise business decision since it saves money in IT/web costs to feature a product/coupon that way instead of having it on a site like redplum.com, coupons.com, etc. Technically all coupons have unlimited "prints" if you are reproducing it frauduently. I have yet to see a PDF coupon that says print as many times as you would like. We're all on the honor system here, some of us just honor it more than others.
ReplyDeleteI disagree with Anonymous. The Sunbelt PDF coupons said that you could print them as many times as you want.
ReplyDeleteHi Anonymous 1 - I still think pdfs are a poor business decision. Yes, companies that put out pdfs have made the decision to save money on processing fees, but what is it costing them in the long run?
ReplyDeleteI think a pdf coupon compares with putting a ATM machine on the "honor system". Yes, some people are always completely honest and would tell the bank how much money they withdrew from their account, but in reality, those people would be the minority.
I don't agree with couponers who clear shelves using coupons - just becasue they can. But, a pdf coupons does nothing to limit the people who can't limit themselves.