Seems to be that this is akin to gambling in that someone has to lose in order for someone else to win.
In order to score in “extreme couponing,” someone has to pay for the goods that you take home for little or nothing.
There are ethical questions to be considered here.
The only losers are those that don't play the game. And The Coupon Whisperer doesn't intend to be a loser. Or do you think it is "ethical" to pay full price like the suckers?
There are ethical questions in couponing but this Maalox deal is not one of them.
Did Dove intend for me to get free Deodorant this week given the release date of the coupon.
I don’t know.
But I am doing it.
First, the ethical considerations:
If one is using so many $5 off coupons in one day, and if (like most) there is a limitation printed on said coupons, then one is theoretically (or at least morally) fraudulently using them.
On the slightly shady side:
One coupon per paper, so multiple copies of the paper must be used. People have been prosecuted for theft for taking “free” papers, on the grounds that they are intended to be free for all, rather than glommed upon by a single individual. This is unfairly preventing others who may actually NEED the product from getting a legitament discount.
On the worldly/practical side:
If, in compliance with normal coupon limitations, ONE per purchase (often even one per person per stoore visit; or even per day), how much time and gas money is wasted going from store to store, and standing in lines?
I’ve also noticed many times, theough that doesn’t seem to be the case in this specific instance, that very often even a ‘large’ discount coupon for a major brand product leaves it still more expensive than the store or lesser known brand THAT HAS THE SAME FORMULATION.
I’ve done manufacturing inspection work, where the ONLY difference in a product (and ultimate price) was whose lable was applied in mid run.
In the warehouse, there were times that product was relabled, to put together an order for a store-brand customer, rather than set up a custom label run.
Have you ever heard of the retail concept of the “lost leader”.
Most people that do these coupon deals still spend money at CVS or Walgreens on other items. For example, two weeks ago I went into CVS with a $5 coupon for doing an online survey.
I then received another print out coupon for about $2.58(2% back for all purchases at CVS this past 3 months). I then purchased six 12 packs of diet Pepsi and received $10 cash back for buying them. My net cost for buying the Pepsi products was less than $1.00/12 pack. However, I still ended up buying shampoo and a birthday card.
The idea is to get you in the store. They break even or less on the Pepsi. They probably made 100% markup on the shampoo and made a 500% markup on the greeting card.
People ony brag about the stuff they got a deal on. Its human nature. Its like the gambler that only tells you about when they win.