10 Rules to Follow for Proper Coupon Etiquette

The basic rules that we have to follow when we go to cash in our coupons are obvious. We have to buy the product that is listed on the coupon. We have to make sure that we use the coupon before it expires. We have to use store coupons at the right store. That all makes sense. But did you know that there are also underlying rules of etiquette that frequent coupon shoppers expect other coupon users to follow? If you weren’t aware of the important issue of coupon etiquette then you might want to get on the ball.

Here are ten rules to follow to get you started:

1. Never take every single one of an item that you have a great coupon for. This is called “clearing the shelves” and it’s considered rude among frequent coupon users. The basic idea here is that we all want to get a good deal but we shouldn’t get it at the expensive of others. Get what you’re going to use. Maybe even get a little bit more to stock up on an item that’s a great price. But don’t clear the shelves every time you get a good deal, leaving nothing left for anyone else.

2. Never take all of the coupons out of a store where they are placed. This goes along the same lines. Many stores have in-store circulars with their coupons and / or so-called “blinkies” that dispense coupons for in-store products. Take just one or two of these when you’re in the store; don’t take them all and leave zero coupons for anyone else!

3. Get your coupons organized before you head to the checkout line. You want to have everything ready so that you can hand it directly to the cashier as soon as it’s your turn at the cash register. You don’t want to waste everyone’s time by fumbling around for your coupons, “finding” a coupon after the transaction is complete or otherwise being disorganized.

4. Let the people in line behind you know that you’ve got a lot of coupons to ring up and that your transaction may take awhile. That way if someone is in a hurry they can opt to move to a different line instead of being upset and grumbling behind you.

5. Be aware of the store policies when it comes to cashing in coupons. Some stores will double coupons, others will not. If the item that you are looking for is no longer available in the store, some stores will give you a voucher to get the same item at the coupon price when it becomes available again whereas other stores will offer you a comparable item at the coupon price. Knowing the coupon policies of the stores that you shop at most often helps you and makes life easier for the people helping you at the store as well.

6. Be kind and courteous to the cashiers who are ringing up your coupons. Remember that ringing up coupons adds time to the transaction. This often means that a line is forming behind you and the cashier is acutely aware that some people may be getting disgruntled about the wait. Make the transaction as pleasant as possible for the cashier. If he or she makes an error (or a coupon rings up incorrectly) ask if the proper way to handle it is there at the register or over at customer service / information instead.

7. Don’t try to get away with anything. Don’t try to use a coupon that you know expired yesterday. Don’t try to use a coupon for the wrong size of an item. Of course you may do these things purely by accident and that’s a different story. It’s certainly not criminal. But trying to get away with these actions on purpose makes all couponers looks bad and also can create a huge hassle at the cash register.

8. Never make more than three transactions in a row. Fabulessly Frugal explains:

“Many stores do not allow you to more than 3 transactions in a row anymore. If you keep it to three or less it will be easier for you to keep your items and coupons separated properly, and keep you from holding up the line. Then you can go get more goodies and get back in line.”

9. Do make sure that you’re using legitimate coupons. It is important to make sure that the coupons that you are using are legitimate, real, non-fraudulent coupons. Coupon fraud is a real problem. It costs stores and manufacturers money, reducing their ability to continue offering good deals and therefore costing all of us. Do your best to get your coupons from legitimate sources. CouponDad has some good advice for people who get their coupons online:

“Review the coupon’s appearance. Valid online coupons look very similar to those you find in the Sunday newspaper and should include a picture of the product or logo, a description of the product, the manufacturer’s legal notice, an expiration date, a bar code.”

10. Be a coupon fairy. This means that you go around the store and place coupons for items near the items that the coupons are for. This is something that a lot of couponers do with the coupons that they aren’t going to use. This is considered a nice “bonus etiquette rule” for people to follow.

Do you agree with these coupon etiquette rules? Or do you think coupon use is a free-for-all and no rules are necessary? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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