Coupon Class – Lesson Four

by Couponing to be Debt Free on January 31, 2011

Welcome to lesson four of my FREE 9 lesson online coupon class. Please ask questions and leave comments so that we can all learn from each other.

Assignment #1 - Read this article on how coupons work.

I think it’s important to understand how coupons actually work. My math brain likes to know how things work – even coupons! Some sales clerks seem to think that couponers are “stealing” from stores when they use coupons (at least, some of them act like it). An educated shopper uses their knowledge to save the most money they can by applying that knowledge to their shopping. I have found that understanding how coupons actually work empowers couponers and give them confidence when they shop.

Key Facts:

Stores are reimbursed the face value of the coupon plus an additional $0.08 – $0.12 per coupon
Coupons that start with a “5″ are manufacturer coupons and can be redeemed anywhere (even if they have a store logo on them)
Coupon bar codes that start with a “5″ can be doubled
Coupon bar codes that start with a “9″ cannot be doubled
A coupon that starts with a number other than “5″ or “9″ is a store coupon
Store have approximately 6 months past the coupon expiration date to submit those coupons

Redemption Process:

After you use a coupon, the store sends the coupon to a clearing house where all the coupons are scanned using a large conveyor belt
An invoice is then created for the manufacturer based on the scanned coupons
Stores are paid by the clearing house and the clearing house is paid by the manufacturer
Some coupons aren’t able to be scanned (HTH – hard to handle coupons) and they require more work by the clearing house and the store (in this case, stores can charge the manufacturer a larger handling fee if it is due to bad coupon design)

Assignment #2 - Read this article on coupon bar codes.

{ 29 comments… read them below or add one }

Carrie January 31, 2011 at 9:42 am

Very interesting! Learned something new today! YAY!

Letty January 31, 2011 at 9:59 am

This is good to know. I’m going to take advantage of Kmarts double coupon event so this was just what I needed to know. Thank you!!

Kelly January 31, 2011 at 10:17 am

I’m really enjoying your coupon class and the things I’m learning. I don’t know that I will ever be one of those amazing couponers who walks out only paying a few dollars for their purchase, with the original value being in the hundreds. But, the knowledge is helping me to find items we do use on a regular basis and shop smarter for those. Case in point – yesterday before going to the store my husband said he needed more mouthwash. This is an item he is specific on the brand and flavor. I noticed that there was an expiring Crest ProHealth coupon in the P&G circular from the beginning of January. I clipped two of them just in case we found a deal. And to my surprise our local store had his what we normally purchase on sale for $3.99 (usually almost $6.00) and then I had a coupon for $2.00 off of each. This made that item only $1.99 and I was able to purchase two! Ok – this may not seam like a big deal to most who have done this for a long time, but for me being able to apply this to my regular way of shopping – it’s awesome!

Tracy January 31, 2011 at 12:08 pm

Thanks for the info. Learned alot about coupons today!!

Tracy K January 31, 2011 at 12:41 pm

Thanks for the information! Helps to understand coupons so I can save more money!

Shelly January 31, 2011 at 1:57 pm

That is so cool. I never knew all those little lines with numbers actually meant something. Very interesting articles. Thanks. I’m, of course, going to have to go look at some coupons now to see all that Thanks again for the great topic.

Jean January 31, 2011 at 5:07 pm

I have been learning a lot and visiting multiple couponing websites to get more tips and the Walgreen’s/CVS weekly deals. I rarely used to go to Wal-Greens and never really cared for Target until I started couponing. These are where I have been able to save the most so far! I get so excited when I find a free or next-to-nothing deal. I found coupons for Mueller’s pasta on their website for $1.00 off per package and our Winn Dixie has them on sale for $1.00 – so they are FREE!!!!

Holly January 31, 2011 at 11:16 pm

Thanks for sharing those great articles!

Beverly February 1, 2011 at 2:55 am

OMG, never knew that about all the UPC codes. Verrrry interesting to know, especially that you can use some at stores even if they have another stores logo on them. Thought you always had to use them only at the store on the coupon.

Beverly February 1, 2011 at 2:56 am

Jennifer February 5, 2011 at 7:01 pm

Oh, some clerks definitely come across as if someone with a coupon is trying to get away with something and I don’t understand that. That information about the store getting reimbursed for the amount of the coupon plus .08-.12 is great to know.

I do need more confidence when using multiple coupons because I have found that if a clerk questions something I’m always fumbling over my words on how to explain the coupons. I know it’s still a learning process for me but I can’t wait to be at the point to where I can without a doubt know each and every coupon that I’m using and be able to explain it knowledgeably.

Tennille February 6, 2011 at 6:56 am

Just the other day, my neighbor and I were outside talking about how much I saved on coupons and she said, “Gosh, I know the stores hate taking those coupons because they lose so much money.” I had to explain to her that they don’t lose money and this class made it so much easier to explain. THANKS!!!!

Janet February 6, 2011 at 9:16 am

very interesting….is it week 4 already

Jean February 6, 2011 at 12:14 pm

I am really enjoying couponing and learning more and more about how to make my dollar go further. I have found so many great deals; and now have a box to go to the food bank including items I received for free. My children and husband are getting a kick out of watching me match up the coupons and the ads. Sundays are coupon cutting/price matching/shopping days in our household now.

Melinda February 8, 2011 at 9:18 pm

This was very interesting on the coupons and bar codes.

Emily February 14, 2011 at 9:11 am

This is so interesting! Thanks for sharing!

Susan H. March 7, 2011 at 1:54 pm

Thanks for all the great info on how to read the coupons and understand their use.

Lyndi March 12, 2011 at 9:58 pm

Very interesting!!

Lisa April 25, 2011 at 5:47 pm

I want to ad to your comment about some sales clerks acting as if you are stealing..That is so true..I am a beginner and had a really good buy with my coupon. Tide for 2.99 w/coupon. Anyway, the clerk kinda huffed and scanned my ticket..Probably my worst experience so far..But, it will not stop me from using coupons. Thanks for all your help!

Amie May 12, 2011 at 1:59 am

I was curious about the coupon information that you have listed. I have a lot of coupons that start with a “5″, however almost all of the them state that they are not allowed to be doubled. Is that just something extra, or should I still treat them as being allowed to be doubled?

Julia May 15, 2011 at 1:10 pm: If they say they should not be doubled then they may double or they may not (not the answer you will looking for – LOL). Most computers will double this type of coupon but some will not. It just depends on the store’s system.

Reply

gina May 18, 2011 at 5:54 pm

Wow didn’t know all this

juliana May 21, 2011 at 10:29 pm

I do not understand what they means with (double the coupons) this means the you use the two coupons in one product? or is the store computer will do it automatically?

Julia May 21, 2011 at 10:42 pm: You use one coupon and the computer automatically doubles it – for example, you have a coupon that is worth $0.30. When the coupon is scanned at the register $0.60 would come off the price of the product (not $0.30).

Reply

Maisah May 29, 2011 at 11:45 pm

This was so good to know… I had no clue! I had to jot it down in my binder..

Kay October 4, 2011 at 11:21 am

I didn’t know that I could use a coupon with another store logo on it. So glad to find that out. Too bad I just threw away a several such coupons cause I don’t have a Target in my town.

Melissa October 7, 2011 at 5:35 pm