How would you respond?

[Jessica_25]

i agree with what everyone else has said but have to add along with a customer getting a free product the customer then becomes a marketting tool! if you get a product for free, and you like it.. you are MUCH more likely to suggest said product to a friend or in the case of smellies wrap them up as a gift!

The companies aren't dummies.. they know what there doing.

[Poirot]

It's a way to get people to try their product, then like it and purchase at full price what you want.

[nadiabreckon]

I agree with everybody else's comments on this thread! When we use coupons, we put whatever amount we have saved into a savings jar, and are using that to pay for some of our trip to BC this summer! Therefore, in a way I'm not only saving money on my everyday purchases, but also saving money on my plane tickets! (if that makes sense...lol)...Either way, it's a win-win for me! Oh, and if she feels like she has too much money on her hands and would rather pay full price for her stuff, tell her to send some this way, I could really use some extra $$!!!

[mariaaz]

Her argument breaks down very quickly. Essentially she is making the point that manufacturers factor in a percentage of coupon redemption as part of the budget that is used to set the MSRP for an item. As a result, the coupon redemption does marginally increase the cost of an item. The flip side of this is the point that a number of people on this thread have made, and that is that the manufacturer assumes that a subset of those individuals who have redeemed coupons to try a product will like it and continue to purchase it even without a coupon.

So yes, from this perspective the use of coupons by a few does marginally increase the cost of the item for everyone; however, no one is forcing anyone to purchase a given item or brand. If she doesn't like the fact that FPCs issued by McCain are increasing the cost of her frozen potato wedges by $0.005 (or whatever) she could buy the generic store brand. That's the beauty of being a consumer in Canada; we have choice.

I would also point out that, using her logic, use of any government services is also stealing. My taxes end up paying for numerous services that I will never use, but that's the cost of being a citizen of this great country. We all end up paying for things that other people use, and that is fine with me.

[Coolmama]

Wow, that person would not want to hear my response!