How would you respond?

[momof5boys]

Someone mentioned to me today that getting stuff from free with coupons is like stealing. I asked her why. Her reasoning - in the end we all pay for this. How would you respond?

[eisafree]

FPC are a promo by the company to try to get you interested in the product. Just like those food samples for instance in grocery stores.

They are basically advertising. Companies pay to make and air ads, have posters etc. This is just another element of their marketing technique.

Though my real response to this person would be more along the lines of, "Are you ****? "

BTW, even if it's not an FPC, but simply coupons that bring the price down, the same goes for that as well, since the store gets reimburse by the company for the coupons, so the store gets the same money as if you paid, and the coupon (which the company was not forced to make) is used, = their advertising technique worked, yay for all.

[annedougherty]

FPC are a promo by the company to try to get you interested in the product. Just like those food samples for instance in grocery stores.

They are basically advertising. Companies pay to make and air ads, have posters etc. This is just another element of their marketing technique.

Though my real response to this person would be more along the lines of, "Are you ****? "

haha!!! Yep, that's how I would respond.

[gracesmommy]

so, if someone gave her a fpc or a coupon for say, $1 off a product she uses all the time and it happen to come on sale for $1 she'd say 'no thanks, i'd rather pay full price?' coo coo bananas.

[nottinkerbell]

It's an effective form of advertising and the companys wouldn't keep doing it if it didn't work.

I'd ask the person if they felt bad buying items when they go on sale b/c by their reasoning then we all end up paying more for her/him to get it on sale. So should we all only pay full price for things???

[sporatic]

Someone mentioned to me today that getting stuff from free with coupons is like stealing. I asked her why. Her reasoning - in the end we all pay for this. How would you respond?

Well, you don't really get every thing for free, its only some good deals around that you are taking advantage of. Others are free to do the same. Also, you are using the discount what the manufacturer of the product is offering. How the heck is it stealing? Its just like stores try to allure customers by their sale (which are not always good prices either), manufacturers try to allure us by these promo. Some people go for it and some don't but no one gets to blame others that they are stealing. I would be really really mad if some one "says" stealing to me and if it is a cashier I would ask for their supervisor to complain in front of them. If they mumble under their breath, I don't care.

[ChrisErin]

I work at Fountain Tire in Chilliwack, and here we have a "VIP" card that a company sells for $40. (we dont see a penny of this $). This card has 3 free oil changes, discounts on tire work, mechanical work, etc etc. Like... 250$ min worth of stuff.

So when people come in and get their 3 free oil changes, and we dont see a penny from it, are they stealing? My boss' mentality is that he would rather spend $1000 on free oil changes, then on flyers. Makes sense to me...

Giving away free product to gain a client, is a very smart marketing plan.

[mazin]

It's not at all stealing. The company wants to promote their products by either giving it to us for free, or giving us a discount. The store then uses that coupon and redeems the money back. Even the company doesn't lose money because by producing those coupons, they get sales no matter what. Lots of people will use the coupon just to try a product, and if they like it, they'll buy more, which in turn benefits the company. It benefits us because we're getting stuff free, and the store isn't ripped off because they get their money back.


That person's just jealous they need to pay full price for stuff. lol :p

[BuggaBugga]

She's just mad cause your smarter than her. Seems she is ignorant, clearly has no idea how the system works which is too bad really. I would be offended if someone suggested using coupons to get something free or low cost is akin to stealing. If it was so terrible to do manufacturers wouldn't put out coupons.

[Shadowfox]

FPC are a way of the company hoping that they get you hooked on their product, no different than in the summer when they have people giving away products. FPC's are not stealing since: 1) the company is aware of it and is encouraging it 2) the intermediate is getting compensated.

As to how I would reply, I'd say: "If the company was in the streets giving you samples would you take it?" They'd say yes... then I'd say its no different and if she considers FPC's stealing, than her taking free products are also stealing. =)

[julyprincess]

As to how I would reply, I'd say: "If the company was in the streets giving you samples would you take it?" They'd say yes... then I'd say its no different and if she considers FPC's stealing, than her taking free products are also stealing. =)

those are exactly my thoughts.

[newwestsaver]

I'm not surprised at some peoples view of this. It seems in Canada alot of people don't really know how coupons work as they're aren't used as often. I was at Save On last weekend redeeming an internet coupon when a cashier told me she had to get approval from management since it lowered the price of the product to $0.07. She said she was checking because it doesn't seem right I was getting a product almost for free. Really!?! Thats the point, the store offers a sale and the manufacturer pays the store a portion of the sale price and in a perfect sale the customer pays nothing. I don't understand why some people don't see this???

[leff]

Someone mentioned to me today that getting stuff from free with coupons is like stealing. I asked her why. Her reasoning - in the end we all pay for this. How would you respond?

I'd thank her for paying for my groceries

[Midnightly]

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!

[mhk]

Manufacturers put out coupons so that people use them and get familiar with their products and continue to buy them. Stealing - ummm no.....

And for every one person who uses coupons, there are ten who don't - I don't know why - but I have been told "no thanks" I don't use coupons - by people who could actually use them!

I have no shame in using coupons. I use them proudly.