(photo credit: Jill Cataldo)
Extreme Couponing
I’m sure most of you guys know by now that I’m not a fan of the show. And those of you who didn’t know… well, now you do. 
Like just about any other “reality” show, so much of it is completely staged and unrealistic for anyone who is not being backed by network television. Not to mention that apparently the network that is backing the show could care less about theft.
In previous seasons I gave TLC the benefit of the doubt. I said to myself, “The producers probably have no idea what is going on with the fraudulent coupons that are being used at the stores, they are just trusting the “extreme couponers” to do what they should do.” But after last night’s episode (in case you didn’t know, Extreme Couponing Season 3 began last night), I can no longer give the producers, or the network, the benefit of the doubt.
They have been called out by other bloggers and the Coupon Information Corporation on multiple instances of coupon fraud over the past 2 seasons, and they are back again in season 3 opening up the season with more televised coupon fraud.
Using fraudulent coupons = STEALING! It’s the same as going into the store and walking out with 64 packages of Quilted Northern without going up to the register at all. There is no difference. The store will not get reimbursed for those packages because the coupons were not put out by the manufacturer. The manufacturer is under no obligation whatsoever to reimburse the stores for the coupons that they did not issue.
Not only did BOTH of the “extreme couponers” on last night’s show use the free product Quilted Northern coupons that were listed as fraudulent coupons by the CIC, but one of them used free product Hefty coupons that are also listed as fraudulent. And those are just the ones that were SHOWN – who knows what else they used!
It’s sad, and honestly scary for those of us who are couponing ethically. Do you think we will see even more changes to store coupon policies after this season? I hate to say it, but I would be surprised if we didn’t.
Now, it’s doubtful, but maybe Kmart decided to absorb the cost of those coupons for the publicity? Or maybe TLC reimbursed Kmart for the amount they would lose? I would be shocked if so, but maybe that’s how they are getting around all of the legal issues with STEALING. Either way… the repercussions for the rest of us don’t look good.
So what about you guys? Did you see the show last night? Did you catch the coupon fraud?
What are your thoughts on the show in general?
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One thing that stood out to me on last nights show was when they used a coupon for a FREE pickles (i think) item upto $3.50. her friend said lets get the $2.99 and use the .51 cents for overage. I always thought that when it is a free item the cashier is suppose to put the actual amount not the highest amount possible????
@rachelpriest78 it depends alot on the store and the cashier i know several that do it “right” and put in the amount of the item and i know a few who will just tag in the max amount on the coupon so they dont have to look for the price of the item.
@rachelpriest78 Exactly! And Kmart is usually a stickler about that too. At least with all of us regular folks that aren’t being filmed.
@rachelpriest78 If I’m not mistaken, it is legal to put in the higher allowed price because the manufacturer put it on the coupon, thus making it an allowable amount. The only store I have ever had do that for me though was Petsmart.
I don’t watch the show, to much BS going on and we all know it. They just want to sell a show and have ordinary people get in trouble. They want to make money by selling advertising for this farce!
We have all written and complianed but apparently that didn’t work. I use my coupons and don’t steal, I don’t clear out shelves. I am a responsible couponer. I buy what I need and what family members may need to help them save a buck also.
I loved your blog, it really hit the target! Keep speaking out. Maybe the power of your words and other responsible bloggers who are here for us can keep putting it out there, that this is a farce.
I don’t watch that show anymore. It’s pretty obnoxious, in my opinion. Those of us that use coupons the way they were intended are punished because policies are changed because of the few “extreme” couponers who are (as you pointed out) stealing half the time anyway. It’s sickening. IMO.
this makes me so angry. These people probably don’t even NEED to coupon, or donate ANY of what they get to charity. they’re greedy criminals.
this will ruin couponing for everyone
i am sure we will. and when we tried to use our coupons, the cashiers will try and pull the typical “there was a new policy that came down from corporate just today” crap.
I hope those people go to jail or pay a heavy fine
I havent seen it dvr it. That show is all coupon fraud. I like it for some of the stuff like the binders and such.
is there a link to that episode Surviving The Stores?
Ugh. I don’t like that show. Only watched it once… this is terrible
you better believe it. when my friends see my binder they get all excited and ask if i am an extreme couponer. i tell them NO WAY. tehm give them the real scoop on the show.
Just read your blog. I wanna say last season was that teen who used sone coupons for toilet paper. They cane out to be fraud and he actually had to pay the store back the amount. The producers caught it, so my guess is they will get nailed and made to pay it back.
I hate that show with a passion!!
You only have to use a few coupons a week to be able to immediately recognize the issues on that show. Who thinks you could get 72 (or whatever it was) $5 rebates on bologna?
I commented on actual blog but would love to know what other facebookers think. If you have a coupon for a free item upto a certain amount and item is less then max amount. What is the cashier to do with the coupon put highest amount or put item’s actual amount?
That show is what has caused so many grocery stores to cancel out the double and triple coupons for those of us who are just trying to FEED our family and not HOARD thousands of products to sell later!! Wish they’d take that show off the air. Now that they’ve turned the public into thieves! Ok, sorry for venting!
hate the show and it is making it harder for us “regular couponers” to save money…..seems prices go up on items that there are coupons for….not sure but it seems like it.
Here if you use a free product coupon and it is less than the up to amount you do not get the overage.
i caught a couple minutes of it & thought they said something like & then they used the stolen coupons, but i wasnt sure…. crazy!
The freschetta and duraflame coupons are also fakes. They are sold on eBay by a scam group that sells them under different ids. It’s actually quite a huge thing. These guys are raking in millions just one eBay. Why they are not shut down is beyond me.
TLC KNOWS this is happening, too, but they don’t care. Ironically, i tried to get TLC to do a show about my blind father who rides bikes and fixes cars, but they weren’t interested, I guess they’d rather show America how to rip off their local grocery store.
Shanna I understand the coupon use for free item the same as you on last nights show they said we will get the $2.99 pickles and use the .51 cents overage I was totally confused.
Or even coupons that worth 6.00?!!!! are they making their own coupons? Never seen coupon up to 2.00 on groceries!!!! I hate that show !!
I don’t watch this show as its not realistic…. Also it just piss me off as airing this BS cause sooo much crap when shopping!!!!! Almost always have to cuss out a cashier for something and it didn’t start until after the airing of the first season… They should pull this off the air!!!! In my opinion!!!!
@ Rachel the cashier should put the actual amount pre tax in!!!!
Why was the coupon for that scanned something like -$8.39?????? That’s not even possible! So much fraud on that show. I don’t understand how it’s still running season after season. Not to mention how foolish it makes us couponers look ugh
You are right Shirl. I think so too. By the way, those of us that can’t double in the first place, have it really hard to get much of anything at a good price. We live in good ole Florida. Yeah I think they will change policies again after this show. I did not get to watch it last night but nothing amazes me much anymore.
I coupon, and yes you can get some things free with coupons when you combine sales and store coupons but nothing like the show!! When I saw the toilet paper for FREE, I knew they were stealing, any coupon user knows you never get those coupons in your Sunday paper, online, or if you do request a coupon from the manufacturer, they don’t send it for full value!! Most coupons are less than $1.00 and few are up to $2.00, very seldom do you see coupons for $5.00 or more and that’s usually for more expensive items….. Its becoming harder and harder to use coupons, cashiers give you a hard time, Unilever is now limiting the number of coupons per shopping trip down to 2, and companies are putting out less valuable coupons to avoid all of this…..I will continue to use coupons the legal way because it does save me money
I agree, I so agree with all the posts here. And in Fla, we do not double or triple. SO we have to stack when possible to save a buck. Sometimes you can find some high dollar coupons, but nothing like what the fraudsters had. Just educate and follow the reputable bloggers we have here. I do not watch the show, I will not even DVR it, simple reason is, they will get good ratings for doing so.
Anyone who has been couponing even a short time knows if a coupon is to good to be true it (almost) always is… The ppl on the show are so wrapped up in zero totals they forget to abide by the law. Crazy. Not worth free tp
Do we think its possible for the couponers on the show, at least last nights, to not know they have fraudulent coupons? These were young guys who probably don’t have a coupon guru to teach them…just asking
I used to merchandise in Target. One day I was there where a couple brought two carts full of merchandise to customer service for return. When they were done they had a refund of over $2,000. Mostly health and beauty items purchased on deep sale with coupons. Then they bring it back and receive a full refund of the coupon price cause the store can not give you back your coupon once it is tendered. It is another very big coupon scam that stores see all the time. Ultimately it hurts us all.
I know a website where a long list of manfacturers coupons for free items are available for a price. I see a lot of these coupons on the show all the time. They site claims 100% authenticity, they could really believe they are legit. I have received a coupon from a manufacturer directly that looked exactly like the ones on the show. I’m not saying they are right, but they ultimately may not know any better.
It is nothing but free publicity for the store taking the bogus coupons.
I’m in NC and my stores double daily, sometimes they super double and triple so I’ve gotten free stuff before but never on that level. I actually ended up turning the channel because I couldn’t entertain it anymore. At this point, the stores should be aware of the type of fake coupons that are out there. Seriously? A $5/1 for Clorox Wipes? Totally makes it hard on everyone else…..
Stopped watching after I found out the shows were just scams. TLC sucks, I rarely watch anything they put on tv. I use coupons the right way, don’t cheat, don’t hoard and while I have gotten items for free, there is no way people can get their entire order of $1,000 (or whatever) for pennies. Not without cheating some way. @ Donna Bailey — my daughter works at Target and there is a woman who does this as well. Buys hundreds of dollars worth of items (usually cosmetic things) with coupons then comes in every Wed, sans receipt (she charges it all on her cc) and gets refunded full price. It makes me want to scream.
How the heck do you even counterfeit coupons???
@shelly m… The pregnet lady used the tp q too and she is not a newbie.
Maybe we should use change.org to get TLC’s attention!
I received two 4.29 coupons from Lays… That is the highest I have ever seen or received.
At our Walmart they are already getting the ? manager to check the printed coupons because some fool photocopied some a couple weeks back. Thanks cheaters for making it harder on us. I thought that little green dot was to prevent that. Sigh..
Yes totally agree with the majority, the show has to be fixed there is no store that will allow to even do close to that, here in Houston,tx most stores no longer do double couple and jst let u buy four things at a time, and none of those different transaction stuff, and yes it will make it difficult for us normal coupon users after seeing the show, and for those wondering i didnt name the stores on purpose, lol….
I didn’t see the show. And even if Kmart is being reimbursed by the production company, they are still setting a bad example for new couponers by portraying the use of fraudulent coupons as okay. I’m sure by the end of this show, there will be lawsuits filed.
I have recently been taking tips from an “extreme couponer” and i also work at one of the stores she does it at. After seeing these comments and many more articles across the web, I pretty sure she is decoding bar codes because I’m really shocked at the savings she is getting. Honestly i was so happy when I saved $55 dollars on $300 in groceries, then she walkes in and pays taxs. Man this sucks so bad, I dont know how to catch her. She is making it harder for me (a legit couponer to save money for my family of 6) It really makes me sick.