We’ve all seen them. The little coupons on the products at the store. These coupons have a highly original name — Peelies. You simply peel them off and use them when you buy the item. Or do you have to buy? The short answer is YES – you need to buy the product.
Time and time again when I shop, I will see packages where there was clearly a coupon affixed to the front of it. However, someone has just decided to take the coupon and leave the product. This frustrates me. The coupon is a part of the packaging and therefore, a part of the product. Removing it is stealing from the product.
Think of it like this….if there were a free item attached to the product for purchasing it, you would never go and take that free item without buying it, would you? The same goes for peelies. These are a part of the product and should not be removed unless you are actually making the purchase of the product.
I have also seen many of them opened to check expiration dates or to see what the coupon is for – and I actually do understand that. You do want to know if the coupon is worth the purchase to you. However, just leave the coupon affixed to the package, unless you are actually purchasing it.
Another thing people ask is if they have to redeem it right at that time. Sometimes you do and sometimes you do not. It truly depends upon the wording on the coupon. If the coupon states – Void Unless Removed By Cashier – then you need to make sure that you do not take it off yourself.
Of course, it happens to all of us – you get home and realize you forgot to have the cashier remove it. What I do is keep these items in the top basket of my shopping cart so that I remember to point the coupon out to the cashier. That helps me avoid the “head banging on the cabinet effect” that you get when you forget to use your coupon.
When you see the peelie on the packaging, please do not peel it off and walk away. Being courteous couponers helps us all!