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!
Debi says
The trickier question is whether it’s proper etiquette to take the peelie from one product and use it on a different one – say there’s a peelie on a flavor your family won’t eat, but the coupon is also valid for the flavor they will eat. What then?
I’ll admit that I’ve taken the peelie and used it on an adjacent non-peelied item and felt a little dirty afterwards. 😉
Jennifer says
I say Take Them, but just not all of them 🙂
Leigh says
Great article!! I too get upset when people don’t play by the rules. I mean, come on, it’s a given the peelie is for that product otherwise it wouldn’t be there. Thankfully, I haven’t ever experience what Theresa has. (Hope I never do!!) I always remind myself though, “you reap what you sow”.
Recently, I bought items w/ peelies & left them on since I already had other peelies I was going to use. Well, the cashier removed them (something that had never happened to me before) & was going to use them. I’m so glad I caught that, for then, I put aside the ones I was going to use. *PHEW!*
Also, I can so relate w/ forgetting to use them. I bought some new vitamins for my child not knowing if he’d like them. (Gummies) Since there were 4 peelies available, I bought 4 bottles. Well, wouldn’t you know that, this time, I removed them but forgot to use all of them. *GRRRR!* Whether my child liked them or not, he was going to get more. *heh-heh-heh* Thankfully, of all the brands he’s tried, these are his favorite.
I really appreciate you mentioning your mistakes! I mean, you know you’re not the only one who forgets to use them but, it certainly is nice to know for sure. : )
Leigh says
I’d have to say you shouldn’t take it. Course, it can be very tempting but, alas, the company is obviously trying to promote that particular item. I just hate it though when you have to buy a totally different product in order to use the peelie. &, it’s not something you need or would normally buy. I pass on them unless I’m feeling adventurous to try something new. More often, I pass on them.
Pam says
I don’t disagree don’t remove unless you are buying. I am sure this is not the case most of the time but in some cases it can be. Knowing how product venders work, here a couple facts about peelies on a lot of products: a lot peelies are put on by the vendors after they are on the shelf as they visit their account stores, responsible venders (and if they are not in to big of a rush) remove peelies if they are still on the products when the coupon expires. So sometimes if you come across a peeled peelie it could have been removed by the vendor.