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Kmart Lost Two Customers Over Ten Dollars

Posted Mon January 26, 2009 12:00 pm, by Lillian M. written to Kmart

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My mother and I went to the Kmart in Garner NC for the triples event. We both had received an email with a coupon for $5.00 off a $50.00 purchase that we printed out. The coupon came directly from your website so it was a legal coupon. However, the cashier and manager would not accept it because it was printed in black ink. Your coupon didn't say that it had to be printed in color for it to be accepted. The cashier didn't even attempt to scan it because they were convinced that it was a copy and not a printout. I don't like being accused of fraud and I don't plan to shop with Kmart anymore. With so many other stores I can shop at it would be dumb of me to even consider shopping with a store that treats their customers like a criminal. I hope that $10.00 ($5.00 for me and $5.00 for my mom) is worth losing two customers.

I would like for coupons that are printed from your website to either state that they must be in printed in color or educate your staff that color ink is more expensive than black ink and that our customers are less likely to print a coupon with expensive color ink so they can save money with a coupon. Also, if someone wants to make a copy of a coupon they make copiers that have color ink too so why would the existence of color or black ink make any difference on whether it's a real or fake.


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by X Jiffy Lube Posted Tue February 3, 2009 @ 1:32 PM

How rediculous. Good for you for complaining about this. It will not
make any differince whether it's in color or black and white. I just
a printed a return slip for Amazon.com and they don't care if it's in
color. There scanner works just as well either way. Furthermor, even
if you did print it in color that doens't nessesarily rule out that
its not a copy. I'm not saying you did copy it, but I'm just pointing
out that a color copy is just as proned to being recopied as a black
and white. What was Kmart thinking????

Reply
by Cherry O. Posted Sun February 1, 2009 @ 8:06 PM

Wow, that really is ridiculous. I would take the issue to the store
director if I were you. I don't have any access to a color printer at
all, and even if I did, couldn't I just print out the coupon many
times?? Eesh.

Reply
by mikedthornton Posted Tue January 27, 2009 @ 6:28 PM


I'm pretty sure the KM associate was just plain wrong. I wonder if
the associate had asked for help, or if the OP would have asked for a
higher power, if the end result would have been the same.

Reply

by Audrey C. Posted Tue January 27, 2009 @ 5:20 PM

I would like to comend you for speaking out for customers that utilize
coupons in this time of slow economy. What has happened to good
customer service?
Times like these one would think businesses would stress good
customer service and competent employees.

Keep writing letters to let others know about your good and bad
experiences with different stores. Enjoyed reading your letter, it
was quite informative.

Reply


I'll tell you what happened to good customer service. by It'saNewYearandNewBellaSera Wed January 28, 2009 @ 8:07 AM

by dulynoted (aka duttycalls) Posted Tue January 27, 2009 @ 8:20 AM

Ok...maybe I am just not smart enough to understand, but if people can
re-copy a coupon in black and white and get multiple copies, can they
not keep re-printing it in color also and get multiple copies?

So what is the difference?

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I agree! by MayDay Tue January 27, 2009 @ 10:17 AM

re:multiple copies by zannaventura Tue January 27, 2009 @ 12:50 PM


Copier machines by LadyMac Tue January 27, 2009 @ 2:35 PM

Some online coupons have a serial number... by jeishere Thu January 29, 2009 @ 11:33 AM

KMART coupons are not like that by Adam W. Mon February 2, 2009 @ 7:36 PM

by RowdyRetailer Posted Tue January 27, 2009 @ 12:28 AM

Coupons will soon go they way of the dinosaurs. I have been hearing
this for years.

Some retailers that use "cards" allow you to preload coupons onto your
card, from the stores website. More and more stores are using the
cards, so who knows.

The numbers I see in my trade publications that less than 1% of all
coupons are ever redeemed.


Good Day

Reply
by jeishere Posted Thu January 29, 2009 @ 11:25 AM

I work for one of the top food retailers in the US and coupon use is
way up in these hard economic times. Coupons are used in over 25% of
our transactions and over 50% of our direct mail "personalized"
coupons are being redeemed.

Preloaded coupons on the loyalty cards has never really caught on. I
am a technical person and it is my proffession, but I don't like them
because I never remember what coupons I have on my card when I am at
the store.

Plus, coupons are a huge marketing technique for both retailers and
manufactures.

Reply


Especially not by MA Cunningham Fri January 30, 2009 @ 1:06 PM

by Adam W. Posted Tue January 27, 2009 @ 12:19 AM

It really is time for the government to do something. Many states
have laws regarding coupons and almost all have them regarding sale
prices/advertising. I wish they would start to force stores to take
THEIR OWN coupons.

Have you ever seen the CVS ones? They state "cannot be copied" or
something like that. Isn't an internet printed coupon the same as a
copy??? lol

Maybe you should complain to your local consumer reporter?

Reply

Actually, no. by mikedthornton Tue January 27, 2009 @ 6:26 PM

I know CVS has funny things going on with coupons by Adam W. Wed January 28, 2009 @ 12:33 AM

by MayDay Posted Tue January 27, 2009 @ 12:13 AM

Why does the internet have all these coupon sites that you can print
off and then when you try to redeem them it's impossible? I remember
when my son was a baby and I kept getting email from baby food
companies and they would ALWAYS have a coupon link. So I printed some
out and when a store had a sale I stocked up and when I handed my
coupon in, lo and behold the store doesn't accept it!

I payed for the food anyway since my baby had to eat but damn...it was
the last time I ever tried to use a printed coupon again! I stick with
the ones out of the sunday paper.

I have issues with Kmart anyway so I'm not surprised by this letter
one bit. Sounds like an average day there.

Reply
by Kelshir Posted Mon January 26, 2009 @ 6:47 PM

This is one thing I do not understand. Why do companies offer
internet coupons when most stores do not accept them or place limits
on them to the point they are not worth using.

You do have a very valid complaint, and I hope someone gets back with
you.

Reply


Because .... by It'saNewYearandNewBellaSera Wed January 28, 2009 @ 8:05 AM


by RedheadwGlasses Posted Mon January 26, 2009 @ 6:47 PM

There was another letter here recently with the same complaint, only
it was for another store (Walgreen's or Walmart, I believe). I agree
-- their website should say something about coupons needing to be in
color. Then you could have an option of clicking a button and they
send you the coupon (perhaps minus postage, although that'd seem
tacky) via the mail. Not only do many people not have color printers,
many people aren't even online.

Reply

Don't you have to be on-line to get internet coupons? n/t by Steve-OH Mon January 26, 2009 @ 9:41 PM


It's possible by myswtghst Tue January 27, 2009 @ 1:42 PM

by Commander-X-23 Posted Mon January 26, 2009 @ 4:50 PM

I have never used an internet coupon, and may never. However, it
seems most internet coupons say "void if photocopied," or the
equivalent.

Therefore, if they are going to cast suspicion and turn away coupons
simply because they are B&W, it should say right on the coupon that
only color coupons are valid.

As you say, there are color copiers, and this whole internet coupon
thing sounds rife for "coupon fraud" if they are worried about
copies.

By the way - there is no need to feel like a criminal if you did
nothing wrong. Just stand your ground and hold your head high - there
is no need to be embarrassed or feel less of a person than anyone
else.

Reply


rife with fraud, or ripe for fraud n/t by Commander-X-23 Mon January 26, 2009 @ 8:10 PM


"By the way - there is no need to feel like a criminal if you did nothing wrong" by myswtghst Tue January 27, 2009 @ 1:44 PM




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