I watched Extreme Couponing last night.

[nuisance26]

I am not backing down that it is wasteful to take 100 bottles because they are free and then never use them.

knowing coupon fraud

Business | Woman Convicted In Coupon Scam Won't Clip Again | Seattle Times Newspaper

Woman Accused Of Fake Coupon Scheme - Money News Story - KPTV Portland

~Why do you think anyone wants you to "back down"? I agreed with the wastefulness of tossing them by saying "Everyone is wasteful". But we don't know that they won't use what they buy. Maybe they eat a lot of salad. Maybe they marinate and smoke meats. Maybe they make meals for shut-ins. Of course, they may just use them to decorate their shelves. Is art wasteful? Do you let strangers dictate how you use the items you buy?
I've read the two stories you posted. The prosecution clearly proved that those people knew they were printing and dealing with counterfeit coupons. These are not average couponers or even extreme couponers trying to lower their grocery bill, they're criminals stealing money from manufacturers and stores.~

[New-mom-to-be]

you said to post that couponers are aware they are committing fraud

i did that.

[imagine]

I think now that manufactures are "cracking down" on the stores more stores will be catching potential fraud at the store level and the coupon will be denied. Unless they are trying to build a case against a big time fraud person.

I remember a long time ago before the computer limited printing of internet coupons. People printed many copies of a target free chilled bottle of soda. They would head in a get a bunch of free ones. Target caught on to what was happening. Those people might or might not have been trying to do something wrong.

I went though the line with the one I had printed. Showed the lady the coupon and she was about to deny it. Then she stopped and said "You just have one?" I said yes, she smiled and said "that was the intention of the coupon so we well will give it to you".

I think as long as people aren't looking for loop holes (like the bar code thing that is fraud in my mind or paying for clipping services which is a gray area in my mind) and are trying to use the coupons as intended then no one would have to worry about fraud.

I do see the rules getting tighter as the manufactures tighten loop holes and rules. I don't see more people being charged with fraud but with store getting really picky as they want to make sure they get their money. I believe the game has changed or is changing.

[McD]

[QUOTE=nuisance26;1529488 If you find one that convicted a average couponer who was just trying to lower their grocery bill you let me know. All the cases I've seen involve store managers & employees redeeming unused coupons and people who run shady 'businesses" counterfeiting, altering and defacing coupons. [/QUOTE]

Actually, this is what Constance said. She said if you find one average couponer convicted of fraud to let her know.

Pretty sure that the average couponer doesn't do this:
Arvidson, who has also been called the ``Dumpster Lady'' because she rooted through garbage bins looking for coupons, used some to buy products and then sold them at flea markets, said prosecutor Steve Sucsy. Her main income came through selling the coupons for more than she paid for them, he said

[McD]

Officer Barbara Glass said Yun printed hundreds of fake coupons for stores such as Kohl's and Safeway. Yun then used the coupons when purchasing items and sometimes returned the items to get gift cards, police said.

Also not the average couponer.

[oheoh's momma]

wow that's a lot of candy I have packs of hershey bars in the freezer Its hoarding or mental illness something crazy

[oheoh's momma]

4 packs of candy

[NikoSan999]

Arvidson, who has also been called the ``Dumpster Lady'' because she rooted through garbage bins looking for coupons, used some to buy products and then sold them at flea markets, said prosecutor Steve Sucsy. Her main income came through selling the coupons for more than she paid for them, he said

Not to get into a debate over this but the coupons were fraudently made. It was a big business and Rackmill and her had a counterfeit ring printing them going for several years in the 80's. Besides the guy in Texas. The coupons were all free coupons, not cents off...free Tide, free Pampers...Pampers were big back then. They sold these 1/2 price all over the US.

The so called coupons in the dumpster were not coupons per se...they were rebate forms and qualifiers for rebate deals. They also counterfeited qualifers for rebates such as oil, Coleman products, fishing poles etc...they weren't scrounging for Procter and Gamble 50cents off Gain.
They sold the Coleman camping and fishing poles rebates which were $20 deals for $10 each one. The free coupons were half price also.

No comparison between Connie Arvidson and Rackmill and the couponers on TV. The ones on TV wouldn't burn someones house down for being on someone else's territory. Not saying THEY would but it was very territorial...did meet one lady whose house was burned for being in someone elses territory.

Also if you look at the date of the article it was over 21 years ago.