Comments on: Ask DSM Readers: Is Zip Code Couponing Ethical?

By: Mir

Mir — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 15:13:41 +0000

If there wasn't a reason for it, companies wouldn't restrict it. I think posting the wrong zip code to get a coupon is unethical because it is a lie for when it asks for YOUR zip code, making it unethical. I agree with the above Angela, Beth and Val and with the registration comment. Companies should have you register or determine your zip by your IP.

By: Val

Val — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 18:50:54 +0000

I agree with Angela and Beth - just because you can get away with something, doesn't mean it's right. That's why it's an ethical and not a legal question. Printing off of a website isn't the same as going to a different area to buy a newspaper either. You're purchasing that newspaper so you have the right to use those coupons. A printable off of a website is free for everyone to use and the website is at the mercy of it's guests being honest and ethical. We all love getting a great deal but let's not do it at the expense of other couponers or the companies offering those deals!

By: Beth @ In Good Cents

Beth @ In Good Cents — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 19:51:26 +0000

Angela, Thank you! Being affiliated with so many of the coupon companies has always stopped me from sharing, since I wanted to play by their rules. But, I did always wonder. This clears up a lot in my mind!

By: Angela

Angela — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 15:32:25 +0000

Hi - I'm actually at BlogHer and was lucky enough to attend a frugal bloggers breakfast hosted, in part, by Red Plum. I posed this question to the Editorial Director over our breakfast. She said that manufacturers will sometimes do this to test certain coupons in certain markets. And she told me she wishes bloggers would stop this practice as it annoys her to see it happen. Furthermore, she mentioned that sometimes if you attempt to use a coupon from a different area it may not work (i.e. "beep"). I then asked her if the store would get reimbursed if the cashier puts it through. She said NOT NECESSARILY. Folks, sometimes there are reasons beyond what we can think or guess when it comes to these issues. I'm not a fan of people making assumptions without getting some information first. I personally found Red Plum's reasons compelling enough. As a blogger and Red Plum affiliate member, I have chosen to NOT post zip codes so readers can obtain coupons from areas other than their own. Take it or leave it, but I want my readers to know what they can count on from me. If you want to read more about my conversation, it's up on my blog.

By: Scott

Scott — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 12:09:15 +0000

The companies could easily make you put the zip in the first time you visit the site and they save it in your computers cookies so you couldn't change it. Since they have not opted to so that, they have tacitly given permission for the ol' zip switcheroo ;)

By: Barbi

Barbi — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 03:34:02 +0000

I live in a small town in Western PA....but I purchase my local Sunday paper, another paper from a larger metro area and the Washington Post. Each has some of the same coupons and also a lot of different coupons, with different values. As far as I see it, coupons are released by companies and out there for the finding. No one would ever bat an eye that I walked into a store and purchased the papers that I purchased. Why is it any different if I do the same searching on the computer???

By: Peggy

Peggy — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 17:25:47 +0000

I moved to Kansas from Ohio. I was use to big Sunday papers with lots of everything. Now I get about a 15 page paper with nothing. So I cross the border into Missouri and buy their local papers because they carry alot of what I'm use to. Also when I am on a site that asks for zip codes I play around a little just to see the difference. If I use my new zip code in KS there are usually about half the coupons that my old zip code in OH shows. So I definitely use my OH zip code. I don't think the product companies care about how we get their coupons as long as we buy their products. The more coupons I can get for a product like Tide that is on sale then the more Tide Im gonna stock up on before the sale is over. Supply and demand. Show me the coupons and I'll show you a happy shopper going back for more and bigger bottom line in my check book!

By: Sheri

Sheri — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 15:00:45 +0000

If it is unethical, then so is getting coupons (through coupon trains, ebay, etc) from other parts of the country because your area didnt get them.

By: Melissa

Melissa — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 07:22:18 +0000

I don't feel the least bit guilty. I feel that if the coupon sites wanted to ensure we weren't using different zip codes they'd make you register and only able to use the zip code that you've registered with your address. But that's just my opinion.

By: Lori

Lori — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 06:00:50 +0000

Anyone who trades coupons or gets extras from ebay or coupon clipping sites would have a hard time saying this is unethical unless they are 100% certain the coupons they buy/trade are also available in their zip.

I buy sunday newspapers from a major metro area because the coupons are better than the ones in our tiny local paper. Where am I allowed to use them?

Also great point made by previous commenter. If you go to a different zip code to shop without making 100% certain that the same coupon was available for them how is that different?

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 04:21:35 +0000

I don't think it's unethical. To me, it is no different than purchasing Sunday coupons on ebay or another coupon clipping site that didn't come in my Sunday paper. There are times specific areas get higher value coupons in their Sunday paper and people have no problems trading or purchasing them outside the distributed area. What would be the difference?

By: Rita Collins

Rita Collins — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 02:26:36 +0000

Why would it be unethical? If you travel to another part of the country, you would possibly get different coupons in the local paper than your local paper. Also, as has been posted, you do not have to put in any zip code. If they are targeting a specific zip code, fine. But, they cannot truly think that only people in that zip code will use that coupon. That is absurd. Even before internet printable coupons, my grandma and her friends would send me coupons when I was in college.

By: Cindy

Cindy — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 02:13:36 +0000

For me, a lie is a lie. It doesn't say "enter whatever zip code appeals to you at the moment". It says to enter *your* zip code. So it doesn't really matter what I think they might allow or what I can get by with. I don't like to lie.

By: Debbye

Debbye — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 01:58:26 +0000

Another thought: I have not seen a coupon site that REQUIRES that you put in a zip code to print coupons. You are able to put your zip code to get coupons that are specific to your area, but you can totally opt out of that if you want. Why would they allow you to opt out if they don't want you printing from a different zip code?

By: Joy

Joy — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 01:49:40 +0000

ITA :)

By: Anne

Anne — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 01:48:03 +0000

Those that think it's unethical, do you only shop in your zipcode? The zipcode you used to get the coupon?

By: Ana

Ana — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 01:41:30 +0000

It's funny, because I've never even thought of it being unethical. Unethical (and illegal) would be copying a coupon, etc... not using a different zip code to get the coupons you need.

So no, I don't think it's unethical. And, like others, it really annoys me that different regions get different Sunday inserts, too!

By: amy

amy — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 01:20:32 +0000

There's a reason why they only offer those coupons in certain zipcodes...like they're only targeting a specific sector or area, most likely trying to stimulate sales in certain parts of the country.

By: Laura

Laura — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 00:46:46 +0000

I just don't agree with lying just to get a coupon, plain and simple.

By: Naome

Naome — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 00:41:51 +0000

I agree with Kristen. I have way more of a problem printing from 5 or 6 email address then printing 2 coupon max from a diffrent zip. I think it is fine