Josh Elledge - Chief Executive Angel
Below is a guest column I wrote for MLive media group – which went to 1.5 million homes and on Michigan's most popular news site: MLive.com.
As someone who is work in the coupon industry for many years, the news story regarding Kathy Gizowski, the former Meijer cashier got my attention. She was terminated for improperly taking store coupons while on the job and personally using one. This story got the attention of others, as well. Over 800 comments have been registered on this story at MLive.com so far.
Understandably so, many people see this story as a couponing issue. In my experience, I don't believe this is a coupon issue at all and according to those standards, as Gizowski did not violate any couponing rules. As a consumer advocate who loves the art of using coupons properly, let me give you some scenarios in which it could have been a coupon fraud issue.
1. If the cashier were to take coupons from her employer and sell them on eBay, this absolutely would be a coupon issue and would be considered coupon fraud. Buying and selling coupons is never acceptable ““ no matter how the coupons were acquired.
Technically, even transferring coupons to another party is a violation of the manufacturer or retailer terms and conditions. In my experience, if Gizowski were to grab a stack of them and hand them off to a friend, not only could this be considered an employee theft issue, but a judge would be more apt to consider it fraud due to the extent of the offense.
The Coupon Information Corporation, (a watchdog group for the couponing industry) regularly works with law enforcement to track down people who engage in buying and selling coupons ““ which is a violation of the terms and conditions of nearly every coupon I've ever seen. For this reason, please never buy coupons or pay for a “coupon clipping service.” Manufacturers and retailers frown on this activity and are not afraid to prosecute.
2. This would have been considered a coupon issue if she were to take the printed coupon and photocopy it or manipulate it and either use or distribute it. She didn't do this so she's in the clear on this issue. Yes – a coupon is considered nothing but paper and ink until someone attempts to redeem it. Then, if there was anything improper about its use or transfer at any point, it can become a violation of terms and possibly a crime.
3. Finally, if the coupon had stated that employees were forbidden from redemption, this would have been a coupon issue as this would have been a violation of its terms and conditions. According to a Meijer spokesperson, employees are clear to participate in coupon offers like the one Gizowski used if they receive the coupon through a purchase as a customer ““ so no such couponing violation was made unless the employer policy was spelled out in the terms on the coupon itself.
So although no couponing rules were broken that I can see, Gizowski evidently violated a workplace rule, which carries its own penalties. Being branded a coupon fraudster, however, should not be one of those penalties.
