My Savvy Life This Week: Dirty Deals

As deal-a-holics, as one might call us, we often have a sizable reputation for being frugal but dishonest.  While this tagline is certainly not applicable to all couponers and deal seekers, it is also certainly true that sometimes the glove fits!  I am sometimes amazed at the level of audacity with which shoppers finagle a deal on the gray side of the white line, and sell their integrity for less than $0.25.

I love a good deal as well as the next shopper, but applying the "I'll try using this coupon and see if anyone notices or I'll make up my own prices to price match" method are a blight on the coupon community.

As I stood in line behind a woman checking out at Walmart this week, I was appalled at the level of dishonesty she used to price match her entire shopping cart.  I knew of not one item for which she offered the correct competitors price.  In fact, I knew the accurate prices for the products she rattled off and that some were not even on sale at the stores she mentioned.  It was evident from her actions, her "fake" shopping list (with no prices noted) and her demeanor that she had completely pulled product sale prices out of thin air - she even gave too high a price on the soda she was buying.  I should have said something to her or the checker before she rang out, but in that moment I was flabbergasted.  Believe me, I have heard stories of shoppers employing this tactic before, but I had never personally witnessed anything so blatantly wrong.  I did inform the cashier after the transaction was complete that she should have asked to see a sale ad for each item matched.  She too was surprised that the woman checking out had lied - not only lied, but literally stolen revenue from the store.

Purposefully slipping expired coupons past a cashier, attempting to double stack manufacturers coupons, using photocopied coupons or even faking competitor prices is the same as stealing, in my opinion!

In the end, no one owes us anything.  They don't owe us a great deal because over a year ago we were overcharged on a purchase (I have actually heard this excuse) or we feel we deserve it for any other ridiculous rationale. There are more than enough honest deals to go around that no one need sell their honor for any amount of money.