There's a new coupon rumor going around on Facebook today that Target has decided to stop accepting printable coupons from sites like Coupons.com.
This strikes fear into the heart of many couponers, who love stacking printable coupons, Target store coupons, and Cartwheel offers at Target for multiple discounts!
But you don't have to start writing angry emails or planning a Target boycott just yet.
If you see a graphic or photo floating around telling you to stop bringing your printable coupons to Target, here's what to keep in mind:
- Is what you've seen on Facebook authenticated? In other words, does it come with a link to a reputable coupon site discussing the changes? (For example, has Totally Target covered it?) Or is it coming from someone who got it from a friend of another couponer's friend, with no attribution? If you can't carefully consider the source, then take what you hear with a grain of salt.
- What does the Target coupon policy say? As of the morning of February 3, 2014, the online Target coupon policy states, "We gladly accept valid internet coupons that contain a clear and scannable bar code." If you don't have a current copy printed and in your coupon binder, now's the time to do so -- that will save you a lot of stress and heartache at the register!
- Did you hear it from a Target team member? If you heard it from a cashier, did you ask to speak to a manager? Rumors spread just as quickly in a store as they do online. And if you heard it from a manager, did you ask them if this was for their store only? Remember, Target store managers have the right to set more stringent coupon guidelines than the company policy -- so if one store won't honor legitimate printable coupons, give your business to the store down the street that will. (Also, Target wants you to let them know if stores are refusing legitimate printable coupons, so keep that in mind as well.)
- Did you Google it? When a major chain like Target, Walmart, CVS, or Walgreens changes their coupon policy, it's BIG news online -- not only among coupon blogs, but also on consumer websites and sometimes even big news sites like CNN. So I think it says something that when you Google "Will Target stop accepting printable coupons?", you get referred back to the Target coupon policy. In other words, no news is good news!
Now, please keep in mind that I can't guarantee that Target will NEVER change its coupon policy to exclude printable coupons, or do any other sort of thing which sounds outrageous and weird to couponers. Stores make strange business decisions pretty frequently (remember when JCPenney stopped offering coupons?)
What I'm pretty confident of, however, is that we will have much more information than a homemade graphic floating around on Facebook if and when it happens.
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