Generic Coupon Rant

[NotAlBundy]

Although this post was inspired by a recent customer interaction, I'm going to be more general about it, because it's not just this current customer that I've had this problem with.

My company lets customers sign up to receive coupons via regular mail, email and/or text message. In the instance of a text, obviously we look at the phone. Some people don't print out their emails and we have been told to take those coupons if the people access their email on their phone.

No problem.

Until customers actually do a google search on their phone in front of me for a current coupon code. I nicely inform them that they are not showing me a valid coupon for MyCompany, but that if they would like to sign up to receive them in the future, I can do that for them. Most people are okay with it, but others throw a fit.

I understand googling for a coupon code to use online, I do it all the time. But to do it in FRONT of me AT the store? That's just insulting.

I so badly want to post specifics of my most recent encounter, but they are cracking down on social media and I don't want to give away too much identifying info!

[wolfie]

Some people don't print out their emails and we have been told to take those coupons if the people access their email on their phone.

No problem.

Until customers actually do a google search on their phone in front of me for a current coupon code. I nicely inform them that they are not showing me a valid coupon for MyCompany, but that if they would like to sign up to receive them in the future, I can do that for them. Most people are okay with it, but others throw a fit.

As I understand it, if they're Googling, they don't have a coupon of their own, and are trying to find one that someone else received and somehow wound up on a searchable area of the net. If they did the search beforehand, then showed you the coupon when they got to the register, you'd have no way of knowing it wasn't sent to THEM. By doing the search at the register, they're showing that THEY don't have a coupon. Good job refusing to take it.

[EricKei]

Uh, what Wolfie said ^_^ If the code was sent to someone else (especially if it was meant to be used only once), you did the right thing.

If they are regular customers, being on the email list will *facilitate* their getting coupon codes more easily. If they shop there once every three years, why cater to them?

I so badly want to post specifics of my most recent encounter, but they are cracking down on social media and I don't want to give away too much identifying info!

You are wise Better safe than sorry.