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Thursday, January 28, 2010

Update: $1/1 Quaker Oatmeal Coupon

I know many of you have been frustrated after attempting to use this coupon during this fantastic Quaker sale at Albertsons, only to be told it is fraudulent. We made a few phone calls this morning to get to the bottom of it. Here's what we found out:


A rep. from Quaker contacted Albertsons corporate offices to let them know there was a fraudulent $1/1 Quaker Oatmeal coupon being presented. The likely culprit was someone with access to a copy machine, making mass copies of a once legit coupon. The Quaker rep told Albertsons they would not be reimbursed if they accepted the fraudulent coupon (obviously!). Albertsons then sent out a corporate wide email with confusing verbiage. It essentially said avoid taking the $1/1 coupon at all. Many stores widely circulate their corporate emails to the checkers, while others do not. That is why you see such discrepancy at the store levels when it comes to this sort of thing.


So what does this mean for you? Well my contacts at the Five Mile and Overland store did a little research and took the problem up the ladder. The solution is this: they WILL accept this coupon if the security features are valid, ie. an individual time stamp and Veri-fi code with dot-scan barcode. If your coupon does not have all of those features, they will refuse it on the spot. If it does, be prepared to have them carefully scrutinize it. Be patient with them. The checkers do not want to get in trouble for accepting a fraudulent coupon and Albertsons does not want to lose money.


So YES, the coupon link we posted about WAS a link to a valid coupon. And YES you can use that coupon. I cannot speak for all of the stores in your states/regions, but locally you should be able to. If you are hassled at a particular store, ask to speak to a manager and explain that your coupon does have all of the security features needed. If all else fails, head on over to 5&O. I know they will take it!





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15 comments:

heatherlf said...

I just used 5 at the Ustick McMillian store about 11 this morning and took it fine.

Fat Skinny to Fit Skinny said...

I can't get it to download the coupon. Drat!

Squirrel & Button said...

Dang wish I had known this this morning around 9:30. The Micron one wouldn't take it all. Told me it was bogus b/c of an email that Quaker sent Albertson's saying they would not reimburse for any that said expiration 4/30/10. :-(

Unknown said...

I used one at glenwood with no problem this morning

Carol said...

Thanks this is really helpful to know. I hate that tension when the checker seems to think you're ripping them off and you feel like a criminal even though you're using a perfectly valid coupon. Thanks for helping explains the pressure checkers can be under not to take coupons.

Mama Yo said...

AMBER - I spoke to Damien at 5&O today and he told me that because of YOU and your investigative work, CORPORATE sent an email out to ALL the Albertsons letting them know the guidelines for this Q.

THANK YOU AMBER!!! YOU ROCK!

Tricia said...

I second the motion - Amber is awesome! Thanks!

Fabulessly Frugal said...

Woot, woot! Amber is the WOMAN!!!!!
FABULOUS! Thanks Amber!

Monica

Unknown said...

Thanks so much for checking into this - I felt bad thinking I had used a fraudulent coupon and at the same time a bit upset as I thought it was a legit coupon - seemed legit and I am happy to know it was legit!

Money Savings In WA said...

Actually I was able to confirm the matter with the store manager of two of the four Albertsons in my area (he manages the Lee Blvd store in Richland as well as the Gage store also in Richland.

I spent the last day e-mailing him and ended up speaking with him about this because the coupon scam originated at his store on Lee Blvd in Richland, WA.

You can read his e-mail to me on the matter by going here – http://bit.ly/dAmibm Along with my other post on the matter http://bit.ly/9jnRBZ

I also was in contact with him in regards to internet printables for free items. http://bit.ly/bfTCrC

Lisa K. said...

I am new at this coupon shopping. But here in Springfield, Ore. They have a coupon at Winco, buy 5 Quacker oat products and get $3 off. I did that one day. Well the next day I saw the deal Albertsons was having. So I took my $3 coupon along with the deal they were have 5 Quaker oat products for $5 used my $3. Going back tomorrow doing the same thing. Stocking up the motor home. Sorry also my first ever comment, kinda got of the subject.

Mama Yo said...

Way to go Lisa! It's fun, right!?

Lenna said...

Arrrggghhhh. Albies in Idaho Falls wouldn't take the legit Q this morning. I explained that it had the security features and that this isn't the Q they were refering to when they said do not take the $1/1 Q. She wouldn't hear it. I said I respected that they couldn't take a fraudulent Q, but I disagreed with her. THIS Q was legit. Didn't matter. Oh Well, just 2 canisters of Oatmeal. I got great deals on the other items.

Lenna said...

Arrrggghhhh. Albies in Idaho Falls wouldn't take the legit Q this morning. I explained that it had the security features and that this isn't the Q they were refering to when they said do not take the $1/1 Q. She wouldn't hear it. I said I respected that they couldn't take a fraudulent Q, but I disagreed with her. THIS Q was legit. Didn't matter. Oh Well, just 2 canisters of Oatmeal. I got great deals on the other items.

Julie said...

Yes, it was frustrating. I tried at all 3 Idaho Falls Albies yesterday, and none of them had the news that at least some of the $1/1 coupons were legit. I had other coupons to use, but still.