K Mart Ethics

[snicketmom]

I would like an opinion. It seems to be the consensus that using a coupon for a different product than was intended is unethical even if K Mart accepts it. (I agree.) But it also seems that people have no problem using more than 10 coupons when the ad states 10 coupon limit or BOGOs to get 2 products free, when the ad states the double coupons do not apply to BOGO. How do you justify this?

I don't mean this to sound judgmental, I am just curious. Personally, I justify it thinking that they may not get the money from the manufacturer if the wrong product is purchased, and therefor, that is stealing. But they will still get reimbursed if I use more than 10 coupons and BOGO affects KMart the same way as doubling a regular coupon. But that is just me. Does anyone have other opinions?

[queennella]

for a while i was only doing 10 q's per day at 2 different stores. this past sunday i went in and only did 10 q's and the cashier noticed my binder and informed me that they do not hold customers to the 10q limit and i could get more doubles if i wanted. i asked her why some stores hold to the rules and others don't. she informed me (which by the way this was a customer servce person-they were swamped) that her store does not hold to the rule because they are trying to maximize their earnings and make as much as they can. being where they are located they don't get much traffic other than during doubles and need to make $$$ whenever they can.
on the bogo concern, when i tested the bogo q scenario with just 1 q, i pointed it out to the same cashier (cust service person) that bogo's aren't supposed to double. she said yes i know that too but we still do so.

my personal opinion on this is that if i have been told my people that work there that they want me to do this (not going against manu q rules, etc) and i have brought these concerns to their attention then i may as well.

HTH

[lswheatly]

Well whenever I go to KMART I always break my transactions up to have 10q's and everytime the cashiers tell me that I really don't have to do that. The reason, they told me, was because it slows down their lines by having multiple transactions.

As far as the BOGO q's go, I made the cashier aware and she says that if the register takes it, then it must be okay.

[lucyrevenge]

In my case, I cleared everything with CS & the manager of the store I go to. I was told they cannot hold/limit how many coupons a customer can use as per corporate & that that store opts to not enforce the 4 like coupons. However there is another SuperK in my area that does. So each store has its own guidelines for these events. I just simply follow the guidelines given to me. This is with any store that I go to.

Bottom line, neither my intent nor actions are deceitful in this case, whereas, using a coupon I know to be for the wrong item is clearly a purposeful act & just not acceptable, at least that's how I see it.

[snicketmom]

Good points. Thanks.

[elkandboy]

good point lucyrevenge.

I also asked about the q limit with customer service before I laid my items on the counter. My kmart had raised their limit to 25 qs per transaction.

[nikanek1]

I think this varies by store. Not an ethical issue. At some stores the bogo works, at others it doesnt. At mine it automaticly doubles the bogo and the cashier just scans the q, no inputting price or anything. Last time it had to be manually entered and this time it just takes it off. I am sure they changed it somewhere in order for this to occur. Just like with Wags and Target or Walmart YMMV. My store doesnt enforce the 10q limit, they dont even have it posted, just a sign stating that they are doubling up to $2q's, i have asked. The service desk said as long as the register takes it, they will do it..not a lot of traffic at this store either.

[tiffinpa]

The K Mart near me doesn't hold to the limit either. Thank goodness!!!
Still haven't made it out there this week for the doubles event!!
Need to get my butt in gear. I did, however, stock up tremendously during their last doubles event there isn't much more I have room for; but of course I willl find room or donate the goods.

[californiashopper]

Most of the cashiers at my Kmart don't enforce the Q limit, but I did run into one who did. However, she offered to split my transaction into two. I've wondered about that though since the Kmart ad clearly says 10 coupons per DAY. So if the store is going to allow it to be split into separate transactions, then what's the point of enforcing it at all?

[nikanek1]

Most of the cashiers at my Kmart don't enforce the Q limit, but I did run into one who did. However, she offered to split my transaction into two. I've wondered about that though since the Kmart ad clearly says 10 coupons per DAY. So if the store is going to allow it to be split into separate transactions, then what's the point of enforcing it at all?

I split my orders up just for the sole purpose of watching what is going on, i think i can catch a mistake faster if it is split up and i know that my total may be off by a q not being input correctly, that's just me. But it doesnt make sense to limit 10 and let you do multiple trans. it is not like the register will not accept the q's or something. If that was the issue i would understand that more.