*UPDATE* More on the $2 off Tide coupon

You tired of the updates yet?! Well check out what Tide posted on their facebook page... apparently they are confused too. Is this coupon worth the hassle to you? Let me know in the comments!

MrCouponer is really on top of this issue and reassures you that we CAN use this coupon! This is reposted with his blessing :-)

 

shuriken’s thesis for why using the $2 off ONE Tide Detergent coupon on the 97¢ single-load, trial size Tide detergent is NOT improper usage of the coupon:

Before I start, let’s get something straight: I know this isn’t the popular opinion or the “consensus” on most couponing blogs out there, but I don’t care!  I don’t mind being the black sheep or playing the devil’s advocate.  However, if you’re okay being a brain-dead zombie/yes-man, then I suggest you stop reading here…


One of the problems I noticed right away with this coupon was the fact that the UPC for the product is 0 83725 84900 0 and the coupon itself bears the manufacturer’s code 37000.  This is exactly why I warned people in this post that the coupon would beep.  The problem arises from the fact that there is a mismatch and the register cannot resolve an item for the coupon to “attach” to.

However, the coupon is irrevocably INTENDED for ANY ONE Tide Detergent, per the verbiage of the coupon.  Anyone with the ability to read and half a brain should be able to understand this.

Therefore, I attest that the response that Tide gave on their Facebook wall is hogwash:

Tide would have you believe that you should not be able to use this coupon on the single-use, trial size Tide, but is that what they said in that statement?  No, they are hiding the fact that the only REAL limitation to being able to use this coupon is: how your store handles coupons that do not scan.

Of course, they cannot come out and make a statement that using the coupon on this particular product is fraudulent–because it simply isn’t true.
As Mr. Bud Miller of the Coupon Information Corporate (CIC) has stated in the past:

“You need to use the coupon only within the terms and conditions printed on the coupon. In English and Spanish or whatever the local language is. A coupon is a contract and an offer. You have to follow those terms.”

If you refer to the coupon, then you can clearly see that Procter & Gamble, in no way whatsoever, makes any distinction between Tide products distributed by P&G or those distributed by a third-party.

Furthermore, when we dig further and take a look at Procter & Gamble’s Terms of Proper Coupon Redemption, the first clause states that:

“Coupons are redeemable only by a consumer purchasing the brand/size(s) indicated thereon with the face vale of the coupon deducted from the retail selling price. [...]“

In this instance, there is no size restriction (moot); and, the brand of both the coupon being used and the product that it is being used on is Tide.  The fact that Procter & Gamble “outsourced” the manufacture of the packages DOES NOT change the fact that the contents of the package is, in fact, Tide detergent or that the package itself is branded “Tide.”

I’m not going to tell you to do anything, one way or the other.  We’re all adults here and are free to make or own decisions:  everyone reading this should act in accordance with their own assessment.

Lastly, in my opinion, it is criminal for Tide and Procter & Gamble NOT to reimburse any stores that accept this coupon, so long as it is being used correctly on a Tide product.

 Thank you for the clarification MrCouponer!