Additionally, coupon marketing at the point of sale have become commonplace in large supermarket chains. This is where the POS terminal prints out coupons for future purchases of competitive products or variations of product you are currently purchasing. This type of marketing also ties into the consumer's membership card to print out items previously purchased.
Sometimes a fraudster will attempt to pass counterfeit coupons and cashiers need to learn how to prevent the loss of revenue. It is important to understand that the presentation of fraudulent coupons may not mean the customer created them but simply that the coupons are not legal tender.
It is not the cashier's job to accuse the customer and unless there is an attempt to use a significant number of illegal coupons at your check out. Instead the proper procedure is just inform the customer the coupon is not good.
In the case where a customer attempts to use a large number of fraudulent coupons, call your manager.
Here are some basic issues the cashier needs to be aware of when taking either a store coupon or a manufacturer's coupon in payment for a good or service are as follows:
a) There needs to be a bar code on the coupon because coupons are scanned into the computer/cash register in the same manner as other items.
b) Use your good "cashier common sense" with regard to the coupon - see if it has a realistic savings or discount. If the supposed savings is so large that it is unrealistic to believe, it may be fraudulent.
c) Look at the coupon and see where it came from - is it from a newspaper or the manufacturer's website or is it a printed coupon from a computer - if the coupon is supposed to be directly from the Company then you should be aware of all in-store coupons and promotions that are being featured.
These are next items will help a cashier identify a legitimate coupon:
a) a product watermark behind the coupon value
b) little dots in the expiration date box
c) the time and date stamp around the coupon and
d) a unique serial number on the coupon
On the other hand the coupons that are suspicious will have these qualities:
a) a PDF print format
b) an expiration date that is unrealistically far out into the future
c) no bar code on the coupon
d) the coupon is for a free product not necessarily a buy one, get one free coupon,
e) the value of the coupon is unusually high.
It will be especially difficult for someone to pass off a counterfeit coupon with a UPC bar code. These types of coupons usually need to be validated by the POS terminal. If the coupon does not scan automatically you should refer back to the store's cashier training procedures with regard to manually removing the coupon value from the order.
Remember, coupons are like cash and they must be treated that way. If you have any questions about any aspect of a coupon transaction, call the Manager to assist you.
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