To use or not to use an online coupon not sent directly to you.

This post is just to inform you on some of the buzz going on about the use of CVS online coupons. It's being reported that the $2 off $10 CVS coupon from Richmond Parents Online Magazine is no longer scanning even though it has not yet expired. The following post was taken from a CVS thread on HCW.

"CVS has LEGALLY requested that online printable coupons no longer be posted anywhere on the Internet. CVS has contacted several of the larger websites, not just HCW. It is their position that the only valid printable coupons will be sent to you directly through their email system. As to the online magazines and newspapers, their online version is simply a convenience service. It's not meant to be printed out and replace their paper magazines and newspapers, otherwise they'd lose their income from their product. Same goes with the coupons in those situations, they are not meant to be printed out and replace the paper ones. My guess is CVS doesn't have the time to police every single newspaper or magazine's online source to make sure that their coupons are blacked out or made unprintable. In the end, we at HCW are intent on following the parameters stated on the legal notice that we received. And that is that the only valid Internet coupons will come directly to you in your email and that any other sources of Internet coupons are not legitimate, not approved by CVS and will not be allowed to be posted on HCW."

The $2 off $10 Richmond Parents Magazine coupon seems to have been accidentally made available to America to download and save and therefore print off as many times as wanted.

Another post put it this way "Frequently store circulars carry coupons. It is also common practice for grocery stores to post scans of these circulars on their websites for the customer to access online. It seems some people think that because those coupons have been scanned for this purpose it is OK to print them and use them. However, that is not a valid coupon and as such it is a fraudulent one. If people want to use that coupon they are better off going to their grocery store and grabbing some of the sales circular and clipping the coupon from there."

I haven't received an $ off $$ coupon in my email for quite some time. I still get great deals though. I recommend calling CVS customer service directly if you have any questions about the use of CVS coupons.

For some good general information on fraudulent coupons read this post over at Freebies 4 Mom or watch this video from a Houston news station.