When coupons or deals have a ‘through’ date – you can use it up to and including that date. Wording may say, ‘Expires 12/31/11’, or ‘Good through 12/31/11’, or ‘Use until 12/31/11’. So go ahead and use that coupon on December. 31st – but on January 1st, it is expired and the retailer will no longer accept it*.
In general, retailers are not reimbursed by the clearing house when coupons are redeemed on items purchased beyond the coupon expiration date. Most retailer point of sale systems are programmed to catch this as an error, and the register will beep – but not all. As an ethical couponer, you’ll know your coupons are expired before trying to use them.
Even when you have expired coupons, consider saving them for donation to Overseas Military families. Those who are serving overseas are able to use many of our coupons at their base exchanges and commissary, up to 6 months beyond the printed expiration date.
* Some couponers have shared their experience about shopping at a store that occasionally or regularly accepts expired coupons. (Bed, Bath & Beyond used to do this with their own coupons, although most locations have stopped the practice.) Keep in mind that this is a management policy specific to that store. One reason this might happen is because store management made the decision to accept these coupons at a loss to their store's profit, while hoping your business will ultimately increase their bottom line. Another reason is that they offered you a rain check on an item that was out of stock, for which you were also going to use a coupon. Their decision to accept an expired coupon on a rain checked item is to reduce customer dissatisfaction, and to retain you as a loyal customer.
Are you aware of other reasons why a retailer might accept an expired coupon? Let us know.
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