Cover Blown on the CoverGirl Freebies...The Truth

Couponers...BEWARE!!

If you're a couponer, then you are familiar with our beloved CoverGirl coupons. We originally were getting $1.00 off ANY one CoverGirl item, but for the last couple of months, in addition to this gem, we've also been getting $3.00 off ANY two CoverGirl items. We found out we can use them at Family Dollar to get some awesome beauty tools and so, you KNOW we were getting them faithfully!!

I have been having some "interesting" experiences with Family Dollar and their coupon procedures. This happens typically because the register beeps EVERY time we use this coupon. The beep is fine because we know the cashier can manually punch in the discount and Voila...free stuff!! Every time!! It's not usually without some discussion though, as cashiers were coming up with every excuse known (and not known) to couponers, so that we wouldn't walk away with freebies. Some "discussions" are plain ridiculous because my free stuff does not come out of their checks and they certainly don't get paid enough to argue about a $1.00 coupon.

I was going to list all the excuses and blog about it, but after doing a little more research, I found out that Family Dollar found the biggest loophole to stop our usage on theses products. Just for fun, I even solicited one of my favorite couponing groups I LUV 2 COUPON, to run down a list of excuses they've received and here's a few:

Excuse: The picture doesn't match the product.
Answer: It doesn't have to match the product in the picture, just whatever is WRITTEN on the coupon. By the way, the picture changes periodically.

Excuse: You're not allowed to get items for free.
Answer: I am permitted to use my coupon as long as it doesn't exceed the amount of the product and even then...

Excuse: Your coupon is for more than the item costs.
Answer: According to your coupon policy, you are to adjust the coupon down to the price of the item. I realize I'm still responsible for the tax.

BONUS Excuse: It's illegal to get free stuff with coupons.
No need to answer that one...pure nonesense.

Anyway, today, I had the worst experience with the CoverGirl coupons EVER!! So bad, in fact, I had to send a message to Family Dollar's corporate office regarding the poor customer service. The cashier was rude and told me I couldn't use the coupon even before I put it on the counter. She told me since the product was not a P&G (Proctor & Gamble) product, they couldn't take my P&G coupon. But it was the way she said it, talked over me and continued to talk crazy as I exited the store. Unacceptable.

It still didn't sit well when I got home, so I called CoverGirl (800-426-8374) to ask about their products. I found out that some of their CoverGirl products were licensed to a company called Bassett. These products include the following CoverGirl/CoverGirl Queen accessories products:

• Pumice Stones
• Nail Clippers
• Tweezers
• Emory Boards
• Eyelash Curlers
• Etc

Basically...ALL of Family Dollar's CoverGirl beauty items!! Skeptical? Turn your package over, you won't see P&G there, but Bassett Brands. This is Family Dollar's loophole and perhaps for good reason, because if P&G is not going to pay them for the coupons used to buy Bassett licensed products that completely makes sense. I concluded this is probably the communication that Family Dollar's District Manager sent to his stores....so couponers, it looks like we'll be out of luck in the future trying to score these goodies. My projection: their loophole, their loss. We'll simply stop buying them. The End.

This is Frugalicious Diva reporting the Coupon News...signing off!!