Well some of you might have noticed new coupon bar codes when you print some coupons and perhaps on a few of the newspaper insert coupons as well.
You might notice there is now one barcode and not two as well are used to. This has been in the works for a few years now and the point of these new bar codes is to increase efficiency at checkout for the customer and the retailer.
The main reason we will see a switch from the standard bar codes to the new single bar codes is to prevent fraud. There are a lot of people that feel that if a coupon scans they can use it for whatever they want, regardless of what the coupon is actually intended for.
I hear this all the time when coupons are released for Disney movies for example. The coupon will state is is valid for a BluRay combo pack and people will still use it on the regular DVD. So this new barcode system was designed so that the coupon will only work on the specific item or items it is intended for. In the case above, a Blu Ray coupon will beep if used on a DVD.
So this should also help retail stores because they can have more confidence when accepting coupons. The registers are supposed to alert them to exactly what the problem is if the coupon beeps OR if it does scan they can be much more confident that the coupon is perfectly legitimate.
The goal is for the cash register to alert the cashier as to precisely what the problem is (expired coupon, not the correct item etc…) so all the guess work is gone and it should be a much faster process to check out at the grocery store.
Now these bar codes really started popping up at the first of the year, however retailers actually have up to 6 months to change their registers to start accepting these new coupons.
So the short term issue is that many of the new bar codes might not scan at your store. I have heard about issues with Walgreens and I have personally experienced issues at Safeway and Walmart. I had coupons refused because they wouldn’t scan and since the coupon policies do say a coupon can be refused if it doesn’t scan… well there isn’t a whole lot that can be done.
Now one issue that some of you might experience is with doubling coupons. Currently if a coupon states “do not double” it may or may not double at your grocery store.With the new databar bar codes, the chances a Do Not Double coupon will actually double are slim. Mostly likely they will not. Unfortunately I don’t have any stores in my area that double coupons so I can’t test this personally.
So again, the bottom line is that these new barcodes might be a headache for the short term. I wanted to be sure you were all aware of exactly what is going on so you feel empowered when you go to the store. Hopefully most of these major retailers will have the software updated quickly and the new coupon barcodes should ultimately lead to a much more efficient experience for all of us.
You can read a little more about the new Coupon Barcodes here and the new Databar Bar codes here.
Kristina L says
Thanks for the update, I have been wondering about those new barcodes. I have had problems at Safeway too- hopefully the stores will figure it out soon! At my CVS, these new barcodes actually cause their registers to shut down- thankfully they just enter them manually. Thanks for your hard work Charlene!
Ameena says
Thank you! Very informative and detailed.
Donna Yarbrough says
I feel better already. 😀
Mindy says
Thanks for keeping us informed!
Crystal says
The Facebook Hostess Devil’s Food Doughnut for $0.50 had the new barcode. My Kroger doubles coupons and this one did not automatically double. I caught it and they entered it as a $0.50 general manufacture coupon so I could get the doubling. I don’t remember the coupon saying do not double but isn’t it a store incentive to double? It’s not like the manufacture of the coupon is giving the store the face value of their coupon plus what the store doubles so why the wording Do Not Double?
Deb says
This happened to me tonight! I was at the grocery store and all but one of the coupons would not scan. The cashier didn’t know what to do and a manager came over and just took off the total value of the coupons. Thanks for elaborating on the issue. I hope stores comply sooner rather than later or there will be a lot of unhappy people (customers and cashiers) for the next six months.
Love your site and all the work you put into it!
Debbie K says
I was hesitant to use the coupons with the new Barcodes, but so far I have used them at Safeway and Raley’s with no problems at all! I hope this continues……
ErinJen says
I used them at Target tonight and every one of them beeped and she had to push it thru anyway..I tried to explain to her the new system and she just sighed at me every time my coupons beeped. I swear with so many people out of jobs, you’d think cashiers would be a little friendlier. She was such a snot about it…Really? Quit if you dont like what you do…UGH, I’m sorry, I’m just so sick of rude cashiers when it comes to coupons..Hellooooo, couponers have been around for a while now, get with the program!!!
Field says
I applaud this move by these companies. I am a customer service manager at Walmart, so i see coupon issues on an everday basis. It makes me sick that these “frauds” misuse these coupons to their advantage. If things contune on the track they are on, many companies and retailers wont issue or take coupons. I am well versed in the walmart coupon policy and would be glad to provide insight if needed.