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July 4th Sales Gone Awry

We’ve got two stories this week, submitted by readers, all complaining about deceptive July 4th sales.

Story #1:

One of the most common forms of retail advertising is to promote a storewide sale on “everything.” Rarely is everything really on sale, but retailers still insist on using the word “everything.”

CVS Pharmacy is no exception. Just in time for July 4th, they sent out a mass email with the subject line: “4th of July Sale- 20% off EVERYTHING! 3 Days Only on CVS.com .” No exceptions, no exclusions, no asterisks. However, when you open the email, you see the graphic above with the small asterisk after “everything.”

The asterisk inevitably leads to a long list of exclusions.

*MOUSE PRINT:

*Offer available online only. Expires 6/30/10 at 11:59 PM EDT. To receive the 20% off sitewide discount enter coupon code JULY20 at check out. These products are not discounted: AeroGarden, Align, Alli, Acra Hair Removal Device, As Seen on TV products, Beauty 360 products, Belli, Better Body Solutions, Bodi Rocker, Burts Bees, Conair Infinity, Epilady, GHT, GoWear, Hormel, Ionic Pro, Jitterbug, Kelemata, Kidco, LaneLabs, LaRoche-Posay, Lierac, LipFusion, Maxoderm, Medela, Medical Nutrition Products, Olay Pro X, Omnilux, OXO, Philips Heartstart Home Defibrillator, Rapidlash, Resperate, Rock Hard Weekend, Sinupulse, Skin Doctors, Vector Hair Removal System, Vichy/Dermablend, Violight, Zanfel, Zeno. The 20% sale cannot be combined with another product sale running at the same time. You will receive the larger discount. The 20% sale excludes prescriptions and gift cards.

Thanks to Richard A. for the submission.

Story #2:

PetSmart sent out an email telling shoppers they could save up to $15 with coupons this weekend, both online and at their stores.

Here’s a part of their email:

*MOUSE PRINT:

Offer valid through July 4, 2010 at 6am ET

Nothing like having to get up early on a holiday morning — before 3am West coast time, and before 6am East coast time to use the coupon online before it expires. And the 6am time was not a typo, because trying to use it at 9am resulted in this error message:

Incidentally, their brick and mortar coupons were good all day at the store because they did not have a time of day expiration.

Thanks to Kelsey P. for the submission.

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6 thoughts on “July 4th Sales Gone Awry”

  1. I like how CVS had a “July 4th sale’ that expired before July officially began. Looking at the coupon code, you’d think it would be good until July 20 too.

  2. The Pet Smart discount code was valid all day Sat. (& if it was mailed on Fri. it was valid then, too,) so no one “had” to get up early on Sun. morning. It states clearly in the blue writing right under the promotion; “Hurry–offer expires 7/4/10.” I use coupon codes online all the time. This isn’t unusual, nor does it seem to be deceptive in any way, shape or form.

    Edgar replies:: The original submitter claimed it expired IN-STORE at 6am, which was not correct. What is absolutely unusual is any coupon that says expires on such and such date, but it does not go through the entire day. In this case, a 6am expiration is VERY unusual.

  3. I still disagree. If a coupon expires on March 22nd, (for example,) It would be good up until midnight of Mar. 21st. I wouldn’t submit a coupon to a store on the date of expiry and expect it to still be good.
    As far as online coupon codes go, I’ve used ones with specific times of expiry, as well, so I’d say it’s still not unusual, but we can agree to disagree.

    Edgar replies: Lana, it is not a matter of disagreeing, it is just the fact: a coupon that expires on December 31, 2010 is good all day. I can’t tell you how many coupons I have used at the last minute on December 31 of any particular year. You have been missing out on a full day of possible coupon use!

    From couponing101: “Expiration Date: All coupons have an expiration date. Some have an expiration date that actually says “No expiration date.” Stores usually will not accept coupons that do not have expiration dates. You can use the coupon through the date of the expiration date. If the coupon’s expiration date is 10/6/2009, you can use the coupon until 11:59 pm on 10/6/2009.”

  4. How does a “4th of July” sale, expire on June 30th (6/30/2010)? Is this a typo for CVS or just on this website?

    Edgar replies: Good point, Ken! This was verbatim what was in their email received on 6/28.

  5. I changed my dog’s grooming appointment from Tuesday to Friday and used the coupon. No problem. It’s a little odd to have it expire at 0600 ET but just read the terms or have someone read them to you. If you don’t like the terms, unsubscribe from the mailings.

  6. I used to think that the date a coupon expires, it has become expired, and expired coupons are worthless. But after being more frugal and using more coupons lately, I have never had one refused on the day of expiration. So this 6 am expiration is clearly designed to be misleading, unless Pet Smart is unaware that it is common practice to accept coupons on the day of expiration. Maybe they thought they were being generous by six hours. I doubt it. Marketing people research these things.

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