Should theft be encouraged here?

Geewhizz on 07/08/2014 - 06:14

Raising this topic is going to make me unpopular with some, but as I see it, the greed of a few has the potential to ruin things for those of us who are honest, but still enjoy a good bargain.

When a supermarket (or where ever) offers a bonus item with the purchase of another (for instance, buy two bags of allens lollies to receive a free jar,) going through the self serve checkout with the free or almost free item, without making the required qualifying purchases is technically theft. If you decide to try it, and get away with it, well good luck to you, I guess, but publicising it here only encourages others ,it who wouldn't have actually thought to do it, cleaning out stores' stocks of the bonus item, leaving none for the people who do the right thing.

Likewise, the exploitation of coupons in a way they were not intended, to get something for nothing….. think airwick candles!

It seems to me the character of the ozbargain community as a whole is bought into question by the posting of such 'exploits,' and the more they happen, the less frequently the freebies or discounts will be offered.

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modsec802 on 07/08/2014 - 07:20

+13

Agree. It's the one side of OzBargain I don't like.
It's even worse when a retailer etc closes such a loophole and there's outrage on here: like 'how dare they!'
ESEMCE on 07/08/2014 - 07:55

+5

Exploiting a loophole, I have no issue with but strolling out of a store with a "free" (if you buy something else) item without buying that item is theft plain and simple.

There's a lot of (usually unjustified) self righteous indignation displayed here, but it's also displayed in other forums.
The classic at the moment is people complaining about Live Connected increasing plan fees.. Yes they're increasing by 100% in some cases, but they're still competitive prices even if they're no longer the cheapest!
- Geewhizz on 08/08/2014 - 06:18
  
  My main reason for menitioning the airwick thing was the few individuals who claimed to have gotten a year's supply. That's just plain greedy.
- Boshait on 18/08/2014 - 14:36
  
  +1
  
  There's a lot of (usually unjustified) self righteous indignation displayed here
  
  That's usually from the perps who want to take as much as they can for themselves before the loophole closes.
mskeggs on 07/08/2014 - 08:08

+4

I think there is a huge difference between violating the terms of the deal to 'steal' the freebie, and exercising the terms of the deal to get a deal cheaper than we assume the offerer intended (airwick?). Whatever your morals say, the first could be prosecuted as theft, the second couldn't.
Fizzydrink on 07/08/2014 - 10:21

airwick?
- [Deactivated] on 07/08/2014 - 11:23
  
  It was a Coles Circle coupon which was supposed to be used by members only and they were supposed to use it once only. The coupon was placed on OzBargain and probably other sites. It was a generic coupon and was used multiple times.
  - mousie on 07/08/2014 - 17:23
    
    Releasing a deal into the wild which was intended for private consumption I am all for. There are a stack of coupon codes that have been provided off websites and reposted here in this spirit of sharing.
chloden on 07/08/2014 - 11:42

I don't think it is technically stealing if you scan the item. I don't see how anyone could be charged with stealing if the item is scanned. For example if you have a lot of groceries and you don't even realise that something has scanned for $0 you can hardly be charged for stealing.
[Deactivated] on 07/08/2014 - 15:21

+4

I love a serious bargain but quite a lot of things that go on around here does make me feel a bit… I dunno… uneasy? Can't think of a good word to describe it.

I don't really judge the peeps that choose to exploit loopholes or whatever (each to their own, and I can certainly see the appeal and feel incredibly tempted most of the time myself), but I still have trouble with occasions like a coupon code being used by everyone in a frenzy which was only meant for XYZ people - and the code got leaked, for example. I hate big corporations too and heck, we all know they wouldn't hesitate to exploit us for financial gain either, but I still feel like it's wrong lol. It's such an absurd way to feel - even I think it's stupid to have that perspective… hence why I don't judge anyone who takes advantage of situations like that.

I'm morally torn lol.

I guess what really fuels the bad vibes I get when we do that sorta thing is the fear that it'll only come back and bite us all collectively in the arse later on… I imagine the same businesses/companies going "well we aren't doing that again - no more vouchers!" or "no more huge discounts like that again!" or bumping up prices / holding off sales to make up for any losses. I realise that's not how it works in reality, and any milking we do probably has a negligible overall effect on their profits, but… I still have that irrational fear of it reducing the number/frequency/awesomeness of any deals from those places again.

The way some of us act all outraged when pricing errors are done and purchases are made (then cancelled) also irks me lol. It amuses me and irks me. I see both sides to the argument again…

Life is a pickle.
mousie on 07/08/2014 - 17:36

Given the popularity of Social Media, Forums and just the general 'swarms', businesses have a responsibility to ensure that deals that are not intended to be leaked, are not, and their processes are free from known loop holes. They also can afford some protection under legislation in the case of pricing errors etc.

Re: Allens Jars comments & Self Serve checkouts I don't think the content of this site is dedicated to the 'free with purchase promotions' - the vast majority of deals appear to be time or volume based price promotions or sampling offers. I don't like people that intentionally mis-scan items, and play on the vulnerabilities of Self-Serve check outs. At the same time I'm frustrated that the systems are overly sensitive to weight discrepancies & scanning errors - and they have really reduced the staff presence at my local Coles / Woolworths at the Self Serve checkout area.

My expectation when logging onto this site is simply just to find the best bargains of the day, however random that may be. Kudos to the veteran posters such as Easternculture, TA, ChickenTalon etc that continually deliver to this!
Tal_Shiar on 09/08/2014 - 17:07

+1

tap king deal comes to mind, didn't really enjoy having the limited coupons shared with anyone that could print them, not blaming anyone is particular, just disappointing…
- payton on 17/08/2014 - 21:04
  
  +1
  
  Not to mention the pariahs who collected multiple Tap Kings then listed them on Ebay.
  Stores are now becoming wise to such feral tactics and not using generic codes anymore, or putting strict 'per-person' limit.
Boshait on 18/08/2014 - 14:33

Likewise, the exploitation of coupons in a way they were not intended, to get something for nothing….. think airwick candles!

I don't know what specifically you are talking about, but using coupons in a way they were not intended seems far removed from picking up merchandise and walking it through the self serve checkout without paying.
[Deactivated] on 18/08/2014 - 21:15

I was tempted this week to try using my Woolworths $5 coupon a second time after using it at the self serve to get $5 off a $5.40 purchase and then taking the coupon away with me. I don't know whether the barcodes on these coupons are generic or single use but I don't want to abuse the system to find out.

The flybuys receipt coupons were single use. Once the $10 or $20 was redeemed on the correct account the coupon wouldn't work again.
- Boshait on 18/08/2014 - 23:07
  
  I was tempted this week to try using my Woolworths $5 coupon a second time
  
  You rascal, you!
  
  I don't want to abuse the system to find out.
  
  I will give it a go for the sake of science. If it works I'll throw the goods in the bag recycling bin, promise.

Should theft be encouraged here?

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