The ACP works in collaboration with the leadership of the Joint Industry Coupon Committee (JICC), the Food Marketing Institute (FMI), and Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) to create industry best practices documentation.
ACP Committees and Task Forces and the ACP Board of Directors created and approved the guidelines available in the Coupon Industry Resource Library (restricted to ACP members). If you are a member, please login or set up an account to view the library. If you’re not a member, complete this form to request access to best practice documentation.
These guidelines are available to industry participants.Industry participants include retailers, manufacturers, coupon processors and solution providers that directly support retailers or manufacturers. These guidelines should not be made public and or available on website that is not password protected. These guidelines should not be made available to consumers or consumer facing companies.
COUPON INDUSTRY RESOURCE LIBRARY CONTENT
Members: Contact us if you need help setting up your account or resetting your password. Please login or set up an account to view the library.
Non-Members: Complete this form to request access to select documentation.
FEATURED DOCUMENTATION
Coupon Fraud on Mobile Devices:
Understanding how mobile GS1 DataBar barcodes create a risk for fraud at POS
Issue
Alleged coupon abusers are creating what appear to be mobile retailer loyalty program coupons by manipulating legitimate mobile loyalty program artwork and putting a counterfeit GS1 on it. These are coded as manufacturer GS1 DataBars, so when they are scanned at point of sale (POS) no paper coupon is presented, and therefore the coupon cannot be submitted to a clearinghouse for redemption. These are also being presented at Self-Checkout (SCO), a blank piece of paper or random coupon is inserted into the slot when prompted.
Retailer Awareness
Since no paper is presented, these coupons typically create a shortage for retailers, so it is important to be aware of this issue and consider doing the following:
- Educate in-store customer facing and loss-prevention teams of the issue, remind them that coupons are currency.
- Ensure that marketing teams are aware of this type of fraud and consider a Click-to-Card loyalty program in which no barcode is presented on a mobile device – whether it’s via the loyalty program or email campaigns.
- Does your register clearly differentiate between a MFG scanned coupon and a store coupon? If so, encourage your in-store teams to confirm that loyalty program coupons scanned from a mobile device show up as “STORE” coupon vs. MFG coupon. If not, consider implementing.
- Consider instituting stronger POS controls, such as reviewing all coupons scanned at SCO or not allowing mobile coupons to be scanned at SCO.
CPG Awareness
- Working with Digital Coupon Vendors: Ensure that you are working with digital coupon vendors who are aware of this type of fraud and are using innovative techniques to avoid barcodes on phones.
- Working with Retailer Partners: If the retailer is using a proprietary loyalty program barcode, ensure that they are aware of this type of fraud and review their risk mitigation efforts and controls.
DOWNLOAD FULL DOCUMENT
A full version of this guideline is available for members in the Coupon Industry Resource Library. If you’re a non-member and would like to review the document, request access using this form.
Coupon Doubling: Understanding when and how to use the Do Not Multiply flag for the GS1 DataBar
Doubling a coupon’s value is a marketing strategy utilized by some retailers. Each retailer develops their own double coupon program and encodes the program’s conditions (value limits, dates, times, etc.) into their point of sale (POS) software. When these conditions are met during a consumer transaction, the value of the qualifying coupon is doubled. The cost of the incentives awarded above the manufacturer coupon face value is paid for by the retailer.
Use of Do Not Multiply in Printed Verbiage and DataBar Flag
Users of the Do Not Multiply (DNM, also known as Do Not Double) coding standards are retailers who multiply manufacturer coupons, but do not wish to double or triple manufacturer coupons distributed in the store. When used in the coupon DataBar, the DNM flag allows retailers to distinguish that coupon as an in-store distributed coupon. This is uncommon, so manufacturers need to work closely with their retail partners to determine which stores use this standard.
In-store distributed coupons are mainly manufacturer coupons that are distributed in the retail stores, including:
- Coupons distributed on aisle shelves and store kiosks
- Coupons printed and dispensed at the register
- Coupons handed out to consumers in store flyers or on-site demonstrations
- In-store distributed coupons do not include manufacturer direct mail, factory applied on-pack or instant redeemable (peel off). Also, not included here are any coupons not distributed in the store, such as free-standing inserts (FSI).
It is imperative that the printed verbiage for Do Not Multiply or Do Not Double be used correctly. If the face value of the coupon is within double coupon requirements of the retailer that will be distributing the in-store coupon, the consumer-readable verbiage must follow these guidelines:
- Consumer-readable verbiage must always include Do Not Multiply when the barcode contains the DNM indicator
- Consumer-readable verbiage must never include Do Not Multiply without the corresponding DNM DataBar coding
- Improper use of or missing consumer-readable verbiage may result in negative consumer experience, unintended application at POS, and retailer applied penalty fees.
DOWNLOAD FULL DOCUMENT
A full version of this guideline is available for members in the Coupon Industry Resource Library. If you’re a non-member and would like to review the document, request access using this form.
EXAMPLES OF OTHER DOCUMENTATION
- Digital Distribution Methods Report
- How to Coupon Guide
- How to Coupon Guide, Natural Products
- Creative and Printers Guideline
- Digital Coupon Primer
- Print at Home Coupon Guidelines
- Canadian Internet Coupon Guidelines
- Glossary
- Lost in Transit
- GS1 DataBar, a Practical Guide
- Coupon History
- Coupon Design
- Family Codes with GS1 Databar Examples
- Self-Checkout & Coupon Redemption
- Adjustment Reason Codes
- Voluntary Guide Healthcare Distributed Coupons