I received a coupon in my email from Michaels, North America’s largest arts and crafts specialty retailer, promising me fifty percent off “any” regular price item in their store. From experience, I know that my definition of the word any differs from Michaels’ definition of the word. I once tried to purchase an overpriced how-to drawing book with one of their forty percent off coupons and I was denied at the register.
It would seem, like some things in life, a Michaels coupon has quite a lot of small print. For example, from this morning’s coupon, blown up to a larger size for easier reading:
It would seem they still don’t allow their coupons to be used with books. Michaels sells a lot of books. I wonder how many people know that before they try to buy a book with a coupon. Maybe it’s just me, but when I see a word used like any, I don’t think I even need to read the small print. Webster’s defines the word any to mean, used to show one selected without restriction.
With this many exclusions to what they allow to be purchased with a coupon, they have no business using the word any. It’s deceptive, and it’s wrong. Is it illegal? I don’t know, but it should be.
I have noticed the same unethical deceptive promotional practice by this chain. I googled ‘deceptive MIchael’s coupons’ and there are actually lawsuits where they were forced to pay huge settlements to the state of NY. Here is one of many examples: http://alwaysupward.com/blog/michaels_stores_in_ny_pay_1-8m_for_fake_sales/
And I’ve noticed ALL of their discount coupons are purposely and illegally deceptive. Stating in large type “X% off All X’ and in small type these coupons say ‘limit one coupon per product.’ Why state ‘ALL’ then? Guess what, it IS ILLEGAL. People should make as many complaints to state consumer agencies as possible.