Is it ethical to use coupons intended for somebody else, or to manipulate coupons so as to provide a different benefit than intended? Does the value of the coupon matter?
Examples:
Store ABC sends a 10% off coupon to its credit card mailing list and the terms of the coupon state that it’s only intended for use by the recipients, yet the coupon works for everyone. Can it be used by non-credit card holders?
Store ABC has an 80% off coupon for employees only. Can non-employees use it?
Store ABC send out a “Save10” coupon open to everyone, but you figure out that “Save25” also works with greater savings. Is that permitted?
Store ABC send a one time use coupon for a discount, and you discover a way to manipulate the code so that it works multiple times. Is that allowed?
For the purposes of these questions, assume that the store wants the coupons to be used only as intended. Don’t say that the store is just happy to be making a sale, for that it’s part of a marketing plan.
If your answers differ depending on the situation, please explain why.