Clever couponing is the way most households beat the heat when it comes to rapidly dwindling household budgets. But, there are some national retails chains that aren’t as keen on the concept and they’ve set out to stop it.
Retailers across the country are striking back at what they consider ‘extreme couponers’; those customers who spend hours clipping just the right coupons and in-store specials so that they can overlap them and get large numbers of items for next to nothing. Companies such as Rite-Aid, Publix and Target have completely revamped their coupon guidelines specifically to stop the couponing trend. One of the most prevalent changes is the number of coupons a customer is allowed to use in one visit.
Rite-Aid spokesman Eric Harkreader had this to say:
“We have updated our policy so that all of our customers can take advantage of great value rather than small groups excessively taking advantage of them.”
By ‘taking advantage’ he must mean using them to the best worth so that you have enough money left over to put gas in your car.
Not to be left behind in the coupon dust, Target has now announced that it will no longer allow customers to combine brand and Target buy-one-get one offers. Publix didn’t even have a coupon policy until now and they claim the change is because of smart coupon clippers. Their way to combat the issue is to give each store manager the power to decide which coupons you’re allowed to use based on product availability.
Many stores claim that customers purchasing “too much” off the shelves is a problem. Odd…I thought selling was the goal. Let’s not forget…these stores still get every penny of the full retail price from the brand. Sounds to me like it isn’t an issue of fair shopping. It’s an issue of stores getting all bent out of shape because they feel they’ve been outwitted.
And you know what? They have.
So where does that leave the growing consensus of Coupon Queens? Of course there are still hundreds of other stores and chains that have not implemented anti-couponing measures…but for how long?
Read the full store here: http://abcnews.go.com/Business/extreme-couponer-policies-hit-target-rite-aid-publix/story?id=14011104
I have no trouble couponing at my Publix here in FL. The managers and employees go out of their way to help me find items I have trouble locating, are very friendly and the cashiers are nice and never give me attitude or screw up my transactions like they always do at Walmart. My Publix here in FL do not double coupons yet I still save 50% on average stacking manufacturer coupons with their coupons and the competitor's (Target and Winn Dixie for my store). Walmart on the other hand is a nightmare EVERY time I shop there. I am at the checkout for at least a half hour and the cashiers are snotty and incompetent. I am so stressed when I leave but always have to go back to use alot of my coupons there to get the free and cheap items. CVS is by far the BEST shopping experience every time no matter which store I shop at. Every employee and manager is friendly, helpful and VERY accommodating. I save the most money and spend the least OOP there. Walgreens on the other hand is always a horrifying experience at my nearest store and no longer shop there. The managers and employees give me dirty looks when I walk in and speak sharply to me whenever I went there. They would frequently ring up my transactions wrong and I would have to go back in and have them straighten them out and they have shorted me money back many times. They also deliberately do not keep the shelves stocked with the sale items that offer the most RR. I was actually told this by a new employee.
I really wish that Extreme Couponing hadn't become a show or a fad. I wish that Internet printable coupons weren't so often forged and faked. Since a small percentage of people misuse coupons and use them illegally (which I'm not saying they do on the show, just saying it does happen), now we have a ton of rules for everyone. I miss the days when my Kroger doubled up to 75 cents and tripled up to 50 cents. That's not something that they had to do since they didn't get that back from the manufacturer, but something they chose to do.
thanks for sharing how some of this works. I've used coupons, but I'm not a coupon queen. I tend to take more of the easy route, where I can add the coupons to my "card" and it just takes it off the register. Interesting to see how this turns out.
Wow. Interesting that the stores are really taking a stand about this. Here in Canada, ( don't know when or where Roberta was.. ) but in BC and Ontario where I have lived as an adult, they often have a one coupon per purchase thing happening.. and We get WAYYYYY less coupons than you do in the US. We don't have double coupon days etc either.
Great post about it , however, really going to make some people need to reconsider their purchasing decisions.. and maybe even WHERE they shop.
Peace and light
Elissa Joy
http://www.wholisticmama.com
I really don't understand the retailer's thinking on this one, especially if they are getting paid from the brand. I'm passing this info on to some coupon queens I know
I really miss good couponing. When I lived in Canada, coupons saved a fortune but you need to be careful. And you are right – greed and hoarding do no good – you need to enjoy life – called balance. Oh and watch that your fuel use and the savings amount as well as the time spent running around. Good post
Coupons are a privilege, not a right. When someone excessively clears stock out, it actually affects all consumers in a negative way. I am in favor of the stores doing some crack down to make it more fair.
In fact, I would be a lot happier if stores just did away with coupons and made food and items across the board more affordable without the nonsense of codes, scanning cards, programs, and coupon clipping.
Trisha
I agree with this 100%!
"In fact, I would be a lot happier if stores just did away with coupons and made food and items across the board more affordable without the nonsense of codes, scanning cards, programs, and coupon clipping."
Totally agree. I'd add in those stupid frequent shopper cards that make my key chain weigh 2 pounds.
Well said!!!
p.s. I DO admire the extreme couponers who actually donate a large amount of the things they get (for essentially nothing) to those in need, be it military organizations, or homeless shelters, etc.
That is a great way to use the system! But hoarding and taking everything (so no one can else can take advantage) is ridiculous.
True story: I just finished clipping coupons out of my P&G flier, but I don't have crates of fliers, that disturbs me. Sure I watch those television shows and am in awe, and think, "Cripes, if I could do that I'd be set for like, ever!" Except I don't understand why they would go to such extreme's every single month (or more). I mean, you've stocked up, good, now use your stock instead of adding to it. Fine line between these people and hoarders in my opinion (just because you're meticulously organized doesn't mean you're not a hoarder). I'm not worried or upset about this "crack down", simply because I use my one or two coupons and I'm done.
Extreme couponing is pretty crazy, but they are just going to drive them to other stores. Just my opinion.
We use coupons to stock up on items but I don't clear shelves. The item I buy the most of at one time is diapers and even at that, I try to ensure I am not taking all of the size 5s! It only takes a few people to ruin a system … but even with the new rules in place, I think folks can still get what they need and actually more of them can get what they need since it won't be cleared out!
Devil's Advocate Question:
Retailers are claiming this is unfair to those customers who do not use coupons or do not use them as efficiently. Does the fact that all shoppers have access to these coupons make unfairness a moot point?
it's about using common sense. I'm glad they are limiting it. from what i've seen people who are 'extreme couponers' need a reality check.
I don't know if it's all areas, but Houston area Kroger stores have started to cut down on the coupon stuff too.. They're going to digital so that people can't "extreme" on them…
Wow. A teen, a toddler, and a comedian husband. Love it! (And I'm sure its exhausting sometimes!)
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I am unable to purchase things I need if they are on sale that week because of the shelf clearers. It is helpful to limit the extreme shoppers to benefit those of us who are buying them out of need. If someone buys all of a product with coupons then someone NEEDS that item and is forced to get another (more expensive) brand or try elsewhere I think it is crazy and unfair.
I have run across that and found myself without a sale item because they sold out within a day (be it by coupon clippers or just a rush of customers). However, those stores also provided rain checks which allowed me to come back within a day or two and get the product at the same discount price – even if the sale was over.
why should I have to come back to the store for mouth wash when the jackass who took 42 bottles and got money back from the stupid coupons cleared the shelf? it's simple and i'm glad they are finally limiting the people who are all about getting something for nothing.
I totally agree that no one needs the entire stock of any item and quantity caps are definitely needed. But who do we blame? It's easy to point at the people who, technically, are following directions. But the stores put those coupons into circulation to start with. Like I said earlier, I think a meeting of the minds between stores and brands would solve a majority of the issue.
I hate the rule changes! Stupid TLC
Let's just hope those in charge of monitoring the new limits are level minded and won't refuse a product that you actually do need more than one of at a time. ie: formula, diapers, food products, etc.
I like to make a deal. It's fun, it's a rush, it's a challenge. However, I hate when people take advantage of it and take everything off the shelves. I never get more than 2 of one deal and I think there should be a cap like CVS does. It makes it fair to everyone.
Ditto!
I agree: a cap according to supply is reasonable and needed. But I see this going into overdrive soon and maybe some chains cutting out coupons all together (no pun intended). Perhaps a better approach would be to work with brands and find out how they can work together to make coupon doubling more equal to all shoppers.
I have issues with "extreme couponers" to begin with and saw this coming a mile away. McDonalds should also be added to the list of people laying down the law on coupon use. My problem isn't with people trying to save money, it's with people taking advantage of something that is supposed to be helpful… like, I don't know, Government assistance programs? What is the difference? In my mind a person trying to "get one over" and get almost everything for free is ruining things for the people who actually need the discounts. Honestly, who need 100 bottles of aspirin?? (A reference from the popular show)
The only couponers I have issue with are those who purposely find loopholes which were not intended or find ways to go further and not only get the item free, but also get cash back. That's what I believe qualifies as taking advantage. But, the parents who simply read the fine print and store policies and then use their coupons to the furthest (allowed) extent are just being smart. I've never been a coupon clipper, I'm too lazy; but I can only imagine the freedom of not having to pay hundreds of dollars for what use to cost half as much. I think this wave of couponing is a natural response to the rising cost of living and purchasing goods. 100 bottles of aspirin is a different matter and there I agree that it's not 'nice'. But in all fairness – if the person has coupons that, according to the fine print, allow them those bottles of aspirin, then what have they actually done that is fraudulent or wrong? Companies shouldn't blame people for using the very policies they put (or didn't put) into place. They have the absolute right to change policies, but I think making the coupon customers out to be the villains is the wrong way to go.
I'm not saying that coupon users in general are villains. It's the extreme folks. No, one family, will be able to use 100 bottles of aspirin before the expiration date. The particular incident in the show which I'm referring… the couponer only purchased the aspirin because she received $.51 back per bottle, thus, had a $51.00 credit towards the purchase of other items on her grocery list. My beef with that is she didn't NEED the aspirin, yet she purchased everything they had in stock. Later that day, a person who was in need of the aspirin and may have truly needed the discount was out of luck.
It's called being part of a community and not screwing over your fellow man. Which, unfortunately, is a concept lost on those types of people.