Posted on 06/20/2011 9:23:46 AM PDT by simplesimon
The above article describes changes that could be coming to coupons / couponing. I've not read anywhere else but at source link about Red Plum, Smart Source and P&G suing eBay or any of the coupon clipping services. Just wanted to give a heads up as stores are changing policy due to the extreme couponing show. And getting coupons from sources other than your local Sunday paper may be temporarily delayed.
2nd time I’ve ever posted and I didnt know how it would show up but I did ****not**** write the article ~
Paging PJ! Paging PJ!
The thing that irritates me the most about using coupons is that none of the stores in our area seem to ever do double-couponing. We do get plenty of nice deals otherwise, but nothing that ever brings the total down to 0 or close to it.
I “reported abuse” so that a Mod can fix it with correct attribution to the author or tell me how to fix it.
Has it always been like that or just since the TLC show aired ?
DAMN TLC for their couponing show. They are ruining it for millions of cash-strapped copnsumers across America for qa handful of ratings.
And, I use coupons all the time. They're a key part of my shopping. I figure that I get about 1 free week of groceries every month.
But, I never saw the point - for instance, with the "coupon whisperer" here on FR - to using coupons to buy a bunch of stuff that I don't want, or need, or will never use. Who wants 15 cases of "Ladies' Speed Stick"? Even if it is free? Seems kind of greedy, to me.
Ditto. I have no chains in the area that double. Newspaper coupons here are slim pickings.
It seems to have been like this in the DC Metro area for as long as I can remember. I won't say it is absolutely true that no store here ever doubles coupons, but if it does happen, it is rare enough, or at a store out of my way enough, for me not to notice.
Without doubling, most coupons are worthless, because even with the discounted price the store brand of the item is almost always cheaper.
wasn’t there a big deal about terrorists being funded by
small grocery owners who would redeem coupons for money?
It seems to me that coupons are really “script” or
money substitutes in a non official market...
So the companies should maybe give them out by including
them in/with/attached to their products...for example,
buy one, get one at discount, but make em register first,
with computers and email that can be done easily and
the data base be maintained quite easily....
couponing would be much harder, and it would be easier
to get a job instead (...uh, well, maybe I forgot about
our economy at this time). Oh yeah, there are jobs in China.
Heck, I’d love to find even 2 or 3 lady speed sticks for FREE.I almost never get free stuff but I pick up a couple of things here and there to help my grandmother out and my oldest son but yeah, 15 lady speed sticks if you don’t need it, does sound a bit greedy but then again, who am I to judge? < shrugs > Maybe they donate it to a women’s shelter or to salvation army stores ? Now that would be a great thing to do, if that is what folks do with it.
I don't mind extreme couponing per se... but when we watch the show it just seems very unrealistic, especially when double coupons are used. Such coupon acceptance policies simply do not exist in any practical sense where I live and shop.
But, I never saw the point - for instance, with the "coupon whisperer" here on FR - to using coupons to buy a bunch of stuff that I don't want, or need, or will never use.
Agreed. Most of what we buy in a grocery shopping/restock trip are perishable fresh fruits, vegetables, meats and other unprepared food items. These are very rarely discounted. Most of the items we see shown on the show are overly processed foods, snacks, sodas and other unhealthy crap.
We have much better luck with stretching our dollar when we shop at Costco, or buy store brands at other retailers.
Publix allows you to use two manufactures coupons on their “Buy One Get One Free" items. So, with the two coupons it will usually get me about 70 to 80 percent off.
However, if they put out a store coupon too, that's when I can get it free, or close to it.
I can say the same for Auction Hunters. I used to buy abandoned storage units for next to nothing. It's not as glamorous as it looks on TV. Much more trash than treasure, and I donated a lot of stuff, but prices are through the roof now.
I have no comment on the article.
I just wish the middle-aged mustard lady with the hooker boots would get run over with a loaded shopping cart. On TLC. I would watch. Repeatedly.
Read an interesting article on "extreme couponers" not too long ago. Gist of it was that it's just a manifestation of a "hoarding" mental disorder. Interviewed people who had entire rooms filled with toilet paper, etc etc etc. "But it was Free!!" is the excuse. Except that you can't enter rooms of their houses. :-)
I like to keep an extra bale of paper towels, or TP, or something - particularly if it's a consumable, and won't spoil. And, I'm not above stocking up when things are on sale. But thousands of rolls of Charmin? Not likely.
The local Harris Teeter that I shop at has "free" promotions, frequently. Typically, its a way to get people trying new stuff. Mrs WBill and I get the Free Offers, occasionally. And as often as not, we try the stuff and say "BLEAGH! We overpaid for it!"
Might be worth trying "Target". At least in my area, their sale prices consistently beat Wal-Mart, Sams, and Costco. They allow doubling up usage of manufacturer's and store coupons, too.
If I wanted to just run out and grab something, I'd likely hit Costco, or WM. BUT, if I take the time to hit circulars, and shop fairly carefully every week, Target beats most everybody on dry goods, and on most processed foods (like bread, cereal, etc etc etc). Still go to the grocery store for produce, meat, etc etc etc. But Target is getting more and more of my money on everything else.
I don't work for Target, or own stock in them. Just passing along what I've found.
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