Sorry, extreme couponers. The stores don't love you.
Hello, all! Welcome back, me! If I’ve done nothing else over the last three months, I’ve settled that age-old question: Can I continue to blog during my maternity leave with my second child, and while (did I mention?) moving? Clearly, no. Now you know for sure. Happy to help.
While I was on maternity leave, I caught a few new TV shows. (Like many new moms, I spent a lot of time sitting. Ask one. She’ll tell you.) That includes TLC’s new Extreme Couponing, a program showcasing people who purchase hundreds of dollars of merchandise for pennies on the dollar.
It’s interesting. It inspired some questions, such as, Would I ever really want to buy 78 bottles of Gatorade, even if I could get them for free? Would I want to dedicate an entire room in my home to the hundreds of rolls of toilet paper and bottles of shampoo I’d acquired? For me, the answer is No. For you, the answer may be Heck, yes. To each his own.
But I was entertained recently when I learned that some stores are starting to change their coupon policies—likely in response to the show. According to the Consumerist, three stores—Target, Rite Aid and Publix—have all made changes that make it harder for couponers to walk out with free merchandise. Target and Rite Aid, for instance, now only allow one “buy one, get one” (BOGO) coupon per purchase, and Publix is limiting the number of coupons that can be used per product.
That’s got to sting, don’t you think? Imagine: You’re so successful at couponing that TLC has actually put you on TV, and as a result, you’ve actually managed to undercut your own livelihood. Oops.
Savings expert Andrea Woroch has these coupon-etiquette tips:
- Don’t clear the shelves. Sure, you could throw every last bar of Dove soap into your shopping cart because you have coupons for ALL of them, but other shoppers won’t be appreciative.
- Organize your stash. No one’s going to be happy with you if you pull three carts of stuff up to the checkout counter and hand over 150 coupons in a big, haphazard stack. Do a little prep work.
- Shop when stores are empty. Other shoppers aren’t thrilled to be behind you in line, even if you are walking out with $500 of groceries for $11.67. Do your extreme shopping during non-peak hours to spark the fewest number of hostile stares.
- Hands off other people’s stuff. Don’t steal coupon inserts out of your neighbors’ papers. Seriously.
Do you use coupons? (And have you seen the show?)
I use coupons. I’ve never seen the show, but from what I’ve heard, I wouldn’t like it.
I read Jill Cataldo’s column in our newspaper. I haven’t really learned anything I didn’t already know, and I haven’t changed how I use coupons.
I get things free every now and then; sometimes the store even gives me money back, but not as often as they used to – computers, you know.
PS: Glad you’re back!
By: Patty on July 15, 2011
at 2:34 pm
Hi Patty! I only watched a couple of episodes before I realized it wasn’t for me. But it IS oddly fascinating.
By: Kate Ashford on July 15, 2011
at 3:02 pm
I’ve never seen the show. We had a choice of cable or internet, so we went with internet. I don’t feel like I’m missing much, though.
I’ve tried clipping coupons now and again, but they just don’t mix with our way of shopping. I don’t even think they save me money, if they persuade me to buy things I normally wouldn’t. This time of year the farmers markets are bursting at the seams, so I look for good bargains on local (and sometimes organic) foods there.
By: Alissa on July 19, 2011
at 7:52 am
Alissa, great point. I always try not to use coupons for anything other than items on my normal shopping list. And it’s definitely possible to save money in other ways, like shopping at local farmers’ markets.
By: Kate Ashford on July 27, 2011
at 2:20 pm
Kate …. congrats on your newest family member!
Did wonder where “hertwocents” have been. Thanks for returning! (Did you miss us?) LOL!
Those coupon show makes me ill. Watched maybe 2-3 times to get the feel for it. Each viewing became worse. My jaw was down to my knees. Ohhh. What greed. I don’t really get it. Do these folks (eventually) donate the food items? They like shop for hours and hours on end. Totally sicko. My feet would fall off my legs.
One female checked out w/100+ packages of (Barilla) pasta …. + other goofy things. They do soaps, and canned goods. Toothpastes. Ugh. I do not like it at all.
Not too long ago, folks would be commited (to an institution!) for doing crazy-nuts shopping like this. Just completely insane. These products will never be used. Pastas have expiration dates of 1 year.
Obviously …. large viewership means something for this cable channel. They have sponsors paying the bills.
Most of these overly greedy folks did not have huge families.
No. I will never-ever watch this insane program again. Disgusting.
Even for nothing …. as in freebies ….. I would never-ever think of hoarding huge amounts of groceries. Just senseless. It cannot amount to anything good. Unless …. donated to a variety of charitble kitchens. In that case …. just give them all complimentary coupons!
By: Marcee .... ILLINOIS on July 20, 2011
at 1:05 pm
Thanks, Marcee! I had some similar reactions to the show. Obviously it’s called “Extreme Couponing” for a reason — they’re definitely extremists.
By: Kate Ashford on July 27, 2011
at 2:19 pm