Coupon expiration dates shorter?

[java]

Has anyone else noticed that coupons expire in like 1 - 4 weeks now. In the past it was several months. Now I am seeing ones that expire that particular week. It's almost getting to the not worth my time anymore. Am I just in a funk and has nothing changed or is anyone else noticing this.

 

[NYCDiane]

Absolutely and it's annooyyying!!! It used to be you had a good 6 weeks before a coupon would expire. Now? Like you said 1 - 4 weeks. I think the manufacturers are trying to get us to buy their stuff quicker this way.

I've also noticed a decrease in coupon value. For example, Viva used to always have coupons out for 75 cents or $1 off a roll of paper towels. Now? 25 cents. I've seen it with other coupons, too, where it used to be $1 off one item. Now it's $1 off 2 items.

I'm getting a little tired of it, too.

 

[Sadie22]

It used to be that coupons were good for about a year. Now we're lucky if it's two months. It used to be that postage was half what it is now, and there were lots of mail-in rebates for one or two dollars or for free items. There are few grocery rebates now. Those were the good old days.

 

[disneybirds]

I have also noticed that the coupon expiration date is getting shorter and shorter. The deals just aren't as good as they used to be.

 

[ShiPooOwner]

My DS was cleaning out the crawl space above our garage this afternoon and found an old coupon keeper that I think got lost up there in 2003 when I was laid up for several months after a surgical complication. Just for fun I looked through them before tossing them in the recycling. Would you believe not one of them had an expiration date? There must have been at least 100 of them in the organizer. How times have changed!

 

[ilovemk76]

I think the quick expiration is to prevent the cutting services and the coupon hoarders.

 

[NYCDiane]

I think the quick expiration is to prevent the cutting services and the coupon hoarders.

VERY good point!!! Especially after that Extreme Couponing show -- the companies may have caught on and are now making it hard for the rest of us!

 

[Sagginit]

i have also noticed this way forces you to buy with the coupon at what is not always the lowest sale price of the item, thus you can't stack with the sale cycle they always talk about on that show. there are these circulars that go out with frito lay and pepsi products and they have like a one week time span! that is crazy, almost a waste of paper.

to cope i have been stacking target coupons with manufacturing coupons. i have gotten a few good deals that way but no free food anymore!

i also dislike the coupons trying to force larger quantities. i'm single and can not be buying cereal 5 boxes at a time. truthfully i have just given up some of this stuff and replaced it. name brands go and trader joes here i come!

 

[blessedby3]

I have noticed it too...I am cleaning out my coupons so much! and I hate that job!