Fuel Program Replaces Kroger's Doubling, Tripling Coupons

[Purseval]

Couponers take note:

http://www.click2houston.com/money/27479263/detail.html

New Fuel Program Begins On Wednesday

Store officials said the new program will save consumers money at the pump.

Since the mid-1980s, Kroger shoppers have cashed in on doubling or tripling coupons. Earlier this month, the grocery store said it will stop the practice on April 13. In its place is a new fuel program.

"We feel really strongly that they will appreciate this as fuel prices continue to rise and as we get ready for the busy travel season," said Rebecca King, a Kroger spokeswoman.

The fuel program will launch on Wednesday. The more groceries purchased, the more consumers will save at the pump, store officials said.

"100 points always saves 10 cents at our fuel centers. But now you can accumulate those 10 cents to save up to a dollar," King said.

The point system will be as follows.
Spend $100 on groceries, earn 100 points
Spend $50 on gift cards and the points double
Fill or refill a prescription, earn 50 points

A spokeswoman with the Houston stores said the changes were due largely to an increase in digital coupons. She said traditional coupon use has been on the decline.

The stores will continue to accept coupons after April 13, but only for their face value.

 

[LIFERBABE]

I knew a show about extreme couponers would have grocers running scared! Coincidence, I think not.
They do not want this to go mainstream.
Now you will have to leave your money at the store to benefit

 

[JB2K]

This is all fine and good, but what about those Kroger stores that do not have fuel centers ?

Believe it or not, Kroger still has a few 1960's-era "neighborhood" grocery stores in their inventory.

And the one I know of doesn't have a fuel center, nearby (it's about 35 miles away in another town).

 

[JB2K]

Never mind - http://www.kroger.com/in_store/fuel/Pages/central_fuel.aspx

Furthermore, similar programs seem to be taking shape at the Kroger family of stores (Ralphs, King Soopers), as well as other large grocery chains.

 

[java]

Never mind.

 

[swilshire]

Krogers here have had the fuel program for a long time, but still doubled coupons. If they stop, I'll no longer shop there. They are more expensive than other stores and I only go for the sale items and double coupons.

Also, the stores here haven't taken digital coupons for the last several years.

Sheila

 

[addicted2mickey]

All in all I guess it's a nice program, but I liked the old fuel program that they did in the Tri-State area. You were able to get 4 fill-ups on each card with the savings. Now, you get one fill-up and are back to square one!!! My Kroger shopping has gone downhill since this change, I only buy what is on sale and most of my meat products. Honestly when I am in PA I shop at Giant Eagle (I love their program), savings on gas when shopping in the store and savings on food when purchasing gas, they have the win-win program.

 

[NeverlandClub23]

We've had the fuel program with Kroger for about a year (Hampton Roads, VA). The $.10 a gallon off is good at local Shell gas stations here (which I love to combine with their $.5 a gallon of gas every Thursday). Our Kroger still doubles coupons up to a $1.

 

[marmalade]

We don't have a kroger in our area. But our grocery store (Tops) has the same fuel rewards, every $100 is $0.10 off. They also give you 10 fuel pts for each coupon used up to 10 coupons a day. So you can essentially use 10 coupons a day for a week and receive $0.70 off at the pump, plus what ever you obtain thru purchases. They also double up to 0.99.

 

[chisnpeke]

We have had that fuel program in place for about a year or so now. They continued to double the coupons. We shop at Kroger often because of convenience but it really is a bummer that they won't double the coupons anymore.

 

[acc82]

I have a kroger and publix in my area. Both double coupons. I've always shopped at kroger over publix because they took the electronic coupons plus paper coupons and doubled the paper. I stopped shopping there when they stopped accepting both types (very recently). Now, after reading this, my business definately belongs to publix!! they have in store coupons plus double mfr coupons. To get the 1.00 at kroger, you'd have to buy something like 1000 worth of groceries in a month!!! And, that's what, 15 dollars off on a fill up? I can save way more than that with coupons.

 

[Gina]

After my run-in with Kroger a couple of days ago, I am done with them. The not-doubling of coupons anymore is bad enough, but there is fine print in there that now that any digital coupons you have on your Kroger card will come off first. No choice, no removing the coupon, too bad. I have (had) like 200 e-coupons loaded to my card... I don't remember what all is there. But if I happen to have a physical coupon as well, I want a choice as to which coupon I want to use.

There wasn't a grown-up in sight working there, the manager was "too busy" to come talk to me, and the main 800-KROGERS customer service people were useless. Basically said that each store manager could make up whatever coupon policy they wanted to and accept or not accept whatever coupons they want to.

HEB is much further out of my way, but they play disco music and have wine sampling on weekends. Grocery shopping is a lot more fun with wine involved! And they don't play games like Kroger. Heading there in a few!

 

[ceecee]

I don't think our Kroger have doubled in a long time, I check my receipt from this week and they weren't doubled. You've always earned the gas rewards so I don't see any difference there.

 

[Local_Girl]

I got nervous until I researched a little further and discovered that this is for the Houston area specifically. Not that it won't expand to other stores in other states at some point, but the linked article was about the Houston area stores. Other grocery stores in my area (Meijer, VG's) currently double coupons, so if Kroger were to stop doing it I would have zero incentive to shop there.

 

[daughtersrus]

I got nervous until I researched a little further and discovered that this is for the Houston area specifically. Not that it won't expand to other stores in other states at some point, but the linked article was about the Houston area stores. Other grocery stores in my area (Meijer, VG's) currently double coupons, so if Kroger were to stop doing it I would have zero incentive to shop there.

None of the Meijer stores in our area have ever doubled coupons. Probably because none of their competition does. If one store stops, I wonder if the rest of them will as well.

 

[Piecey]

I got nervous until I researched a little further and discovered that this is for the Houston area specifically. Not that it won't expand to other stores in other states at some point, but the linked article was about the Houston area stores. Other grocery stores in my area (Meijer, VG's) currently double coupons, so if Kroger were to stop doing it I would have zero incentive to shop there.

This.

It's only for HOUSTON and other various areas in Texas. Not everywhere.

 

[Deb & Bill]

We've been buying gas at local Shell stations using our Kroger card for a couple of months. Every $100 dollars earns you $0.10 off per gallon on a tank of gas. The points don't carry over month to month. So this month I still have 250 points, so 50 points will go to waste. I'll be able to get two fill-ups with the card for $0.10 off each gallon purchased on that fill-up.

 

[Purseval]

We've been buying gas at local Shell stations using our Kroger card for a couple of months. Every $100 dollars earns you $0.10 off per gallon on a tank of gas.

If you think about it what are you really saving by shopping at Kroger based on nothing but that incentive? My 4-cylinder car has a 10-gallon tank, my Mercedes has a 25 gallon. So the maximum amount of money I can save is a whopping 2 dollars and 50 cents. Unless you actually do save more on groceries you'd be better off looking for lower overall prices than worrying about running your bill up to $100 so you can save a dollar or two on your fillup.

 

[si-am]

Our Kroger doesn't take internet coupons.

They do double newspaper coupons, and we still earn fuel points, too.