How do you handle non-couponers snide remarks?

[NYCDiane]

I probably would have reported her to the manager. She would be the LAST one that I would want running a cash register in my store.

I actually seldom use a coupon, but if and when I do, I don't care whether somebody else likes it, and I SURE don't expect a store employee to give me a hard time about it.

I could tell you about a recent experience I had at Wal Mart with my coupons. The woman (supervisor or something) actually accused me of trying to rip off Wal Mart with my B2G1 coupon! It was a legit coupon from the Sunday paper (as opposed to an internet coupon) and she refused to let me use it!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I can't even imagine what a pain in the neck it can be to be a cashier --- people trying to use coupons for stuff they don't have, using expired coupons, etc --- so I always try to be cheery with the cashier and "do her a favor" by putting the B1G1 or "free" coupons on the bottom and make sure those items were at the end of the belt and rung up last so she can easily find them when she has to key in the price. I also hand them to her one at a time so we can "tick" the items. For example, here's one for the Whiskas. This way, we're kind of "working together" to make sure I have the correct items for the coupons. I don't know why, but the cashiers seem to appreciate it.

I've never had a negative comment from a cashier. To the contrary, I've had cashiers say "great job!" or "wow! you did great today!" and things like that, even from the young guy cashiers. One even told me that his mom should use coupons!

On the other hand, I have had the "sighs", foot stamping, and rolling eyes from people on line behind me. To those people, I just smile and make sure I say to the cashier "wow, I really DID do great! $55 in coupons! Woo Hoo!"

When I was a cashier, I never sighed at anyone. Matching coupons made things easier. What I liked--the longer an order, the less customers I had to deal with and the more time I could engage with one customer.

Nowadays with scanned coupons and more sophisticated registers with full screens, it is so much easier to do them. I just don't get why cashiers would fuss.

As a customer, I never regard what the customer behind me thinks. I did not cut them in line and if i do happen to notice that they only have an item or two and the express line was 20 deep and the cashier hasn't scanned my order, yet---I will often let them go ahead. But if they get huffy--I disregard since I got their well before they did.

Not a fan of rude staff or rude customers.

 

[NYCDiane]

I would have stopped with "its a good thing you get paid by the hour" since that is funny...saying the rest of it made you sound like a jerk.

Totally agree!!! Everything after the "... you get paid by the hour" comment makes the poster seem very arrogant.

 

[sk!mom]

ETA: And my husband's philosophy is that we save more if we don't buy it in the first place.

DH and I agree. You only saved $40,000 (one extreme couponers claim) using coupons if you were actually going to spend that much to begin with. Most were not. When I watch that show, I always want them to ask where the $???? are, let's see the bank statement because what I see is a crap load of stuff cluttering their houses much of which they'll never use.

I'm all for saving money- getting the best deal on the things I need or want. However, spending $20 for $200 worth of stuff is still spending $20. It's only saving $180, if you needed it, were going to buy it anyway, and we'll use it.

 

[kimbo0569]

When I told my DH, he said, "who cares what these people think? You just saved $98.... you're going to let someone make you feel like crap about THAT??". Nope, I'm not.

Just look at these people with a smile and say "have a nice day" !!! Because some of us actually appreciate the value of a dollar and cannot throw it away.

Exactly! I use coupons whenever I can. I make my shopping list using the sales flier from the supermarket and my coupons. It keeps me pretty much on target with my budget. Who cares what other people think, if you are doing what's best for your family, then keep on!

 

[sk!mom]

As far as rude cashiers go, I'm sitting her discussing this thread with my cashier son. We agree that rudeness is never ok but he pointed out that many hard core couponers are very frustrating. He said that almost, without fail, they'll have expired coupons buried in the stack, multiples for the same item, coupons for items that they didn't buy, etc... It all slows down the line and at his store, IPM's are very important. Not to mention that the next customer is normally going to be very crabby after waiting though all of that.

He said that no cashier or customer that he knows of has ever been upset about a well organized stack of coupons for the stuff that you actually bought. That takes almost no time to scan.

 

[C.Ann]

If I had to respond, I would just smile and say something like - "Well couponing isn't for everyone.. Some people enjoy it and others don't.."

Based on what you've said, nothing will change her mind and there's really no reason for you to try.. Maybe you could even ask for her coupon flyers - since she won't be using them..

 

[Pigeon]

This isn't about snide remarks regarding couponing, it's about the guy wanting to control how his wife does the shopping. I do 95% of the shopping in our house, and if dh started to have ideas about how I should do it, he would be more than welcome to take over the chore.

As for your response, I would simply decline to get involved.

 

[eliza61]

How do you handle these types of people? I know I even had a lady in the store to huff and mumble about me with those stupid coupons and how she did not have time for that mess. Then just so happens I get in the check out line behind her and low and behold she wipes out the food stamp card. It seems to me if you are on food stamps you would be tring to make them go as far as possible, because hey the lady in your way with all the coupons are paying for your groceries and hers.

Actually I don't. I gotta tell you, the one thing I love about getting older is that you really don't "suffer" fools.

Now in you're above example, you are giving this lady on welfare waaay more thought and energy than she is worth. Will you change their minds about couponing? Nope. Will you make anyone less "rude"? I doubt it. Will their grumbling change you in anyway? also doubtful.

So basically why try to find some way to "handle" the situation? As C. Ann and others said simply smile and ignore.

 

[LisaNJ25]

When I was a cashier, I never sighed at anyone. Matching coupons made things easier. What I liked--the longer an order, the less customers I had to deal with and the more time I could engage with one customer.

Nowadays with scanned coupons and more sophisticated registers with full screens, it is so much easier to do them. I just don't get why cashiers would fuss.

As a customer, I never regard what the customer behind me thinks. I did not cut them in line and if i do happen to notice that they only have an item or two and the express line was 20 deep and the cashier hasn't scanned my order, yet---I will often let them go ahead. But if they get huffy--I disregard since I got their well before they did.

Not a fan of rude staff or rude customers.

I tend to get the person behind me with one or two items in a non express line and they start having a fit when the cashier is scanning 30 to 40 coupons It never seem to fail.

 

[thebeesknees]

I've never had anyone get huffy with me about the coupons. If someone behind me only has a couple of items and I have a big order, I try to let them go first, if I haven't already started unloading. I also make sure I have all my coupons matched up and in hand before I get to the register, so I don't take up time digging through my coupon box and wasting the cashier's time. If it is an item that requires the clerk to mark the actual price on the coupon, then I keep it for last so she doesn't have to dig it out of my bag to look up. It only takes a few seconds for them to ring in the coupons and they have never given me any grief about it. And frankly, I don't really care what other customers may think about my couponing. It is our family's money, not theirs, so if I want to coupon, that is my business, and if they don't want to, it is theirs.

 

[SaraJayne]

I would have stopped with "its a good thing you get paid by the hour" since that is funny...saying the rest of it made you sound like a jerk.

Agreed.

I don't use coupons, as my time is worth more than the coupons are worth.

And yes, I'll avoid lines that have people with piles of coupons.

 

[hsmamato2]

I'd stay uninvolved with the friends and husband.....since he cares more than she does, I guess he should learn how to use them
for anyone else who cares,I'd just say I don't care if YOU overspend,I have better things to do with my limited money than waste it-which is why I coupon-
and to anyone else who insists it's 'not worth my time' REALLY? I wish I had a job where I was getting that much per hour..... I'm betting most people who say that don't 'make' that much per worked hour....
I clip,and sort them make lists for my 2 stores near me-it takes maybe an hour per week tops-I save an average of 90.00 per week shopping sales and matching coupons(nothing fancy,just clip from the Sunday paper weekly)
I am a SAHM- so my 'job' for the family is saving money-even I weren't,it still 'pays' a high wage to clip and use them....

 

[SaraJayne]

I'd stay uninvolved with the friends and husband.....since he cares more than she does, I guess he should learn how to use them
for anyone else who cares,I'd just say I don't care if YOU overspend,I have better things to do with my limited money than waste it-which is why I coupon-
and to anyone else who insists it's 'not worth my time' REALLY? I wish I had a job where I was getting that much per hour..... I'm betting most people who say that don't 'make' that much per worked hour....
I clip,and sort them make lists for my 2 stores near me-it takes maybe an hour per week tops-I save an average of 90.00 per week shopping sales and matching coupons(nothing fancy,just clip from the Sunday paper weekly)
I am a SAHM- so my 'job' for the family is saving money-even I weren't,it still 'pays' a high wage to clip and use them....

Yes, the time it takes me to drive to the store, buy the paper, clip the coupons we would use is not worth the $2 it would save me.

Our store doesn't allow internet coupons and I refuse to buy the paper just for the coupons when they aren't worth it to begin with.

So, no ~ couponing is not worth my time.

 

[SaraJayne]

I'd stay uninvolved with the friends and husband.....since he cares more than she does, I guess he should learn how to use them
for anyone else who cares,I'd just say I don't care if YOU overspend,I have better things to do with my limited money than waste it-which is why I coupon-
and to anyone else who insists it's 'not worth my time' REALLY? I wish I had a job where I was getting that much per hour..... I'm betting most people who say that don't 'make' that much per worked hour....
I clip,and sort them make lists for my 2 stores near me-it takes maybe an hour per week tops-I save an average of 90.00 per week shopping sales and matching coupons(nothing fancy,just clip from the Sunday paper weekly)
I am a SAHM- so my 'job' for the family is saving money-even I weren't,it still 'pays' a high wage to clip and use them....

This would be a good example of the snideness that non-couponers get, which was brought up by a previous poster.

 

[dzorn]

I have been couponing for years without many comments from others (strangers or friends) but it seems that here in the last year or two non-couponers are really opinonated (sp).

We have a couple at church we are friends with and my husband was talking about my couponing so the husband told me he wanted my help in teaching his wife to coupon, but it was going to be hard because she looked at using coupoons the same way she looks a using food stamps. She doesn't want any part of either of them. She feels it would be embrassing. Well anyway I ran into her at the grocery store and I had my binder, my list and all my coupons pulled for the check out and she rolled her eyes.I told her that her husband wanted us to get together and start clipping coupons. Her reply was "I will talk to him about that when I get home and have to do alot praying before I walk in this store with a handful of coupons"

How do you handle these types of people? I know I even had a lady in the store to huff and mumble about me with those stupid coupons and how she did not have time for that mess. Then just so happens I get in the check out line behind her and low and behold she wipes out the food stamp card. It seems to me if you are on food stamps you would be tring to make them go as far as possible, because hey the lady in your way with all the coupons are paying for your groceries and hers.

I would just ignore them.

Denise in MI

 

[Meshell2002]

I just ignore them, though most people are just huffy they have to wait in line behind me. I only buy what I will use and I don't care what people think. I do try to be friendly, I've had several cashiers ask where I got my print out and I will share the info if they ask. I do try to let people in front of me if i can but if I've already unloaded my cart I will tell them express is open (if it is) or that they may want to get in the other lane if they are in a hurry because I have a lot of q's. Its only happened a couple of times but one time it was the time I bought $300 worth of groceries for $30 (and we have 10% sales tax here). So it was a LOT of stuff and a LOT of q's.

 

[Shanna-like-Banana]

I too have been have been "couponing" for years, long before it's become the recent craze.

I do save a good bit off each transaction. I don't store hop and I don't spend hours each week preparing for trips.

I use coupons for items I would normally buy, and don't buy stuff just because there is a coupon for it.

What I don't get is that people don't realize ITS FREE MONEY . If somebody handed you $15-$20 cash each time you shopped, you would take it. Coupons are the same way, instead of you getting money from somebody you are keeping your own.

I commonly get compliments on my savings and even a few people from time to time ask my how I do it. uummm hello, it's in the Sunday paper, for like 25 years now.

Of course every now and then, I do get snide remarks, Just kill em with kindness, I usually give the cashier a Q or 2 to hold on to and use for something in their basket

 

[CouponAngie]

I have been couponing for years without many comments from others (strangers or friends) but it seems that here in the last year or two non-couponers are really opinonated (sp).

We have a couple at church we are friends with and my husband was talking about my couponing so the husband told me he wanted my help in teaching his wife to coupon, but it was going to be hard because she looked at using coupoons the same way she looks a using food stamps. She doesn't want any part of either of them. She feels it would be embrassing. Well anyway I ran into her at the grocery store and I had my binder, my list and all my coupons pulled for the check out and she rolled her eyes.I told her that her husband wanted us to get together and start clipping coupons. Her reply was "I will talk to him about that when I get home and have to do alot praying before I walk in this store with a handful of coupons"

How do you handle these types of people? I know I even had a lady in the store to huff and mumble about me with those stupid coupons and how she did not have time for that mess. Then just so happens I get in the check out line behind her and low and behold she wipes out the food stamp card. It seems to me if you are on food stamps you would be tring to make them go as far as possible, because hey the lady in your way with all the coupons are paying for your groceries and hers.

I wouldn't let it bother me too much. Is it Ron White that says, "There is no cure for stupidity"? It sounds like this woman has a major "keeping up with the Jones's complex" and she needs to pray about more than just whether she should coupon or not. Tell your praying lady to read Luke 16:10-12.

I've gotten odd looks for my couponing, and even more flack when people find out that we follow a budget The Dave Ramsey way. Based on their comments, I think it usually comes from more of a guilt complex than anything else. We are a consumer driven society that says that you are not successful unless you are living in the biggest house and driving the most luxurious car. If you get a chance, read "The Millionaire Next Door", you will learn that the statistics show the opposite. Wealthy people don't drive the brand -spanking -new car. They tend to be more frugal, and THAT'S how they have become wealthy in the first place.

This lady's embarrassment over using coupons is based on that belief about outward appearances. My response to any negative nellies is something like "I know it's not for everyone, but it sure has made a tremendous impact on our family. We are able to pay cash for vacations and other things that we want by managing our money well". And SMILE, ALWAYS SMILE!

 

[sk!mom]

When I was a cashier, I never sighed at anyone. Matching coupons made things easier. What I liked--the longer an order, the less customers I had to deal with and the more time I could engage with one customer.

Nowadays with scanned coupons and more sophisticated registers with full screens, it is so much easier to do them. I just don't get why cashiers would fuss.

It's never OK to be rude but now many stores track their cashier's IPM. If you're too slow you won't qualify for bonuses and your evaluations will be impacted keeping you from raises. Too slow, too often and you can lose your till.

As I said upthread, my DS has said that many extreme couponers slow things down- expired coupons buried in the stack, multiples for the same item, coupons for items not purchased, arguing about printed coupons when his store policy doesn't accept them. He said that there are several regular shoppers at his store that when a manager sees them at the check out they close the line behind them because everyone knows that it's going to be an ordeal and they want to avoid angry customers behind them.