Is This Shady Couponing?

[sandynd]

I diasgree -- we buy a lot of discounted stuff (clearance) from a major mass-merchandiser and donate it to our church for their charities.

I'm with you - I said to my DH when we first saw this show - wouldn't it be awesome to run a foodbank and be able to do this? Of course, here in Canada we can't coupon like you guys down south, so it's not an option, but I would LOVE to do this!

 

[ssawka]

I'd also say that the other people not quite so fortunate would be the ones who go looking for Purex after she's been to the store. Since this was a special tv show odds are the store had extras on hand to make it look good but think of the regular families trying to stretch their grocery dollars who are lucky to walk out with a raincheck (and most times these sales are limited to stock on hand) after one of these people have cleaned out the shelves.

Really? When you go into a store to buy something, do you think about other people that may want that item and may be disapointed if it was out of stock? I know I don't. Now if the store had placed a maximum limit on the particulair item, that's a different story.

 

[charming23]

I do this all the time. At our Giant Eagle all BOGO free sales, except fresh meat, take half off each item. So if the items are $6 each, when rung through the register they ring up at $3 a piece. So if I have two $1 off coupons I can use both. It is not fraudulant since you are buying the items.

 

[leight]

Like many others have said - No. This is not fraud. I work for Publix as a Customer Service Staff. We just had a meeting last week because the company is finally making a uniformed coupon policy about which competitors we take. But we did review our regular policies too. And our policy has always been you may use one manufacturers coupon AND one store (including competitors) coupon per item. It doesn't matter if those items are bogo or not. We get credited for the manufacturers coupon and the other we "eat" the cost.

So let's say cheerios are bogo at 4.00 a box. You have 2 MC for 1.00 off and 2 SC for .50 off. You will walk out of the store with 2 boxes for a buck. Awesome deal huh?

Thank you for bringing in your store policy info! I recieved a notice from my Publix about the policy and it will not be changing one thing about how I coupon or shop.

OP- it is possible to get alot of stuff for free or overage to bring the savings totals to very high amounts. If a store doubles coupons, and the shopper matches it to sales that produce overage then the overage is deducted from the balance. The whole point of couponing to this level is to only buy what is on the best part of the sales cycle and for which you have matching coupons. The blog I follow provides 'buy prices' which detail the best prices of a 6 week sales cycle so it is easier to see when to buy.

What I think is odd is that most stores don't allow you to use the coupon quantities, or to get the amounts that we see on the extreme couponing in one trip. Even by separating it, there seems to be a stretch of store policies. And each and every couponer has said this is my biggest trip and they all have issues with the registers accepting the amounts. Funny how nervous they all act.

My best trip was $159 savings and I paid $46. I was thrilled. But keep in mind that many stores bump up the 'retail price' on an item when there are bogo's and while I kept to my budget, I would never have paid the retail price on these specific items as I only buy them when on sale-so I don't consider that I 'saved' that much. Although it is fun to see! And because they are on sale, I stock up (last week I bought 4 mayonaise, 4 ketchup, 12 bags cat litter.) I generally only store 6wks of items. The cat litter was an exception since I paid $0.12 each which was great and it is non-perishable. But I didn't clear the shelves by any stretch- I went back shopping 3 times so that I only took 4 each time. But this has become a hobby for me- I stop on my way home from work or on the way for quick trips of items that I would stock up on or with extra $ that I didn't spend out of the $100 I put aside each week for grocery/household items. I could be spending less but I won't change my family's eating habits and since they are all so picky- they won't give up on some brands.

 

[FergieTCat]

There are a few things I don't understand about "Extreme Couponing".

I've only seen coupons that limit the number of items per transactions. How do the stores allow these people to buy, for example, 100 bottles of Gatorade with coupons?

For that matter, how do these people amass so many coupons? It's not like dumpsters have stacks of coupons bundled together. If these people are buying multiple newspapers or using a coupon clipping service, shouldn't the cost of buying the coupons be added into the total?

Also, most of the stores I've shopped at limit doubling the coupon to the total price of the item. Example, if an item is 79 cents on sale, and you have a coupon for 50 cents, they will only take 79 cents off the total order. The store will not allow you to use the overage of 21 cents to lower your total bill.

J'aime Kirlew is a completely different story ...

 

[maggiew]

There are a few things I don't understand about "Extreme Couponing".

I've only seen coupons that limit the number of items per transactions. How do the stores allow these people to buy, for example, 100 bottles of Gatorade with coupons?

For that matter, how do these people amass so many coupons? It's not like dumpsters have stacks of coupons bundled together. If these people are buying multiple newspapers or using a coupon clipping service, shouldn't the cost of buying the coupons be added into the total?

Also, most of the stores I've shopped at limit doubling the coupon to the total price of the item. Example, if an item is 79 cents on sale, and you have a coupon for 50 cents, they will only take 79 cents off the total order. The store will not allow you to use the overage of 21 cents to lower your total bill.

J'aime Kirlew is a completely different story ...

Most coupons say "one per purchase" not "one per transaction". I've been couponing (not extreme) for years and I think I have only ever seen one per transaction coupon one time. Although, the P&G coupons now say "Limit 4 like coupons per transaction".

The overage thing is very confusing and I don't think standardized. The problem is that if a store only limits you to the total price of the item, they CANNOT send that coupon in to the manufacturer and collect the full price of the coupon. If they submit it as the full price of the coupon, they are committing fraud. They need to write the price on the coupon or something.

Maggie

 

[couponclary]

Does the friend always do this or was she just grandstanding for a tv show? I can't imagine someone going through all that time and trouble to get to that level of extreme couponing and just giving all the stuff away.

I'd also say that the other people not quite so fortunate would be the ones who go looking for Purex after she's been to the store. Since this was a special tv show odds are the store had extras on hand to make it look good but think of the regular families trying to stretch their grocery dollars who are lucky to walk out with a raincheck (and most times these sales are limited to stock on hand) after one of these people have cleaned out the shelves.

Grandstanding for a tv show? Wow, what a rude comment! Believe it or not, I do the same thing for our church's food pantry, although not to the "extreme" level that is shown on tv (10-20 of each item is typical for us). We place orders with the local grocery stores we partner with (love Publix!) so we don't clear shelves. Since we started tracking our numbers in December 2010, we've spent $184 + tax on 617 items with a retail value of just under $1600. It does take a little time, but it is a great way to give back to those who need it most.

 

[Purseval]

Grandstanding for a tv show? Wow, what a rude comment!

Rude in what way? There is a big difference between couponing every week to feed the hungry vs one huge purchase that looks good on a tv show. Get a grip.

Believe it or not, I do the same thing for our church's food pantry, although not to the "extreme" level that is shown on tv

So then why is asking about the "extreme" level rude?

(10-20 of each item is typical for us). We place orders with the local grocery stores we partner with (love Publix!) so we don't clear shelves. Since we started tracking our numbers in December 2010, we've spent $184 + tax on 617 items with a retail value of just under $1600. It does take a little time, but it is a great way to give back to those who need it most.

"The Lord helps those who help themselves" is more my motto. You'll never see the day I would put in a day's work to give to someone waiting for a handout. If anything I'd send care packages to the troops or their families. They are earning it.

 

[smitch425]

So she really got $6 off one half the bottles and the other ones for free? I don't care if the store allows it, it sounds very fraudulent and immoral.

These coupon shows should stop showcasing people with mental illnesses.

I can't believe you would think that way, let alone actually type it in a public forum.

Bottom line is this...

She purchased two products and used a coupon for each. It just so happened that the store was running a sale. If they had not been on sale, she still would have used two coupons to purchase two items. Had the sale been a percentage off instead of BOGO, would you have questioned her??? My guess is no. Well, it just so happens that one item was 100% off. Not against the law, nothing shady. Kudos to her for being smart with her coupons and doing something to give back to those in need.

 

[hipchickie]

"The Lord helps those who help themselves" is more my motto. You'll never see the day I would put in a day's work to give to someone waiting for a handout. If anything I'd send care packages to the troops or their families. They are earning it.

wow.


I was going to point out that people donate "time" a lot for charities (habitat, soup kitchens, any volunteering really) and her donating time this way is no different than any of those, and definitely fills a need.
...but evidently, no one is in need, they just need to "help themselves" and pull themselves up by their bootstraps!
Thank goodness many people, including that person, don't think like you

 

[smitch425]

"The Lord helps those who help themselves" is more my motto. You'll never see the day I would put in a day's work to give to someone waiting for a handout. If anything I'd send care packages to the troops or their families. They are earning it.

For your sake, I hope you never get into situation that forces you to change your view of this, but who knows...if you happen to find yourself at a loss, it might open your eyes. I believe "the Lord", as you put it, would not think too highly of your attitude toward those in need.

I ask you this...if your neighbor's house was suddenly destroyed in a tornado, would step over their crumbled home to put something in the mailbox for "the troops"? I would like to think your answer would be "no", but I'm guessing you've actually never sent anything to the troops either.

Those who can give, should. Those who do not want to, could at least be quiet.

 

[Purseval]

I ask you this...if your neighbor's house was suddenly destroyed in a tornado, would step over their crumbled home to put something in the mailbox for "the troops"? I would like to think your answer would be "no", but I'm guessing you've actually never sent anything to the troops either.

My answer was to a person couponing for a church's food pantry, not tornado victims.

Those who can give, should. Those who do not want to, could at least be quiet.

Those who can read, should. Those who can't should learn before they post.

wow.
I was going to point out that people donate "time"

It's their time they can do whatever they want with it. It's just not how I'd spend mine. Since this is a discussion forum that's relevant, true?

 

[sydneysmom]

So she really got $6 off one half the bottles and the other ones for free? I don't care if the store allows it, it sounds very fraudulent and immoral.

These coupon shows should stop showcasing people with mental illnesses.

WOW. Judgemental much ? You might be interested to know that some people who use coupons are doing so in order to NOT have to increase food budgets or increase gas useage by running to the store every 5 minutes. So stocking up has become quite popular. And matching coupons to a store's "stock up " ad is also quite popular. If the store accepts the coupon is PURELY up to the store. If they thought it was fraud, they wouldn't have accepted it.

Not everyone who has to watch their money has mental illness. You should be ashamed for labeling people as such. It was a mean comment.

 

[hipchickie]

It's their time they can do whatever they want with it. It's just not how I'd spend mine. Since this is a discussion forum that's relevant, true?

I didn't say it was irrelevant
....not that we don't all see that your post is a red herring to deflect attention from the real message in your post - that according to you, only some people are deserving of help.

Blech.

 

[smitch425]

My answer was to a person couponing for a church's food pantry, not tornado victims.



Those who can read, should. Those who can't should learn before they post.



It's their time they can do whatever they want with it. It's just not how I'd spend mine. Since this is a discussion forum that's relevant, true?

For the record, I was just giving an example of a situation that could happen, but if you want me to apply it to the specific thing you were referring to then fine, I will. Do you not think a church's food pantry would assist victims in this type of emergency? You have NO clue why people would be taking food from a church. To imply that they are all looking for a handout and not trying to work for what they have is beyond judgemental.

You do what is best for you, but I hope that if you are ever are in a situation where you or a loved one are in need, that you come in contact with people who do not share your same views.

 

[Purseval]

For the record, I was just giving an example of a situation that could happen,

For the record, the person working for the food pantry was responding to my post about a lady grandstanding for the tv show, and that lady was donating to tornado victims. She then posted about her couponing for the food pantry with no mention of tornado victims or a timeline that would coincide with any such disaster. So you injecting tornadoes into something that had nothing to do with them shows you either didn't read the entire thread or somehow can read my mind as to what I would do in that situation.

You have NO clue

Hi pot, meet my friend kettle

You do what is best for you, but I hope that if you are ever are in a situation where you or a loved one are in need, that you come in contact with people who do not share your same views.

I live my life assuming no help will arrive. If you value yours and that of your family you should try doing the same. That way you can at least survive and if someone does show up to assist it's all the better. Try this link for starters. If you aren't the religious type you can skip right to page 16 and go from there to take the disaster preparedness test. Some day you may thank me.

http://www.abysmal.com/LDS/Preparedness/Preparedness.pdf

that according to you, only some people are deserving of help.

Blech.

If that's what you got from it I can live with that. No need at all to deflect attention.

 

[smitch425]

#1--For the record, the person working for the food pantry was responding to my post about a lady grandstanding for the tv show, and that lady was donating to tornado victims. She then posted about her couponing for the food pantry with no mention of tornado victims or a timeline that would coincide with any such disaster. So you injecting tornadoes into something that had nothing to do with them shows you either didn't read the entire thread or somehow can read my mind as to what I would do in that situation.


#2--Hi pot, meet my friend kettle


#3--I live my life assuming no help will arrive. If you value yours and that of your family you should try doing the same. That way you can at least survive and if someone does show up to assist it's all the better. Try this link for starters. If you aren't the religious type you can skip right to page 16 and go from there to take the disaster preparedness test. Some day you may thank me.

http://www.abysmal.com/LDS/Preparedness/Preparedness.pdf



If that's what you got from it I can live with that. No need at all to deflect attention.

1. As I said (more than once) I was giving an EXAMPLE!!! Definition: Example: A problem or exercise used to illustrate a principle or method-- I never said the other poster was assisting tornado victims. Apparently you are the one having difficulty reading. Sheesh...

2. I never said I knew why people took food from a church. I only pointed out that you don't.

3. I am confident that if I ever find myself in a situation in which I need assistance, that my family and friends will have my back. I'm quite sure given your attitude toward helping others that I would never come across a reason to ever say "thank you" to you.

Now, this conversation has been fun and all, but (ironically) I need to get back to gathering clothes to donate to the local Veteran's group. I personally don't care if the recipient is doing enough "work" (by your standards) to earn my family's outgrown/unneeded clothes. I am still happy to help others in any way I can. Peace to all.

 

[richmond282]

"The Lord helps those who help themselves" is more my motto.

This is not biblical. It appears no where in the bible. In fact Jesus sent out his disciples with nothing including extra clothing, food, or money. They were instructed to stay with the first person who offered them help.

 

[PudgetteD]

Our Kroger doesn't allow 2 manufacturer coupons if there is any BOGO going on. Really wish the policies would be across the board with the national chains.

The products I purchased weren't on sale. I used a manufacturer's BOGO coupon and a dollars off manufacturer's coupon together. I guess this must be common practice at our Kroger because the manager didn't even have to think about it he immediately said "yep, makes it a great deal, doesn't it?".

 

[PudgetteD]

I'd never be able to get $800 worth of stuff for less than $10 because we have 9.5% sales tax here on precoupon totals, so I would still have to pay almost $80 in sales tax alone.