The truth about extreme couponing...

[herdtoDisney]

Wow...I didn't realize that people sold couponed stuff at tag sales There is NO way I'm going to buy something that my family will eat, put on or otherwise use on or about our bodies, from somebody's yard EVEN for a discount!!! How do I know how old that toothpaste is, or where that mustard has been stored??? Yuck!

I watched this last night on the rerun and was thinking about the large family-I have a large family too (family of 7) and really, just how much toilet paper does one family need? I buy about a 12 pack of double rolls (whatever the walmart brand is) which is equal to 24 rolls. It will last us for about a month or so. I keep them under the sinks in the (two) bathrooms. The amount that fits under the sink is PLENTY for any family, and that includes any occourances of blizzards and hurricanes Is it REALLY necessary to have so much that you've got it under the beds? And same with paper towels. We don't even use that much since I prefer washable cloths when possible (sometimes, you do need a good ol' paper towel). And I think we'd have to eat cereal three times a day, to be able to finish off as much as she had before they'd be stale (and three of us are TEEN BOYS).

I thought the can rotater rack was pretty cool though But she had like three. I used to work in a nursing home that had less cans than that

 

[Jacoby 46]

I can understand the paper towel addiction because we had 100 rolls at one time in our garage before. We go through them a lot because I cannot stand to use a washcloth/towel to dry my hands in the kitchen. It really grosses me out. I use paper towels for everything...clean ups in the kitchen, cleaning my bathrooms, ect.

As for anything else, I wouldn't be able to store all those different items...incredible!

 

[KigerKat]

We had some coupons for Franks Red Hot Thick wing sauce. Kroger had about 6 different varieties of Franks sauces but not the thick. My wife went to the customer service desk with the coupons and they let her substitute another variety same size bottle.

That's good customer service...and a good customer for asking. I've seen that happen at my store. If they don't carry a particular flavor or size, they will allow me to sub another flavor or allow me the coupon on a smaller size. But I always ask first, and it doesn't happen often.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

I used to work at a grocery store. What that lady did would never happen. If someone had given me a huge stack of duplicate coupons, I'd make sure they had bought the right item, for the right size, or flavor, or whatever. Now, if they only had one coupon, and a couple hundred dollars worth of stuff, I wouldn't check every coupon to every item, because it would just take way to long.

And whoever said the coupon people know which cashiers to avoid was right. Even I will go to specific cashiers, because I know there are some who are just much faster with coupons then others. (And I do always use legit coupons for the right products, I just don't feel like wasting five minutes of my time, while they check each and every coupon.)

 

[DawnM]

My local store is fantastic about this! Even yesterday they were going to allow me to substitute until I did finally find the item.

Dawn

That's good customer service...and a good customer for asking. I've seen that happen at my store. If they don't carry a particular flavor or size, they will allow me to sub another flavor or allow me the coupon on a smaller size. But I always ask first, and it doesn't happen often.

 

[Purseval]

I can understand why they'd let her substitute w/ another variety, but it's still "Frank's" that you bought, right ? I don't know..... to use a Fiber One coupon to buy Kix is a little different. it seems like a scam. Especially since the coupons for the lower priced cereals aren't nearly as high as the coupons for Fiber one. You weren't scamming anyone using the Franks coupon for another Franks. (and you even went to customer service first).

I'm not disputing any of that just pointing out that stores will in fact accept coupons if you don't have the exact item.

Wow...I didn't realize that people sold couponed stuff at tag sales

If you check the link at post 95 you will see that it didn't take much to get a few DISers to admit that they were making $500-2000 or more reselling couponed items. At 50 cents to 1 dollar per item that's a lot of coupons and a lot of cleared shelves. If you got that many replies to 1 post and all of these coupon sites you can get an idea of how widespread this abuse of couponing for profit scam is.

The people at the coupon sites are playing the Drama Queen bit up to the hilt also. The odds of the crazy coupon lady going to jail are practically zero. It's more like a card counter showing up at a casino. They can't be arrested but they can be banned. I wouldn't be at all surprised if she got turned away the next time she went to one of her local stores. No store HAS to redeem a coupon they can just tell her they don't want her business.

 

[robinb]

If you check the link at post 95 you will see that it didn't take much to get a few DISers to admit that they were making $500-2000 or more reselling couponed items. At 50 cents to 1 dollar per item that's a lot of coupons and a lot of cleared shelves. If you got that many replies to 1 post and all of these coupon sites you can get an idea of how widespread this abuse of couponing for profit scam is.

Meh. As long as they are following the rules of the store and the manufacturer, then what do you care that they resell stuff for profit? I buy used books and resell them on Amazon to help pay for our vacations. Is it also a scam that I but low and sell higher? Maybe I should just leave those books on the shelf for people who want to read them at $1 each instead of the $25 they would have to pay on Amazon .

 

[GinnyEmma]

Meh. As long as they are following the rules of the store and the manufacturer, then what do you care that they resell stuff for profit? I buy used books and resell them on Amazon to help pay for our vacations. Is it also a scam that I but low and sell higher? Maybe I should just leave those books on the shelf for people who want to read them at $1 each instead of the $25 they would have to pay on Amazon .

lol, I quit donating books to our library sale because of people grabbing to sell. So I'd say yes. But that is just me and my sense of fair and right. I understand people trying to make money too. It is hard to balance it all in my opinion.

there are people at our flea market that resell the personal products. 'For some reason they always look nasty and dirty. no thank you.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

Meh. As long as they are following the rules of the store and the manufacturer, then what do you care that they resell stuff for profit? I buy used books and resell them on Amazon to help pay for our vacations. Is it also a scam that I but low and sell higher? Maybe I should just leave those books on the shelf for people who want to read them at $1 each instead of the $25 they would have to pay on Amazon .

The store I used to work at had a policy that items are not for resale. There really was no way to control what people did with stuff after they left the store, but it is technically against store policy to get a ton of stuff for free/cheap and then resell it.

 

[budafam]

Have any of you ever been to an estate sale? They often sell unused products like this at those. No, those people aren't buying it for that purpose alone. I have sold shampoos, conditioners, razors & toothpastes at my garage sales before. I'm not dirty looking in anyway (thanks, lol) and I don't purchase these in mass quantities just to sell them at my sales. I had a few extras (like 4 or 5 - not hundreds) and threw them in the sale last minute. Everything was priced super cheap (what I paid for it basically) and it all sold quickly. I think of it in a way of offering something to people who don't coupon for the coupon prices. They just didn't have to do all the work. Did I get rich off of it? No but I got rid of it. I have donated quite a bit as well if that was going to be anyone else's question... however, it's not that easy to donate around here. Most places are looking for specifics at certain times of the year. I can't just drop off a bag of toothpaste & cereal on my way to the grocery store. Most donations are made through schools or stores.

 

[Silverbelle990]

I watched this show and it inspired me to coupon and start saving money. My husband is in school for LPN and I work a full time job. WE have two healthy boys who have healthy appitites. I get two newspapaers a week and clip every coupon and save it in a binder. The people at work call me the coupon lady.

Any hoo, Yesterday i set up my shopping for price chopper. they were having alot og bogo sales and i had coupons for the bogo. Let me tell you i was very excited and could not wait to get off from work and go shopping. I got every bogo and went to the check out. As the bill reaceh 165 I got alittle nervouse. Then we swiped my card and it took off 33 dollars. Ok so not as much as i thought then i handed over my coupons. Slowly the cost went down and i ended up paying a total of......wait for it.....74. I saved 87 dollars.

This was with bogo and coupons. I can tel you i was on a high all night!!! However I don't see how i can get veggies, and fruits and save that much. My cost would have been much higher but I will continue to shop and enjoy days like yesterday when i can!!!

 

[jacksmomma]

lol, I quit donating books to our library sale because of people grabbing to sell. So I'd say yes. But that is just me and my sense of fair and right. I understand people trying to make money too. It is hard to balance it all in my opinion.

there are people at our flea market that resell the personal products. 'For some reason they always look nasty and dirty. no thank you.

I just watched a news investigation on TV a few weeks ago. Things like whitestrips, medicines, and true name brand clothing (not the cheap knock offs) that are sold at flea markets are almost always the result of shoplifting. There are "bosses" who get professional shoplifters to get the items, the lifters sell them to the "bosses" who then sell them at the flea market, or sell them to the flea market workers.

You should never buy any food or medicine items from anywhere but a reliable store even if it is in an unopened package because you never know how long it sat in someone's trunk, garage, etc. Heat can really alter or destroy products.

 

[GinnyEmma]

I just watched a news investigation on TV a few weeks ago. Things like whitestrips, medicines, and true name brand clothing (not the cheap knock offs) that are sold at flea markets are almost always the result of shoplifting. There are "bosses" who get professional shoplifters to get the items, the lifters sell them to the "bosses" who then sell them at the flea market, or sell them to the flea market workers.

You should never buy any food or medicine items from anywhere but a reliable store even if it is in an unopened package because you never know how long it sat in someone's trunk, garage, etc. Heat can really alter or destroy products.

Makes sense to me. We have spare lancets right now and I'd love to give them away, but even that doesn't seem quite right to me. No, not even sell them, .

 

[robinb]

The store I used to work at had a policy that items are not for resale. There really was no way to control what people did with stuff after they left the store, but it is technically against store policy to get a ton of stuff for free/cheap and then resell it.

Was that policy for customers or employees? I don't see how a store can tell a customer what they can do with an item after it was purchased. But they CAN tell an employee that purchases with an employee discount are not for resale as part of their employment agreement.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

Was that policy for customers or employees? I don't see how a store can tell a customer what they can do with an item after it was purchased. But they CAN tell an employee that purchases with an employee discount are not for resale as part of their employment agreement.

That policy was for everyone.

 

[robinb]

That policy was for everyone.

If I were a customer, where would I find that policy?

 

[allison443]

Have any of you ever been to an estate sale? They often sell unused products like this at those. No, those people aren't buying it for that purpose alone. I have sold shampoos, conditioners, razors & toothpastes at my garage sales before. I'm not dirty looking in anyway (thanks, lol) and I don't purchase these in mass quantities just to sell them at my sales. I had a few extras (like 4 or 5 - not hundreds) and threw them in the sale last minute. Everything was priced super cheap (what I paid for it basically) and it all sold quickly. I think of it in a way of offering something to people who don't coupon for the coupon prices. They just didn't have to do all the work. Did I get rich off of it? No but I got rid of it. I have donated quite a bit as well if that was going to be anyone else's question... however, it's not that easy to donate around here. Most places are looking for specifics at certain times of the year. I can't just drop off a bag of toothpaste & cereal on my way to the grocery store. Most donations are made through schools or stores.

I don't care if people sell their stuff at yard sales. Obviously people will buy it. Of course that wasn't mentioned by any of the extreme couponers on the show...only donating was mentioned.

However, I don't really understand the above. So you bought something for x amount, kept it around your house for a while, then sold it at a yard sale for the same amount? What's the point?

 

[disneyfav4ever]

If I were a customer, where would I find that policy?

It said it on the fine print in the sales ad, where it also says that my store reserved the right to limit quantaties on any sale item. If we ever saw anyone buy like ten or more of a like item, with coupons, we were supposed to tell them they weren't allowed more then ten.

 

[robinb]

It said it on the fine print in the sales ad, where it also says that my store reserved the right to limit quantaties on any sale item. If we ever saw anyone buy like ten or more of a like item, with coupons, we were supposed to tell them they weren't allowed more then ten.

Limiting quantities is different than saying you can't resell things. I just looked at my CVS sales ad (which is where a lot of people pick up free stuff) and there is no fine print about reselling stuff ... just about limiting quantities. NOT that I want to get into the "business" mind you ! I did a yard sale once and it was a complete disaster.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

Limiting quantities is different than saying you can't resell things. I just looked at my CVS sales ad (which is where a lot of people pick up free stuff) and there is no fine print about reselling stuff ... just about limiting quantities. NOT that I want to get into the "business" mind you ! I did a yard sale once and it was a complete disaster.

I really think the resale stuff is why we had the right to limit quantaties, otherwise there would really be no way to stop people from clearing out the shelves. No one's going to be buying three carts full of cereal for themselves.