How do you keep from getting discouraged?

[Harper12]

I get so excited when I see deals for free items or money makers. I grab my two coupons for the item (this is how many I ever have), load my baby in the car, and head to the store the morning the sale starts.....just to find the shelf empty.

In a year that I've been really taking couponing seriously, not once have I ever gotten one of these hot deals. The morning the deal started with the Iam's $3 coupons, I went as soon as I was able (2-month old baby has to be fed and bundled up, it's cold here!), and head to target. And on the way to the cat food, I pass a lady with what had to be 20 bags in her cart. I ask her if there was any left, with a smile on my face, and she says "nope, should have gotten here earlier". She started to walk away, and I quickly asked if I could just have two bags, and she said no, without even turning around.

I'm just so bummed. Walmart is a whole different story, their shelves are NEVER stocked with a free or money maker item.

So how do you keep from letting these things ruin your coupon fun? I live in a small area, so if this woman is beating me to stores, I don't have a chance. In this small area, all it takes is one woman like her to ruin it for the rest of us.

[Doglover8180]

Bless your heart - I feel for ya - it does sound like you have one of TLC's extremers or wanna-be extremers in your area and it seems like you passed her on her way to the checkout. She also seems to be a snot - now, I don't advocate taking the two bags you want out of her basket, but I see nothing wrong with saying a snotty remark back when she says one to you. :)

In all seriousness, I completely understand your frustration. If it is CVS or Walgreens, you have the ability of getting to befriend the clerks and or managers and they will be more apt to put limits on things or pull a few things aside for you.... Target/Wal-Mart - not likely since it's such a big outfit. However, if that target had a decent manager (very unlikely) you could kindly go find them and say, your shelf is empty and a woman with 40 of a sale item is at the checkout - they may be able to put a limit on it - but most won't would be my guess. Target has one of the worst customer service outfits of any company around. I have called regional/district managers when I felt store managers weren't putting limits and 300 customers can't get a sale item because one customer comes the first minute the sale starts and takes 100 of something..... It happened to be a good company with a good district manager who did get involved and put a stop to it.

[melodyjg]

Always get a rain check if you can..... That way you can go back and get your sale at a later date when the coupon popularity has died down.

If you can't get a rain check...just say to yourself there will be another sale at some point.

Personally I won't even go to Target to get any of those....I will wait for a sale on the bigger bags and get the next size up bags for a couple bucks. Much more worth it for me.

[Doglover8180]

If you are in a small area (yes, I didn't read that last sentence until after I typed my novel) hehe but if you are in a small area, I really think talking to the managers, calmly politely and explaining that because they allowed 1 customer to in essence really abuse the system (she did - she took what was intended to get through several days of a sale, for several people to enjoy the sale item, she took it for herself) tell them that results in having 1 customer abusing their great sale item, and leaves another 60 customers dissapointed and are unable to get the item.

Stores goal is to satisfy the greatest # of customers. So when talking to the manager, spin your case to show them how what you are asking and wanting them to do, in fact benefits their store :)

[thickbluebug]

Ack, so hate that but don't despair there are things you can do.
I live in a small area but drive to the better stores.

As a previous post pointed out - I believe rain checks are the best tool in this situation.

Asking when the truck comes in has been the best for me. Then I can take my coupons / rain checks and make one trip. Normally the stores get another truck in during the sales.

I also go to multi stores. After you have went to all the trouble of getting the little one ready, what's one more store?
So how far is it to the next target? Go down the road and get another rain check.

When I had someone beating me every week - I started my route at the other end. I mean I know piggy shopper was at x store at x time - so I went a store over.

I have also went the night before and bought stuff and then got my refund later during the week.

I have asked the staff to hold me one,

I have asked to have items special ordered.

I have shopped at cvs/wags when the sales are active the Saturday before the Sunday ad starts. Only thing about that is - wags rr's - unless it's a monthly - you won't get the rr - but for something that is free after coupon,,,so worth it to me.


When all else fails,,,,,,I take a break.
When the extremers really get to me ,,,,ie - managers making rules to combat the greedy gluttons which trickled down to the rest of us couponers,,,,,,,
It's the only thing that keeps me sane.

[escalada77]

This has happened to me the last two trips to Rite Aid and I have just gotten rainchecks. They have no problem doing it and I am able to get back with Rain Check and Q and still get that great deal! Keep your head up, I too live in a Rural area and it is hard. I have learned over the last year though, that rain checks are my friend!

[cpaige]

Since so many of those 'extremers' are around now thanks to that 'you know what' show, I have since stopped trying to get any of the MM's at Walmart since they are never in stock. EVER. I have gone on numerous occasions to find them, sale/no sale and they aren't there anymore. I have 2 Walmarts (one is 5 mins away,the other about 20) and 2 Targets (both about 20 mins away, in opposite directions). It's a challenge to figure out which one MIGHT have what I need, but I can forget trying to get the Tidy Cat 10lb of litter for $0.79 at Walmart, b/c they never have it.

It's frustrating, we all feel your pain on it, especially when you're dragging your little one in and out of the stores (I do it too, even though he's 2.5 now). Make sure to always bring your coupons w/ you b/c you just might find something else for next to nothing.

Stick with it. The craze will end soon. I hope.

[VivaciousJewelz]

[QUOTE=Doglover8180;3210778She also seems to be a snot - now, I don't advocate taking the two bags you want out of her basket...[/QUOTE]

I do!!!



Just kidding.

In all seriousness, I can't relate to living in a small area, so I'm sure it's way more frustrating, but there have been many a time I've gone to take advantage of a sale only to find the shelf cleared. Definitely get a rain check, like others have suggested, and then come here to vent.

[Harper12]

I have a question about rainchecks. If the product isn't "on sale" can I get a raincheck? The cat food was a trial size, not a regular bag marked down.

[couponcrazy5950]

With these Iams coupons in particular, what I don't get is why people are RUSHING to the store. That coupon is good for a month. Wait a week or two, and see if they have restocked. I am fortunate that I live in close proximity to 3 Targets (we won't even get started on CVS & Wags-LMAO), but I feel for those who live in small areas.

That lady was rude, IMO-there's no reason she couldn't have spared 2 bags. If she had more than 4 bags in her cart, I would have asked her if she was planning on using Qs for them, cuz the Qs clearly state no more than 4 like Qs at one time. I've been known to be an instigator, though ;)