NEWS FLASH!! Schedule for Harris Teeter Triples

[$Saving!]

Ok, went to make a second run at HT triples tonight. Store was very quiet, talking with cashier and night manager I got this information ...

Harris Teeter will be doing triples every four weeks! Yes, I know they used to do that regularly too, but with the Super Doubles thrown in just recently it kind of confused me, maybe some of you as well?

Anyway, he told me this while we were discussing how all the grocery stores are trying to hang onto customer base and grow as well. We had a great conversation and it was fun!

So, I guess we can expect the monthly triples event now and prepare for it.

When I asked him "Does that mean like 4 weeks from now it will happen again?" he said "Yes". I told him that was great news but now it meant I'll have to start planning a month in advance

So folks, we shall see, but I can't imagine he would say something like that for fun. He did say to me "A little inside information...." before revealing the planned triples.

So those of you who want to plan ahead on stocking up on coupons based on regular prices of items you would like, this would be a good time to do that!

Then if the sale hits for items you plan on purchasing - you're going to be even happier

I love my Harris Teeter - isn't that their theme? Well, it's true for me

[nccouponqueen]

This REALLY surprises me. I've heard that they routinely lose money during triples events...

[$Saving!]

This REALLY surprises me. I've heard that they routinely lose money during triples events...

I'm sure they do lose money, at least from those of us who do what we do

But then again, the majority of their customers don't go to the level of coupon use that we do either.

But in talking with the night mgr, we did discuss how each grocery chain is amping up to try to keep customers and build their base too. Which is true with our local chains I find.

FL is starting to do some unique things they have never done before (sans doubling coupons) and Lowe's changed their coupon policy not too long ago and even recently I saw signs up "we accept competitor coupons" on the door of the Lowe's in Holly Springs! Now what exactly they mean by that I'm not entirely clear.

And Kroger won't be outdone, their Mega sales are drawing HUGE crowds, at least the one I shop at.

The pressure is on during these tougher economic times and they're trying to hold on. The night mgr did say that HT has been cutting hours of employees though - trying to keep their margin up.

Interesting times and as far as couponers go, we're on the winning end.

It's also interesting that manufacturers are putting out more coupons than in the past few years, trying to drive their market share.

Refunds/rebates, lots of activity that is giving us a benefit.

There was a report not long ago that coupon use is up for the first time in years and years, so the marketing departments of all these companies are following (or perhaps they're leading?) consumer trends to save.

[cmricha2]

This is so awesome if it is true. But I agree with $Saving!. They aren't making money off of us. We aren't the people they are trying to encourage to stop by anyway. They know we will be there anytime there is an excellent deal. These stores are trying to bring in new non couponers or people who don't coupon like we do.

Most people are being more cautious with there money these days, so stores and manufacturers have to do something to get new customers/more repeat customers. I think its a good move on their part. If I lose $5 in sales on you this week, but you remember how wonderful my store is and come back the next week and buy your groceries, did I lose money in the long term? Its more of a long term plan for growth in a market. Honestly, I am glad to see some company doing some long term thinking. Of course, I could be giving them too much credit.

[$Saving!]

This is so awesome if it is true. But I agree with $Saving!. They aren't making money off of us. We aren't the people they are trying to encourage to stop by anyway. They know we will be there anytime there is an excellent deal. These stores are trying to bring in new non couponers or people who don't coupon like we do.

Most people are being more cautious with there money these days, so stores and manufacturers have to do something to get new customers/more repeat customers. I think its a good move on their part. If I lose $5 in sales on you this week, but you remember how wonderful my store is and come back the next week and buy your groceries, did I lose money in the long term? Its more of a long term plan for growth in a market. Honestly, I am glad to see some company doing some long term thinking. Of course, I could be giving them too much credit.

Having done mystery shops at all the major grocery stores, I have to say, without a doubt, the standards of customer service are MUCH higher at HT than Lowe's, FL, Kroger (overall, some stores do well).

I think HT's corporate policy is that if they can get customers in the store, they can keep them because of those higher standards. I believe that too, everything overall that they do is superior (in my experiences anyway).

So for HT, it's all about getting people in the door, and I think they're accomplishing that with their triples, super doubles and they've been lowering some prices on items too.

I think FL is just a marketing strategy on pure saturation. There are so many FL's around but other than being on every corner it seems, there is little else to draw customers in or keep them.

Kroger is a hit/miss kind of place as far as customer service. Some stores do really well, others are clearly not focused on the customers.

Lowe's, I find a lot of their employees 'distant', it's a feeling I get as I shop around. Perhaps it's the 'avoidance' type behavior. Where sales floor workers will walk by without smiling at you or pretend not to see you, little opportunity to ask for assistance etc.

And maybe - duh - I'm over alert having had to measure such factors

[llthrel]

I am glad you all have a coupon friendly HT. Our HT shouldnt lose money because they just jack up the prices the day of triples and change alot of the usually free items to B1G1 so that you can only get 1 at a time. I do appreciate the tip on the
coupon schedule. That lets us prepare in advance. Reps to ya!

[$Saving!]

I am glad you all have a coupon friendly HT. Our HT shouldnt lose money because they just jack up the prices the day of triples and change alot of the usually free items to B1G1 so that you can only get 1 at a time. I do appreciate the tip on the
coupon schedule. That lets us prepare in advance. Reps to ya!

I wondered about that once last year, on the triples week, it seemed prices were higher than normal but I thought it was just me!

This time I'm not finding that to be the case so much - I can't help but wonder how much each manager controls their pricing vs how much is corporate controlled. We know their ads are uniform, so maybe regularly priced items are on some level adjustable per store? Would be interesting to know if that's what is happening in some places.

[llthrel]

I noticed on Tuesday the McCormick Vanilla was 2.99. On Wednesday for the sale, the price went up to 4.15 B1G1.

[$Saving!]

I noticed on Tuesday the McCormick Vanilla was 2.99. On Wednesday for the sale, the price went up to 4.15 B1G1.

At both HT's I've been too the last two days, the price on the Vanilla 1oz bottles that were BOGO was 3.99, but that's always their price

Kind of makes you wonder doesn't it?

I would not think that Gastonia would be a high cost of living area. And I know the prices at HT up in Montgomery County MD where I used to live aren't any higher than our prices here either - although they could get away with it given the COL up there! I used to drive OUT of Montgomery County to do grocery shopping when I lived there because prices dropped as soon as you got into the next county :hectic1:

I hate regional pricing, really messes with everything.

[MelissaRaeCake]

That great news, but only if they don't really crack down on the "do not double or triple" coupons that have 5s. I have not yet been to HT this week for triples, but a friend of mine called to tell me her aunt went, and they manually deleted the double or triple on those coupons...even though the computer automatically did the double/triple because of the 5. I don't know if that is now store policy, or if she just got a bad cashier or manager or what. She's not going back to that store.

Anyway, I hope that's not the norm for everyone!