what is the answer to this small issue that can only get worse?

[cgrace]

As I mentioned in an earlier post, HT should not care whether the extra dollar off (SD's) is off a $3.99 item (= oop $1.99) or a $1.99 item (= oop $0.00). It is the same for them, no matter which.

This is not always true, it depends on the built in mark-ups of the product. For example, if Reynolds Wrap is BOGO it is presumably near their cost for the product. If they then lose an extra $1 due to SD they lose money on the sale. However, if you use that $1 Q on a non-sale higher value item, say $7.29 laundry detergent, that extra $1 reduces their gain on the sale, but they still probably make money. From what I understand, grocery stores are very much driven by profit margin by item. They strategically decide to lower a margin (or even lose a bit) on certain items to get people in the door knowing that shopping habits show they will make up for it when customers buy other items with higher margins.

[lovemara]

I agree with cheapdate29. It just takes a different strategy. And, it's not just the Extreme Couponing show. I remember the days before the economy tanked when a .70 overage item would stay in stock the entire triples event. Oh, those were the days.

My store was out of 6-8 freebies at 9 AM. So, I used rainchecks and had no trouble getting those items. And, I got rainchecks for the out of stock items that were on sale, and I'll pick those up at the next Super DOubles.

It just takes getting creative. I guess I would also say, please be patient with the store staff. They are not intentionally not putting out stock. They are completely stressed with Super Doubles and all the new couponers that don't know the rules or think every store should pay them $20 to take their groceries. To quote a sweet BiLo manager, "If I ever get my hands on the man who produces "Extreme Couponing" . . . "

Michelle

Michelle

Was that the Manager of the hwy 601/Concord store? Because I saw that episode and felt horrible for them. I love them there and hated to see their policy/patience abused that way.

[$Saving!]

The issue with rainchecks is the coupon may expire before you have time to wait on SD's again.

Except, there are more coupons for those products that will come out in the future - as we know, the manufacturer keeps putting out coupons on products all the time and I have yet to be left holding a RC with no coupon to match up with it

And how are you going to get management to ring up two items at 50% off each, when the orginal sale was B1G1 free? That is the problem I have with RC's. They will ring one item up at regular price and the other for free, when you return with a raincheck.

They do ring up at half price each, even with the raincheck, so using two coupons on BOGO deal rain check won't be a problem, I've done it many times at different HT's. Just make sure before they start to ring up your order and you hand them your stack of coupons, you give them the rainchecks so that they can ring them up at the raincheck price before scanning the items, it saves them time and they so appreciate that

I should have asked for RC's on the Lance and the Ore-Ida but did not. I think I forgot, during the trip around the store and seeing so many items out of stock, only 3 hours into the sale.

I shop with just an envelope with my list written on the outside, coupons on the inside.

I use my envelope to write down out of stock sale items that I want rain checks for as I'm shopping. That way, when I check out, I then go to the CS desk and read off my list of rain checks I need. They're so very good about issuing rainchecks!

I got three last night when I went and I'll probably get more today. And yes, for the same item if they're still out.

Even if the coupons I would have used on those out of stock items expire, there will be more coupons in the future inserts/tear pads, whatever, that will match up and line up for a future SD's and I'll use my raincheck and new coupon then and create my own "sale".

[cpnmaniac44]

Here is an interesting comment from another forum:

many extreme couponers sweep the shelf,
which means that the cashier has to spend the rest of the day,
or the rest of the week, listening to everybody else gripe
because the item is now out of stock.
Which brings up another point. Mdse for ads is often
ordered months in advance. The popularity of this
coupon show has jacked up the number of people using coupons
way beyond normal. There are now people coming in and buying
up in a matter of a few days or hours what normally would
have kept the store supplied for the entire week.
It's frustrating for the store, for the people that just want
to pick up one or two of an ad item, and probably
very frustrating for the extreme couponers that get
there after somebody else beat them to sweeping the shelf.
...........I have not watched the Extreme Coupon show but there must be
people who think, what they see, is the way it is. I think that show was
"made for TV" and real couponing is not like that. Store rules and limits
do not allow such things. Different regions have different stores and
differerent coupons in the inserts.

Personally, I would not want to be called an Extreme Couponer (per the show) and do not want to be associated with that TV show.

I saw someone on another forum ask if it was very real to walk out of the store with $400 in food and only have paid $10.00. My answer to that is a 100% NO.....do not believe everything you SEE ON TV.

As we post deal, and trips, I have not seen $400 and OOP $10.00. That is MORE extreme than reality with my experiences.

[flyingthecoup]

having watched the show, what they do is "real" but deceptive-

1.they do not count in costs, but admit "buy coupons in bulk" or 5-10 newspapers( one's that are not dumpster diving) from places AND go way over the store limit.

2. Many stores on the show allow "overages" and the extreme couponer admits buying 50+ of an item,even if do not use- because 'it will give me a $30 overage I can use for other items. harris tetter doesn't allow it that.

3. They use Alot of catalina $5 and $10 off the grocery bill( guess save up if going to be on show), which again brings down the total, but deceptive in that not a straight coupon saving.

4.They do not for the show see milk/oj/meat/etc going through on their orders because again would make a higher cost VS the 'extreme savings"- but all need each week.

5. Many( not all) buy let's say 300+ yakisobo's( see them scanning and bringing out closed cases of it), 300+ vitamin drinks or soda( again cases upon cases) and another 50+ of whatever item their store had for free after a coupon.So while technically their bill is $600-700( or double triple the amounts above for larger ones) and only pay $10.. they have usually only bought 3-7 items on the show.

So if you find store that allows 100's of the same coupon, allows you to order in "bulk" weeks before so have it for you, allows "overages" and have a store that acepts multiple catalina's off your one bill- then you can do what happens- just find here in North Carolina that doesn't exist.

[cpnmaniac44]

having watched the show, what they do is "real" but deceptive-

1.they do not count in costs, but admit "buy coupons in bulk" or 5-10 newspapers( one's that are not dumpster diving) from places AND go way over the store limit.

2. Many stores on the show allow "overages" and the extreme couponer admits buying 50+ of an item,even if do not use- because 'it will give me a $30 overage I can use for other items. harris tetter doesn't allow it that.

3. They use Alot of catalina $5 and $10 off the grocery bill( guess save up if going to be on show), which again brings down the total, but deceptive in that not a straight coupon saving.

4.They do not for the show see milk/oj/meat/etc going through on their orders because again would make a higher cost VS the 'extreme savings"- but all need each week.

5. Many( not all) buy let's say 300+ yakisobo's( see them scanning and bringing out closed cases of it), 300+ vitamin drinks or soda( again cases upon cases) and another 50+ of whatever item their store had for free after a coupon.So while technically their bill is $600-700( or double triple the amounts above for larger ones) and only pay $10.. they have usually only bought 3-7 items on the show.

So if you find store that allows 100's of the same coupon, allows you to order in "bulk" weeks before so have it for you, allows "overages" and have a store that acepts multiple catalina's off your one bill- then you can do what happens- just find here in North Carolina that doesn't exist.

Having not watched the show, I now know it is worst than I thought.
The things they can do in their stores, very few people can do.

HT has a 20 coupon limit per store.
If they had $1/1 Triples, the most you could save on one order would be $60, Even with 80 more $1/1 coupons on the same order, not tripled, the most I can save is $140, so I still do not get any $400 worth of food for $10. The math does not add up.

[clippyclippy]

The things they can do in their stores, very few people can do.

Or want to do... I know I don't. But even the people on the show admit that isn't the way they normally shop. They just make one huge mama of all coupon shops for entertainment and ratings.

HT has a 20 coupon limit per store.
If they had $1/1 Triples, the most you could save on one order would be $60, Even with 80 more $1/1 coupons on the same order, not tripled, the most I can save is $140, so I still do not get any $400 worth of food for $10. The math does not add up.

They go by retail value. And they shop in stores that have unlimited coupon doubling. Kroger is frequently shown. In my area one Kroger has unlimited coupons, the other limits to 2 like coupons per order.

So you could by 100 items that are reg. price 2.49 on sale for 10/$10, use 100 .50/1 coupons and say you got 249.00 worth for free. Do that with 4 items and you've got a $1000 order. (Personally, that's not how I would calculate my savings, because even before I used coupons I would not usually pay full price. I would have said I got $100 worth for free.)

Throw in some things that you have freebie coupons for, and some other nearly free covered by OYNO catalinas, and it looks like you have quite an array of products.

HT will never be featured on this show, because even though I get my best savings at HT, their programming would never let that kind of coupon madness happen.
And I can bet the stores that do allow it will be makin some changes in the near future.

[lovemara]

Having not watched the show, I now know it is worst than I thought.
The things they can do in their stores, very few people can do.

HT has a 20 coupon limit per store.
If they had $1/1 Triples, the most you could save on one order would be $60, Even with 80 more $1/1 coupons on the same order, not tripled, the most I can save is $140, so I still do not get any $400 worth of food for $10. The math does not add up.

That's true in a way, but you can also factor in store savings which skews the "savings". Example: I buy only BOGO items only and have coupons for each item (thanks to the new HT coupon policy) and your savings would be well over the doubled coupon dollar amount.