Extreme Couponers- North Carolina Paper

[flyingthecoup]

A really good article on "that show"( which starts this wednedsay again), and what really goes on, based on 2 local shows aired here in north carolina:

'Extreme Couponing' show will feature N.C. clippers

BY AMY DUNN - Staff writer
Staff writer

In just 12 half-hour episodes, a cable TV show on coupon clipping has managed to grab the attention of major U.S. retailers, give a boost to the struggling American newspaper industry and turn otherwise law-abiding citizens into accused criminals.

And that's just for starters.

Rank-and-file couponers grumble that the show has given coupon clipping a bad name and caused retailers to tighten coupon policies. They've also leveled accusations of coupon fraud.

Two extreme coupon clippers from North Carolina - one from the Charlotte suburb of Concord and the other from the tiny town of Snow Camp outside Burlington - will be featured on the show this season as they shop at Lowes Foods, a Winston-Salem grocery chain.

This season was Lowes Foods' first time participating in the show, and it wasn't pleased with the experience.

"If we had it to do over again, we would not have done it," said Lisa Selip, a corporate spokeswoman for Lowes Foods who said the show was full of misrepresentations and sensationalism. "Hindsight is 20/20."

Read more: 'Extreme Couponing' show will feature N.C. clippers - TV/Movies - NewsObserver.com

[$Saving!]

I wrote to Lowe's Food, including Selip and the CEO as well as the VP and the CEO of the parent company, Alex Lee Inc on September 12th, I've had absolutely no response from any of them in any form.

What I did do, was give a copy of that correspondence and all the attachments that I mailed to the 4 aforementioned to my local HT manager and CS/cashiers. I wanted them to see exactly what happens to a good customer when a company violates it's own "integrity" and ethics for a few minutes of fame.

I am no longer a customer of Lowe's Foods.

[flyingthecoup]

I wrote to Lowe's Food, including Selip and the CEO as well as the VP and the CEO of the parent company, Alex Lee Inc on September 12th, I've had absolutely no response from any of them in any form.

What I did do, was give a copy of that correspondence and all the attachments that I mailed to the 4 aforementioned to my local HT manager and CS/cashiers. I wanted them to see exactly what happens to a good customer when a company violates it's own "integrity" and ethics for a few minutes of fame.

I am no longer a customer of Lowe's Foods.

Maybe i'm missing something, but can you explain what you are mad about? and what lowes didn't do? Think i'm missing what you wrote them for and what you expected done, so not a customer anymore- thanks!

[$Saving!]

Maybe i'm missing something, but can you explain what you are mad about? and what lowes didn't do? Think i'm missing what you wrote them for and what you expected done, so not a customer anymore- thanks!

What Lowe's didn't do, is honor their own policy concerning coupon usage, so they could be on the show.

I think that's reason enough to be mad, it's called discrimination against their regular customers, for their own personal gain.

I guess I have a strong streak of honesty and integrity and believe that when a company claims they have integrity and clearly they can set that aside, then they've basically treated those of us who believed in their consistency and integrity of their own policy, as chumps.

To each his own.

A response to a letter is customary, especially in a customer oriented business such as Lowe's Foods. Apparently, that isn't part of their 'integrity' either, to actually respond.

To me, it shows their stated Values are just that, stated, not followed.

[joshmamabear]

I don't believe retailer bigwigs are that naive, and if they really are, then they should be ashamed for not knowing what the show is all about. While I would understand if this was the pilot episode they did last quarter of 2010, this show has had one season. I will NOT be convinced they have NOT seen an episode to see what its all about. With that said, it is unacceptable for stores like Frys and now Lowe's Foods to say they now regret doing the show and bent their rules to accommodate the participant while filming went on. They already had an idea of what to expect and if they did NOT, well shame on whoever gave the go signal to allow filming at their store. Had they been careful in stipulating under contract that they reserve the right to see the episode prior to airing to make sure that their store was not presented in a bad light, they will not lose their loyal customers. It is now water under the bridge, retailers who think customers have such short memories (and all will be well if they post an apology on facebook) are up for a surprise. They forgot that shoppers can vote with their wallets

I don't know if this will work but if most people who use coupons write to ALL major/minor retailers to ask them to ban tee el cee from using their stores as accomplices to fraud, that may call the attention of the CEOs, COOs. Unless we tell them that allowing their stores to be associated with coupon fraud shown on national television is NOT a good advertisement for them, they will likely think free publicity is good for them. NOT!

Shoppers soon realize that what those participants are allowed to do at those stores are FAR from reality and it soon backfires on those stores. If retailers put their foot down and tell the producers they will NOT bend their rules SHOULD they allow filming, then the producers will probably find OTHER avenues to make the participant look "interesting". They should reserve their right to see the final product before it is aired so none of their employees can say, we regret this blah blah blah since we did not know our store will be presented. IF NO retailer participates, then EC show will probably end in due time. Hopefully.

[kgracem]

What Lowe's didn't do, is honor their own policy concerning coupon usage, so they could be on the show.

I think that's reason enough to be mad, it's called discrimination against their regular customers, for their own personal gain.

I completely agree with you. When I have a manager tell me I can't use a coupon for xyz reason, I am respectful of their coupon policy and do not push them to take my coupon. I find it incredibly disrespectful that they would still expect me to abide by their policy when not everyone has had to. Lowe's foods is a large chain with plenty of resources to inform them of the effects of making certain choices. The only thing they are doing is making the jobs of their store managers and employees more difficult as they now have to deal with customers who want the same treatment the headquarters allowed for participants of the show. I can see how stressed and frustrated managers and employees can get from treatment they receive from customers (especially during "special events" when they are literally running back and forth all day).

On another note, I wrote to HT corporation last week about a specific manager at a store that I received incredibly rude and condescending treatment from. Have not heard anything back.

[cpnmaniac44]

I completely agree with you. When I have a manager tell me I can't use a coupon for xyz reason, I am respectful of their coupon policy and do not push them to take my coupon. I find it incredibly disrespectful that they would still expect me to abide by their policy when not everyone has had to. Lowe's foods is a large chain with plenty of resources to inform them of the effects of making certain choices. The only thing they are doing is making the jobs of their store managers and employees more difficult as they now have to deal with customers who want the same treatment the headquarters allowed for participants of the show. I can see how stressed and frustrated managers and employees can get from treatment they receive from customers (especially during "special events" when they are literally running back and forth all day).

On another note, I wrote to HT corporation last week about a specific manager at a store that I received incredibly rude and condescending treatment from. Have not heard anything back.

Our own coupon experiences will decline if Harris Teeter or ANY other (Charlotte area) store chain, nationwide, goes on that stupid show.

We'll all suffer.

At times, even these HCW boards say things, that affect the coupon rules.
Too much advertising of what we did, or what we got, when the whole world does not need to be given a gold plated road map to how we save at our local stores.

That show, Extreme Couponing, could cause some store chains to reel in their coupon rules and make doubling, and other promotions, even harder, less likely or even discontinued permanently.

I've never watched the show and never will. I saw brief highlights and it was 100% "staged" for TV drama.

[cpnmaniac44]

And Lowes told me they do not have triples any more, because of coupon fraud. Pieces of paper the size of a coupon used at the self checkout. As you may have noticed, right before they stopped triples forever, there was a taped note over the coupon slots at the self checkout.
It said "if you have coupons go through a regular checkout line."
Another example I was referred to, was someone walking out with dozens of jars of mayonnaise over a period of trips-visits-days.
And Lowes got a good look at the bad side of having triples, so they stopped it.

I saw a long discussion about Extreme Couponing on a non coupon forum. People were asking, "can you really get $500-$1000 in items for $10, etc?
They actually believed the bull they saw on TV.
And there are people who will abuse the coupon rules and etiquette trying to duplicate what they see on TV.

[$Saving!]

Our own coupon experiences will decline if Harris Teeter or ANY other (Charlotte area) store chain, nationwide, goes on that stupid show.

We'll all suffer.

At times, even these HCW boards say things, that affect the coupon rules.
Too much advertising of what we did, or what we got, when the whole world does not need to be given a gold plated road map to how we save at our local stores.

That show, Extreme Couponing, could cause some store chains to reel in their coupon rules and make doubling, and other promotions, even harder, less likely or even discontinued permanently.

I've never watched the show and never will. I saw brief highlights and it was 100% "staged" for TV drama.

I gave a copy of my letter to HT management where I shop and told them to pass it around, that if HT ever decided to appear on that show it would lose me as a customer, I wanted them to see the visceral reaction Lowe's had with me. Not that I carry any weight as one person! However, the cashiers and CS managers are so fed up with the influx of the new breed of couponers spawned by the show (and their associated arrogance and arguing even though they don't know store policy) that I truly believe if HT as a corporation participated, it would doom them on many levels.

I did read this which tells me that their plan on coupon events is solid:

Noting that Harris Teeter's operating profit of $181.6 million for the full fiscal year was up 3.4%, Thomas Dickson, chairman, president and chief executive officer, Ruddick Corp., cited gains in total transactions and number of items sold, amid a reduction in corporate expenses.
“During fiscal 2010, we drove customer shopping visits and loyalty through investments in our lower everyday prices and promotional activity,” he said.
He added that a portion of the company's investment in pricing has been offset by increased vendor support, improved operational efficiencies and various cost-saving initiatives.

Read more: Harris Teeter Slows New-Store Growth Pace for 2011

Harris Teeter isn't going to be foolish enough to lose the ground they have gained, and customer loyalty is being driven in their promotions (coupon events, digital coupons which are stackable, etc).

They have my loyalty because so far they've done nothing but show integrity.

[server18]

So Fry's is a participating store for this stupid show?? I think I'll stop shopping there if thats the case.

[QUOTE=joshmamabear;3082924]I don't believe retailer bigwigs are that naive, and if they really are, then they should be ashamed for not knowing what the show is all about. While I would understand if this was the pilot episode they did last quarter of 2010, this show has had one season. I will NOT be convinced they have NOT seen an episode to see what its all about. With that said, it is unacceptable for stores like Frys and now Lowe's Foods to say they now regret doing the show and bent their rules to accommodate the participant while filming went on.