couponing becoming harder

[mrsjschultz]

Here's my take on it - Cashiers and managers who don't understand the ins and outs of coupons create the most issues about using them. It makes me wonder how/why they are managers if they don't understand how couponing does and doesn't impact their business. Seriously, if you are looking to increase profits, decrease costs, etc. etc., why would you put someone who doesn't fully understand all aspects of the business in a position to make decisions that directly impact your financial position?

I totally agree

I wish they would open their eyes to how much business couponing actually brings into the store (when done right) versus acting like we are taking money out of their paychecks.

I live in a rural area and everywhere I turn stores are becoming more and more strict (I'm assuming because of fraud): no more than 2-like coupons, no IP's (after only a week of accepting them to begin with!!, etc.

It is very frustrating.

[uummm]

I can understand some of the limits the stores impose either on product or coupons.
Maybe they want to limit how many items you are buying. There are those that come in and complain that they never have the sale items in stock. Is it that someone is coming in and clearing the shelves or is it that there wasn't a whole lot of stock on the shelf to begin with? I think as buyers we only care if they don't have it. The fact is that the manufactures pay for shelf space and pay extra to use an endcap and have special displays. If they choose NOT to pay for that extra shelf space or displays, is that really the stores fault? A lot of the stores are now on automatic ordering and have no control how much they get- most times they get drop shipments and special displays of sale items that are totally not in their control.

Then there is the issue if it is a smaller store that doesn't have a huge amount of stock space (like my store's Dairy department) how can he order extra when he has no room and the Manufacturer didn't want to pay for the endcap is that really the stores fault?

Then there is the raincheck aspect. When a store issues a raincheck they loose becuase they are not going to get reimbursed for the sale price when the do finally sell it at that raincheck price. When an product goes on sale either the store will be reimbursed for the sale price or they purchased the product at a lower price to begin with. I know my store has a limit of 3 on rainchecks though they have no expiration date.

People don't look at things from the sellers point all the time, they just get upset at the store because they don't have what they want and the store changes the policies.

Don't get me wrong, I don't agree with all the policies. I have one store that their policy states they will not sell more than 4 like coupon items, even if you only have 4 coupons but want 10 items, but if someone else comes in and wants to buy 10 items and has no coupons they can do that. Guess what store I don't shop at....

[mama22qts]

I have been talking with the management team for one of the stores I shop at recently about these issues. Cashiers and management should receive training not just on what the STORE thinks makes a great shopping environment, but also what the consumer thinks makes for a great shopping trip.

They also need extensive coupon training not just on how to recognize a copied IP, but also on things like what the bar code means, so they don't accept coupons for items that have not been purchased or allow coupons that scan for the wrong amount to go through.

The store I'm talking about has also considered implementing a one raincheck of each type redeemed per day to keep folks from clearing the shelves 10 minutes after the store opens.

It's ridiculous what some folks will do to get cheap groceries. What they don't seem to realize (and this only comes in time) is that they are cheating themselves out of a longterm opportunity for great savings to get a few items for free for a short period of time. The cashiers and management will find and weed out the bad apples eventually, or the policies will change to limit ALL coupon users including the bad apples.

[nutts4coups]

It amazes me that anyone has time to make counterfeit coupons. It's all I can do to find time to clip and print legitimate coupons and to get to the stores to use them. My grocery store recently posted a sign saying they will prosecute people with fraudulent coupons. Who decides whether a coupon is fraudulent? A cashier recently told me that a coupon I received in email from a well known local company didn't "look real". I agreed that it wasn't the most professional looking coupon but it certainly was real. So now I run the risk of being arrested because a cashier may think my legitimate coupons don't "look real"? There needs to be some standards for printable coupons so all companies can use the same format and stores will know whether coupons are "real" or not. Fewer coupons are available through inserts and other sources these days, more companies are pushing printables, and at the same time more stores are refusing printables because they are afraid they arent legitimate. I dont know what the answer is but I do know that the honest couponers are loosing out more and more :(

[MaryMary]

I have been talking with the management team for one of the stores I shop at recently about these issues. Cashiers and management should receive training not just on what the STORE thinks makes a great shopping environment, but also what the consumer thinks makes for a great shopping trip.

They also need extensive coupon training not just on how to recognize a copied IP, but also on things like what the bar code means, so they don't accept coupons for items that have not been purchased or allow coupons that scan for the wrong amount to go through.

The store I'm talking about has also considered implementing a one raincheck of each type redeemed per day to keep folks from clearing the shelves 10 minutes after the store opens.

It's ridiculous what some folks will do to get cheap groceries. What they don't seem to realize (and this only comes in time) is that they are cheating themselves out of a longterm opportunity for great savings to get a few items for free for a short period of time. The cashiers and management will find and weed out the bad apples eventually, or the policies will change to limit ALL coupon users including the bad apples.

Great post, Elizabeth!

[bigdavesafro]

Please remember when it comes to shelf clearing and out of stocks that when a sale is planned by the corporate offices and the supplier THEY agree on buying say 1,000,000 extra at half the usual cost, this million pieces is spread out amongst the company regardless of how many the Manager orders. yes you can say corpoate SHOULD order more but at the end of the day it is up to the company and Supplier to agree. I have ordered 100's of good sales items for my store and only received 10-12 and was told this is why

[awainwright]

[quote=uummm;2145823]I can understand some of the limits the stores impose either on product or coupons.
Maybe they want to limit how many items you are buying. There are those that come in and complain that they never have the sale items in stock. Is it that someone is coming in and clearing the shelves or is it that there wasn't a whole lot of stock on the shelf to begin with? I think as buyers we only care if they don't have it. The fact is that the manufactures pay for shelf space and pay extra to use an endcap and have special displays. If they choose NOT to pay for that extra shelf space or displays, is that really the stores fault? A lot of the stores are now on automatic ordering and have no control how much they get- most times they get drop shipments and special displays of sale items that are totally not in their control.

Then there is the issue if it is a smaller store that doesn't have a huge amount of stock space (like my store's Dairy department) how can he order extra when he has no room and the Manufacturer didn't want to pay for the endcap is that really the stores fault?

Then there is the raincheck aspect. When a store issues a raincheck they loose becuase they are not going to get reimbursed for the sale price when the do finally sell it at that raincheck price. When an product goes on sale either the store will be reimbursed for the sale price or they purchased the product at a lower price to begin with. I know my store has a limit of 3 on rainchecks though they have no expiration date.

People don't look at things from the sellers point all the time, they just get upset at the store because they don't have what they want and the store changes the policies.

Don't get me wrong, I don't agree with all the policies. I have one store that their policy states they will not sell more than 4 like coupon items, even if you only have 4 coupons but want 10 items, but if someone else comes in and wants to buy 10 items and has no coupons they can do that. Guess what store I don't shop at....[/quote]


i totally agree with this, i'm fine w/ limiting how many you can buy but don't treat me as a couponer any differently than any other person in the store.

[MaryMary]

Please remember when it comes to shelf clearing and out of stocks that when a sale is planned by the corporate offices and the supplier THEY agree on buying say 1,000,000 extra at half the usual cost, this million pieces is spread out amongst the company regardless of how many the Manager orders. yes you can say corpoate SHOULD order more but at the end of the day it is up to the company and Supplier to agree. I have ordered 100's of good sales items for my store and only received 10-12 and was told this is why

that's what I heard from store managers I've communicated with.
Plus priority and fulfillment of your orders depends on your store zone, which usually means the stores with larger sales volumes would get more of the items in short supply.
also keep in mind that ordering people lately are VERY cautious to order extra supplies, "excess inventory" is a big sin in retail world.