Beer Rebates: Locked & Limited

[Agape Love]

Well, I guess, "all good things must end" is coming to fruition. At Farm Fresh in Norfolk today beer rebates were on a ad display, yet absent of rebate forms. I went to Customer Service and requested the rebate forms. A manager literally unlocked a drawer and asked me which one, while informing me there is now a limit of ONE rebate offer. However, I did score two different offers.

I endorse patronizing and not hoarding/cleaning out rebates, and it is sad this has come to be.

[mommy22boys]

At least you live in one of the best state for rebates! Even if you are only able to get one form per offer. It's still way better than some people's beer rebate capability! lol

I'm not saying that in a mean way. I actually used to live in Virginia (quite close to Norfolk too.) Seemed it was the best state for rebates cause all forms were valid there- and I saw many that were valid ONLY there. Or only VA & NC.

I now live in Iowa. I'm very very lucky if I get one or two rebate forms per year that- of course- DO require the purchase of alcohol.

So I guess really I'm jealous that you guys get the good rebates. And now that I live in the land of none, I would be grateful to get them even in limited quantities. If I had never moved from VA and saw this side of it, I probably would be upset just like you. But just know that there are worse case scenarios. :)

[meggers]

I would suspect many more stores will be following suit as more couponers/rebaters emerge & complain that people are taking all of the rebates & coupons. Good for some, bad for others.

I totally understand the desire to have some of these on hand to trade for other coupons/rebates, but then you have some that take ALL of them ALL of the time & the stores are catching on.

[everprincess]

Yep it's becoming that way. Harris-Teeter and Food Lion stores here are just putting up signs to come to CS to get the offers. It's fine with me though since I only need two forms anyway.

[Chevelle]

The store I shop at has done this for over 2 years. They're really hard to find.

[bali1228]

There have been those of us telling people for years that they would shoot themselves, and all of us by extension, in the foot if they didn't coupon responsibly. Well it's happened. For all they naysayers spouting how they don't bother flying under the radar and the early-bird-gets-the-coupon...you have reaped what you've sown, and it's only going to get worse. I already no longer bother hard core couponing. It's just not like it used to be, so why put all that effort in? I save when I can, but real good freebies are few and far between, along with non-counterfeit high dollar coupons that were once a dime a dozen. The insert grab is insane, everyone wants to get rich on ebay. I have a friend that works at Walgreens and she told me that when she gets in @8am on Sunday morning she buys 2 papers for herself, because by 9am they are gone...some woman comes in and buys every one. I don't get how they can be making money? Are they counterfeiting the inserts? Sunday papers are not cheap..

[meggers]

No, they're not. Sunday papers are like $2.75 here. InSANE! Frankly, I think some are so addicted to couponing that good sense goes out the window. LOL!

It's dumpstah divin' or bust for me, BaliBabe!

[joshmamabear]

There have been those of us telling people for years that they would shoot themselves, and all of us by extension, in the foot if they didn't coupon responsibly. Well it's happened. For all they naysayers spouting how they don't bother flying under the radar and the early-bird-gets-the-coupon...you have reaped what you've sown, and it's only going to get worse. I already no longer bother hard core couponing. It's just not like it used to be, so why put all that effort in? I save when I can, but real good freebies are few and far between, along with non-counterfeit high dollar coupons that were once a dime a dozen. The insert grab is insane, everyone wants to get rich on ebay. I have a friend that works at Walgreens and she told me that when she gets in @8am on Sunday morning she buys 2 papers for herself, because by 9am they are gone...some woman comes in and buys every one. I don't get how they can be making money? Are they counterfeiting the inserts? Sunday papers are not cheap..

about flying under radar, I cringe at those new gurus teaching DO NOT fly under radar but instead talk to DMs/SMs and if you can't convince them, keep on complaining to corporate until they give in to what you want and ALL you want . I've read this one hardcore couponer who teaches newbies and battles with the rest of us who prefer to fly under the radar. She scoffs @ such tactic saying she's not doing anything wrong so if she wants to buy hundreds of each item via special order and SMs won't agree, she complains to corporate while asking them why they are refusing her "purchases" when they will make a lot of profit from all the .08 handling fees on her coupons She takes pride in getting what she wants after bombarding corp with calls.

We just have to accept that with a surge of couponers and unfortunately, not your random casual couponer but way extreme couponers who want to get all things cheap, if not free regardless of how they do it, it will get worse. We ain't seen the worst yet as long as the "show" is on the air as long as they keep showing re-runs. The cat is out of the bag, so to speak and there is no turning back We just have to be patient and find other means to save a buck or two.

[StacyNVA]

Which Farm Fresh?

I had that problem with locking the rebates up at Food Lion. I asked about them and it seems no one ever knows where they are. I've talked to managers and they claim it is the beer guys putting them behind the service counter. It seems to be only certain beer guys doing it when they get annoyed. Then after a while it goes back to them putting them back out again.

The thing that really bugs me about putting them behind the counter is that they let full pads of rebates expire in the drawer rather then let someone "steal" them. If they are gonna hold on to them to keep someone from taking them all I think they ought to at least put them out the last week they are valid~ but that is to much work so they expire. I have literally told the customer service people to toss several pads because they were expired & past PM date.

The Kroger on Virginia Beach Blvd had 2 full pads of Pork Coupons $3 off any pork x5/31/11 NBPR coupons hidden behind the counter. I asked for some on 5/29/11 and they would only give me 2. I bet the whole lot of them sat there and expired.

[ScrappyDoo]

It is like that in Gloucester (Hayes) VA at the Food Lion there. That used to be the absolute best place for rebates (I only ever took 3 per form before you ask) but now you have to stand in line for 20 minutes to get 1 of each form IF they can find them and IF there is actually a cashier working in customer service.