I haven't been to Kmart since they stopped doubling coupons

[ashlynsmom]

I'm in upstate NY and my stores haven't participated in doubles for a loooooong time. Over a year.

You know, it seems like it would've been in my Kmart's best interest to keep participating because even though I got a lot of great deals during the doubles, I also spent alot. I saw some flannel sheets on clearance so I bought those, they had a nice armoire on clearance so I bought that... I was pregnant and saw a Fisher Price bouncy seat on clearance so I bought that...
Their marketing ploy sure worked on me. The doubles drew me in and I spent money there. Now everything I bought I needed and was on clearance, but still, they got my business!

But, maybe they really didn't get as much business as I think they did, since they haven't been participating.:shrug7:

[tinahall99]

I thought the double coupon events were drawing tons of customers they never would have gotten and selling lots of their merchandise that wasn't moving anyway. If they would have just institututed doubles up to a certain amount every single day, there would have been a lot less confusion and staff time having to be put into the whole thing. I think their company is probably struggling all around, so they should be willing to do whatever it takes to get people in the store.

[Joyfulmom4]

Agreed. I don't shop Kmart or Walgreens unless there are good coupon deals. But if I do go there, I try to accomplish whatever additional shopping I am able to do at competitive prices. Ykwim?

I am a single mother with four kids, a full-time job and a small work-at-home business as well. When I shop, I try to plan those trips and I'll get my best coupon deals plus whatever other things I need that are priced within my acceptable range but I don't have coupons for. I simply don't have the time to go to every store in town to find the very best price on every item. So when a place has some really hot coupon deals, that will be where I go. It just makes sense.

Now neither Walgreens nor Kmart would be my choice to shop if not for sales and coupons. Their prices are generally higher and their selection lower. But if you throw in a good coupon deal, doubles, Register Rewards or whatever, then the balance turns in favor of those stores.

I know a lot of shoppers do go to stores with a very focused list and spend very little out of pocket. Maybe Kmart thinks those are the only ones who care about their coupon sales??? Even so, it brings shoppers to the stores and they do sell more products. Hopefully that alone would develop some customer loyalty and some familiarity with the store so people come back.

But for a lot of us, we don't JUST get a small number of free/cheap items and then leave. We may spend significant amounts on other items we find on sale and even full price.

I wish the stores did more promotions like these. For the people who don't use coupons, it won't matter, but for couponers, it will bring them in and hopefully get them to spend more.