Confession Time-Are you a HCW 'Secret Agent'

[gettinrevvin2007]

Is this you?

Does your store ad look like a page of HCW hieroglyphics, when you're done shopping?

Pen in hand as you go throughout the store, furiously taking notes?

Do you take notes around the borders and empty parts of your flyer, that only a seasoned HCW'er could understand?

ex. : $1 OYNO wyb 2 Item 'x' @ $2.19 each x2/14?

Do you leave your flyer in the bottom of the cart w/your groceries, so you don't forget to take it home, to post your findings on HCW?

Do you 'fly' across the checkout lane when the bagger kindly offers to dispose of your 'chicken scratched' ad that they think you're done with, because you just shopped?

I actually took notes on my flyer once, and when they had asked me if they could dispose of it, I responded 'yes', w/o thinking, and lost ALL my notes! ugh.

Do people look at you weird, when they see you copying down info from 'oyno' tags, wondering what you're doing, and if you work for the store.

If you responded 'Yes' to any of the above, please answer this poll.

Oh yeah, and don't forget to tell your funny stories below.

[nateNnatsmommy]

that's so interesting - I don't do that, but I'd LOVE to see a pic of an ad with all of the "chicken scratch"!

[gettinrevvin2007]

Wish I had a scanner to show you mine. lol

Gets me some weird looks for sure.

[foodie]

Yes, I am "Secret Agent HCW" reporting here on duty. My "mission" is to locate the best prices and report the "Top Secret" information for my "fellow Secret Coupon Clippers".

My recent "mission" at my local "circuit of stores"--I withdrew my "secret weapon" from its "holster". My "weapon of choice" for this "Top Secret Mission" is a "duel of pen an paper poised to record all bargains, clearance price/product information, and coupon offers". This "mission" should you decide to accept it is to "report back to the HCW Forum" your findings to assist "other HCW Secret Agents".

However, upon recording my "findings" recently, a sales clerk asked if I needed assistance as she noticed my recording the "prices of products and sales prices, etc." in my "Price Notebook--which is 3x5 size". I responded in a "hushed and staged whisper", "No, thanks, Mam. I am doing fine. Just scoping out some deals." She was "impressed" by my vast knowledge of how to save and I told her about the HCW site.

Finally, upon my departure from this "Secret Store Mission", I mentioned to the "opposition" that I would return soon to "finish the job". The sales clerk responded, "Well, thank you for coming in. See "y'all" soon."

Yes, I exaggerated this scenario, but I do frequent dollar stores, grocery stores, etc. and "spot and check" deals, etc. I record in my price book varying prices, etc. from stores. I will post my "findings" soon on the appropriate store threads. This is a great way to plan your shopping trips.

Have a good week--

Foodie (Katie) aka "Agent HCW 1"--if you are not 1 in your own life--then who else is? Just kidding--

[GWUGirlie]

I didn't participate in the poll b/c I see myself as a Secret Agent in training. After reading posts earlier in the year, I decided to map out my Harris Teeter befor Super Doubles. There I was, pushing my cart through the grocery store (with absolutley no intentions of buying anything) with a little spiral notebook in hand. I copied down the headers of every single aisle so that I could plan my attack on the store a few days later. It ended up being really efficient since I didn't back track. I zoomed through that store like nobody's business!!

[mom2lucas]

I carry a small notebook in Walmart so I can make notes about possible coupon matches and deals. It's full of chicken scratch.

[cgrace]

Mine looks like that even before I get in the store - my items of choice circled, noting the coupon value I have, or catalina I should get, if there's a store Q, and the # to get :) And goodness help me if it's a deal where I have to spend $xx to get $xx because then my chicken scratch calculations are mixed in there too!

[enginerd]

LOL - somes I get the evil eye when I go in because I just look at the prices of stuff and leave without buying. I was questioned about whether I needed help when I popped into Sav-A-Lot to see if they had Solo cups for $1. As I went through the closed checkout to get out, I checked out the $1 dental floss to see if it was a brand that put out coupons. I must have looked mighty suspicious as I left without buying anything.

Originally Posted by foodie Yes, I am "Secret Agent HCW" reporting here on duty. My "mission" is to locate the best prices and report the "Top Secret" information for my "fellow Secret Coupon Clippers". My recent "mission" at my local "circuit of stores"--I withdrew my "secret weapon" from its "holster". My "weapon of choice" for this "Top Secret Mission" is a "duel of pen an paper poised to record all bargains, clearance price/product information, and coupon offers". This "mission" should you decide to accept it is to "report back to the HCW Forum" your findings to assist "other HCW Secret Agents". However, upon recording my "findings" recently, a sales clerk asked if I needed assistance as she noticed my recording the "prices of products and sales prices, etc." in my "Price Notebook--which is 3x5 size". I responded in a "hushed and staged whisper", "No, thanks, Mam. I am doing fine. Just scoping out some deals." She was "impressed" by my vast knowledge of how to save and I told her about the HCW site. Finally, upon my departure from this "Secret Store Mission", I mentioned to the "opposition" that I would return soon to "finish the job". The sales clerk responded, "Well, thank you for coming in. See "y'all" soon." Yes, I exaggerated this scenario, but I do frequent dollar stores, grocery stores, etc. and "spot and check" deals, etc. I record in my price book varying prices, etc. from stores. I will post my "findings" soon on the appropriate store threads. This is a great way to plan your shopping trips. Have a good week-- Foodie (Katie) aka "Agent HCW 1"--if you are not 1 in your own life--then who else is? Just kidding--

[gettinrevvin2007]

I do that too, enginerd, although, I haven't done it recently. If they don't have the price on something, that you read about on HCW, then it's hard to justify spending $ on anything.

[thecouponclippa]

I actually don't do this.. however, I do print out a list to take with me. ( I can't read my own handwriting. ;x) SO I take a printed listed from notepad, with numbers to get, oyno deals, store Q's, and which stores I need to stop at. I did have a cashier ask me if I SERIOUSLY printed my grocery lists... I responded " Yes, every single time. I can't read my own handwriting." To which she thought was endlessly humorous. I can't help it I have had 3 broken arms that made writing difficult.:shrug7:

However, I'm not afraid to just wander around a store and price match with coupons if I think it's a good deal but don't actually need it. I just do it with my phone or netbook. :D