Did I go overboard?

[NDFarmWife]

Unlike what "the show" promotes - I focus on stockpiling only enough to last our family until the next sale cycle and the item comes on sale again - don't have the space to keep more. In doing this, even though I might have numerous coupons, I use only what I think I will need in that time frame - that leaves plenty on the shelf for the next shopper.

I live in an area of ND where it is a 75 mile drive (one-way) to shop at any major stores so repeat trips are not feasible. It definitely irritates me to drive that far only to find that the shelf has been cleaned out the first day of the sale.

I have to agree with some of the other posters that we have to resist being/appearing "extreme" if we want manufacturers to continue issuing coupons and stores to continue accepting them. Most of the places that I shop already have limits of 3-4 on sale items and many have changed their coupons to say "limit one offer per customer" instead of "limit one offer per transaction".

While I commend those who choose to donate their finds to charity, I would still suggest exercising moderation in purchasing with coupons. 27 may have not seemed to be a lot to you and there might have still been plenty on the shelf, but if every shopper chose to do the same and purchase 27, the supply would soon be depleted and someone would do without.

I might also suggest that if you have coupons that are about to expire and don't really need them all, there are number of organizations that collect expired coupons to send to military bases where they can be used by our service families.

[cnsyoder]

A couple of things...I doubled checked my coupon...and my wording does not include the duplicate statement...the words and/or indicate any combination of two items is fine...so, I don't see a problem with that coupon.

Is your $2.50/2 coupon from 4/17/11 SS? If so, the "Items can not be duplicated" should be in bold type print right under the redemption info.
However, there is a $2/2 (the printable, which is no longer available and I think some papers had in in the 5/8 SS) coupon that doesn't have the duplication statement.

[TeePee]

Just curious but how long have you been couponing?

And finally-one more thought...when you find an excellent sale at Belk's or Penney's...no one thinks twice about getting what they want and all they want...no one is thinking..."hmmm...I should probably leave one or two of these 99 cent packages of $7 socks for the next person..." Why is the grocery store different?

Can you get a raincheck at Belks for this stuff? No because they want rid of it never to be restocked. Totally different ballgame when buying normally stocked items.

[tiffieturtle86]

I usually don't get more than 3 or 4 of an item at a time unless a sale is about to end or a coupon is about to expire. Just for the reason you experienced, makes the cashiers nervous and more likely to question your coupons.

Agreed-- me too!

It's sad that it has to be this way, but then again, I'm a firm believer that a good deal/good coupon will come around again.. Coupon Karma if you will...

[MaMaHaHa]

Hmmmm...I will go ahead and respond...but I do see the potential for some fall out...but I am curious as to what some of ya'll are thinking-in my area couponing has just recently become a "thing" and only a few of my friends even use coupons...

TeePee...I have been couponing since I was a child (and I'm a grandma now) -my father was in charge of the grocery trips and he was a couponer...long before any "fancy" binders, he would simply use small pieces of tape and a spiro notebook to organize and hold his stash of coupons. We would spend hours cutting the coupons out and planning our trips. Whatever he saved on coupons, he would give me half and I could buy whatever I wanted. That was many, many years ago and his coupon savings was never more than $100. He was sooo proud whenever he could do that!

Anyway-as far as couponing goes and what of how much to buy-I still think the stores are the ones responsible for ordering their products in sufficient quantities...it is not my responsibility to guess how many more folks will want item xyz. I purchase what I need...and needs vary from project to project. When one finds an empty shelf...instead of walking away in disappointment or anger...that information needs to be communicated to the Store Manager...and-if it is a store you frequent often, you may be able to garner his/her support in ordering extra items. It always surprises me when the Manager seems surprised that they ran out of item xyz. They are sometime clueless, and a brief conversation may prove helpful. And-always check...sometimes the items are in the back, and haven't been unpacked yet.

I have noticed that there tends to be an "us" (couponers) against "them" (store managers/cashiers) mentality...I still think if you take the time to get to know the store managers, you will find less hassles await. (And no...I am not in a small town.)

All of that to say this...I think that as long as one is using the coupon correctly, it shouldn't matter how many one buys -- barring of course the P/G limit of four. Truly, whether I am buying socks or soup, it shouldn't matter if I buy 5 or 50....or does it???