just a hmm Before you boycott Vons and go to Albertsons, etc

[Whispered]

I was just thinking about this... i'm as frustrated as the rest of you... about Ralphs and Vons..

But... lets look at it another way...
Why should we reward stores like Albertsons, w/ our business when they've never had dbl Q's??

Just a thought (and a 1 yr newbie, so maybe they've had them in the past)....

So yes, we're all mad....and darn good right to be,
but.. going to other stores w/ our $$$ who never , or haven't dbled coupons in a looooong time, is like rewarding them... when they've never helped us, at all...

Make sense, just something to make you go
hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm....

I mean what has Albertsons ever done for us??
or the other stores??
Why should i reward them and spend my money there now, when they've been rotten to me, in the past? ya know?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

so if, I flip the coin.. and find good deals at vons.. ok I'll go, but I'll also mention to the manager that i'm upset at their new policy..

but they HAVE helped us all in the past.. right?
and the others haven't..

for me, i'm doing what i've always done... going to where the deals are and shopping more carefully
at CVS , wags and my beloved 99 cents store!!!

Plus signing any petitions to get Vons back to dbls!

[lmk123]

I'm headed to Target, Trader Joe's and our local butcher shop.

If I can find something for a super good deal, like Albertson's had a deal on Chef Boyardee a week or so ago (broke down to 60 cents a can) - I'll go stock up. I find that Target's daily prices beat Ralphs/Vons sale prices. With coupons, I should do fine.

[getabigrefund]

Originally Posted by Whispered Why should we reward stores like Albertsons, w/ our business when they've never had dbl Q's?? Just a thought (and a 1 yr newbie, so maybe they've had them in the past).... So yes, we're all mad....and darn good right to be, but.. going to other stores w/ our $$$ who never , or haven't dbled coupons in a looooong time, is like rewarding them... when they've never helped us, at all...

What has Albertsons & other stores done for us? That is a very good question and something I think everyone should be considering now & always as I'm a big believer in capitalism and free trade - consider what you get for your $ - are the trades you are making the ones you want to be making based on your household's priorities? If so, it's a good economic trade (cost is only 1 factor).


So this is what Albertson's has done for me over the years: kept their prices lower than Vons & Ralphs and given good special offers & 8 hour sales. Some times frustrating to me because I don't seem to get the right combination of purchase items to get the deal, but as often my fault as Albertson's. Also, Albertson's had delivery service to my address before Vons, which I have used on occassion from both stores. The big draw to Vons for me were 1) great customer service 2) lowest prices after coupons 3) product availability 4) store location


I won't be boycotting Vons, but I will be shopping at other stores more often because the equation is changing dramatically both on their end with the coupon policy and mine as prices of everything are going up & I have to consider how best to reduce my household expenses. The best customer service alone is not enough for me to trade my dollars.

Similarly, Stater Brothers still won't get much of my business because they fail on all 4 qualifications for me - long lines, no one to help in the isles, same prices as most other stores, headaches about IPQ, limited product selection and a store that is always filthy and tons of riffraff hanging out in the parking lot. Couldn't pay me to shop there regularly.

I hope your question and my answer give everyone a moments pause to really consider where your dollars are going - the stores we frequent today are the ones most likely to be in business tomorrow.

[phinsupincali]

Just a thought, if we do take our money elsewhere, no matter where it is, Albies, Ralphs, Trader Joes, or other grocery stores, Vons will see sales go down and maybe that will make them bring back true double coupons.

I agree with the Albies, hasn't given us double coupons, but if we continue to shop at Vons, then we almost are saying it is OK to take away the double coupons. Make them see sales drop and then they will realize they have lost customers.

Just my 2 cents worth.

[deeann7]

Originally Posted by phinsupincali Just a thought, if we do take our money elsewhere, no matter where it is, Albies, Ralphs, Trader Joes, or other grocery stores, Vons will see sales go down and maybe that will make them bring back true double coupons. I agree with the Albies, hasn't given us double coupons, but if we continue to shop at Vons, then we almost are saying it is OK to take away the double coupons. Make them see sales drop and then they will realize they have lost customers. Just my 2 cents worth.

That was my thought too!
I want them to bring back the double Q's ASAP so don't give them my money. I am hoping this will be a temporary thing.
The cashiers I talked to think it is a big mistake.
Time will tell!

[amanzo01]

I think it's a mistake for them. The only incentive to go to vons for me is double coupons. Their prices are through the roof. Since I'm their w/ my coupons I always buy milk at vons and I've even bought other items I'm out of since I'm already in the store. They won't be getting any of that money. I personally have always perfered trader joe's over other stores so if I'm going to spend moeny anywhere it's trader joe's. Plus I perfer organic and von's organic produce is insanely expensive.

[userrsm]

I too HATE Von's and I used to work there when it was Safeway! In Southern California, they are the highest priced store and even WITH double coupons they rarely have the lowest price. They spend a lot of time and money remodeling and advertising "Grand Openings" but it looks to me like all they've done is dim the lights and add more bakery and "prepared" food which sits in the case past the point of being edible. You couldn't pay me to eat anything from their deli -- old food being handled by dirty, rude employees. I have repeatedly spent over 20 minutes in checkout alone, attempting to get an accurate receipt, on account of their incompetence re coupons, sale prices, posted signs, incorrect computers, and unmarked items. I have had to return two half-gallons of milk because the were sour upon opening. From now on, I will buy only their "loss leaders," if any, and get everything else at the beautiful, cheaper, friendlier, and larger Albertson's. Trader Joe's is my choice for prepared food and Von's isn't even in the same universe as TJ's. How I would love it if Von's would close and a TJ's would open in its place!

[amanzo01]

I don't mind von's. They have had some good promo's. The living well promo, the free cheese nips promo (although I hated those), overage on sara lee hot dog buns. They also had free progresso soup about a year ago. I will do all those type of sales at vons but I don't do any regular shopping their but then again I've never done regular shopping at vons, ralphs or albertsons. I've always done most of my shopping between superior and costco.

[TanyaMT]

I'm out of the loop basically here. Did they stop doubling entirely? Ours doubled one coupon last I heard, only up to $1 of course. Well, you can already see I don't shop there a lot.

Ours are majorly coupon nasty by my house. I still go occasionally and went for the juice deal last week or so, but that was it.

While I was in there for the juice deal though a cashier commented this one recently started taking IPs again. She said it was a relief because the customers were really angry that IPs were not taken. So maybe customer complaint did do some good on that one.

Personally I do shop at Albertson's a lot more than before. When Vons and Ralphs were doubling more I would spend my money there and not go to as many stores. Now I'm VERY choosy and routinely hit 4 or 5 different stores (in a 5 mile radius or so), so both Ralphs and Vons are getting a LOT less cash from me, Albs is getting more, and places like Target, 99 cent store and so forth are also getting some of my grocery money when they got basically zero before.

My grocery bill at Ralphs or Vons (I would just choose 1 per week) prior was routinely $60 or more after double coupons up to $1. Now it is rare to get above $10 there, so their policy definitely changed my shopping habits and I'm probably not the only one.

Our Target just remodeled and expanded their grocery department late last fall. They are in the same center as Ralphs. I notice now Ralphs gets a whole lot less business, and that Target grocery area is packed with people. Target prices are considerably less than our Ralphs. If Ralphs doubled more than one coupon and doubled the $1 coupons, it would even it out, but as it is I go to Target.

What did Albertson's ever do for me? They don't nitpick me to death over coupons and argue. I will occasionally get a nasty clerk but 95% of the Albertson's clerks just push through the coupons and don't argue about it as long as I got the items, take IPs, etc.

[phinphana]

Yeah since they changed their coupons policy I rarely shop at Vons only good deal. I now love Albertsons. Their chashiers not picky about coupons and I make most of my deals at Albertsons like cereal oatmeals and yogurt and last pro 30/15 was so fun.

I checked my Avenue and got free yogurt drink since there is sale and electonic coupons and I can also use man Q ontop of this and its like double coupons.

So for Vons and Ralphs only get my business when there is a 10/10 with coupons end up free ect. Anyways I have always spread out my groscery shopping but less on Vons and Ralphs.

For Produce I went to Sprouts and 99 ranch is Freshia is korean and chinese stores I guess.

Phin