A backlash to 'Extreme Couponing'?

Stores are changing policies because too many extreme couponers are clearing the shelves.

By Karen Datko Jun 28, 2011 4:20PM

You may find the obsessive shoppers in "Extreme Couponing" somewhat entertaining, if over-the-top, but it appears they've inspired so many wannabes that retailers are setting new limits on coupon use.

 

Some smart shoppers have seen this coming since the TLC show debuted. Karen, in a SavvyDollar forum last month, shared a conversation she'd had with a grocery cashier:

She said, "I wish they'd take that show and shove it!" because apparently they've had a lot of customers come in wanting to save like the shoppers on the show and they try to break the store's coupon policies with the limits, complain when they can't, etc. I really hope this backlash doesn't ruin it for the rest of us . . . sounds like it might be heading that direction.

The show has apparently sparked some illegal activity, according to Lesley Mitchell, who described the backlash in The Salt Lake Tribune: "Managers at several stores where I shop think the 'Extreme Couponing' show has increased the instances of coupon fraud, including the practice of photocopying coupons." 

 

Other people have gotten way too clever with coupon tricks, stripping the entire supply of a discounted product from store shelves. That means stores are getting less generous with coupon deals. Post continues after video.

Among the changes:

 

Rite Aid

  • A buy-one-get-one-free​ coupon can't be used with a BOGO promotion to get both items for free. You can find Rite Aid's coupon policy here (.pdf file).
  • "The chain is also limiting the number of coupons a shopper can use per item to four, as long as there is enough stock," CBS MoneyWatch's Farnoosh Torabi said.

Target

  • Target no longer accepts online coupons "for free items with no purchase requirements," its coupon policy says.
  • A BOGO store coupon can't be combined with a manufacturer's coupon to get both items for free.
  • Target is "limiting the number of store coupons that can be printed off its website to two (there used to be no limit)," Mitchell wrote in the Tribune.

Publix

  • The chain has banned triple stacking and "now formally allows, per item, one manufacturer's coupon and one from either Publix or a competing store," Kelli B. Grant wrote at SmartMoney.

Stores aren't alone in setting limits these days. Grant also wrote, "Procter & Gamble now limits consumers to four of the same coupon per shopping trip, a recommendation that industry group Coupon Information Corporation is preparing to add to its best-practices page for companies issuing manufacturers coupons."

 

Contrary to rumor, Catalinas will continue to be printed out at checkout along with your receipt. However, some stores have changed their policy for using Catalinas.

 

Also, Wal-Mart is headed in the other direction, dumping limits on coupons per transaction, for instance, Grant says. (Here is Wal-Mart's coupon policy.)

 

Do you feel cheated because some stores have imposed restrictions on coupon use? Or are you glad that extreme couponers won't be able to strip the shelves bare? Did the show set a bad example?

 

The Coupon Information Corporation thought so. It said:

Professionals in the coupon industry believe this show creates unrealistic expectations about how coupons work and promotes the misuse of coupons. . . . In real life, individuals attempting to use such large quantities of coupons or attempting to use them in violation of the terms stated on the coupons would most likely have their coupons refused at the register or, depending on the circumstances, be investigated by law enforcement.

And, as Mitchell points out, there are still plenty of coupons online if you know where to look.

 

Supermarket Guru Phil Lempert wrote that the season finale of "Extreme Couponing" recently aired, "and may I be the first to say . . . Good riddance!" He added:

Putting these manic shoppers up as role models for the average person, who has a full-time job, cooks, and takes care of their families, is wrong. If we do want to highlight how to save money on groceries, can we please do it in a way that empowers with realistic tips that won't take 30 to 50 hours a week of one's life?

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167Comments
Tracy A
Jun 29, 2011 11:12AM
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Let's face it, stores cannot have shoppers using coupons so that they leave with hundreds of dollars in groceries and do not pay a dime...this will come back to bite everyone when stores raise prices as well as curtail their coupon policies...and honestly these stores NEED to make a profit, or they will go under, putting people out of work, negatively affecting the community by lost tax revenue...

Keith Glass
Jun 29, 2011 11:54AM
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Agreed, the "Thousand dollars of groceries for 20 bucks" is pretty much fantasy.  But an hour or two of organization and being methodical about shopping and stocking when the sales are good reaps rewards in the 30-50% range regularly, and these days, every little bit helps. . .
ATeacherToo
Jun 29, 2011 12:22PM
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I shuddered when I saw the blonde woman, from Florida, I think, be so evasive when asked where she got 75 to 100 copies of the same Sunday coupon flyers.  Her answer was that God provided them.  Now, if she spent the money for 75 to 100 weekly subscriptions to the paper to get them legitimately, that would be fine -- but that would have been the obvious answer to the question.  She could NOT have legitimately gotten those, so she was crediting God with what is most likely fraud and deception.  The Bible defines wrongfully gotten gain as "filthy lucre."
TexasGrl
Jun 29, 2011 1:19PM
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I watched a couple episodes of that show, hoping to maybe pick up some tips on saving money.  They're HOARDERS!  Seriously, just because it's all neatly stacked doesn't mean anyone need 20 bottles of coke or laundry detergent for 3-4 people.  Not only are these people spending obscene amounts of time clipping coupons, organizing them, planning grocery trips then shopping, they're buying crap.  I rarely use coupons because I don't feed my family a lot of processed food nor do they drink soda.  All these people are hoarders, they're just tidy about it.  They're behavior is abhorrently selfish when they take the entire stock of 100 bottles of ketchup.  I'm appalled and revolted.
sunnyday1982
Jun 29, 2011 1:43PM
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I think that most of the people on the show are way too over the top. A few of the people I actually liked...the ones that donated to charity, and then have very modest monthly stockpiles for themselves that they need to replenish because they actually use it up. I clip coupons and was proud when I was able to save $20 once!
tiredofworking
Jun 29, 2011 1:46PM
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I worked for a grocery store that already had some of the above policies in effect.  No more than four coupons with four items per visit, (so you couldn't buy out our shelf) only to the price of the item (say we had it on sale for .49, even though your coupon said .50 we did not give the full value of .50 - just .49)  We did not honor competitor's coupons and your catalina coupons  had to be used on your next trip.  (That resolved when they didn't print them out until the order was finished and paid for.)   We did not accept computer coupons for free items, and if the value was for more than a dollar, it had to be checked by a supervisor.  There was a fair amount of fraud in computer coupons going on.  Small chain of 6 stores, so we were very sensitive to fraud and theft issue, particularly as our prices were/are good.

Personally unless the coupon is for detergent or similar supplies, I usually never use it.  I buy what is on sale, regardless of brand, if my family will eat it.  Cookies and junk food are rare buys, maybe chips and salsa once a month, if that often.  It has to be on sale to be junk in my cart.  But even then, if the store brand is cheaper, I don't buy it.  For example - Poor Oreos - my family loves them and hates the store brand.  But unless the sale price and coupon bring it below the store brand price, we don't buy any sandwich creme cookies.  Since I make chocolate chip cookies, that is never an issue.

CouponingMom
Jun 29, 2011 1:59PM
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Stores are reimbursed for the face value of the coupon PLUS a few cents more for processing...this is not hurting their bottom line.  I see it as a win-win.  I spend approx $1200 a month for groceries and pay with cash and coupons saving me about 80%.  The store manager always seems happy to take my money and coupons...

I also get a shudder-worthy amount of inserts every week...because i ask for them. I've been a couponer for over 2 years..I get them from my neighbors, family, friends and other people because they know i use them so they pass them along.

everydaysmoe
Jun 29, 2011 3:31PM
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This could be a big blow to the Groupon IPO.  I expect overtime coupons could be limited by any means deemed necessary by the store management just for the aggravation of handling them.  I work part time for a store, Ma & Pa type and they refuse any and all coupons.
bmc954
Jun 29, 2011 3:39PM
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Here's a thought that stores can elminate fraud on these coupon people and still offer savings on their products - DONT ISSUE STORE COUPONS just lower your prices to reflect the coupon you were offering in the first place! The cashier's usually have flyers up front and always in my Publix let me know of a store coupon and clip it for me.  That way the stores only have to contend with manufacturer coupons which they can limit.  One of the comments below stated that these people are hoarders and yes that is true.  The stuff they buy is CRAP not real food.  No wonder these people are FAT!
CSH101
Jun 29, 2011 3:40PM
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Anytime I think about Coupons I think of one thing.  The better the coupon, the more overpriced something is.
burdenfree
Jun 29, 2011 3:43PM
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I watched a couple of shows & was impressed. But when I heard how much time they spent to coupon, I thought that was way too much time. I just don't have the time for that. Also, I looked at all their stocks of food & I thought it was a mini store. If they have all of those items, why do they continue to go every week? Why continue piling up? If that's the case, they're really not saving money.
happydaysboy
Jun 29, 2011 3:44PM
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Nothing is "free"...so someone makes a killing using coupons but everyone one else ends up paying to make up for it. Just lower the damn prices for everyone.
marioj
Jun 29, 2011 3:44PM
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The bait and switch games that most business play is well documented this just another example of the games that big business play with customers ( you can keep your weekly fliers and stop stuffing my mail box with your deceitful sales and coupons there is always a catch ANNOYING)....
LucyBeagle
Jun 29, 2011 3:47PM
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This is one show that I watched once and never again.  It is disgusting how people just stock pile thousands of dollars worth of groceries when local food banks are always asking for donations of food to help the hungry.  You would think that some of these disgusting extreme coupon people would be kind enough to donate to their local food banks, after all, they got most of their stuff for FREE!!!
Brooks Harris (Brooks Harris)
Jun 29, 2011 3:50PM
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Walter the Mom and Pop store you claim to work at would be violating the manufactures agreement with them if they refused manufactures coupons. And to those people that say the food is crap. I have recieved coupons in the mail from Kroger from everything to free milk and eggs to huge meat discounts.
JAMES SMITH
Jun 29, 2011 3:53PM
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I agree with those who say many of the people on the show are selfish.  In fact they have a problem akin to not only hoarding but gambling.  They get a "high" by seeing how much they can "save."  Seeing their stockpiles so large and then going out to get more shows me that they have a problem.  I don't think they realize their selfishness.  They wipe out the store of a product and have no problem doing so.  If they take all of the toilet paper and there is none for everyone else... well you get the picture.
PomMom parrish (K_Parr)
Jun 29, 2011 3:53PM
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If the people using coupons were doing it legally, and buying what they truly need, i'd have no issue with it! But seeing one buy 200 boxes of pasta when they already have 200 at home, clearing all the shelves, that is ridiculous!! Reminds me of trying to grocery shop after they say *hurricane*, you can forget it..

I use coupons for dog food, cleaning supplies, etc. I use what I get from a sunday paper, magazines. I do not clear shelves, I do not have closet full of crap.

Knew this show was going to cause problems! Good for the storesTongue out

yourkarma
Jun 29, 2011 3:55PM
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I can understand limits (under $1.00, no doubling, limit 1) but my grocery store only honors it's own coupons.  Sometimes not even then.
heavensknows
Jun 29, 2011 3:58PM
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I think using coupons is a great idea, it has saved me some money.  However the show of extreme couponing does not show these people buying meat, milk, eggs and bread which is a main stay in any household.  If living off what they can only buy with coupons then more power to them.  Me I love steak and potatoes, home cook type meals and not so much out of a box. Not only that, alot of people are in small town america.  The stores of small towns cannot offer the benefits of big stores.   Wal-mart will not double coupons, they well meet the advertised price.  So that does no good to get the benefits that these extreme shoppers are getting.  
tosho
Jun 29, 2011 4:01PM
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You know extreme couponing is simply "outrageous" and costs other shoppers money!  They should ban people from getting $500 in grocieries for $10!  I'm glad stores have adjusted their coupon policies.  Hopefully these cheapskates can find something better to do with their time than legally rob a freaking grociery store!  Losers
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