extreme couponers

[Via]

I never really cared until I got stuck behind one a week or two ago.

Only one register open, no self-serve lanes, and I have have a gallon of milk. I walk up and there's a woman with two carts full of stuff and an organizer full of coupons. It seemed like she argued about every other one. The clerk called the night manager twice, and after the second time the manager just stayed.

It took me over 30 minutes, maybe 45, to get that stupid milk. I care now.

 

[ShawnD1]

It took me over 30 minutes, maybe 45, to get that stupid milk. I care now.

This is why I hate Walmart. Every god damn time. There will be 3 lanes open and a million people in line and it takes longer to go through the checkout than it did to find all of the items on the shelf.

 

[WhoBeDaPlaya]

This is why I hate Walmart. Every god damn time. There will be 3 lanes open and a million people in line and it takes longer to go through the checkout than it did to find all of the items on the shelf.

The Walmart at Montfort & Arapaho in Dallas is pretty bad for this.

 

[mugs]

A lot of these extreme coupons nutjobs are basically ripping off companies by using coupons for things they aren't eligible. They take advantage of employee apathy and a deficiency in the automated validation of the coupons. Basically, they take a coupon that's only good on an expensive item and they use it for a less expensive, non-eligible item. The employee doesn't check (and how the hell would you check when a person gives you hundreds of coupons for 4 cartloads of groceries?), and the POS system thinks it's valid because a portion of the UPC matches the correct product.

 

[Cheesetogo]

This is why I hate Walmart. Every god damn time. There will be 3 lanes open and a million people in line and it takes longer to go through the checkout than it did to find all of the items on the shelf.

Yeah, it's pretty ridiculous. I'd much prefer to pay a few more bucks at my local grocery store than having to drive another 10 minutes to Walmart and wait another 20 minutes in line.

 

[Leros]

Could someone give an example of a coupon where you get money back? That part I can never understand.

I think they do it with coupon combinations.

There might be a sale that is "buy 3 boxes of rice and get $2 back". Usually 3 boxes of rice would cost $5. However, the person has a coupon to get a box of rice for 50 cents. They pay $1.50 and get $2.00 back.

 

[OutHouse]

A lot of these extreme coupons nutjobs are basically ripping off companies by using coupons for things they aren't eligible. They take advantage of employee apathy and a deficiency in the automated validation of the coupons. Basically, they take a coupon that's only good on an expensive item and they use it for a less expensive, non-eligible item. The employee doesn't check (and how the hell would you check when a person gives you hundreds of coupons for 4 cartloads of groceries?), and the POS system thinks it's valid because a portion of the UPC matches the correct product.

100% incorrect. Stores are very strict since this show started and the POS system is a lot more accurate than you think.

 

[Bryf50]

100% incorrect. Stores are very strict since this show started and the POS system is a lot more accurate than you think.

Well not any of the ones I've ever used. The POS system very very rarely would pop up a message saying no product for this coupon. Usually only on coupons issued by us. Most of the time the manufacturer coupons would go through regardless of the product. It's all on the cashier but unfortunately 95% on minimum wage cashiers are dumb as wood.

 

[CRXican]

looks like they buy lots of junk and lots of stuff they don't need

 

[Eos]

I have a friend who uses "light" extreme couponing to buy food and household goods that she donates. Thousands of dollars per year worth of stuff, and she spends almost nothing. Everything goes to charity.

 

[midnight growler]

100% incorrect. Stores are very strict since this show started and the POS system is a lot more accurate than you think.

Well not any of the ones I've ever used. The POS system very very rarely would pop up a message saying no product for this coupon. Usually only on coupons issued by us. Most of the time the manufacturer coupons would go through regardless of the product. It's all on the cashier but unfortunately 95% on minimum wage cashiers are dumb as wood.

Actually a little of both.
There are billions of different coupons out there with new ones always coming so no POS system can be 100% accurate. The systems don't tell you why it rejects the coupon or what specific items qualify, you just do the best you can. A lot of times though it does come down to the cashier who may not know the policies or just doesn't care.

The reason I care is because its not as simple as everyone thinks it is. Manufacturers don't just give out blank checks for coupons; if someone uses a Coke coupon on Pepsi, the store takes the hit. People think watching an episode of of that show automatically makes them an expert and they never have to pay for anything ever again. Our checkout-lane managers are constantly on the line with corporate talking about coupons and which ones work for what items. I don't deny coupons to be an asshole; if I deny it, its because of a reason and no amount of arguing will will work. What really irks me is when people say "I use this one all the time" as if that magically clears everything up. Try getting out of a speeding ticket by telling the cop "I speed down this road every day and I've never been stopped before." If you used a coupon at another store, then by all means, take it there and gtfo, it'll make life easier for both of us.

The reason why I can get bitter at some people is because I've seen the 5% that purposely try to rip us off. Fake coupons, $10 off travel-size, switching price tags, etc. etc. etc. Its hard NOT to get bitter when you see the same people coming back to try the same things you specifically said would not work again and again. Had a lady once try three times in 30 minutes in different lanes to use coupons we wouldn't take. The fourth and fifth times she tried getting her little children to buy it for her.

Like a lot of things, the few bad apples fuck it up for everyone else.

 

[fatpat268]

No. Read. The store gets reimbursed for the coupons, the store comes out ahead. These are largely manufacturer coupons, the manufacturer takes the loss, not the store.

Yes. This is quite true. But the way that people make this extreme couponing work, is by taking advantage of a store doubling/tripling coupons. The mfg. will cover the value on the face of the coupon, nothing more. Add in some store loyalty programs, and that's how they do it.

Since none of my grocery stores nearby doubles coupons, there's no way in hell I could emulate their success even if I tried.

 

[0roo0roo]

No. Read. The store gets reimbursed for the coupons, the store comes out ahead. These are largely manufacturer coupons, the manufacturer takes the loss, not the store.

only if the manufacturer pays retail

if they pay cost then the store loses money.

 

[wiredspider]

only if the manufacturer pays retail

if they pay cost then the store loses money.

They pay the value of the coupon plus 8 or 10 cents handling fee. The market should be losing money if the items were loss leaders to begin with or if they are doubling the coupon.

A lot of these extreme coupons nutjobs are basically ripping off companies by using coupons for things they aren't eligible. They take advantage of employee apathy and a deficiency in the automated validation of the coupons. Basically, they take a coupon that's only good on an expensive item and they use it for a less expensive, non-eligible item. The employee doesn't check (and how the hell would you check when a person gives you hundreds of coupons for 4 cartloads of groceries?), and the POS system thinks it's valid because a portion of the UPC matches the correct product.

They are going to new barcodes that will be more strict, though most of the stuff is coded already, just the store's POS isn't checking as well as it should.

I think they do it with coupon combinations.

There might be a sale that is "buy 3 boxes of rice and get $2 back". Usually 3 boxes of rice would cost $5. However, the person has a coupon to get a box of rice for 50 cents. They pay $1.50 and get $2.00 back.

There are certain stores that will give cash back if the coupon value is higher than the product, like Walmart. Every once in a while, there will be a coupon for like $2 off any item brand X and Walmart will have like a trial size or something of brand X for .97. So you could in theory get $1.03 back.

I say in theory because most Walmart cashiers and mangers don't know their own policies, so you really got to stand your ground to get them to comply. Decided it was to much trouble for me... Once, it was like no you can't get cash back, another time the cashier was actually cooperating, but the guy behind flipped the F out because he couldn't buy his socks and other stuff (I had told him he might want to go to the other line that was opening, but he ignored me..), and another time I got a retarded cashier and a retarded manager. I could of made a big deal, but there were like 10 people behind me (and other lines were full too).

 

[HydroSqueegee]

my wife doesnt do extreme couponing, but by using all the coupons she can and shopping sales, we eat good home made meals and only pay about $60 a week.

But she really hits up wallgreens and CVS for soaps, detergent, shampoo and cleaning products. she crushes them. Usually get a bunch of stuff for a couple bucks.

 

[Locut0s]

Along the same lines. I've thought of getting into entering contests to win stuff. People who do this religiously DO end up winning a ton of shit! It's just statistics, you enter enough of them and you will win! But the thing is it almost becomes a full time job if you actually want to get serious enough about it to win a lot. I mean you have to enter thousands of contests! Not really worth it.

 

[Locut0s]

DAYUM

http://tlc.discovery.com/videos/extreme-couponing-amandas-coupon-game-day-plan.html

Yeah shopping is seriouz bizness.

Aside from being way to fat,... why is her face as red as a beet? Alcoholic? Medical condition?

 

[GotIssues]

You can't be picky if you are an extreme couponer.

Personally, I wouldn't like having to dedicate a large room of my house to storage for crap I bought. I don't think the time spent planning the shopping trips and cutting coupons is really worth it, either.

I recall reading something on an extreme couponer who was a stay at home mom. They calculated out her savings into what it amounts to if it were a job, and it came out to be the equivalent of a $48k/yr job.

 

[darkamulets]

Girlfriend is into this show, has been a long time coupon user. She's always kept the stockpile to 1 utility shelf in the garage.

Few things about the show itself, lots of staging goes on. Stores are aware of the whole thing, and always bend their policies to allow for some crazy stuff. Pretty much free advertising.

Depending what state you're in YMMV, down here in south FL it's near impossible to do most of the stuff on that TV show and the few times I've gone with the GF it's near impossible to get solid deals since lots of stores just don't adhere to their own coupon policy, no longer pay overages or let you use in store credits like CVS carebucks to stack w/ coupons.

Things I can't stand about the habit she's sort of a procrastinator naturally, we usually knock out chores on Saturdays starting at 11am (I handle pool & all outside work plus loading the wash, she handles vacuuming & moping with folding laundry). She'll sit every 10-15 min to coupon turning what is less than an hour of work into easily 6+ hours. Then I hear complaints about how she'll still not done at 6pm when we normally head out on the town. This stuff can take control of your life real easily without someone to ground you.

 

[rudder]

From what I've seen it's basically a full-time job. One woman said that she spends something like 35 hours a week collecting coupons.

Yeh, seems to me you would be better off earning some good money working instead of running around town and buying 10,000 ball point pens.

I hate extreme couponers because when there is a good deal locally, the store is wiped out. Plus the piss off stores enough that the stores then change their coupon policies.

 

[FoBoT]

Could someone give an example of a coupon where you get money back? That part I can never understand.

a coupon for $3 off a $2.89 marked item

 

[nageov3t]

my dad does this. it's a little ridic.

if he can get something for free or for a profit, he'll buy it, regardless of whether he needs it (or, more importantly, even has somewhere to store it).

every time I go over to their house, my mom is giving me shopping bags full of stuff to just take away and throw out behind my dad's back.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Most stores will not give you back cash if the coupon value exceeds the product.

Also, most stores will now double/triple up to a $1 value.

The TV show identifies stores and people and works with them to make it happen.

and it would not surprise me if the Show "helped" both sides out to arrange for the publicity.
Notice that the stores are never actually identified on the show or in the credits.


My daughter does this somewhat and can trim 20-30 off a $100 grocery bill. But she only is purchasing things that will be used by the family over a year times. Majority is dry goods. We can not go through a case of BBQ sauce in a year

 

[IceBergSLiM]

Its pretty epic how someone can walk into a store, take $1,000 in merchandise, and then get paid $150 and leave, LOL. Im always surprised to see the managers smiling and clapping (on the show), lol, whats the manager so happy about? Thats total loop-hole ownage there, id be pissed! If i was the manager/store owner, Id be like 'dont let that b!tch in my store she takes all my cheap BBQ sauce and mouthwash"

Because they charge that all back to the manufacturers. They don't lose anything but they don't gain anything either.

 

[Jeraden]

My ex-wife was like this. Maybe not to the degree on that show, but she'd frequently get tons of free stuff. It actually caused a lot of problems in our marriage. She'd spend a great majority of her time clipping/researching/trading coupons. We'd get the extra sunday papers from the minimart up the street, to get all the coupon inserts from them (they just throw them out). She'd get all excited when something is on sale, and she has a coupon that can be doubled, so she'd make 5 cents or something by buying the product, and buy like 30 of them (or however many coupons she had). I was embarassed to shop with her.

However, it did help out sometimes, as I eat a lot of oatmeal, and oatmeal was one of the things she frequently got for free. Paper products you could always get cheap/free too - so we'd have a 6 month supply of paper towels, toilet paper, etc in the basement. As well as more toothpaste, soap, etc than anyone could possibly use. She didn't have a job (stay at home mom), so it was her way of helping out, as saving money is the same as making it really since we'd be buying groceries anyways. Though a lot of the stuff she bought we didn't really need, and the clutter from all the coupons and surplus items was a bit annoying.