Jennifer from Clearwater, FL sent me these pictures of what she found when she went to her store. They were limiting customers to just (1) Nivea Body Wash when using the Sunday $3 coupon. I understand instituting limits but just (1)!
When seeing this I couldn’t help but wonder if this is in some way a reaction to TLC’s Extreme Couponing. If you haven’t caught this show on TLC, let’s just say Extreme Couponing doesn’t’ present us couponers in the best light. In recent episodes you can watch one shopper clear a shelf of 93 bags of croutons, another dump an entire basket of Excedrin into her cart, yet another exclaim that she left nothing on the shelf for anyone else. Since when is clearing shelves considered something to be proud of?
My guess is that the large quantities of these products were ordered ahead of time specifically for the show, however the “newbie” coupon user doesn’t know that. They just see someone going in clearing shelves, taking 100+ of something or doing 18 transactions and holding up a register for 5 hours. Could you imagine what would happen if you tried to do that at your store?!
When I create my Walgreens shopping scenarios for you every week, my goal is for you to pay the least out of pocket with the largest percentage saved. Like this week your savings is over 100%! To me, that’s impressive. That you can repeat the scenario 100 times to get 200 tubes of Colgate doesn’t make it any more impressive. I hope that the pendulum doesn’t swing too far the other way and we all find ourselves limited to one Nivea Body Wash.
What are your thoughts? Let us know what you think!
(Thanks so much Jennifer for sharing! :-))
{ 129 comments… read them below or add one }
I bought 6 last night in Garland, TX. 3 men and 3 women.
Isn’t that like couponer discrimination?? 🙂
Unfortunately, most stores state directly in their coupon policy that they reserve the right to limit quantities purchased. HOWEVER, it is most certainly discrimination because it specifies that the limit ONLY applies to those using a specific coupon. If the store had posted a sign limiting 1 per customer, that would be acceptable.
I think the show is giving all of us a bad name. I buy 1 for each member of my family if there is enough on the shelf to leave for someone else.If there is not enough to at least leave 3 I will only take what will leave 3. I do not try and clear a shelf nor try to out do someone that is just silly. I bought 2 womens Nivea and 3 men since there are more guys than ladies in my home.I wish they would stop airing this show but unfortunately I think the damage is done:(
Uhhh yeah, that was ALL THE SAME lady hoarding croutons as she emptied the shelves of them, then filled another cart with 150 boxes of excedrin. HORRIBLE HORRIBLE HORRIBLE and she couldn’t even be bothered to speak proper english i.e. “I SEEN a lady on tv using coupons” Ugh.
What exactly does a person do with 93 bags of croutons?
Eat a LOT of salad! I know I have plenty of free dressing to go with those. LOL
I would suspect, with a family of teenage boys that I saw on the show, she would be adding them to salads and toppings for soup or even casseroles. I’m sure they go pretty fast. My little monkeys actually like to snack on them instead of Chips.
I like the idea of limiting. One might be taking it a little far though.
How many times have you gone into a store (Walgreens or any other store) Sunday morning, first day of the sale, and having them already been cleared out of all the great sale items? It happens way too often around here. I’ve had cashiers tell me themselves it’s one or two “extreme” couponers that will take each and every item they have, that is supposed to last them the whole week-long sale.
We shouldn’t have to miss out on every sale just because these people either show up at 8:00 A.M. exactly, or have employees hold items for them (which I honestly think they do, because I HAVE been there at 8:00 A.M. to get my one or two things (since I only buy 2 newspapers each week) and they are ALREADY sold out.
Hopefully this will put an end to that, but come on… can’t we at least have a limit of 2 or 3??
I know, right?! If I want a particular Wags deal, I have to go to Wags at 7am on Sunday, and even then, it’s almost cleared. I caught one person clearing a shelf and mentioned it to them (politely of course), and was treated very rudely. I thought there was an unwritten couponers code that says—“Share by saving some for the rest of us.”
My Walgreens does hold items for people. 🙁
I agree – limits would be a good thing to me, as long as they are reasonable enough to allow everyone to get a couple of each item. I find this one a little funny since it’s targeting a specific coupon 🙂
I was able to pick up 4 at my store for my family of 6, and the cashier asked me for couponing tips! 🙂
My Target was out of both the men and women Nivea yesterday. I will check again tomorrow. I think a limit is necessary but 1 is too low, 3 or 4 maybe? I’m sure someone went in and cleared the shelf. 🙁
very well written article!!! i couldnt possibly say it better myself…ty!
It’s sad really. I have lots of friends that look to me to teach them how to coupon, and it drives me insane when they say they want to do like that show, and get massive quantities of items. All extreme couponing is, is a remake of Hoarders! After watching the show the other night, I went through my stock pile and just about cleaned out most items. I took a bunch of shopping bags, and just started handing stuff out to my family and friends.
Great job passing out your extras to your friends and famiy. I have done the same thing. My stockpile is nothing compared to what we see on the show, but it serves our family well.
I understand why the stores want to do this. I went out on Monday and they shelves were clear of any Nivea at Walmart and Target. It was free with that coupon at the 2 stores. I have a family of 8 so I can understand trying to get more than just one, but all of them? I buy just what we need and use nothing more. Thank you for all your hard work!
That show is going to ruin it for everyone! 4 things is the most I ever take. There have been times when something is really low and I didn’t take a thing. I feel blessed to get what I get.
The Episode I really Loved was the one that cleared all but 1 Mustard as they laughed about not even using Mustard.Saving Money and Taking a Obscene amount of items that you will never use are Two different things Unless you are donating.The Majority of couponers are not like that and it really sucks when stores change their policy’s based on Extreme Couponers.
OMG…seriously? I’ve never watched the show. Why in the ^%$# did they do that? Just because they could? Even if they were donating it…who would you give the gift of mustard to?
***********Please use COUPON ETIQUETTE peeps*************
Caught the show last night thinking I might get some good tips. Instead I was appalled. I noticed when in Walmart this week at least 6 women with big black coupon binders wandering around. Most I have ever seen at one time at the store! So couponing has caught on.
How long will it last………..maybe until the economy really turns? I think in the mean time it is going to change the way we are able to use our coupons. More restrictions and limits, fewer real deals and maybe even unfriendlier cashiers.
I think everyone should start emailing TLC about how much we hate the show and how it is making it hard on the normal “couponers”. I think that the people who tune in to watch the show…but then complain about it are not seeing the big picture. When you tune in just so you can talk bad about them and how rediculous the show is…you are boosting the ratings and TLC thinks the show is going over great. If everyone would stop watching it….it would be off the air in no time….but I’m sure this will never happen.
I was a Walgreen’s SIMS coordinator (that’s code word for: inventory specialist) for years before they hacked the position due to economic hardships. Most likely a big chunk of the problem has become out of control inventory from no one being in charge of reassuring shelf-counts are accurate & the proper number is being ordered.
Additionally, when items such as the 79cent Nivea go on sale – often times the warehouse will send each store X-amount of product to ensure there is enough to be separated among all the stores. If that means the item is on the shelf & sells before the ad & leaves them with none, they won’t get any until their next scheduled truck shipment…. if at all. If the warehouse is out & waiting for more supply from the manufacturer, that can take weeks – MONTHS – to get enough supplies back in to meet demand.
I do agree that a limit of one is a bit extreme, two would be more acceptable (of each kind mind you – two men and two women, not one and one of each). The Wag coupons have limits on them (often times 4) to try to help ensure there is enough product to go around, however most cashiers don’t know how to approach a situation should one person go through their line 8 times in order to get 32 cans of 59cent mandarin oranges. After all, who wants to refuse someone’s money? However, most regular ad items do not have a listed limit & thus it’s up to couponer discretion & all it takes is a couple of bad eggs who clear shelves & a few angry customers to whom a raincheck is not good enough for a store to have to play the law.
The people on those shows are ridiculous! I have a small stockpile at home but nothing like what those people have. 1000 tubes of toothpaste? That’s taking it a little too far. I have a coupon binder, but I only use it because it keeps my coupons organized and lets me get in and out quickly. I went to wags last night to do my weekly deals shopping and my store had a limit of 2 on all the sale items. I think it’s fair though. I happily grabbed my 2 tubes of toothpaste and went home. I think the limits just make it harder for the most extreme couponers to do their dirty work. For us peeps who just want a few of one thing, it would ensure that the items are in stock when we get there. CVS is the absolute worst store for this. I have 2 small children and by the time I am finally able to get there, everything is completely wiped out.
Thanks for the awesome article!
Agreed…limits will hopefully even things out, although…2 or 3 seems a bit more reasonable simply because I have a husband and 2 teen boys in the house. 😉
what i don’t understand is, if companies are going to put out a high value coupon, they should let the store know whats coming so they can be prepared and have better stock. This way the shelves won’t be empty. Plus tlc’s extreme couponing program show is a joke, because when the grocery stores are not on camera they shure make it difficult to coupon including store managers.
I think the problem is that the companies don’t really control store inventory. So, they might put out a great coupon but they’re thinking about it being spread over all the stores that carry their product — not a few shelf clearing jerks attacking one store. Stores can’t afford to keep huge amounts of inventory on hand just in case a shelf-clearer comes along.
I think we should all write on TLCs facebook page that unless they take that show off the air we will ban the channel completely. It really doesnt represent us couponers and is giving us a a bad rep and causing more problems for retailers and us!
I think limiting to one is crazy. As for the shelf clearers or those seeking mass quantities, they should pre-order. And IF there is inventory available on the last day of the sale, then by all means, take what you will USE without limitations.
I am in Vegas and have noticed changes in store policies just in the last 2 weeks. Our coupon rules and prices are pretty bad to begin with, so I’m not real happy about the KCL’s show. So far, our Walgreen’s isn’t putting limits on anything, however, Monday morning they were already wiped clean. I was talking to one of the cashiers about it and she said the manager was really mad because one woman did it and the gal who rang her up is new, so she didn’t know to question it. I see limits in my near future!
Well, I went to Target last Tuesday and when I handed the coupon to the cashier who also happens to be my friend she sorted all the coupon and carefully reviewed each of them, she whispered the following “is nothing personal I have to this to every customer that hands coupons” I asked her “why?” and she replied “there are way too many people committing coupon fraud and we were told to inspect every coupon we receive” I was astonish when I heard this and I immediately thought that this is happening thanks to that TLC show. I don’t even watch it, I’ll angry if I do.
i bought six in chicago
I’m like most of u who only likes to get a few of each item. I only get 2 papers each week and only use those coupons, i think its ridiculous to buy 100 of each item and not leaving anything for anyone else. And then their homes look like stores aand have plenty of items to last them like 20 years but continue to shop. When will they have enough stockpiled. They’re giving us a bad rep.
I noticed alot that those people would clear the shelves of things like diapers or cat food when they don’t have a baby or cats, and they don’t feel bad about it one bit! its annoying because Im trying to save my family money on things i do need and actually use but i can’t get my hands on some of the great deals because people like the ones on the show is hoarding it all! I wouldn’t mind if they are clearing the shelf and are donating these items they get for free, but no, it sits in their garage or wherever else. Croutons expires, and i bet most of it will become wasted! it’s a shame…
The lady that bought the croutons is from the same area where I live.
“1. I didn’t “clear the shelves” the were 2 more displays of croutons. So, I don’t want anyone getting upset about that. I believe in “NOT” clearing the shelves. That week Croutons were a *HOT* item so the store had ALOT of them. Anyone could have came in after me to buy croutons!!
2. WE DONATED those CROUTONS!! We don’t like croutons that much 🙂
From my previous post we donate to Backpack on Friday program and I just LOVE this program. “
and one more thing, if the cameras weren’t rolling im sure the managers and cashiers would not be so nice about the 300 coupons these people use. I get attitude from time to time (not always) for using just 10 coupons. I know they sure wouldn’t have managers out trying to override things if it wasn’t on tv!
If you think about it, CVS already does this by allowing only so many purchases per card. And Publix is beginning to implement this as well. I’m okay with it because I don’t buy that much of one item. I keep my stockpile small and only use what I need.
Remember, these women are EXTREME shoppers, which is what TLC wants.
The grocery stores where I live (Safeway and local stores) all have limits on their sale items. I like having these limits because it ensures there’s enough to go around. Plus, the limits are reasonable and allow some stockpiling without shelf clearning.
Honestly, even if someone is going to donate a ton of what they get, I still object to shelf clearing…unless of course they’re going to donate the product to the people who couldn’t get the deal because that person cleaned the shelf. I think the whole “I donate things” excuse helps these shelf-clearing addicts justify their behavior. It’s great to donate but the donating can be done without shelf clearing!
OK, I’ll admit I got a little “high” watching those gals rack up $1000 sales for pocket change, but the reality is
A)they never had anyone waiting in line for the amount of time it takes 4 buggies to clear,
B)all their coupons scanned? Never happens!,
C)God doesn’t work for Redplum or Smartsource, so I really doubt the validity of their “God provides” them inserts claims. How do they get so many inserts without paying a coupon club or eBay? Something smells fishy. And that one family with only $20.00 to live off per week? More fish there, too.
WAGS has the worst distribution program on earth, and to openly advertise coupons stacking and then brand the regular couponer a criminal is laughable. To WAGS Corporate i say you can’t have your cake and eat it too. Something has to give, and give it will.
amen
A couponer should only take what they need and will use. WHO would need 100 body washes?? That would last a life time. Extreme couponing should be Hoarders who need Treatment!
I so agree. It seems like they are hoarding, not just saving to keep their family going.
This show is making it bad for the little guy who is just trying to buy for their family. Store are starting to limit coupons because of the greedy people who think it is ok to clear shelves and leave nothing for anyone else. I understand that it is a TV show but other people are just trying to make ends meet and I think that it is time that people start sending their concerns with this show to TLC to stop this madness!!
I have been out of pocket due to illness for the last couple weeks so I don’t know about this Nivea deal, will have to look it up, but I do think that it is wrong to take more than your family will use just because it is a good deal.
Our rule is what will we use in the next 3-6 months depending on they type of item (toothpaste – 6 months, grocery items – 3 months) Now with a family of 11 it is a bit more than the average family, but we do try to limit what we take so we don’t hog all the saving from others. I also limit the amount of transactions I will do at one visit and if it means I have to go back another time or another store for good deal, then I will.
I hope everyone keeps in mind that we are all trying to save money while feeding our families, so lets set some reasonable limits and not clear the shelves.
I am just wondering if the one womant got a different $3 Purex coupon than I got… Mine said any Purex Complete with Zout or Complete 3in1 Sheets, I didn’t see anything about Purex Ultra, or did I read it wrong? If not she sure had alot of Purex Ultra in her cart.
Good point! But it’s not like TLC cares about showing the coupon fraud on their show — they’ve done it before.
I do not like the show at all. I think it is boring. It is the same thing each week. i too would not mind limits on the really good deal items. I think 4 would be a good number. That way if it is a BOGO sale or a Q that you use on 2 items, then you can get two of the deals. I get 6 sets of inserts each week thanks to some friends. When we had the BOGO Q with the BOGO sale I only used 2 oh my Qs and not the 6 that I had. However, I know most people are just taking it all!
My Wags Mgr asked me on Sunday what he should order more of. He said he wants to know what is going to be HOT. Then he could order more and have it in the store.
I generally limit myself to what I can carry on my bicycle. A great anti-hoarding measure!
The extreme couponing is EXTREMELY RIDICULOUS. I consider myself a SUPER couponer. I have a small stockpile and coupon every week buying the really cheap or free items. I only buy 4 papers so I can never get 112 of anything and why would I? I probably have 20 toothpastes in my stockpile that I have built up over more than a year and I also give them away. I happily get my one or two every couple of weeks when they are free but to clear the shelf or dump an entire basket is absolutely crazy, selfish and unfair to other shoppers. I think the show is probably encouraging some of the behavior. I really think it gives couponers a bad name and I would be embarrassed to shop like that. I also think there will be a bunch of people that jump on the coupon bandwagon but many will not stay because as we true couponers know, it is time consuming and takes a lot of work. Thank you to you Christy for running such a reputable site. You are great!
On Sunday I ended up going to 3 Walmarts, 2 Walgreens, and 2 CVS’s, and they shelves were cleared out of the Nivia already. The same day the coupon came out. I am sorry, but that is insane. I am sure some people truly just bought stuff, but for all those stores to be cleaned out the same day? No. The shelf clearers had already struck.
P.S.- I live in a big city so the stores are easy to come by so I wasn’t driving all over town. Lol
I agree with your posts and all the comments. I have sent an email to TLC and not received a response yet. You are limited to 1500 characters – I could have used triple that.
I leave my binder at home now, keep my coupons in my purse and don’t take them out until the end. I have noticed big changes in my stores here and I am very worried. I can barely make ends meet and now this show is making it even tougher?
I went to get one Nivea Men’s BW at Walmart and the shelf sticker for Men’s Nivea was gone and the space was filled in with Dial. I asked the stocker if she had any more and she said I was the fourth to ask her. I live in a little town!
I also worry coupon etiquette will go out the window. If a person depends on coupons to feed their family and a shortage of product or coupons arise, then I think we will see more shelf-clearing. I know I am now trying to stock what I felt was a full pantry for one person. I have about 2 months worth and now I am aiming for 4 months.
I haven’t seen the show personally, I’ve only read others comments about the shelve clearing and such, so since the beginning I decided that I’d rather not be on the shows list as another viewer.
What “Extreme Couponing” isn’t showing is that some stores are not being reimbursed by the manufacturers. When a store submits an unusualy large number of the same coupons, the manufacturers have the “right” to either refuse or audit the coupons. For example, if a Walgreens store submits 100 $5 coupons a month for Zantac. When that happens, the manufacturer’s coupon processor will initially reject all 100 coupons! The store and its corporate office will be notified. They need to submit additional documentation, such as inventory and receipts. Usually the manufacturer will review it and process the coupons, but it’s very time-consuming for the store. Worse case scenario is that the store does NOT get reimbursed, such as having receipts that show multiple coupons being used on one receipt.(which is a clear violation of a lot of coupons)
(at least that’s what the local Walgreens manager told me when I was chatting to her about people whe use a lot of coupons at once.
I am very sad that they have to set limits like this because people want as much as they can possibly get. It light of the extreme couponing show, it makes sense to me.
Wal-mart does have Nivea on sale this week for $3/bottle so maybe those in areas with the limits can get the bodywash for free.
I watched the show and it inspired me to start saving money, however the people on the show are ridiculous. They hoard all of these items and clear the shelves of stores which affects everyone else. I live in Brooksville, FL and my Walgreens was completely out of stock on the Nivea Body Wash and I went in on Sunday at 10am. They were also out of stock of all the Schick razors on sale. I am guessing they didn’t have the limit there so unfortunately a few people bought out the entire stock. I understand why they have limits which should be 2 or 3 a person if they have low stock numbers. I think it keeps it fair instead of having one or two people hoard all of the deals at their house that they don’t need and the people who don’t have stock piles and just want a deal can’t save the money.
The worst offender on these shows is that guy that built an entire room for his “1000 tubes of toothpaste”. They also show him emptying bins of toothbrushes and deodorant, and I read on another site he even admitted to selling the stuff at one time. When anyone questions these vast quantities, he gets defensive “I won’t smell bad for a long time” “I won’t have to worry about handsoap for YEARS”. Honestly, who lies awake at night worrying about their supply of SoftSoap??… even though the show said he was donating ‘some’ of the toothpaste to the troops, you don’t build an entire room for stuff you intend to give away… sheesh, that one is the WORST…it makes me sick to look at his stock..
I know the lady who took the croutons, and the show made them buy at least one item to extreme. She donated most of those croutons to a school backpack program that sends food home with kids who need it on Friday afternoon. She only gets 4 inserts and never buys that much in reality. It was all for the show. She always leaves things for other couponers and there were other shelves of croutons left, they just didn’t show them on the show. I do agree that the others on the show have been ridiculous though. And the lady who got the croutons was not the same lady who got the pain medicine. IF you would like to know more about her you can read her blog.
We don’t pay for cable, so I haven’t seen the show.
I was able to purchase 4 of the Nivea BW, but I buy the early edition of our local Sunday paper, which comes out on Saturday mornings. Went to Walmart on Saturday evening to get these freebies as it’s my favorite BW.
I think limits is a step in the right direction, although ‘Limit 1’ is a bit severe. Extreme couponers would still travel to multiple WAGS stores to get the deals, but it would seriously slow them down.
I just went to the TLC website and sent them an email commenting on how awful I think this show is and what a terrible impact it is having on couponing.
I’m all for leaving comments here(I love this website!) …but please also take the time to contact TLC!
Here’s the link that got me there: http://corporate.discovery.com/contact/viewer-relations/
Maybe if we stand together, we can make a difference. I know if we don’t…we all stand to lose!
Better yet, contact the advertisers and let them know you’re disappointed they would advertise during a show that is actively promoting fraudulent behavior and that you won’t be purchasing their products/services because of it. TLC is probably loving all the controversy but they won’t be loving it so much if they lose their advertising.
I would suspect TLC is going to show more ‘normal’ couponing in future episodes. And the BEST way to come together to make our voices heard is to TEACH others how to coupon with in the ‘rules’
Rather than everyone go so crazy, take this opportunity to post and blog about positive coupon habits.
I hate that show, and I think that 4 is a reasonable limit, but even with limits a person can just go back numerous times so if they want it they will get it somehow
It is always that way. A few spoil it for the rest of us.
Walgreens is especially bad and some of the cashiers are down right nasty and we only get one of each thing. Walgreens doesn’t even seem to want to honor what is printed on the coupons. My husband had a horrible time last week and didn’t even have that much. If they don’t want to honor the coupons…don’t have them.
It would be nice if people are going to get that much if they call the store ahead of time and the store can pre-order what they are getting. Stores are not storing as much of a back log as they used to.
The most I will ever buy of any particular “deal” is 3. Or less, depending on how many are on the shelf. I went to Target yesterday to get the Nivea BW, and they only had one women’s and tons of men’s. I got one of each, and that’s it. I think part of couponing is doing it to help others also, and how are you doing that by clearing a shelf.
I easily get 25 inserts a week for free because of a source I have (legal, I promise!) but I don’t clear shelves!! It’s selfish and mean. I don’t even buy as many as I have coupons for unless it leaves a lot of product on the shelf. Bring on the limits (reasonable please) – they’ll help the rest of us!
Um…..doesn’t ANYONE realize this is a SHOW? Do you think maybe…just maybe…they don’t do this on every shopping trip? I am surprised how critical couponers are to eachother. Just a thought.
Jen – I think the point is that the shows gives the illusion that this is normal. That shopping this way is smart, savvy, good, etc. with shoppers taking bows after doing so and store employees applauding.
So you then have new coupon users who are trying to recreate what they saw on the show. As a result, you start to see stores limiting their stock (like the picture) or coupons with limits on how many can be used, (like all P&G coupons in our inserts).
Agreed Christie. I think we need to come together as a community and post positive couponing ideas. Most of the “newbies” are going to go straight to the internet. I have a You Tube video up and I have 1,000 hits A DAY. It is a video about couponing~and I comment about NOT emptying the shelf.
Let’s come together with blog posts and teach others how best to coupon and what ‘rules’ most of us as a community live by. That makes sense to me. However, I realize in our negative society it makes some feel better just to criticize instead. Which is too bad. I read some comments about how one couponer spoke improperly…WOW…how incredibly insensitive and unnecessary that post was. I’m so thankful a camera isn’t following me!
where can I get info on beginning couponing? Not clearing the shelves just being a good,smart shopper…Thanks MG
That is the WORST show EVER! I only wached it one time and it made me sick. Those people are hoarders, not couponers. Thank you, Diann, for the link to TLC. As soon as I finish my post here I will be sending my message to them. AND I’m emailing the link to all my friends to do the same. I have 4 Sunday papers delivered each week so I can take advantage of BOGOs and I do have a modest stockpile – Enough for me and my family and enough to share with friends. Those people who hoard will bring bad Karma to themselves.
I was wondering when someone was going to notice these stuid show. There is no way my grocery store would let me come in and buy 100s of one product. For one thing on the coupons it states 1 coupon per purchase. I am really suprise that these stores well ever get there money back
I agree in that I don’t think that anyone really needs 100 of anything, but as a friendly fyi: the “one coupon per purchase” refers to one coupon per item being purchased. Some coupons do limit to one per transaction and that would refer to the shopping trip. There’s nothing wrong with purchasing 2 like items with 2 like coupons.
Hello everyone. I have not seen any of the couponing shows but after reading your posts I can only imagine how maniac these shoppers appear. What I have notice in my community is: (1)when you approach the register the cashier asks: do you have coupons and reach for them to to take them; (2) some have said to me one coupon per purchase; (3)some lay the coupons out studying the pictures and tell you that’s not the right item or to ensure you have the correct item; (4)cashiers stare at you when you enter the store with your earth bags and coupon binders as if they are turned off.
In response to the above, I generally say: (1) Yes maam I do have coupons, and I need to make sure I have them all here as you scan my groceries, products, etc. And if they get pushy I say well would you like to wait while I go back through everything in my cart? I tend to use the time that the cashier is scanning my items to sight everything and make sure I have all the matchups and etc. So it is kind of disturbing when they are taken prior. (2)I get this one a lot and I say, yes maam that’s why I have 3 coupons and 3 items. I can’t take one $1 coupon and get $1 off of each of the three items. There has to be a $1 coupon submitted for each of the three items I’m purchasing (total 3 coupons). (3) A lot of time I they reinterpret the coupon and I point out key terms and the biggest one is ANY! If they still reject it I have asked for the supervisor, shift manager, and ultimately the store manager. I have won some and lost some. That’s when I call the stores corporate and describe my experience good or bad. So I do carry the corporate policies and any emails that clarify some of these issues. WALGREENS is getting more difficult and their trainers are now training cashiers a particular way that undermind the couponsers shopping experience. I am convinced that they might even read blogs. I have had cashiers to reorder my coupons and tell me which coupon she will scan first, second,etc. (smile)This affected how much of a WALGREENS discount % that I received off the total and it affected the RR’s that I could use. and (4) I smile and greeting them with pleasantries. When they are slow to speak then you know that you are coming in behind someone that has just cleaned the shelf. For this same reason, I rarely go into certain stores. Now I browse less and only shop for items I am specifically there to get.
Yes I listen to cashiers as they recount their horror stories about shoppers/couponers cursing, yelling, and screaming at them when the machine beeps, or when they are given back their RR’s. One young man at WAGS trembled as he told me his story and I could see the hurt in his eyes and hear the pain in his voice.
Overall, we must all live by the golden rule and treat others with respect. Request store policies when you feel wronged.Use the 800 numbers on your receipt to explain to someone who will listen if you felt as if you were treated unfairly. And remember that you are on camera.If you could sit down and watch yourself interacting with a cashier or manager, would you be proud. Would you one others to see it.
Pat yourself on the shoulders for all the good that you do. And give to others especially if your stock is pile high! **Christie, thank you for sharing and doing all that you do in and outside of your forum.
Thank you for allowing me share. Aretha
Where I live in Utah we only have 1 Walgreens store nearby. They have been limiting since I’ve shopped there…I wasn’t a fan at first, but now I appreciate it because more people get take part of the ‘good deals’. They limit to one or two per customer/household per day. So, I just make a point, if I am in town to stop by each day. They limit the Register Rewards items and items like the Nivea deal. It was hard getting used since where I lived before had a Walgreens store on every corner…but I appreciate that they don’t allow ‘shelf clearers’ to wipe their shelves in one day!
I’m in Utah, too, and since the store opened it’s always limited one item per household per day on the free products. I don’t mind, either. It’s not like I need to clear the shelf on most items, and this way more people can partake.
I am not sure what the soluion is. CVS has limits, but I sometimes don’t shop there because of the limits. I am not going to go out of my way and deal with it if I am not getting a lot out of my trip. On the other hand, I can understand that feeling that new couponers get when they get 20 free tooth brushes for the first time…just because they are free. It’s silly, but its a small sense of accomplishment. I am over all of the free suff that I don’t need, but i have 2 in diapers so I just can’t help getting as many diapers as I can when they go on sale. However, when I am stocked up pretty well i dont keep buying them. But I hate missing out on the deals because another couponer beat me to it first. Fortunately I have access to a lot of walgreens near my home and work so its never too bad. And if I miss out of free Nivea and I want it THAT bad i will just go to another store and buy it. Sorry, i dont really have a side on this one. Mixed emotions. Just saying i can understand all sides.
Not too worried about this. After people realize that it takes much more work to extreme coupon then it will die down and go back to normal.
The problem is they see them do all this savings in 30 minutes and think that is all it must take. In reality gathering all the inserts, researching, cuttings, preparing, shopping, checking out, etc. you are talking 30-40+ hours.
Limiting “1” is a little extreme IMO. Maybe 2 or 4.
It is a little funny they put the value of the coupon on there. So now they wouldn’t sell it w/o a coupon because normal Joe Smith coming by would be like “why would I pay 3.79 when I can go get this ‘coupon’ and pay .79”, who knows…this sign might have hurt them more then helped. 🙂
One last comment, then I’m off my soapbox 😉
What have picked up from many of the women featured on the show, is the fear they have felt over learning their income had disappeared. I’m thankful I haven’t personally been faced with NOT feeding my family, but I think if I had, I may stockpile more than I do now. Fear really does something to a person.
….as I step off my soapbox.
Ever since this show has been airing, I have noticed the shelf’s empty everywhere. Walmart, Rite Aid, and other stores have empty shelf’s for the items that have coupons. I have also noticed that cashiers are looking at coupons with a fine tooth comb! TLC Extreme couponing is not realistic. Who needs that many items? I have a stockpile, but not to the extent that the people at TLC do. They are ruining it for all of us!!! 🙁
A stockpile that most of them have accumulated in 1 year?
I just went to my Walgreens and got 3 Nivea and there were only one or two left. There were no signs with limits. Just FYI.
I have mixed emotions about the decision honestly…if people were honestly using the coupons legally, then I’d say they’re foolish for their actions. Understanding that they would prefer to have some available for all, rationing should not be their business model, and given the fact that they actually MAKE MONEY on manufacturer coupons, they are actually making the decision to not allow their business to thrive as much as it could. Were I the regional of district manager, id want to know the reason for such a tiny limit (i.e. 1). Make it 5, you’ll still get your legal sales, make your money, and e able to spread your inventory to a fair consumer base.
Again…that’s if people would use coupons legally. I know people that get the freebie level stuff (like the nivea one) and then mass xerox it so they can empty the store…that behavior pisses me off.
I’ve noticed for several years that Wags usually runs out of “free” items on Monday or Tuesday at the store where I shop. They might restock on Saturday when the truck comes in. Normally, I only want 1-2 of the free items (if any) and so I think reasonable limits make sense if inventory is low orlimited. A limit of 1-3 for most items is fair. I found it interesting (and unfair)though that you could buy as many Nivea as you wanted if you weren’t using the $3 coupon…
I just wrote to TLC too. I find the show appaling. I coupon because my husband was out of work for 2 years so I had to either use coupons or not buy the stuff we needed. He is back to work now so we are finally getting our feet back on the ground. I bought 2 of the bodywash to go into easter baskets for family members who are low on money. My goal is to make their baskets spending as little as possible.
I was pulled over in the isle at Dillons and was asked by the manager to see my coupons. He stated “I saw that extreme coupon show and you are not doing that in here!”
I only had a few items in my cart and was not planning on extreme couponing at that time..
I understand it both ways. If I were a business owner, I would see the need for a limit. As a shopper who has to travel at least 30 minutes to go anywhere, and with gas prices so high, I need to buy more than 1 at a time. I need to buy as many as I have coupons for, which is 8. I don’t believe in clearing shelves, but when there are only a few left and I just spent 30 minutes traveling to go shopping, I need to get what I can get. If I know I will be going back into town later that week I can wait and p/u more then, otherwise I need to get it at that moment. I live in the country. Not everybody lives in the city and can make several trips all the time; that would be eating up the money we are trying to save! I have not heard this point being brought up.
I don’t live in the city either and the nearest town only has a few stores (no CVS, Kroger, Rite Aid, etc.) so I understand your point about needing to get as much in one trip as possible. But, I also know there have been times when I can’t make it to the store on the first day of a deal because of the distance and the hours I work. I get very frustrated when I finally get to the store and it’s all gone. So, I support the limits because it means I might get less of each deal but I have a greater chance of actually getting some of each deal.
I actually agree with you in the end. It at least appears to be a solution to the seeming ever growing problem. Clear limits would help I think, but the limit of 1 seems a bit ridiculous. I wouldn’t even bother with it. I think after the “fad” of extreme couponing passes, things will even out, but then at what cost in all the store policy changes that will have taken place?
I was told by the Beauty Advisor at one of our Wags that there is a guy that regularly clears the shelves and then goes and sells the items over at the flea market on the weekends. Not cool!
That happens here too! I wonder why you can NEVER get any of the free/cheap products around here anywhere: Walgreens, Rite Aid, Target, sometimes even Walmart – they are always sold out, even first thing Sunday morning.
Then I was at Portland’s Largest Garage Sale last weeke,d and there were two different booths set up that had all the free products we’ve seen on this site over the last few weeks – Airwick, Olay, Lysol Wipes, Excedrin, Almay, you name it, they had it.
Really stinks that they can get away with not only keeping us regular joe’s that want one or two of a great deal from getting it, but they also MAKE MONEY for themsevles!
The asst manager at my store said a woman came in and bought 300 {all he had}. He was made aware if this only after she left. Need less to say he did not have any more.
shame on her, but did she not know she could it free at walmart or for cents at target?
I had a lady check out in front of me at target sunday morning, she had a basket full and proudly told me she cleared the shelf “just like one of those extreme couponers on tv”. I just laughed with her till she was done…then told her she could have gotten them free+tax at walmart. (payback)
Thank you for the info. Jamie, I will be going to Walmart for this item. :o)
.79 isnt even a good price for body wash in my opinion. It’s free or nearly free with the same coupon at Target and Walmart now, and there are so many chances to get free body wash every week at various stores.
Shelves have always been nearly bare at Walgreens within a couple days of the start of a sale week. The show hasnt changed that. Walgreens has always been lax in ordering enough items to meet basic demand.
One more point – Walgreens has always limited getting RRs to one per item per transaction. So limiting customers to one Nivea using the coupon isnt really any different.
A big problem with my wags is it’s a small town and to get to the next wags you need to drive 20 min one way or 4@ the other way. I can go in on Wed and they are out of an item. I can’t tell you how many rain checks I have had to get and what bugs me the most is the managers get so crabby about it. I always ask if the should be getting a shipment before the sale ends, if yes, I come back and if not I get a rain check. Why don’t they just order more?!?!
Probably they don’t order more because they don’t make much money on some of these sales. They’re cutting a lot of their expected profit by putting something on sale, even if they get a special deal from the manufacturer by doing a RR. Ultimately, the goal of the sales is to get people in the door who will buy other things at full price. So, they don’t really benefit by having more product.
Just FYI, the lady who cleared the shelf of croutons did not actually do that. She called the store ahead of time so they could order extra for her shopping trip for TV and there were still 2 store displays of croutons left untouched. Then she donated all of the croutons to the Backpack program at our local food pantry which gives needy kids food to take home over the weekend. Goes to show you how some aspects of the show are exagerated.
And the croutons lady never clears the shelves. She teaches her coupon classes NOT to do that because it’s rude.
Do you know how manny times I have gone to Walgreens to try to buy the sale and coupon items and there is never anything left, even if it is the same day that the sale started. This makes me so mad. It must be from the people who hoard and do not care about other people who need to get a few items. Mean.
Actually that is discrimination…and they CAN’T do it…they have the right to put limits on products but they have to be across the board…NOT Based on what coupon you’re using or how you are paying. That would be like a store saying if you are paying with food stamps you can only buy one gallon of milk. That is a violation of people’s rights…We can pay however we want and coupons are basically just like using cash. I would contact Walgreens corporate office and threaten them with a lawsuit.
What do you do when it’s the employees buying the products or reserving them for others? I went to wags today to purchase some coke zero’s with the ad in the paper and the 2057 code. My favorite cashier said that an employee had bought most of the zero’s and had reserved some for a customer that had called ahead, and there wasn’t any left. What?? Not only do we have to beat the shelf clearers to the store, now the employees are guarding the limited stock.
@Dora, I am having that same problem in all 4 of the Walgreens in my S.Tx town. I wanted to get just one of the ‘Luster White toothpaste’ last week so, I went to both of the 24hr stores at midnight. The first store only had 2 and a lady was in there before midnight and had them in her cart. I asked the clerk when they would have more and she told me they would have more in on Wednesday but they may not even make it to the shelves because the employees would want to buy it all and they have first pick. She also told me that the employees watch how ppl use the coupons and will sometimes even keep the coupons to get some deals for themselves. I then went to the 2nd 24hr store and they were out by the time I got there at 12:30am. There was a lady in there with about 10 in her basket and she would pay for one at the beauty counter, then the front register, and back and forth till she got them all. I overheard her telling the clerk that she worked at the walgreens across town. This is soooo unfair!
I used my coupons for these at Walmart where they were completely free. I bought 2 Womens and 2 Mens. The lady that bought 300 bottles spent a lot of money. What on earth is she going to do with 300 bottles?
My Walgreens have these completely stocked up as did Walmart as of today. I can’t see either running out of them this week. Now if someone goes on eBay and buys 300 coupons, then they will be out.
I would like to start off by thanking the show because if it wasn’t for the first program I wouldln’t have been introduced to couponing. I’m able to purchase a lot of things on my college budget and help my family. I also understand that there are many people out there who don’t have respect for other fellow couponers and take more than enough merchandise when they don’t even need it. Like others have said, it’s difficult to coupon and you really have to understand the deals in order to use your coupons legally. With time all this craze will pass and hopefully it doesn’t affect those of us that coupon wisely in the future.
I will not be a bit surprised, if all the coupons in the future will have a limit on them like the P&G coupons have on them. That will definitely curtail people from buying boatloads at one time.
On the blog, haven’t seen any limits at any of the South Florida stores yet. At least this week, Walmart is cheaper and Target is, if your store as them on price cut to $3.04.
Christie, you do have an informative blog.
Thanks Tom
Publix is getting ready to release its updated coupon policy in June. I wonder how much of it has to do with the show?
Ever since that show started I’ve seen nothing but bad consequences resulting from it.
Also, someone said Walgreens should be called and a lawsuit threatened about limiting items. Here’s the deal with all stores, if something becomes a problem too often, or they get too many complaints, or their managers start to have too many problems, or lawsuit threats are thrown around, they’ll change their policies all right…to protect themselves. And if that means limiting things across the board, that’s what they’ll do.
It won’t turn out well for the customer or the couponer. I sure hope that TLC show goes away before more damage is done. It’s raising awareness to the level that some executive with decision making ablility is going to decide to change the rules, like no stacking of coupons. And once one major chain does it, the others will follow suit.
If I ever see someone clear a shelf, I will tell them there and then it’s rude & selfish…b/c it is. I will disabuse them of the notion that they should be proud of their behavior. They shouldn’t. It’s greedy, not admirable. And they are going to ruin it for everyone else.
Sorry for the rant. Will step down from soapbox now.
The lawsuit comment was based on discrimination on how you pay. If you read the sign on the photo it says the limit of one is for those using a 3.00 coupon…That is discrimination. Every store has a right to set limits but not for certain customers! If you reread my comment you will see that was my concern!!
oh my oh my. Thank you for posting this because it will only be al matter of time before there is a ripple effect. Hopefully now that us GOOD couponers know what stores feel about it. this is definitely time to educate as much as possible that this is not EVERY couponers behavior.
Shelf Clearers suck! I personally have cleared a shelf only once and that was after I confirmed that hey had additional stock in the back.
I also hate coupon clearers. I was at the grocery store the other night and they had $1/1 Kraft chees coupons displays by the cheese area. I watched a lady take the entire stack of coupons….I mean come on. I could see 3-4 for later use but geez she must have taken 50. My walgreens has taken to putting the beauty books etc behind the counter as too many people are taking the entire stack at one time.
It just occurred to me that some of my anger for the show really just comes from anger at ‘greed’. When we coupon, it is like a community event……not something you just do by yourself. What I mean is EVERYONE can coupon so when you go to the store you have to ‘share’ the peelies, blinkies, store books, deals, etc, with everyone else. It angers me to see some of the greed out there! That people are willing to clear shelves and take whole stacks of coupons, for example. I am a generous person and hope to find that quality in others and it disturbs me when I see a greedy, hoarding mentality. We need to learn to SHARE, like we teach our children!!
Crackers were recently BOGO in my area and with two Sunday coupons became free, with $.21 overage. I just wanted two boxes. That helps with afternoon snacks and then, after we eat them, I’ll go in for the next deal. But that is just me. Seems like a lot of people out there would eagerly clear the shelves for that deal. Why can’t they just buy a couple of boxes and get another deal with the next ad??
It’s hard for me to find tolerance for this greed, but greed will ALWAYS be EVERYWHERE in different aspects of life. It’s just highlighted when you can’t find Reach toothbrushes at 10am on a Sunday because someone greedy got there before you did and purchased 15.
And I’m kind of tired of people saying it saved their lives to find couponing and that is why they Extreme Coupon and stockpile huge amounts. It saved our finances, too. But you do not have to HOARD or stockpile things under your child’s bed!!!!! If toilet paper comes free to you that often, then you WILL be able to find the deal again in a few months!
Enjoy everything in moderation.
I live near Dallas and the Walgreens stores around here have been posting signs for limits for years… especially if there is a hot coupon like the Nivea one out there right now. Only difference is the signs in my store say Limit 1 until Saturday. I guess they figure this allows everyone the opportunity to get the deal and then every man for himself on Saturday so they sell all their product.
Blame it on management too (the person(s) that place orders with corporate), not just the “extreme couponners” that clear shelves!!
Last night I ran into my closest Walgreens thinking I was just going in for an ad so I can price match the Nivea at Walmart but low & behold there was TONS & TONS in stock! I finally got my order of 40 coupons in the mail, Jacksonville must not have gotten the coupons in our paper according to the beauty manager that checked me out.
She was so happy to see me, she said she double ordered & the store manager double ordered not realizing she did too. But then no one was purchasing since the coupon didnt come out in our area. Manager was worried she would have tons of overstock! She even reminded me the sale was until Saturday if I wanted to buy more (after buying 40 bottles)!
So moral of my story is managers can order & order if they really want the sales. ALL stores have sales quotas & goals, why wouldnt managers want to WELCOME people buying without setting such extreme limits?
MANAGERS – listen to your customers, ORDER & STOCK UP when you see in your ads that there are corrosponding coupons making your sale price even better. you’re getting reimbursed for the coupons that we pay you with + an additional 8 cents – you are making more money off me, the coupon shopper, than you would a customer without coupons!! its a win win for both of us!!!
Where do they get all them coupons? Really… the one lady said that she buys 4 papers/week but goes into the store with 93 coupons for the same item????? I usually have to pay for my coupons (Sunday papers, eBay, etc) and I figure that cost into my savings. And I’m guessing she dont have that many friends that would just give her them.
I agree…I’ve been watching the show, but I think the trips are probably set up for the show. Most of them say “it’s their biggest trip yet”. I also realize that most of “us” couponers don’t clear the shelf. BUT, I agree with you Christy that, newbies probably wouldn’t realize that. I live in what most people would consider a rural area, and I’ve already seen an increase in couponing in my area. We also lost double/triple Qs at Kroger (since the show started). When I first saw it, I feared that companies would start setting more limits and things to discourage this kind of “extreme couponing”…unfortunately also hindering us that don’t clear shelves and have to take home our “haul” with a trailer! There’s my 2 cents!
Well I just got back from Publix, getting the Cover Girl eyeshadow deal, as it expires today. I got 6 of them, as I had 4 CG and 2 Queen Color q’s. The person at customer serivece desk let me know that Publix is changing it’s corporate policy soon, and will limit the numbers of items you can buy with coupons, and also will stand strictly by the “one transaction per customer” rule on their specials. Publix is known for being flexible with deals and coupons, but no more. So, THANK YOU you freakin’ 1000 tubes of toothpaste stockpilers!!! aghhh.
AMEN!!! I couldn’t agree more! On my site I teach to go get a few good weekly deals and build your stockpile a week at a time, to me it’s ridiculous to have 1,000 tubes of toothpaste, or 500 bottles of tylenol, for real people! I have about 40 bottles of bodywash but again i have 2 adults on 5 kids, and I only buy 4-5 when they are on sale, got alot of the olay when we had the free coupon from P & G!
Christie and Jen,
coming from my site, I teach others good deals, but in no way do i clear the shelves are teach my fans too. To me this extreme couponing show does give us honest couponers a bad image. My store are always glad to see me walk in, I get the few things I need, and they are always ready to hand me things when I walk in! i am a smart and savvy shopper and they know I will stop and help others trying to find the deals, or I will even habd out my extra coupons to people out of my binder if I see someone pick something up that I have a coupon for!..
Clearing the shelves is selfish to me, I mean I have a stockpile, But I have 5 kids, and I add to it weekly. like the Nivea, i bought 4 at walgreens and 4 at cvs. I agree let’s help these newbies know what real couponing is!…
Ok, I’m a newbie….and I started after seeing the first Extreme Couponing show air. And of course my first thought was OMGosh, I can save all that money?! So, I started cutting coupons from the paper and printing online coupons. I haven’t come across one coupon for food that would lower my bill from $1000 down to $10! I don’t understand how they do it on the show?
I have come to realize that it’s not realistic and that normal couponers don’t find those deals for food that often. I have gotten some awesome deals at Walgreens on my three trips I’ve made, and I’ve saved some at the grocery store (we don’t have any place around here that doubles coupons), but not as much as I would like to. We live paycheck to paycheck, and I’m seeing how we can stretch our weekly grocery money farther with the coupons. So for that, I am thankful for the show. BUT, I don’t think it’s realistic, and if they really wanted to help people they would show HOW these people save all this money (and where in the heck does that lady get all those inserts that she needs a room just for them?!)
On the Nivea note, my walgreens was out of it. I had to stop in at WalMart for something, and I was happy to see it on the shelf..all 3 bottles of it lol! Got it for free, so I was happy walgreens was out haha!! They were also out of the Reach floss, which threw off my order of things for checkout, but I got it fixed.
Jennifer – I’m grateful that the show introduced you to coupons at least! Stick with it and you’ll be able to significantly cut down your grocery bill. Make cutting it in 1/2 your first goal. That’s real savings that won’t require a room just for your inserts. 🙂
I find that stores around us now are changing their coupon policies. Tightening the reins as I call it.. As for where the lady get’s her coupon inserts.. Didn’t you hear her? “GOD” gives them to her.. UGH! I about threw up.. I love the Lord as much as the next person but that was too much! Besides.. clearing a shelf even if your family is in need of those things is never nice.. seriously you’re going to use 93 bags of croutons? I find it upsetting because they’re really not teaching the average person anything but are giving away the consumers secrets so the stores can make out by changing their policy.. next thing you know they’ll be adjusting their prices to keep consumers from getting things free with coupons!
I started couponing after watching the show and learned the ins and outs, including the unspoken rules from reading blogs. I have the show to thank for starting fights between my husband and I because he thinks I’m not saving enough! He says I’m spending all this time clipping and organizing, and planning for my trip and then I’m not saving as much as the people on the show are. Then he can’t understand why I’m shopping everyweek, and why I go to several stores. Why can’t I shop like they do once a month and only pay $1. Good god…either I was in trouble for spending too much before, or I’m in trouble for saving too little now. I can’t win.
Jen – WHAT?! I think you should your husband a $1 bill and tell him to go to the grocery store and see what he comes home with.
It’s a show, it’s entertainment. In reality they would have called the police on those people – not allowed them to take up 5 hours at a register. If you are cutting your grocery bill in 1/2 you are doing a GREAT job! And your husband should be proud.
OMG Jen! He needs a reality check. Let him take over for a month and see what it’s really like. It’s a fallacy that it doesn’t take time to plan & organize, or that you can just shop once a month.
Ask him if it was so darn easy, why isn’t everyone doing it? If it was really possible to live on a few bucks a month, wouldn’t more people than the TLC people be doing it? Would there even be a show if it wasn’t so unusual?
And if everyone was doing it, does he really think the stores would allow it? They’d make no money. I need to have a little chat with your hubby. He should be thanking you and bringing you flowers.
That TLC Couponing show is just evil. 😐
Oh, this is sad. This is what I thought was going to happen, and it has started.
Stacking coupons is ending at some stores.
http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/business/stories/2011/05/06/coupon-cutoff.html?sid=101
🙁