People, Extreme Couponing is AMERICAN

[tinnytiamaria]

As I see it there are good and bads to stockpiling. IF it is really cheap or free and you will use it yes get it or give it to someone who can. I have lots of toilet paper and that is partially bc the price is rediclous on it and I refuse to pay full price even before I started couponing so if its on sale and I have a coupon I will stock up on things like that but if I am not going to use it no way will I stock pile, I will give the coupon to someone who will use it. You have to have limits. I agree most of the people on EC are hoarders. Limits people of share with people that dont have.

[katrinajoan]

OMG, yes i wanted to slap that woman too who was snapping at her husband. I was screaming at the TV, lol.

[fahlinluv]

In my small town there were never really alot of coupons to begin with so i havent noticed a difference, but when i go shopping in cities and what not i always find them

[SarinaMacDonellm]

I fee like Im reading the diary of the "Real Couponers of North America" "Peace, Love & Couponing" hehe.

Im a newbie too. And I've asked myself of what impact the sieries has had. I started just about 6m before the show, but was the show that proved a little more hard time would prove to be so profitable. Besides all the fun i have doing this. I have the greatest "New Hobby"

Thanks for sharing ladies and gentlemen. I hope it's a fad that runs it's course quickly.;0

Prosperous Shopping!!

[ladyinwaiting]

i noticed though that a lot of people were clearing the shelves :-( I've been to several CT for days now looking for Quatum starter kit but no luck... the clerk at the store told me that they just re stock this morning and by the time I got there... it's all gone :-( ... so I ended up getting 3 Old dutch laundry soap and on the shelf it says $2.47 and when I got to the cashier it was rung for $4 each. So I went to costumer service and I told her that it was a wrong price. she said that it was yesterdays price and if I want it for that price ($2.47) I should have asked the cashier. So I told her that there's a sign on the shelf for $2.47, the costumer service asked me if i want an adjustment... I told her it would be nice if I could get it for free She looked at me and asked " So you want it for free?"... I told her "Yes please" with a smile on my face... so i got it for free!!!!... all in all... I walked out of CT with free item after all

[JennyFromTheRock]

i noticed though that a lot of people were clearing the shelves :-( I've been to several CT for days now looking for Quatum starter kit but no luck... the clerk at the store told me that they just re stock this morning and by the time I got there... it's all gone :-( ... so I ended up getting 3 Old dutch laundry soap and on the shelf it says $2.47 and when I got to the cashier it was rung for $4 each. So I went to costumer service and I told her that it was a wrong price. she said that it was yesterdays price and if I want it for that price ($2.47) I should have asked the cashier. So I told her that there's a sign on the shelf for $2.47, the costumer service asked me if i want an adjustment... I told her it would be nice if I could get it for free She looked at me and asked " So you want it for free?"... I told her "Yes please" with a smile on my face... so i got it for free!!!!... all in all... I walked out of CT with free item after all

Thats the "scanning code of practice" correct?? I used that once to!! Its a great thing!! I was in the Baby section at wal mart and I the girl that worked there ( obvio I was obvusly very new ) stacking the shelf with Enfamil A+...... I usually pay $28 a can for it, so as soon as I saw her punch in the number for them and print up the ticket saying $12.97 and putting it on the shelf I was ELATED I grabbed 4 cans and excitedly ran to the till I got to the till to my disapointment they rang in at the usual $28

I asked her to price check them with the Baby dept - and it turns out, it was the Enfamil toddler that was suppose to be $12.97 and not the A+ but since the tag under the full shelf of formula clearly said "Enfamil" and also the fact alone that it was a full shelf full just stacked, they applied the scanning code of practice - I had $3 off coupons, making the first one FREE, then I got the other ones for $10 each.....So basically I got 4 for the price of 1!!!!

[cheekysaver]

the Extreme Couponing show will be good for us in the long run. Companies will adjust and put out more coupons because it will now be a viable form of advertizement maybe we will see some new coupons! Still people... please don't clear pads... only clear them off after they have been up for a very long time so everyone has a chance to get the deal

[home4now]

Hope you're right about that Cheekysaver. I get asked if I'm one of those "extreme couponers" all the time - once I was only using 4 cpns !

[joricher21]

I went into SDM with two coupons this morning and I was talking to the cashier and she was telling me, `ya a woman came in a few days ago and saved $30 worth using coupons, that is awesome, was that you?` I laughed and said I was in the other day and I saved almost $30, so ya it probably was, lol. Im guessing I am one of the only ones that have saved that much there so far for them to be talking about it (its a newer SDM). My final bill that day was still $75.25 so that I could get my two free passes for the movies. I love saving money, its very exciting, its like winning at the casino for me but wayyyy cheaper So I gave the young girl some of the websites I go to and I gave her a covergirl coupon that was going to expire today. She was very excited. Did you good deed for the day!

[katie333]

I think the show has absolutely created awareness that 'couponing' or being a 'couponer' is such a thing. It has probably also created a false or unrealistic expectation about what you can expect. Yes, I see great brags here all the time, but not sure that many people here are getting 98% off every shop for everything they buy.

I was a very casual coupon user for years, but this terrific site has simply caused me to be more rigorous and organized about it. I'm saving 50-90% on a lot of my shops and/or earning extra points (various programs). I think over time alot of folks who don't really want to expend the energy to get results will give it up.

It would be interesting to see how many folks that have joined since January are still actively posting and couponing.

With regards to tear pads, I've had no luck the past 2.5 weeks. Fortunately, my mother has become addicted to looking for them too (not using them, just looking). I have never taken more than 5, and most often take 2-3 or none (if I have enough from other stores or simply don't need the coupon). I think when we post about lack of tear pads we are preaching to the choir here on SC. Even the folks who are trading 20x couponX may well have gotten them from friends, trades or from visits to multiple stores over time. My point is that I don't think we are reaching the offenders, but I suppose we can at least commiserate.

[MercuryBlue]

It will pass...everyone wants to try to coupon like the people in the show....but it takes planning and commitment and not everyone can do it.....right now its just a fad and it will wear off

This is what I've been saying for a while. February and January are nightmare months for those that hit the gym regularly because there's a sudden influx of people with New Years resolutions looking to lose weight. About 90% of people fall off the wagon within the first three months. I suspect it will be the same with couponing.

On the one hand, yes, I have noticed that tearpads are being cleared faster... but it also seems to me that stores are putting a lot more coupons up than they were before. Where I live, I used to be lucky to stumble across a coupon tearpad outside of the RCSS Coupon Zone.... now, I see them in a lot more stores. I've noticed a LOT less hassle from the cashiers at LD and Walmart. People aren't looking as closely at me as they did before because couponing is more 'mainstream'. I'm not seen as QUITE so weird anymore...

There have been positive changes in Walmart's coupon policy, and also Save On's. Because of the popularity of couponing, other stores are looking into developing better policies (even allowing stacking) to compete. Competition is a GREAT thing for us couponers, because it means better deals! That's why the people in the US get such amazing deals- big populations, lots of stores, lots of competition.

The only real negative things I have noticed since Extreme Couponing came out is that the tearpads run out quicker, the shelves are cleared quicker and I have to work a little harder to get a good deal. I just have to keep getting smarter and smarter. Also, the change in P&G's fine print (for the brandsaver online coupons) was a bit of a kick in the nuts. That said, I think the positive has outweighed the negative.....

....though I still don't care for the show.

[blondcouponlady]

They last about a few days on the hanger and bang someone takes them all. I would like to punch the creator of that show in the nose.

[scadeau]

The Loblaws near my house tearpads were full, and I also noticed that many of the coupons were redeemable at NoFrills, and many other stores! I'm asuming that all the stores are owned by a parent company because WalMart and SDM were not apart of the stores listed.

[ferdo]

ya loblaw coupons are always full but they kind of suck. They are only for two weeks and they are sure not to put a special on if a coupon is available for it. Meaning no free or almost free.

[lilacmommee]

I worked in a grocery store as a Head Cashier. I noticed about 20% increase (not that much) in people using coupons. I am on mat leave till Jan next yr so I am not sure if it has increased since then. But as couponer, Ive noticed the extra savings ever since I put my heart and soul to it. Especially I just had a baby, having a stock of diapers and wipes is a must.