Looking for your thoughts

Hey everyone,
I have been asked to meet with some directors of a large grocery chain next week to discuss coupon usage in their stores. They want input on making it a win win for both the retailer and the shopper.

What kinds of things would you like to see, or know?

I am going into this looking for how it works on their side and to get a feel for what they can do for us, so we have smoother transactions and more savings.

They came to me after one of their staff attended my class...so they are curious about what we are all up to and what can bring more people to their stores.

I am not going to say what grocery chain until I confirm with them if I can release any info we discuss...but I do want to know what YOU all want me to ask or find out. It is the Atlantic branch of a nation wide group.

Thank you for any feedback.

Ruth Ann

Personally, if all stores followed the same policy as Wal-Mart and allowed overages, I would be a happy camper! And if the staff were given thorough training on the store's coupon policy and SCOP (if applicable).

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Originally Posted by enm98

Personally, if all stores followed the same policy as Wal-Mart and allowed overages, I would be a happy camper! And if the staff were given thorough training on the store's coupon policy and SCOP (if applicable).

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ditto!!

ditto x2 :)

I would like to see the store's coupon policy posted at the Customer Service Desk AND at each cash.
Do they ad match like Walmart
Do they take coupons printed off the internet, if so do they have to have a bar code or company address?
Is there a limit on the number of products you can buy and the number of coupons you can use
Do they allow stacking
As the other SC'er said do they allow overages, and what's their SCOP policy
AND can they please train their staff on coupon use
Can they also train their staff on dealing with the public. Many of us couponers have had very negative experiences with clerks AND store managers when using coupons
How would they like coupons given to the clerk, one at a time with each product, or hand the whole thing over at the beginning or the end of the transaction (I find the clerks need the coupons first that require them to write the price on the coupon)
What is their policy re: one coupon per purchase or do they think that means one coupon per transaction
Do they have their own coupons that can be used in their stores. If so, can they post them at the front of the store, and list them in their flyers. THAT will get the couponers in their door!
Do they accept competitor's coupons
Can coupons be combined with other offers or discounts
Do they have an e-mail system where people can sign up to get coupons or specials. If so, do they have a special coupon for signing up for their e-mails
Do they have a rewards program, where people get more for shopping there

Quote:

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Originally Posted by travel-mum

I would like to see the store's coupon policy posted at the Customer Service Desk AND at each cash.
Do they ad match like Walmart
Do they take coupons printed off the internet, if so do they have to have a bar code or company address?
Is there a limit on the number of products you can buy and the number of coupons you can use
Do they allow stacking
As the other SC'er said do they allow overages, and what's their SCOP policy

How would they like coupons given to the clerk, one at a time with each product, or hand the whole thing over at the beginning or the end of the transaction Do they accept competitor's coupons
Can coupons be combined with other offers or discounts

Do they have a rewards program, where people get more for shopping there

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Ditto these points.

Stacking would be nice...but I feel that it is on the way out in Canada :(

Also a "double coupon day" would be nice to have...say last tuesday of the month or something along those lines.

WOW, thank you for all this feedback! Great stuff for me to take with me. I will let you all know how I make out and if anything can be implemented to make our lives easier, and them more profitable...bringing more of us through their door will definitely help them!

Thank you so much!

Ruth Ann

All I am asking for is for the cashiers to be trained to know what their coupon policy is.

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Originally Posted by Bargain Seeker

All I am asking for is for the cashiers to be trained to know what their coupon policy is.

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AMEN sister!:top:

Training is the # 1 suggestion I am getting from most people. I believe the training will make a huge difference.

price matching would be nice, especially if it's superstore that you're talking about... it would be nice to pricematch to sobeys :)

Also, if would be nice if they remove the limit of $10 coupons (that's at the Superstore) where they have to call a supervisor. I always hate it when they have to call a supervisor to approve. I mean it is one thing to have to take longer at the cash because you have coupons but when they have to call the supervisor.....it takes way longer.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bargain Seeker

Also, if would be nice if they remove the limit of $10 coupons (that's at the Superstore) where they have to call a supervisor. I always hate it when they have to call a supervisor to approve. I mean it is one thing to have to take longer at the cash because you have coupons but when they have to call the supervisor.....it takes way longer.

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YES! That always takes forever.

And train the cashiers to be polite.
Take a tip from Mcdonalds customer service. They'll do anything in their power to make your order right (no ketchup, extra pickles etc.). And they're very successful. I know that's not always possible for cashiers, but if it was a company policy it would make everything go much more smoothly.

I agree with all these points and would love to see a double coupon day. Even if they only did it every once and awhile like the Superstore does its tax free event. That would be better then nothing!!

And also raising the limit at the Superstore to 20 dollars or something. Every time I go there they have to insert the code thing for each coupon. Plus also better training for the cashier about coupons would be helpful!

Have more coupons distributed around in the stores and remove expired ones! So many times I have found a coupon at Sobeys only to see that it is expired.

Also, if the coupons with a barcode on them would actually SCAN and not have to be put in manually would be A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!