Just a little rant..... coupon etiquette

[ypperin]

I want to preface this with, I am not asking for coupons, or handouts, please don't read this the wrong way..... I just don't understand how some just don't consider others, their neighbours, both in the community and online.

In the last few weeks our family has been inundated with bad luck, from sick children, to family members dancing on the brink of death and being diagnosed with cancer, emergency surgeries and the like.... needless to say my time in the stores is limited having to be there to support the family.....

I know of at least one "coupon training" group that promotes taking the whole pad and shelf clearing (note...if you were not taught this, I'm not talking about the one you went to).... and I have to say it is so disheartening.... when, FINALLY, after several sleepless nights, and juggling families and children, when I FINALLY manage to get to the stores, that every.single.tearpad has been absolutely and totally cleared. Every store that I have been to, every coupon but one (the 1.00 cascade) :S

It breaks my heart honestly. I'm not the only person who has noticed it, I don't understand.... is it so hard to take a few, and leave some for others? Is it so hard to understand that we have neighbours likely in similar situations, financial crisis, emotional crisis, who need these coupons just as much.

I'm so disappointed..... and frustrated.

Please please, when you are out and about, leave some behind for others.... I know many of us do.... but, at least in my area, I know that some don't.

*sigh*

[KellyC]

Coupon training??? What the....?

I'm happy that nobody around here seems to be taking all of them at once. That sucks. Are there any in particular that you were really looking for?

[ypperin]

NO no, it's okay, honestly I'm not looking for handouts or for anyone's extra's, just putting a plea out there for those that have forgotten that there are many out there that count on coupons to please leave some behind for the person/family coming up behind.....

[KK7]

I have noticed increase of taken coupons and this is in Hamilton it is very rare for me to find anything anymore and I ALWAYS found coupons. One store I went to had the whole smartsource metal rack pulled off from the diary section and thrown in a bin beside it. I know people told me it was the wrong time to look for them but was out just the other day and not one to be found! I know some people do have some luck in Hamilton but I also don't usually get out that often so whenever I get a chance I go. With Walmart not carrying any makes it even harder since I do alot of shopping there. The Fortino's ect with there own coupons again alot of changes. This is why I am glad there is trading!

[Giving-Small]

That is disheartening. There are so many more couponers out there. If you look at the Welcome to SC, there's like 10 new people each day signing up and there used to be one or two per day. And there's got to be lots that don't sign up, so we're seeing a exponential growth in the number of couponers. We didn't just double - we're probably 10x.

So if someone is promoting/teaching take the whole tear pad, it's just wrong imho.

[Midnightly]

i must say i'm actually getting rather annoyed to the point of mad with these "coupon classes" they are creating... well.. bad couponers! they don't seem to teach coupon etiquette (and if they do they must gloss over it) they don't seem to promote limits, they are clearing shelves, arguing with cashiers, taking the little knowledge they have and running with it.. these classes(and i'm sure with alot of help from TLC's extreme couponing) are creating alot of couponers at a fast pace that the stores are getting overwhelmed and well.. grumpy! and i can understand why they would be grumpy..

a cashier is a CASHIER not a coupon expert(and i'm sure that when trained for being a cashier they barely get a half lesson on how to take a coupon) there is ALOT of grey area when it comes to coupon use and every time one of these grey areas arises it's a learning experience for a cashier and if you snap and be rude to them head office will say "you know what! i'm just going to tell them no to all coupons"

[fourfurryfeet]

That makes me very sad! I find it happen in Barrie a lot too! I have oodles of time on my hands so I generally go do my hunting every few days or so just to give me something to do! I very often find pads empty, or even sometimes just ripped right off the display!

I have to add to this, that when something goes on sale for cheap or free with coupon I feel like I have to take my sleeping bag to the store with me just to get a couple!

Don't get me wrong I love that people are coming into the world of coupons and I love that they are coming here specifically but when other sources are teaching coupon pad clearing and shelf clearing it's just not fair...and unfortunately some (not all) but some of it isn't their fault since that is or what was being taught! For example the show...I've only ever seen 1 episode and it showed the lady clearing most of the shelves! What does that teach our awsome newbies?

I was speaking to the manager at Zehrs and he said that influx of people using coupons to the "extreme" extent is dishartning and he actually took the coupon board off the floor since the morning after they stocked it there was only 7 coupons (not pads) 7 coupons left on the board!

It's sad but I think this hobby is going to get a lot harder before it gets any easier!

I just hijacked your thread, I'm sorry! I'm just also voicing how frustrating it is! hehe!

[TheSaltyDog]

I hear ya. I've been using coupons for, well...as long as I can remember. At least 5 years with gusto, but before that, I've always used them here or there. Anyway, last night I got my very first "Extreme Couponing" comment for using FOUR coupons in one shop. Seriously? Seriously. I even said to the cashier, "if I were really that extreme, you'd see me with a whole cart-load of this stuff". I've used WAY more than 4 coupons before, but never gotten an "EXTREME!!" comment until now.

I've always stockpiled and I've always kept a comfortable supply of necessities for my family. I didn't start with the TLC show and I won't stop when it disappears. I know what types of coupons I use and what types I don't...and what is a good value, so there is no need to take stacks of a type I don't use! I'm sure once the newer couponers get the hang of things, they'll get to that point as well.

I think that for the most part, we just need to weather the storm...couponing is hard work and eventually, a lot of new couponers' interest will wane and things will go back to a bit more of a normal pace. I like to think of it like the rush after Christmas when everyone goes and joins the gym...we just have to wait for that period of motivation to disappear and things will revert to something like it was before.

[TheSaltyDog]

I should clarify, four coupons total (different types), and when I said "WAY more", I meant total coupons, not duplicates.

[TheSaltyDog]

*sigh* And this excessive abuse of sample sizes to get overages is driving me BATTY. Sorry, I had to say it. I don't look on it as "smart" couponing at ALL...

</hijack>

[Midnightly]

*sigh* And this excessive abuse of sample sizes to get overages is driving me BATTY. Sorry, I had to say it. I don't look on it as "smart" couponing at ALL...

</hijack>

ahh yes! i went to three walmarts all were sold out of travel sized olay, two were sold out of travel sized gillette, all 3 sold out of travel sized St.Ives (and there isn't even an overage on that coupon!) and i wasn't even buying them for the overage factor (hubby prefers the mini gillette because they fit in the cabinet better, and i like the travel olays for on the car/purse/bag)

[TheSaltyDog]

ahh yes! i went to three walmarts all were sold out of travel sized olay, two were sold out of travel sized gillette, all 3 sold out of travel sized St.Ives (and there isn't even an overage on that coupon!) and i wasn't even buying them for the overage factor (hubby prefers the mini gillette because they fit in the cabinet better, and i like the travel olays for on the car/purse/bag)

WAITAMINUTE. Stop the presses!

You use small sized items BECAUSE THEY ARE SMALL, not because they are OMGWTFBBQ!!!111!1FREE?

whodathunk.

[fame4ever]

I hear you. I belong to a facebook coupon group and there is a memeber who is always bragging about how many coupons she has gotten in the mail. Today its 10 envelopes! I'm wondering just how many accounts this person has, and if this is the gal who routinly clears the shelves at LD

[KK7]

I have yet to find the Nexxus Travel size shampoo there ALWAYS cleared out and my parrents are actually travelling a bit this year for the first time ever and tryed at least 10 stores sometimes twice over lol find the conditioner but no shampoo lol

[KrisZ]

@KK7, I feel your pain Hamilton seems to be terrible when it comes to cleared out coupons. BUT two places I seem to have luck at usually are the Metro at Upper James and the Sobey's in Meadowlands. Good luck!