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Note from Laurie ~ it's Shannon's turn for a penny-pinchin' rant this week, and we'd love to hear your thoughts (just please be considerate of others!) Â
Okay, so I have a question for everyone . . . how much is too much when buying an item on sale?  I've been so frustrated lately when I hear about someone wiping off the shelves . . . ugh. About a month ago at CVS, I asked the cashier what had happened to all the Tresemme Shampoos which were on sale.  She said someone came in and purchased TEN!  (I wondered if Tangled is living right here in our area. . .  if so, my five-year-old daughter would love to meet her!)
Then I went to Publix this week ready for my trip. I found some good deals and was ready to snag many of the items. Only (even a few hours after the sale began), a few of the items already were out of stock . . . someone had grabbed all of them. This frustrated me because it wasn't only one empty shelf, but two!
My store is really good about keeping items in stock, however when someone comes in and grabs 15-20 of a specific item . . . well, then there aren't many deals left for the rest of us. Â Our main grocery store typically allows four of each sale item per visit (which usually means 4-8 items if it's a Buy One Get One Free sale, but you should check with your management to be sure.) Â When Laurie and I teach coupon classes we encourage attendees to stick to a reasonable number and consider what your family will really use over the course of the next 4-6 weeks. . . to be honest, I never have enough coupons to buy many more than the limited number!
This doesn't mean you can never buy a huge amount of a specific item if you have the coupons for it. . . just let your store manager know ahead of time (you can even call and ask him to order extra of an item if you're planning to purchase a bunch!) Â Many stores are great when working with couponers. The managers can order extra for you, plus allow the items on the shelves to go to other customers who'd also like to penny pinch a deal or two.
How do you feel about clearing the shelves, and do you have any tips on how to stock up on more without taking all the deals off shelves? Of course, if you do find the items all gone, remember that  many stores allow you to pick up a raincheck and there are a few ways to use those to your advantage.  And, if you tend to grab twenty or more of a deal every once in awhile, please leave a few for the rest of us, and think about ways you might talk to your manager so that they'll have extra on hand just for you.
DISCLAIMER: When the Nestle Morsels are BOGO I call the manager and warn him I plan on buying 20 bags. For all who follow PPP I know you were thinking in the back of your mind–Nestle Morsels, we know those girls buy a ton! I know…. I know…. 😉
I also teach the same lesson in my couponing classes, I remind them in every class the they need not buy more than they can consume or use in a 3 month period for non perishables and 3 weeks or less for perishable, what a waste of money and products when they expire or get forgotten about because there is such an abundance of 1 thing in your stock-pile…someone can only eat or use the same thing for so long and then they need a small change anyway right? Plus shelf-clearing is one RUDE and INCONSIDERATE habit!
I have to say I agree with Brooke. It is the reality of shopping. It is what it is so you work around it. I think people who buy to much are being ignorant but it is what it is. I think buying the wrong amount of anything cuts down on the profit of saving. It is all about how much you save per hour period. The rain checks are available to everyone and sometimes when you speak to a manger they will replace it with a like product that works out to be an even better deal. I have had CVS managers sell me $20 for a $30 promotion because that was all they had left and I ask can I still have the $10 in extra bucks? Amazing the deals you get by just opening up your mouth and turning a situation into a positive. If that fails get the rain check or go back on stock day. I was at Whole Foods once and it was frustrating their chicken deal was not available in one of the stores. I asked the manager if she knew where it was and I told her I made a special trip. She handed me two packages of organic chicken… a $23 value because it wasn’t even the product I went there for – FOR FREE! There isn’t anything easy about making money whether in the business world or making money couponing. I say making money because any money saved is made money plus TAX FREE!
As far as Jesus goes…I find it very calming when in a stressful position to ask Jesus to keep my anger in check and if that doesn’t work us Catholics turn to Mother Mary to please pray for us :).
Life aint easy 🙂
I gave up couponing for this very reason. Couponing has become an acceptable form of selfishness and it is sad to me how much greed and lack of consideration is so prevalent with couponers. It is shameful.
I understand how you feel, Melissa. Although I haven’t given up couponing all together, it does seem like I’ve cut back quite a bit. Sometimes I just don’t want the hassle, but I do want the savings, so I keep with it. I am lucky that my husband and I are at a point in time where we don’t need to coupon to survive, but want to hold on to our hard earned dollars just the same. (Boy do I wish I knew how to coupon when we first got married!) Waste not want not. Don’t give up, maybe you can just clip coupons for the items that you do use all the time like laundry detergent and health & beauty items. These things can be rather expensive and any savings is good. Good Luck and don’t give up!
I SO hate it when I can’t get a deal I’ve planned for. And it’s just as frustrating when you have a coupon where you have to purchase 2, and there’s only 1 on the shelf. I’m thinking we can blame some of this on the Extreme Couponing show – they seem to promote “hoarders” – just look at the ridiculous stockpiles they have in their basements and garages. They can’t possibly use all those products even within a 5-year period, let alone a “reasonable” length of time. There are very few episodes where the couponers donate their excess.
What? You're a coupon blogger…you should know it's first come, first served. Whining or wishing does nothing. Be the early bird or be happy for the one who was…they outsmarted you. Most stores restock within a few days and nearly all offer rain checks.
I definitely understand what you’re saying Brooke – I guess I just couldn’t personally go in and grab forty of something I didn’t need if I knew someone coming behind me might need it.
Really, I just think if you want 20 of something, consider having your store order extra stock… it’s not a big deal for them, and allows all of us to all get a deal! That being said, my store was re-stocked on EVERYthing last night when I shopped, and I’ve been able (personally) to work around what times other folks shop knowing when my store stocks up. I think we just all have those moments when we get frustrated… coupon bloggers included! 🙂
I use coupons and I feel like it's a good way to talk to people about God. Being wise with the money He's given us. With that in mind, I'm not clearing a shelf. It's hard to tell people that " the Lord will provide our needs" while dumping a 100 bottles of shampoo in my cart. Oh , yes of little faith. : )
I agree completely. I always feel like because I teach I am held even more accountable. So I try to be extra cautious. (sometimes I miss something and feel terrible).
I usually buy 5 of a REALLY good deal. However, if I get there and the shelf is nearly clean, believe me I'm leaving something for the next deal grabber. I hate seeing wiped shelves. It's disheartening.
I am with you Shawn! If I do take the last items I let the manager or stock person know.
It is incredibly frustrating for working moms, I usually just can’t make it to Publix on a Wednesday night when the sale begins and by the time I go after work on Fridays every thing is gone. I do make it Kroger on Sunday afternoon but often their sale stuff is gone also. Thank goodness for rain checks! I applaud the stores that are limiting sale item purchases.
I bet that is difficult Holly. Sometimes the rain checks are to your advantage!
i don’t clear shelves and most stores limit quantities. but if an item is on clearance and it is free, it is clearance and i will get all of them. that is the only time i will clear a shelf. or if some has left only one deal on the shelf, i have to clear it that’s the only way i will get a deal. you can agree to disagree if you want, but i think the garage sale thing is no different than getting a bunch of stuff that you know you are not going to use, most of the time, clearing a shelf in the name of donation, and giving it for donation.
No, donating is very different than turning a profit in a garage sale. If one is reselling an item in a garage sale then she (or he) is more than likely violating the terms and conditions of the coupon, aka coupon fraud.
In other words, it’s illegal.
Our local law enforcement is slowly realizing that those extreme couponers who clear shelves en masse only to sell those freebies at a flea market/garage sale could possibly be committing fraud in the $1,000’s of dollars range. Those shelves of “loot” they roll out represent merchandise from several retailers and manufacturers that were purchased under the guise of personal, private consumption…not for reselling or profiteering.
On top of that, do you really want to buy canned food and personal products that have been stored in a sweltering garage or storage shed?
Here’s what the CIC has to say:
http://www.couponinformationcenter.com/consideratecouponswebsite.php
I had no idea that was illegal. Wow! What great information! Thanks for sharing!
you may not be making a profit on the items collected but you are still overbuying. hence saying it is the same. if you only bought enough then there still would be items on the shelf. i see ppp’s donation and one or two of an item is acceptable, but most do not donate one or two items, they donate 10-20 100’s of item at a time. same as the garage sale.
It drives me crazy!! It is very selfish. I just want what we will use and then you see someone with a buggy full of the item you want!
Wow Jen! Must be nice to be able to use the $5/$30. We have the $5/$50 which I am still very thankful for. That does stink about the Hawaiian Punch. I was excited to try it. Hopefully our store will get it in!
… and thankfully, some of our local CVSs keep sale items behind the counter for those who only want a reasonable amount.
Hey Lindy! That is crazy about the garage sales. Wow! My CVS has started enforcing the limit. So I am thankful for that! That is really smart but sad that your CVS has to put them behind the counter…
I went to a yard sale recently where “bargain” items were rolled out on racks for sale and to make a profit.
I recognized many of the items, and there were many multiples of each, from recent CVS sales, including vitamins. I checked the expiration date ; the vitamins were expiring that month! The crazy thing is , they were most likely going to roll those racks back in their hot Florida garage, where the extreme heat may change the chemical composition, then roll those racks out for another yard sale in the near future.
Yes, predict how many your family will use in the future. There’s a reason you are not supposed to buy stuff beyond an expiration date.
Couponers are a “family”. Don’t be the greedy sister!
Crazy!
Indeed Lindy! You should see the flea markets here. I never noticed it until I started couponing but there are tons of people who clear the shelves just to sell the products at the flea market. Makes the rest of us look bad.
i hate when this happens as I alway miss out on great deals as my store doesn’t give rainchecks it’s frustrating especially because i’m still new to this
Hey Becca! Our Publix doesn’t give rain checks for the Advantage Buy deals. It does get frustrating. Don’t give up though!! You can do it!
Publix stores (according to questions & answers I’ve seen posted on their FB page) are supposed to issue rainchecks on all sale items, including the “Advantage Buy” ones.
Yes, there are some little things fellow couponers can do that seems to ruin it for the rest of us. In my area, publix takes WD $5/30 so people will get stuff they couldn’t care less about in order to bump up their total and use the items as “filler” to get to the $30. Case in point– those stinking Hawaiian punch lol! I actually wanted 2 to make punch for a shower I am hosting coming up. Just 2! But my shelves are cleared as well. It is aggravating, when its something that is super cheap that you actually need and you know it was probably only 1 or possibly 2 people that took every last item. Along the same lines there was free equal at Publix recently. A woman got to the shelf right before me, dumped every last one in her cart and then counted how many were there and got out that many coupons. Looked at me staring at her in disbelief and wheeled her cart away. This was an item we use daily, and I just wanted a couple. I don’t know, some people just get greedy with the freebies I think.
I think it is outrageous to clear the shelves OF ANYTHING! Why be so selfish? I couldn’t do it. My conscience would kill me thinking that someone else might have NEEDED what I WANTED!! I’m not a selfish person but there sure seems to be many of them out there.
So true Paula. We are at a point that we do not “need” much. I guess that is why I don’t need to buy a ton of things. But it is nice to be able to donate some items. This hinders us to be able to donate to people who really do need the items.
I didn't get a single bottle of the Hawaiian punch either and according to my store its gonna be a long time before they get any in, so I feel your pain. Empty shelves are just a sign of te times
Hey Patricia! Yes, a lot of items are like that. The Sunlight Dishwashing Detergent is the same way. It has been out since the first couple of days the Mother’s Day Flier came out. The warehouse is out. It’s like you said just a sign of the times….
Omg……im in northern NV and we recently had a shelf clearer move into our area. As an example she bought 48 of those Starbucks drinks when they were .99 and you get .99 back. She made my friend at cosmetics ring up each one individually so now our mngr wont let people buy more than they can reasonably consume in a week. New policy hut didn’t seem yo help, this week she wiped out the nutritious peanut butter, I was so sad as im a shm and use coupons to survive! But then I think of my girl Dina, so not a shelf clearerbut has 11 kids!!! Would hate to have to manage a store now that manners have died! Good luck in your future shopping trips, we will need it!
Hey Naomi! Wow 11 kids! I think I would be becoming friends with the managers to see about extra items… It is sad for that lady to take so many items. You just wonder what she does with it all? That poor cashier….
I totally understand and don’t like it either. Our Publix limits the amount you can buy to 5 deals. Now the Drug stores are different. They don’t order more because there is a sale coming up. Their systems track how many they normally sell and that’s how they determine how many to keep on a shelf. I have asked why they don’t order more and I was told its because if they order more and nobody buys them then they are stuck with the product and eventually have to mark it down. They get the buyer to come into the store hoping to buy something else if the item they are looking for is gone. I personally leave the store without buying anything
I understand Kristie. I have left many times because the item is not there… It’s such a sad day for us couponers…