It was just a question of time before firms started to push back against some of the worst behaviours of extreme couponers.
Some outlets and makers have revised their policies recently, prohibiting the number of coupons patrons can employ to stop them from stripping shelves bare or from paying little or less for baskets of groceries.
Rite Aid, for instance, modified its policy in May so savvy patrons can’t double up on buy-one-get-one-free coupons and not pay anything. Interest in coupons has expanded in the feeble economy. North Americans redeemed 2.6 billion coupons at grocers and drug stores in 2006, the year before the recession hit, according to coupon processor Inmar. Redemptions last year reached 3.3 bln. Voucher blogs, a lot of them belonging to homebody moms who’ve turned their shopping gifts into a vocation, also have multiplied. TLC’s well-liked “Extreme Couponing” show showcases OTT practices ,eg squirrelling away enough toilet tissue to last for many years and dumptruck diving for coupons. Even the Baltimore Sun Media Group is promoting a workshop this month on coupons. Blog Writers and others blame the excesses exposed in the TLC show for tighter coupon policies. “Clearly, the show has shifted the whole industry towards more of these restrictions,” asserts Bud Miller, executive director of the Discount Info Company , a Virginia-based trade group that combats coupon crime. But no matter what the reason, customers can expect more boundaries. Miller’s trade organisation latterly developed a listing of endorsed practices for shops that includes banning the utilization of 2 buy-one-get-one-free coupons so buyers get both items absolutely free. And the list is growing. Miller asserts the group will also be advising that shops limit homes to as much as 4 identical coupons on 4 items inside a twenty four hour period.
Procter & Bet adopted the four-coupon limit in October to stop stock reduction at stores and long checkout lines, asserts PG’s Monica Sakamoto. Rite Aid also added a four-coupon cap. Chit blog writers say Target has reined in coupons, though Target spokesman Erika Winkels asserts the retailer simply explained its policy. Not like the old policy, the new one released in June obviously states that Target will not permit customers to mix buy-one-get-one-free coupons so both items are free.
