I HATE COUPONS!
This may not
be my first post on the subject, if not just let it be known that I still HATE
supermarket coupons.
We got rid
of the annoying Green Stamp/ Gold Stamp scheme about fifty years ago, could we
also just get rid of coupons? If you
want to push a product, how about just dropping the price?
You may think
you are saving money with your coupons, but you are also buying crap you
probably don’t need or want. I’ve seen
that show on TV where ladies collect and clip coupons, then plot and plan for a week before they shop. They succeed
in buying $387 worth of groceries for $1.78.
Fantastic!
Fantastic!
Then they
show them packing their booty into a garage full of shelves stacked with shit
they will never be able you use within decades of the “best by” date.
I wouldn’t
mind if it did not affect my life and it seldom does, but today it did.
I went to
the supermarket and picked up a tub of low fat plain yogurt, a head of lettuce
and some tomatoes…that’s right, Cranky is on a diet. I headed for the 12 item or less line when a
lady whizzed by and cut in front of me in a cart loaded down with several
items, plus many small packages of what looked like some sort of salad dressing.
I counted the
packets. There were forty small packets of
this stuff. Pretty sure you can buy
salad dressing in gallon jugs at Costco, but she wanted forty 6 oz. packets
instead. First off, I was pissed that
she cut in front of me. Second, I was
pissed that she had over forty items in the 12 item or less line. I’ve been through this argument before. Apparently, there is a Supermarket rule that
many items of the same stuff only count as one item. I wouldn’t mind so much if checkers just
counted the items and multiplied the price for one ring up like they did in the
old days. These days, checkers scan each
and every item.
That was bad
enough, but then the lady brings out a handful of coupons that also have to be
scanned individually. Over 80 scans in
the 12 item or less lane.
Just once I
want to go to a supermarket and not get aggravated.
My mom used coupons a lot but those were the good old days where stores would double or even triple the face value on the coupons so it was really a money saving deal. These days when you subtract what they are discounting with the coupon, the end price is still more than the generic and in most cases the generic is better than the name brand or at least equivalent to it. What drives me crazy in the checkout line, and its not because of them being on the program because I think it is a good program and needed, is the WIC (women, infant, children) for eligible moms with children under 5 years old. The program provides healthy food for them in the form of vouchers based on what they qualify for. Its time consuming for the clerks to make sure the paperwork matches what they are qualified to receive, etc. Like I said, great program; just need better bookkeeping to make it more efficient in check out lines. I feel for the participants. They are trying rightfully to get the benefits they are eligible for and there is a growing line of people waiting to check out and usually an inept clerk trying to process it all......
ReplyDeletebetty
I have to agree with you about the coupons.
ReplyDeleteHeh, heh! You made yourself a weirdo magnet. You had the lettuce and tomato, and she had all that salad dressing! I love to watch those couponing shows, but I always feel sorry for the cashier. You know it takes a couple hours to go through all that stuff.
ReplyDeleteWhere I worked, that lady would have been sent to a bigger checkout, with those 40 packets of stuff. We don't do coupons here. The major supermarket have weekly "specials" advertised in a catalogue that gets put in your mailbox, if you are lucky, a day before the specials begin. All that scanning of individual coupons is the biggest reason I can think of for getting rid of them altogether. What a waste of time!
ReplyDeleteGosh, reading this made me thankful I don't go to supermarkets any more. I order on line and my order is delivered. No queuing, no aggravation.
ReplyDeleteI don't mind people using coupons, but I'd like to strangle those who pay by check for a $9 purchase. Really, any check writer annoys me. Cashier has to look at their driver's license, ask it's it's their current address, ask for phone number, copy license number on check, then get a supervisor approval.
ReplyDeleteI have printed the coupon on this post and tried to by some Ritz biscuits which I like. I bought THIRTEEN packets and stood in the TWELVE items or less line. I was told by the cashier that your coupon expired FOURTEEN years ago. Thanx JoeH.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
One of the reasons I use self check out. Besides I really like my cashier.
ReplyDeleteI don't do any coupons either, but I do the store ones. They base their coupons on what you purchase. So we do save money on things we actually buy regularly. I agree that most coupons are wasting money.
ReplyDeleteHave a fabulous day, Joe. 😎
I do not think it would be possible for you to not get aggravated.
ReplyDeleteI never do coupons..I'm too ADD to sit and look through them. However with that nasty virus coming soon to a neighborhood near you those crazy hoarders will be able to last it out with all that salad dressing! Me? I'm going for the chocolate isle to fill up the cupboard..no coupons intended. P.S..You sound very "Hangry" my friend!
ReplyDeleteHow about sending your wife. Mine learned long ago that while she hates the supermarket, I love it, so she stays home and sends me and avoids the aggravation.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE Harbor Freight coupons. When I need new tools, I watch for coupons. I saved $40 on the saw I bought a few weeks ago.
ReplyDeleteBut, it it crazy to use coupons for things you don't need.
The generic is cheaper than the name brand, even with the coupon, so i do not bother. And yes, if a person gets in an express lane with too many items, most stores have the policy of not really enforcing the numbers because they don't want to make customers angry by telling them to put the stuff back in the cart and go to another lane. Turns out, the numbers are just suggestions. It's very aggravating, indeed.
ReplyDeleteNot a suggestion out here. Our express lanes are 10 (or 12) items or less and we will let you get away with probably fifteen, but more than that and you get sent to a bigger checkout. There are occasional exceptions when there is no one lined up at the express lanes and the bugger checkouts have more than three trolleys full, we'll call over the last person in line and zoom them through (boss's orders)especially at the busy times like Easter and Christmas.
ReplyDeletei always find it extra hard work so consider me lazy to chase coupons dear Joe
ReplyDelete