Reply
Super Contributor
Posts: 255
Registered: ‎09-20-2017

Re: Extreme couponing

[ Edited ]

This show is not made anymore.   This is more than an obsession, it's an addiction for these people.   Very, very few donate what they buy, it's all about the size of your stash.   Most of the episodes showing donations were done strictly for the show.   When you see them buying pallets of items, they have made arrangements ahead of time with the store.  

 

The coupon broker "industry " was very large and shady until it got so out of control that the FBI stepped in and began raiding these operations.   There were so many excellent quality counterfeit coupons being sold (and used ) in bulk that the manufacturers like Proctor and Gamble were losing hundreds of millions of dollars every year.   There was an interesting documentary that followed the investigation and raids of two different operations.. Because of all of the counterfeiting stores and manufacturers have put limits in place.  The people running these operations made millions of dollars tax free.   

 

No one needs 200 containers of Tide,  mouthwash,etc or 10 pallets of paper products.   Paper towels are apparently the most prized possessions of these hoardes. It takes days of planning to do these trips and if even one  $.50 item is off it will change the total on a  $25 trip (after coupons ) to hundreds of dollars.  Very little everyday food was purchased like vegetables, meat, dairy or produce.   Someone on the HSN boards used to do extreme couponing many years ago and explained exactly how it worked. 

Honored Contributor
Posts: 17,892
Registered: ‎07-03-2013

Extreme couponers have forced manufacturers to change couponing.  Digital coupons are taking over.  It limits how many coupons you can use in one transaction.  I read somewhere that paper coupons will be a thing of the past.

Honored Contributor
Posts: 16,468
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

I have no respect for those doing extreme couponing.  They are taking advantage of companies to the detriment of the rest of shoppers.

 

Some say they donate what they personally can't use, but then I've seen massive stocks on library-sized shelves in their homes and I susect much goes to waste.   And evben if it doesn't, it still feels off to me.  Plenty of companies already make massive donations to food pantries in their communities or ship huge donations to areas hit by natural disasters.  I see no reason why I if I were an extreme couponer should get "credit" for making a donation someone really paid for by someone else.  How sad.

Honored Contributor
Posts: 38,194
Registered: ‎08-19-2010

always a bad apple in the barrel no matter what it is. The good people have to pay for the shiftless ones. I just got an email from a credit card company telling me my account had been locked due to suspicious activity, etc.

 

I called them myself and guy told me it was a spam email. Phishing. To disregard it.   Can't believe this is all people have to do. get a job.

Honored Contributor
Posts: 21,055
Registered: ‎10-25-2010

@Sooner wrote:

@kitcat51 wrote:

I don't clip coupons at all but if someone wants to take it to the extreme, good for them & it's none of my business what they do with the items. 


@kitcat51 But is it right to grab it all and keep others from enjoying a benefit?  Isn't that wrong and isn't that all of our business?  When things affect us all, yes, it's our business.


I don't understand what you are trying to say.

 

If someone  went in to a store and bought hundreds of items and paid cash, how is that any different from buying hundreds of items and using coupons?

 

Most stores have a huge inventory in the stock room that they can restock the shelves with.  Even if an item is sold out, they will get a new delivery probably the next day.  

 

In my area there are a lot of Amish.  I often see them go to the local Walmart and buy every bottle of Gatoraid on the shelves.  They must have at least 10 carts or more, all filled to the top with all sizes of bottles and multiple packs.  

 

No one says anything, though people do look.  The store is wanting to sell their items, they get reimbursed for the coupons, so it is a win-win.

 

Why would a customer even think to save items for someone else?

 

Okay, maybe during a national disaster or storm, but not on a regular day.

Honored Contributor
Posts: 20,648
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

I don't know if this is the answer, but I remember seeing some of the people on that coupon show who would steal papers and steal from other peoples' driveways to get as many coupons as possible.

 

Also, as to the donating - from all the episodes with which I was familiar there were like two people who actually did that.  All the rest were hoarding the food items for themselves.

Honored Contributor
Posts: 14,899
Registered: ‎03-15-2014

Some of them may donate, but I've heard that some sell their stuff on eBay.  Nothing wrong with that of course but I'd be wary of buying food and household goods from an eBay seller.

Respected Contributor
Posts: 4,967
Registered: ‎09-15-2016

Re: Extreme couponing

[ Edited ]

@Sooner wrote:

@kitcat51 wrote:

I don't clip coupons at all but if someone wants to take it to the extreme, good for them & it's none of my business what they do with the items. 


@kitcat51 But is it right to grab it all and keep others from enjoying a benefit?  Isn't that wrong and isn't that all of our business?  When things affect us all, yes, it's our business.



@Sooner wrote:

@kitcat51 wrote:

I don't clip coupons at all but if someone wants to take it to the extreme, good for them & it's none of my business what they do with the items. 


@kitcat51 But is it right to grab it all and keep others from enjoying a benefit?  Isn't that wrong and isn't that all of our business?  When things affect us all, yes, it's our business.


They can buy as much as the store allows & they don't  need your permission or mine...it's nobody's business.

Respected Contributor
Posts: 2,955
Registered: ‎08-13-2010

When this show aired after that seems most stores will limit. I even saw Costco say limit of 5 this way we all get a chance. I just need one. I have this nice coupon holder with tabs where I separate cleaning, drugs, meat etc... I would alphabet each section I have not used that in years. The shoppers card is great & saves the cashier time too. Once in awhile I may have a paper coupon. 

Honored Contributor
Posts: 10,168
Registered: ‎03-14-2010

Re: Extreme couponing

[ Edited ]

The people on these shows seem to be devoted to the whole coupon thing...like a full time job. I don’t have the space to store 50 bottles of ketchup, etc. I have noticed most coupons now are for junk food. The show sort of creeps me out and some of the people who do this make me sad. I see no glory in getting 20 bags of chips for a couple of bucks.  

TOP