Is your store stocked or cleared out?
I know some of you new coupon shoppers are feeling rather let down, as you put forth the effort to plan the perfect shopping trip. Only to get to the store and find the shelves empty. I wish I had the perfect answer but unfortunately I do not, but here are a few tips I have learned over the years.
Few reasons the store may not have the items in stock:
More coupon shoppers- TLC ‘s new show Extreme Couponing has really brought a lot of attention to couponing in the last month. I was talking with my local store manager and he said they have seen a dramatic increase. There are more coupon binders in the store than ever before, which they love. They are working hard to order in enough products but do not want to be stuck with overstock either. It is a balancing act, and they will get better at knowing supply and demand as time goes on.
Store has a limited supply- Many stores like Walgreens only get an allotted number of the hot promo items for that week. They are more of a quick-stop-shop store NOT a warehouse. This number is normally based on past sales and earning. Stores that get a limited supply are great to get a good deal at….BUT we do not encourage you to stock up or buy large quantities.
Stores do not know of sales that match with coupons- Most stores are aware of the upcoming sales and what their projected sales may be. BUT what many of them do not know is the coupons that may match up with these sales. Thus turning an “ok sale” into a stock up frenzy. For example a store may know that $.50 for a bottle of Propel water is a good price and they may sell 500 bottles, and order accordingly . But they may not know there is a $1.00 off 2 coupon making them FREE. Which means they now have more people wanting the item and the need goes from 500 bottles to 2,500. Most stores would love to move 2,500 bottles they just need to know ahead of time, so they can order in time. I encourage you to get to know your store managers, tell them about upcoming match ups and help them know what to order.
Some stores value coupon shoppers others do not- Not all stores understand the benefit of having coupons used in their store. I have met personally with some store managers that are clueless as to how coupons work, and the fact they they do in fact get paid by the manufacturer for the full face value of the coupons PLUS an $.08 handling fee. They see it as a hassle, choose not to stock up for sales, and really wish you would shop somewhere else. If this is the case, the only advice I have is to try and educate them with a smile, or if you are a chicken like me shop somewhere else 
When to shop- You need to be aware that there are better times to shop than others. The first day of the sale, or the day they restock is normally the best time. Early morning is often a good time, because they restock at night at many stores. Don’t hesitate to ask when the next shipment comes in and plan accordingly. Also do not get upset if you walk in the last day of the sale and find empty shelves, as much as the store would love to have every product you want….. do not take it personally if others get to the items first.
Place and order- Many stores will allow you to place an order, if you are buying in large quantities. This will allow you to get what your family needs but not take away from others. Most of my local stores do NOT do this, but I know many other areas do.
Other coupon shoppers clear the shelves - Yes it is sad but not everyone’s Mommy taught them to “play nice” and some couponers will clear the shelves, and buy many more than they really need. BUT getting upset at others actions, really does not help anything. Do not spend hours mourning the loss of your “could have been deal”. Try to lead by example and show the better way to shop. Also do not be to quick to judge, many people will say all I wanted was one…. and that lady took 6. What you may not know is that lady has 10 kids, and she drove 45 minutes to get to the store. Everyone’s needs are different, and if they really are just being greedy then shame on them… but it does us no good to judge others
Most important rule of all THERE IS ALWAYS ANOTHER SALE- do not let coupons rule your life. Getting a good deal is fun, and helps me provide for my family….. it needs to fit into my life but not take over my life. If you try to hit every sale, and shop every store you will in deed get lots of good deals but at what price? Freebies or good deals are never worth it, if it means my kids do not have time with Mommy. If you miss out on a sale it is ok, another one will roll around……
What tips do you have? I would love to hear them
Leave a Comment: 22 comments
Filed Under: Extreme Couponing, Q and A, Thrifty tips
Join our Free Forum
{ 22 comments }
What I have found useful to me is to wait until after the trucks come in (Thursday mornings) and shop then. By then most of the Coupon Crazies have used up all there coupons and now I have the opportunity to purchase my items and not have to worry about all the fuss and upset people because they ran out of a certain product. I too live in a small town where bargains and coupons are used and I think limiting the RR’s and coupons are a good way to stay in good terms with the community. Walgreen’s offers the best deals in town, even though we have a huge CVS, I won’t shop at CVS due to the fact that most of the time the employees are upset because I used coupons on all my purchases. They are not very friendly and offer no smiles or greeting. I want to shop where I feel comfortable and know that I will have a great shopping experience.
Great post!! I love how you talk about don’t let couponing take over your life! I just said to myself today I am not going to go to any of the stores this week. One I have a pretty good stock right now and Two I am tired of chasing all the deals right now. Thanks for the reminder!!
thank goodness! now maybe those of us who keep sunday sacred will be able to find some needfull items on monday.
Thank you for posting this! It’s a real eye opener for us newbies.
I do find myself ‘discouraged’ at times when I miss out on the ‘must have deal’, but there are always other sales. I always look fwd to receiving your email updates!
Love the post EC, TY! I never tought about RCs’ when albertsons(only store dbler around here that I know of) is OOS…My thought was, if i get a RC, the dbls are already over, LOL silly me! and in response to the shelf clearers may be donating to needy…ALOT of us couponers are needy and just trying to scrape by w/out having to go to the foodbank. I believe the foodbanks would be just as gracious with a bag or 2 of donations just the same as a pallet or 2.
great article!I have found the frustration with one store in particular. Last week this one store took off their sales tags on Friday when the sale wasn’t over until Sat. They wouldn’t give me a raincheck, so I then drove down to the other store of the same chain and they did honor and give me a raincheck. Need to know like you said you just might not get the deal, which makes me realize not to take couponing on as a lifestyle and they each store even in the same chain has different ways of doing things. thanks for your advice, keep it up.
Thanks for these tips! I just this week started entering the world of couponing. I’m finding it to be fun, but still a bit confusing and frustrating. I figured I’d try it because baby #2 is coming in July, and I will have a 3 month unpaid leave, plus reduced hours when I go back.I’d like to help out our budget as much as possible. Thankfully your site and a few others are really helping me match things up and make sense of it all. So far I’ve gotten some really good deals, and a few totally free items. I can see how this could become quite addicting! Thanks for the help.
I have always used coupons. I like watching the.show on tlc. I have never been that good, we only have one store here in our small town that doubles 50cent coupons to a dollar. I have maybe saved 30% at best, which is still a savings for.us. The show kind of make me sick though. Some of them donate to less fortunate but the majority they have shown do not. They are Hoarders. Who needs 2000 sticks of deodorant?? I would be embarrassed to buy 40 of them ay a time just b/c I could. They seem greedy. I love your tips and attitude.
I love that you mentioned to not judge when someone does “clear the shelves”. Yes there are certain instances where it may just be ridiculus greed, but there are also times where it may be out of necessity or even to donate and how is anyone to know the difference? I also want to mention that if you are someone who “needs” to clear the shelves there are “more fair” ways to do it. Sometimes I will buy just a few of something at the beginning of the sale and then go back at the night the sale ends and buy a larger quantity or get a rain check if they are out.
Great article- lots of good reminders
Thanks!
I love your positive attitude! Sometimes you just have to think outside the box too. And remember…even though it’s nice to get stuff for 90% off or more…let’s be realistic, 50-60% savings is still a great deal!
Rainchecks are great but remember they usually expire in 30 days unless the store hasn’t been able to get stock so Jennifer you may want to use it early. I went to Albertsons yesterday and most of the things I went for they were already out of but I had two ladies approach me and ask me how long I have been couponing for and if I needed any extra doubles. What nice couponers, right! These are the ones that make it worth it and make it to where you can forgive the bad ones. I was also able to give them each A Thrifty Mom business card to give them some guidance, I got these from one of the giveaways and keep them in my binder for when someone ask me about couponing.
Thank you for your post! My ideas? Make sure to ask the store if they have any in stock in the back. Sometimes they do but haven’t had a chance to bring it up to the front. Raincheck, raincheck, raincheck! And honestly, if you hold on to the raincheck long enough before the coupon expires, there might be doublers again. Albertsons was out of an item, I ordered 40 coupons from a clipping service and they don’t expire until July. I KNOW Albertsons will have doublers again before then and I’ll still be able to get my cleaning supply for free. I also took my sister shopping last night, Tuesday, the last night of the sale and doublers. There were still 30 boxes of Nature Valley granola bars on the shelf at 10:30 p.m. She bought them all. Now for me personally, $1.25/box isn’t a stock up price. For her, it is. The store was closing in 30 minutes so I honestly didn’t feel bad about clearing the shelf of that item, especially when I was able to give a fellow couponer my 11 AMP coupons so they could take advantage of that sale and I wasn’t going to use them at all. I also have a coupon buddy that I shop with and we share. It makes it so much more fun – we actually have strengthened our friendship through couponing. Sometimes we have a cart full of items and someones maybe not even a full bag because we didn’t get the deal. But we always have fun! We feel that we get out of it what we put into it which is the adventure and commraderie that we share and if we are able to score some great deals on top of it . . . all the better. If not, well at least we had fun trying!
Thank you for this post. I was feeling really discouraged. I started to coupon before the show came on tlc and was really getting into finding ways to save my family money and stretch our budget. I have got rainchecks and for 3wks I go back to the CVS sometimes 2-3x a week to use thos rainchecks and they are still out. I have tried other stores as well. It can become very fusterating, especailly when I dont buy in excess I just buy what my family needs and dont have a huge stockpile, I just dont see the point in having a years supply when things go on sale more than once a year! Thank you for your post today!!!! I needed it.
@Kayla Rainchecks mean you can get the items for that price another time. Perhaps the next time you are in the store not during the sale and they have the item in stock, you can use that raincheck to get the sale price later. Make sense?
I say RAINCHECKS RAINCHECKS RAINCHECKS!! It’s getting bad here in little Nampa. I go and the shelves are empty. Frustrating, but oh well. Get a raincheck or come back later when you know they’re going to be restocking!
Thanks for the post. I love couponing and have been trying to teach my sister the secret art of couponing. The one thing I would totally encourage is being extremely nice to the cashiers. I know I get frustrated and tired by the end of a shopping trip, but just talking to the cashiers makes all the difference. Even the “scary” cashiers now know me by name and tell me all the good deals.
Thanks for this post.
My suggestion is to be flexible. Be happy when you get a good deal and be happy still when you don’t get your planned shopping trip.
I have found it helpful to talk to the store managers and establish a friendly relationship, most of them have been very helpful and are more than willing to try to order ahead of time for a sale coming up.
I am finding more empty shelves, but there are still deals hit or miss. I am just grateful that I am still able to save with coupons and occationally able to stock up on items here and there on our families needs. With all of the attention on the coupon craze I have cut back on my multiple trips to the store (per week) and I am actually much happier and less moody!
That was a great post. I have been couponing for 2 years and am becoming more discouraged all the time. The deals are not nearly as good as they used to be and it’s getting harder to find anything in stock at all. I hope this passes, but I’m not holding my breath. I still think couponing is wonderful, but it is sad to see what’s happened. I don’t know if it’s the economy, or the increase in couponers or the show, but hopefully things will pick up again.
I didn’t see Kayla’s post. They don’t hold the item for you or let you know. You can just get the item at the price previously advertised and at the drug stores you can get the rr or extra bucks that were part of the sale as well.
Get a Rain Check and go back and get the items you want at your convenience!
I don’t have any tips, but I’d like to say that I went into Walgreens on this past Mon morning, and as you know they have the BOGO Rightguard body wash and the Sunday paper had the BOGO coupon, making 2 bottles for free. I went to Walgreens and wouldn’t you know it, there was only ONE bottle left. I’ve heard you can ask for a raincheck for the product. When you ask for a raincheck, do they hold the product off to the side for you? Or do they just call you and let you know when they’re restocked again? Thank you!
Thank you for this post!
Comments on this entry are closed.