It’s something we’ve all heard, about the best way to stick to a healthy diet: don’t shop when you’re hungry. A new study shows there’s some truth to that. Throw coupons into the mix, and shopping while hungry could be even more hazardous to your health. The study, “Fattening Fasting: Hungry Grocery Shoppers Buy More Calories, Not More Food“, appears[Read More…]
“We’ll take it – this time.” If you’ve ever been told that before, you know that little phrase can be like fingernails on a blackboard. It’s what cashiers and managers say to end a disagreement over a coupon, when they don’t want to admit that you’re right, but just want to make you go away. Now the industry may be[Read More…]
We’ve all experienced it – the coupon-hating cashier or manager who looks for every excuse not to accept your coupons, or rolls their eyes when you try to use any. On the corporate level, though, stores at least pretend to be coupon-friendly – even when they’re not. But when they get together to talk shop, you might be surprised at[Read More…]
Hundreds of companies victimized. Thousands of customers scammed. Tens of millions of dollars raked in. And two years in prison. That’s fair, right? That was the sentence handed down today to 41-year-old Robin Ramirez, the ringleader of a counterfeit coupon operation that was busted in Phoenix last summer. Ramirez pleaded guilty in February to charges of counterfeiting, fraud and illegal[Read More…]
“I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream!” And then you get punched in the face. In the latest unfortunate case of coupon-related assault, a New York man faces charges after he allegedly attacked a Carvel ice cream store clerk who refused his expired coupon. Police in Valley Stream, New York say 59-year-old William Hotz ordered an ice[Read More…]
Studies, surveys and simple observations have shown that more men are going grocery shopping, and using coupons these days. But are they any good at it? Just ask their wives – as soon as they stop laughing. A new survey says women still do the majority of the shopping and coupon-clipping. And many of the women say it’s because they’re[Read More…]
If you’ve been couponing for a while, there’s a good chance you’ve checked out Recyclebank, where you earn points that can be redeemed for coupons. Anyone can sign up and earn points by participating in quizzes, learning environmental tips, taking surveys or pledging to take “green actions”. But the most points – and, sometimes, the best coupons – are available[Read More…]
A single coupon policy change may be a fluke. Two is a little more troublesome, three makes it a trend, and by the time you get to four, it may be a sign that this is becoming the new normal. For the fourth time now, the country’s largest supermarket chain is ending double coupons in many of its stores. This[Read More…]
There’s been a lot of hand-wringing in the industry over the fact that fewer of us are redeeming coupons. And there’s been a lot of complaining from couponers that the value of available offers is going down. Put the two together, and you reach the obvious conclusion: we’re using fewer coupons, because the coupons are crummy. But an analysis of[Read More…]
It seemed like a good idea at the time – play along with a fast food chain’s PR stunt, and the whole town wins coupons! But one New York community is finding out that many residents just aren’t interested. Welcome to Coeymans, a small town nestled in New York’s Hudson Valley just south of Albany, the state capital. Or, as[Read More…]
