"Coupon Queen' Susan Samtur will appear on TLC's Extreme Couponing tonight at 9 CST. The 40 year coupon veteran uses a robot to assist her in coupon organization.Two years ago couponers anxiously awaited TLC's Extreme Couponing's premiere. While there were skeptics in the beginning, they were outnumbered by the fans and the would-be couponers eager to replicate the savings and learn the magic behind shopping with coupons.
There are three notable changes in the coupon community that have resulted from this show:
1. The increase in coupon blogs --
Shoppers who take their shopping tips and methods online, posting pictures of their hauls and sharing tips for saving money. The tips and tricks may be legitimate and correct however a number of the 'new to coupon bloggers' share incorrect and misleading information.
2. Changes in store policies and coupon redemption terms --
The Bargain Mom blog has featured numerous times over the past few years changes across the industry as more shoppers exhaust the system, bend the rules or infringe on store or manufacturer redemption intentions. This would also include the institution of deal limits, number of coupons allowed per transaction and in some cases ending of double coupons in some areas or lowering double coupon thresholds.
3. Coupon fraud --
While there may not be solid numbers on increased coupon fraud, there is a definite increase in attention given to the practice, often overlooked by extreme couponers and even Sharp Entertainment, producers of the show. Go
ay and the fraudulent coupon market. Fraud would also include insert theft. I received a report from a reader who witnessed a gas station attendant stealing the inserts from all of the Sunday papers one morning for her daughter.
Needing validation:
With all of the points addressed above and the overall change in viewer attitude about the show it would stand to reason the show would end. However the show still has a following, leaving most legitimate couponers puzzled.
The show may be desperate for a makeover from
There is a marked decrease in coupon interest. It could be
, it could be a change in income or shopping needs and habits, it could also be a change in the lack of great deals available or the frustration of dealing with other couponers and shelf clearers.
Thanks
for this link to an interesting report from
the falling redemption trend of coupons.
Four key aspects are featured that align closely with the assumptions I mentioned:
Promotion Support Pullback --
Brands have reduced coupon distribution
Unattractive Offers --
Brands aren't just reducing the number of coupons in the marketplace they are changing face values, shrinking redemption periods.
Private Label --
Store brands have seen a 14 percent increase in sales from 2009 to 2012 but currently are flatlined like national brands.
Unemployment --
The study links unemployment with a decrease in coupon redemption.
According to the report there could be a decrease of 10 percent in coupon redemption for 2012.
While the couponing community and former legitimate couponers may need to be reinvigerated to pick up their scissors and dust off their binders, TLC's EC will be the last place former couponers will look for inspiration.
Each season has featured numerous shoppers using fraudulent coupons listed with the
and spotted frequently in shady eBay auctions. The featured shoppers explain their actions by saying they didn't know the coupons were fake. Many in the coupon community including myself pointed out the obvious error in that excuse.
In what seems to be a desperate attempt to change the show's image of fraudulent coupon use, the show will feature Suzan Samtur of New York also known as Coupon Queen. She claims to be a veteran couponer of 40 years.
She owns and runs a coupon membership club of sorts through her
Her site's about page describes her achievements as being an author, site manager, featured on countless networks and more. 'Cashing in at the Checkout, Coupon Magic and The Super Coupon Shopping System that brought her recognition as the "Coupon Queen." Her national media tours included repeated appearances on every major television show.'
While her credentials and experience are impressive, I doubt her appearance and coupon know-how will be enough to persuade the masses that Extreme Couponing is on the straight and narrow path to couponing with integrity.
A call to the Coupon Queen office was not immediately returned.
The Coupon Queen site does have a pay for membership plan. Here are the details:
"If you choose our free trial. The first $25 in coupons are free, after the trial period ends you will billed $4.95 per month. You will be able to order up to $25 in coupons of your choice each month, plus receive Susan's supershopping DVD and Coupon Queen Organizer. In addition you will have access to all membership areas. The charge goes to cover the handling, processing, and other non-coupon fees. This is a recurring charge and will only be cancelled once your membership is terminated."
TLC shared a profile of each shopper featured in the two show season premiere airing tonight at 9 p.m. CST. Go
.
It's contrived, scripted and overdone. You can bet there will be an issue with the cashier. You can bet there will be a challenge for the shopper to reach a personal best for the camera. You can bet there will be a snarky couponer talking smack about their recent grocery conquests. You can also count on the first robot assisted couponer, Samtur.
The show's inept approach to screening coupon fraud has sapped every single morsel of interest I have in the show for entertainment purposes. However, I will still be watching to spot fraudulent use or methods.
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This is a video of Rudy -- a shopper featured tonight on the show. She's from Georgia.