There's a hot article on Yahoo Finance right now about the Extreme Couponing show and how the couponing market has responded.
It's called -
Extreme Coupons: TV Show Draws Extreme Backlash by Farnoosh Torabi
Here's an excerpt:
Industry watchers say TLC's popular reality show, Extreme Couponing -- which depicts coupon-obsessed men and women spending 30 to 40 hours a week cutting coupons to net pounds and pounds of groceries for pennies on the dollar (exhausted yet?) -- may be causing more harm than good in the real world.
On the retail front, some big retailers -- wary of couponing copycats -- are pushing back on former coupon allowances for ordinary shoppers.
The article then sites the recent
and the
as examples of how the show is affecting everyday shopping.
In part I agree that this show has not been a good thing.
1. There is constant bickering and complaining about the show.
2. Policy changes have happened and limits have popped up at stores everywhere.
3. Fraud and coupon insert thieves seem to be more rampant (although seriously this isn't a new problem)
However, do we blame the show for everything? I think not.
Greed has been around far longer than the show and the need to accumulate stuff has always been an issue in the couponing world.
Coupon redemption fraud has been going on long before the show hit the air.
I say it's a good thing that misuse and ethics are now topics of conversation thanks in part to either the blatant disregard for ethics or the ignorance of the
If you think about it -- most of the people in charge of producing the show probably don't coupon and could care less how it's done properly or improperly.
They want the ratings.
Don't overlook another form of fraud
...
ANOTHER FRAUD ISSUE THAT IS BEING OVERLOOKED:
THE 'I'M GOING TO DONATE THIS' LINE
Just because someone says they 'donate' to food pantries or shelters doesn't mean they are.
Technically there may not be any real legal fraud going on with those lines, however they are trying to fraud people who watch them with the act of servitude, and I'm not buying it.
I'm not big on telling folks about my 'donating' practices because I'm not looking for a pat on the back, nor am I trying to justify a purchase.
What bothers me are the throngs of couponers claiming to 'donate' to area food banks to justify their hauls.
If you're donating it for the right motivations you don't have to tell me about it. Do it because you want to help, not because you want recognition.
Moving right along...
I say we move on from the arguing and ranting about the show. It will run it's course. We will learn to deal with stores and their policy changes if any. We will continue to play by the rules and we will continue to provide more for our families for less.
You're creative, you can do it.
Plus I'm all for retailers, manufacturers and coupon industry regulators paying attention to the guidelines and trends. In the long run it will expose the 'bad couponers' and the legitimate, law abiding citizens of the couponing community will be left sharing information, tips and savings.
So now let me hear from you -- should I change my mind? Do I need to have a different opinion? What do you think of the article....