UPDATE: This has been confirmed by multiple sources as being dead. Done.Over.
Note: As of now, this has just been reported to me by a reader. I have not confirmed this myself – but it does make sense.
Seems as though there was a corporate memo sent down that the Puffs are not to be included in the $5.00 catalina wyb 5 – and that the catalina will be terminated. Remember, this is not confirmed – but I suspect that it will happen. (Thanks, Christina)
Now, I am going to get on my soapbox for a second, so if you don’t want to hear my rant – just scroll down to the next post.
I beg of you – please do not go to the store and buy 100-200-300 of an item that is on a catalina deal like this. There was a time when these deals would last all week – because we went in bought a few here and there. By a few, I even mean 10-15 boxes, but I am seeing posts of people getting 300 boxes of tissues.
I know you may disagree with me, but I have been doing this for quite awhile and the trend is not good. The deals are fewer and fewer every month. I know its tempting to get a ton of tissues or whatever it maybe — but this is killing the deals for all of us. We keep seeing this happen over and over again. Extreme Couponing and Extreme Greed killing the deals. I know some of you will say you are donating etc etc, but it doesn’t matter the store. All they see is a huge cart of product leaving their store.
Anyway back off my soapbox.
Let us know if this works for you.
Lindsey says
The Weis in Lancaster is still honoring this deal. No sign up, some on the shelves. The catalina did not print out after I paid but was given cash back by customer service.
Laura says
I went today (11/3) and there was nothing listed with the tissues about the sale price or the $5 deal. I decided to still check it out and grabbed 6 boxes b/c of my coupon (they still had plenty on the shelf) and went up front. I didn’t get the $5 cat but I did get them at the 4/$5 price our ad had. I then asked about the cat and was told to go to customer service. She then said she was not sure why it didn’t print and they were having issues with it and gave me a $5 gift card. Either she wasn’t informed about this by corporate or this particular store was still going to honor the deal. Regardless, I’m up 6 boxes which I really needed. I considered going back for 6 more but since I had to go to CS I didn’t want to see the same employee again, lol. I’ve considered going to another location to see if they are offering up the deal. BTW- I had no idea that this deal was dead until I checked in today after shopping.
Heather says
i went sunday morning at 9am to get tissues, i did one transaction, my coupon did not print but customer service did print one out for me. I went back today, shelf empty, and sign in place that it was a mistake in the ad..bummed out cause we go through a lot of tissues in my house…but happy i got at least some boxes! and i agree it should be a limit of 1!
Kathy says
I missed out on the Scott deal last week since the shelves were cleared when I went on Sat. Just came back from Weis and no Puffs deal. :( I’m no hoarder and like a deal just as well as everyone else. Boo….hiss !!!!
Gwen says
Was hoping to get the Puff’s. I knew it would be a quick mover, so I tried to go out Sunday, but my car wouldn’t start. Bummer. By the time I got to the store yesterday, shelves were cleared.
I combined the Oct and Nov P&G coupons for Gillette and Old Spice deodorant, and ended up getting 10 deodorants for about $.70 each. Pretty good since my husband refused to use anything but Old Spice!
kayla says
People use donating as an excuse for their addiction. They will soon have a lot more people to donate to, if they don’t let us get our own deals for our family. Disclaimer, I have NOTHING against donating!!!
Doug says
I believe the focus should be on Weis. They should be prepared for these types of sales but they rarely have enough stock. 500 boxes with each person buying 5 would have satisfied only 100 people. I would assume many more than 100 people shop at Weis throughout the week or even in a day and we all have noses and get a cold at some point and could use a tissue.
I think that Weis and other stores running these great deals should be much better prepared.
Deb DeLucia says
I am newly on welfare because of a disability. I received $83 every 2 weeks for non-food items. Keep in mind that includes phone and car insurance, gas and anything else plus paper products and cleaning and bathing products. I am not able to stockpile because of this. The tissue deal would have been important to me, but I had to wait til today to get my money. I would have been thrilled with one deal!
Mary says
Indoor Yardsale for Cheap Grocery Items
…. Check out this person’s page on Facebook. I’ll bet they have Puffs. This makes me physically ill, and the sad part this is someone in my area. This means the shelves are cleared when I shop for MY family.
Aimee says
It has never occurred to me that people would re sell stuff at a yard sale. Really? I can’t buy cheap shampoo for MY FAMILY to use because you are trying to make a profit?!? That is such a shame…
Robin says
Never thought to look on Facebook for these. I have No problem whatsoever passing this information along to P&G.
Grace says
This makes me sick. There is a solution for these type of people. If they want to sell stuff that they get for free from their own homes, they need to have a business license and PAY TAXES like we all do on stuff that we buy at a store. Also, all products need to have it on them “NOT FOR RESALE” . Police and Manufacturers are starting to crack down and you know it is only going to get worse!
renee says
Well I have to say I did leave the Vicks ones there and there were none in the back. We are a family of 6, with 4 children. I ordered 30 boxes specificaly the ones with lotion and they said order will be in by weekend. I have coupons off of 6. Now I have to say I have never bought this many of anything, and I do no clear shelves but my children get sick every year, the school teachers have to pay for their own tissues so they get a little upset when you have runny nose children that have a cold but are ok to go to school so here is another tissue supply. So now I will feel horrible for ordering if they pull the Cat deal. I am sorry if I offend anyone but I did not feel that this was a bad thing. That coupon show gets to me sometimes some are ok but most just hoard.
Q says
My two cents-
I have to say, while I can believe that the puffs were not supposed to be included originally, I don’t think the cat would have been pulled if people had not gone nuts, at least not 24-48 hours after the new ad. I think in the future, it would make sense for it be linked to cards with a limit of one or two (in case you wanted to get the soap, etc., since there are several items on the list). Or make it not rolling? I don’t really know how it all works as I’ve not been couponing very long. It seems like even to me as a newbie, the coupon values aren’t as high, the deals aren’t quite as good, and there are a lot more ETS qs or very short x dates, etc.
I was sadly excited by this because both my husband and I work in a place that makes you get things like tissues OOP. Yes I know that’s stupid, lol. I planned to do the deal twice and keep four at home, four for his work and four for mine. I went once on Sunday, found nearly empty shelves, so I went to another store to do it for a second/last time to find empty shelves. They gave me a rain check and a $5 gift card (which I found VERY odd, but confirmed with the manager before accepting it).
I am so disappointed to find out people went out and shelf cleared. I mean, deals do come around again, but they won’t if you act like that!!! And it’s just tissues!!! I know tissues don’t expire and some people pre-ordered… but still. It may sound communist, but I’d rather have gotten 6 free+tax and the deal ran through the week for others then to have a few people get dozens (or even hundreds apparently).
I’ve been trying to help a friend start qing as she and her husband care for a small child nearly full time, as well two sets of ailing grandparents (one set lives with them, the other live in a hotel).Her family and mine are just trying to make ends meet. I was really sad I had to tell her another great deal was dead because some people have little to no self control.
I think your rant is spot on. I am not so much bummed over free/cheap tissues, (it’s just tissues!!!) as the trend towards blatant excess and fraud. Whenever I see the commercials for “that show,” I look at the products in the cart and imagine someone from the corporate office going “we’re NEVER issuing that coupon again!” Lol. Oh well. Hopefully people who are doing sketchy things get prosecuted or banned from stores, etc. Several extended family members work for a grocery store, and there are some shoppers who they recognize as soon as they walk in the door from previous sketchy transactions, but that only does so much, and you really have to do something bad to be banned (and then the likelihood of everyone in the store recognizing the banned person is pretty slim, etc…).
Okay, I’m done with my rant. That was more like my .99 cents lol.
melissa says
I went to do this deal yesterday early in the evening. They didn’t have any so I asked for a raincheck and how it would work with the $5 catalina. The man told me that the puffs were not to be included and showed me a letter that they got from corp stating it was a misprint. I was bummed.
Andrea says
When we were really struggling with $$ is when I started couponing (in March) and A LOT of Giant MMs came around. I felt sooo lucky that people weren’t shelf clearning because I could use my time to make a little money to feed my family. Now, I buy what I need for my family of 6 (that includes a teenage boy and 2 under 3 so we go through a LOT of STUFF). It’s easy when you are starting a stockpile to think that deals aren’t going to come up again ever, or for a long time. But once you’ve started to watch the ads and deals, you realize that they DO. It irritates me though that people buy hundreds of boxes of something like tissues just because they can. And I also agree…if you are going to donate, buy at the end of the week and let everyone get some.
Kasey says
I guess it’s up to the responsible couponers to make up for the greed of others. This will always be the case. I have 13 children and my husband unemployed for along time. This has been a LIFE SAVER for our family. I try to be respectful, and most of the time get a positive response from the cashier. I feel very blessed to be able to help provide for my family. I have only been doing this for a few months and hope that the deals continue. I can’t help the feeling I get that someone is in a back room working on a way to eliminate this whole coupon thing. I suggest people get a grip or they will be paying full price for things. It’s just not worth it, for ALL of us..
Bonnie says
Awww :( I hadn’t gotten out for the week yet, I was expecting empty shelves, but not a pulled catalina. Good thing I got some while they were part of the gas deals at Giant last week :) I always keep in mind that I can’t get every deal so that I’m not disappointed when these things happen! I’m sure we will see another tissue deal before the season is over.
Judy R says
I agree with your rant 100%…I was able to do the the deal 3 times this morning (my husband has bad allergies and a 4 year old we go through a lot of tissues in this house) I went back to do the deal 2 more times to use the 2 catalinas that I had (I found one in the parking lot…lucky me!) so I could donate the boxes to our church for there food bank and the deal was dead but they did honor my catalinas! There were still about 50 or more boxes left on the shelf at the store I went too!
Lisa says
Ok, There are weeks we get the deals and weeks we miss them!!! The timing for each of us is different and I am certain a good tissue deal will come up again. I was very happy to get 15 boxes but was fully prepared for the shelf to be cleared. This site has saved me thousands and I am glad that I get this info weekly. Many of you complaining have never sat down an figured out the deals on your own. Let’s all be grateful and move on.
Kimberly Attridge says
No Puffs either in Shippensburg PA, Actually went in the morning and they had none – in the evening plenty but a letter saying it was a mistake. I was only going to buy 5 (and we could use more we are a family of 10). Thanks for the rant!!! I have plenty of everything for the most part and I have never shelf cleared (except if there are just a few items) or bought more than 24 things with coupons (and that was cereal of which they had tons). (I’d like to add I have two major devourers of food in my house males 15, and 18 plus a heavy user of soap and shampoo products a 13 year old female) Extreme couponers have got to stop or be stopped. Greed is awful!!!!
JAH says
I am going to put this out there “from the inside” .. that the Puffs were NOT supposed to be part of the deal to begin with. Once corporate realized the error they were banking on their hope that people wouldn’t notice. This was specifically stated. “Hoping they wouldn’t notice.” To which the reply from us was… seriously? This stuff goes viral. there are people all over the internet looking for deals like this and once they find it.. anyone who is hip on couponing knows about. TRUTH!
I also agree if it wasn’t for the EC show most would have no clue and wouldn’t waste the effort. I have been couponing for over 15 years and used to have to figure out all the deals myself. I am grateful for the time savers now.. but seriously if you are buy to “donate.” I agree do it AT THE END OF THE WEEK!!!!!!!!!! Let me get the deals to support my family! And of course I could go on and on and on.
Liesa says
I went to my local WEIS, today. They were completely out of the Puffs and had the corporate letter displayed in their place. Didn’t get the first one and it was only Monday morning. Very disappointed.
Jackie says
I went to my Weis today and they had a sign on the EMPTY shelf saying it was a mistake and was not included in the promo. so no Puffs for me :(
Holly says
I hit 3 different stores today and all were completely out. I agree a limit should be set to keep hoarders from cleaning out.
Heather says
As of 3:30pm today, my Weis store in Lebanon had received a corporate email to remove the Puffs from the deal:(
candy says
Well let’s give a round of applause to TLC !!! I blame them since they had the awesome idea for the show . PPL actually take my free paper and the paper delivery ppl rather give ppl a bag full of papers than to deliver them . There’s a group of ppl near me that take the coupons clear the shelves and sell the stuff down the street from me. I was very happy the other day when I drove by and the police was made them leave the parking lot where they were selling the stuff .
Robin says
Get their information (act like you are interested in buying) and then take a picture and send the information to the manufacturers. Some manufacturers (P&G) are starting to crack down on the reselling of products.
Jeremy says
I picked up 30 on Sunday but there must have been 200 more boxes on the shelf for people to take advantage of the deal. I donate some to family members and I just can’t live without vicks tissues if I get sick lol
Deb DeLucia says
If you think about it Jeremy after you got 30 there were 200 left. That only allows 6-7 people to get thirty each. If people would limit it to one deal then 40 people could get the deal. That still is a smll group of people compared to the number who would want the deal.
janet says
We go through so many tissues in our house that it is ridiculous! I know the solution…I just wear a sweatshirt and wipe the runny nose on my sleeve!!
Jess says
It’s a bummer that the deal may be dead at Weis.Although a lot of you guys are upset about this TLC Extreme Coupon show I still am thankful because it taught me how to use coupons but I know better than to buy 50 or 60 of anything because we are a family of four and are on a tight budget. It just sucks that there are so many selfish people out there.Thanks Shannon for all you do My family and I really appreciate it..
Sheri says
ok let me rant then. I just wanted even 5 and by the time I got to the store it was cleared out. If you want to dontate…then go at the END OF THE WEEK and get whatever is left…not on SUNDAY MORNING!!!!! Let those of us the have colds get in on the deal. I made a special trip to Weis to get them on Sunday morning and they were already sold out. I understand wanting to get enough to hold your family over, but seriously, if you are planning on re-selling or donating, PLEASE buy at the end of the week so those of us that need it can get some too!
t says
There was a memo at the store saying they were never meant to be part of the Dollar Rewards. There were none on the shelf to see if it would still work. I was there around 4.
I completely agree with you Shannon! I felt bad buying 30 boxes of Scotties for gas points last week at Giant. I can’t even imagine the guts it takes to buy hundreds, breaking up each transaction!
Christine says
Agreed. I was thinking the exact same thing. I bought 6 boxes yesterday. It’s a shame so many were not able to take advantage of a great deal because others are so greedy.
Doug says
It was still working as of 1pm today. Don’t know about after that.
Laurel H. says
Well said, Shannon. Amen! We are all losing now because of this type of couponing.
Laurel H. says
Amen, Shannon. Well said. We are all losing now because of this type of couponing.
Anonymous says
I work at Weis overnight, when I left from work on Sunday morning the shelves were completely full with plenty of stock in the backroom. That morning I myself was going to take advantage of the Puffs sale by only getting 6 boxes and using the coupon $1.00 off 6 boxes. I was only going to do the deal once though to get some tissues ant a great price. I forgot my coupons at home the night before and just decided to do the deal on Monday night when I returned to work. I agree with Shannon about the hoarding of deals like this. I would be so embarrassed to do this deal over and over again and I also agree that coupon shoppers should be embarrassed also . We have many LOYAL shoppers that shop at our store every week and now cannot even do this deal once. The store participates in these deals each week to help customers save money on products that they need while shopping there. Not for a customer to come into the store, only buy one product to get free, clear the shelves and leave! Please if you are one of these shoppers. please stop ruining it for the rest of us!
Rebecca W says
Thanks for the rant Shannon…I wish TLC Extreme Couponing would disappear! Would love for people to use common sense and courtesy!
Sarah says
Sorry to hear that “potential hoarding” has ruined another great deal. I got just enough for my family and some to donate. Being in a military family that moves every 3 years, it’s tough to keep a stock of things. Now that I am not working (since we just moved this past summer), couponing and great deals like the Puffs deal helps my famiy out.
Jamie says
I like that you had your little “rant” one of the other coupon sites i follow deletes us if we get upset about things on her site. she recently posted a picture of a friend of hers who had bought a huge quantity of the same item. A few of us following her were upset that she would be supportive of this time of couponing, and questioner her. she then deleted our comments and the next day defended herself saying how we made the person who bought the stuff in the first place cry and how the lady was going to donate most and that she pre-order the item so that she wasn’t a shelf clearer. the reason we were upset was because, the idea of using that many coupon makes companies and store not issue or give good deals so that everyone can enjoy them, they are ruining it for everybody. buying hundreds of one item is just not okay!!!
Jen D. says
Does that mean that the body wash, deodorant etc. will not print the catalina also? Or will they just pull the tissues out of the deal? Was able to get 18 boxes (for 8 people in our household) and am happy with that but would have like to have 12 more. Oh well, thankful for the 18 free!
JAH says
just the tissues are being pulled
crystal says
I called weis in Allentown, Pa and they said that they are no longer doing the puffs deal
Debbie R. says
Just came from the Weis in West Lawn and not a box (small) of Puffs in site. I took the last Gillette body wash off of the shelf too. Somebody definitely cleaned that store out. :( I really would have liked the tissues though…I’m out!
Joy H says
First, there are 2 Joys here so I changed mine to Joy H. I wanted to post this and really you cannot make this stuff up. So I live in WV and there are people here who have tables out in front of their homes and have yard sales everyday. I guess it is how they make their living. I never stop at them. I am sick today and home bound so my son and mother went to get Halloween candy for me and passed one of these yard sale places on the way home. Knowing I did the Puff’s deal yesterday, my son called and said they had a whole table stacked with Puff’s tissues and a sign that only $.30 a box. Now I know where most of the Puff’s in our town went.
Robin says
oh I absolutely HATE when people do this. And I have no problem confronting vendors at flea markets with tables full of stuff for sale that they bought for free.
dawn says
i can’t imagine getting 300 of anything, now that is greedy and the sad part is they probably don’t give it away. thank you for the post, yes the great deals are getting more scarce. I have NEVER watched the Extreme couponing show. I think it is very sad they film people’s greed when in REALITY couponing has become an essential in many of our lives. Keep up the rants we all need a reality check!!!! Thanks for the great work you do!!!
Tara says
I agree with everyone! I didn’t make it there yesterday because I chose to have a relaxing day with my family and now I can’t even get the 10 I wanted because of people being greedy and rude. Makes me sick for those of us trying to keep our families afloat
Shannon Boozer says
Joy- do not feel bad for buying 30. I bought 82 boxes. Now before everyone starts yelling at me, let me explain why… I like you NEVER buy an excess of any sale items. most of my stockpile has been accumulated over a long period of time. I had been saying for 2 weeks that I needed to buy some tissues, but I missed the scotties deal at Giant-due to having a sick kid, so when I saw this deal I planned to buy 20 boxes- keep in mind i have a 2 and 4 year old. then I told my parents about the deal and they asked me to get them 30 boxes- they have 8 grandkids and my dad is paralyzed and always sick so 30 boxes will not last them long at all. on my way to the store my sister, who was just leaving the doctors office with her sick 3 and 9 year old children asked me to get her some too. i went to the store at 1pm on sunday and my store had hundreds of tissues on the shelf and 3 end caps full.- but they were mostly all the vicks ones- which are my dads favorite:) but i did not clear any shelves. i completely agree with shannon about not being greedy and buying wayyy to much of one item and i share your guilt, but we all have to do what is best for our families:)
Joy says
This is my first comment on this site and I’m relatively new to couponing. I was going to use my puffs coupons for 24 boxes because we have already gone through several boxes from a giant deal a month ago because of colds. I actually thought 24 boxes was a lot but I thought, well we would actually use it. I’m upset that extreme couponing and greed is making it hard for me to get a few deals to help my family. I stay a home with two special needs boys. All the deals I was going to try this week ended up dead because of corporate policy at my store. I was also told at my local walmart that the store is not honoring the $2/1 any Tide product for the travel size because of a corporate memo that came down, not because of P&G not making the product. I’m new to coupong but I just want to get good deals to help my family, not be greedy. Ugh, that’s my rant.
angie says
I SO agree! While I love couponing, and getting deals, I agree that the extremes are ruining deals in general. I ‘m glad I’m not the only one who sees this and thinks this…rant on!
scott says
C’mon Weis, easy solution…limit 1 – problem solved
Shannon says
Yep, limit 1. This is the smart solution.
Danielle says
TOTALLY agree!!! The weird thing is they do limit on some deals! My shelves were cleared too, and I have a family of 5 many of us alergy sufferers… one box of tissues a day is NOTHING for us. Just wanted to do the deal twice, didn’t even get one box. Huge bummer!
Robin says
I wonder if the stores have the capability to limit 1 on the catalina deals? In other words, can they interface with the catalina machine to know if a customer’s card has already been used for a deal?
Danielle says
At my store they limit one “deal” per transaction so they would have to limit the # of transactions I’d think.
Amanda P says
I agree. They need to learn from Rite Aid and just put limits on these kinds of deals. I went to Weis after church on Sunday and the shelves were clear. Ridiculous.
Melissa McKenna says
I couldn’t agree,more! And as wonderful as it is to donate, I am beginning to think some just need their “deal fix” then donate whatever they can’t give away or store. In fact I know this because I know someone like this. It’s not really the thought that counts then, the donation is an after thought. It is killing the deals for those of us who might be close to being in those shelters ourselves.
kayla says
I agreecompletely. People use donating as an excuse for their addiction. They will soon have a lot more people to donate to, if they don’t let us get our own deals for our family. Disclaimer, I have NOTHING against donating!!!
Robin says
I agree with what you are saying Shannon in regards to shelf clearing. I wish Extreme Couponing would just go away!
I do however disagree with the corporate decision. Whether or not it was a mistake, it is printed in the ad and the ads are designed to get people into the store. I understand misprints, but if there is a misprint, the company needs to eat it and hold the people responsible for proofreading the ads. They can always limit the amount of stock sent to the stores and limit rainchecks to 1.
I just don’t think it is fair to the customer to change a deal midweek. The Puffs deal is the only reason I will be going to Weis this week and the closest store is 20 minutes away. Luckily, I will already be in the area tonight, so I’m not driving just for that. But there are many weeks that I do drive there just for the deals.
Weis seems to be starting a habit of changing deals mid week (remember the double dip on the vegetables?). Rite Aid was doing this a lot there for awhile too. IDK, maybe I’m wrong, but I just don’t think changing the ‘rules’ mid week is fair to the customer.
Shannon says
Robin,
The catalina deals are not pulled by the store, but by the manufacturer.
I don’t think the store/manufacturer is necessarily right by pulling it mid week, but they always reserve the right to do so in their ads and they have a disclaimer on the ad that they can do it.
I guess they never did this before – even when there were deals like this — and so I am only assuming its stemming from how extreme people are going.
JAH says
This WAS pulled BY the store. This was a store catalina not a Puffs sponsored catalina. Those say manufacturer coupon on them when they print. Store sponsored cats say Store Coupon on them.
Rebecca G. says
You go Shannon!! I totally agree!! I wish there was just enough for everyone to get a couple or so. Getting more than that is insane. This is a tough economy and for a few people to spoil it for the rest of us is rude.
Maryfran says
Shelves are empty here as well.
Thank you for speaking out, Shannon! Its becoming more and more difficult to shop within the boundaries of our local stores’ coupon policies and its quoted to us that its because of extreme couponers.
rose fann says
i totally agree..our local stores are putting less on the shelves since that dang show aired…and some are not offering rainchecks either..i shop at both our rite aid and cvs and they know me..i love using coupons, but i will not take all on the shelf…thanks for the vent..i needed it to.. :)
spurzzies says
Thanks for the rant. I think that your right the people that are clearing shelves and such when this kind of deal comes along makes the stores not want to continue these deals. I think you should only get what you need. Even like you said if it’s 10-15 boxes that should last you quite awhile at least long enough till the deal comes around again. No need to go crazy and ruin a good thing.
Alexis says
woot woot! AMEN Shannon! :)
jenna says
I have tried several times to explain this concept to mostly newer couponers many who watch the tlc show and they never understand. They haven’t seen the new rules ie rite aid and p&gs 4 like coupons. Or how great deals have started to dry up as my friend puts it. I do love when you get on your soapbox makes me feel like im not as crazy as others think.
joy says
I never shelf clear. We have had such a lean year and for the first time I did take advantage of both the Cottonelle and Puff’s deal. I have a daughter at college and an elderly mother and i have to buy for me and them as well. So when I went for the Puffs yesterday with my son needing 5 boxes for school a semester plus my daughter plus my Mom, I thought 30 boxes was reasonable this one time. I left plenty of boxes on the shelf. Now I feel guilty. Great my first time buying large quantity and I feel like an idiot. Sorry :(
Shannon says
Joy,
30 is not 300 and I am not trying to make people upset – I am talking about people who are doing this on a regular basis. Didnt mean to make you upset :(
Anne says
yeah – 30 is definitely not 300! i don’t have a big family, so like i said – i just get what is useful for my family (which is what you did!). good job, and don’t be upset!
joy H. says
I just feel so much frustration lately. The snide remarks from fellow customers, 50% of the time the shelves are cleared and so on. I just felt yesterday I went for it because I could finally capitalize on a good deal. I am a cautious couponer. I review them twice before checkout. At Martins or Weis, I limited my trip to no more than 30 coupons per order. If I need to use more, I go back on a different day. At the drug stores, I only take advantage of the deal one time and no more. The only major stockups I have done in the last few months are (12) boxes of cereal, (9) packs of Cottonelle and (30) Puffs.
I am constantly explaining to people I am not one of those couponers on TV, I don’t buy 100 of anything but I still get the looks. My daughter in college got so upset one day at Walmart that she cried on the way home. We went in to buy 15 items and we had a coupon for all. A few were moneymakers. The total oop was less than $2. The cashier was clearly annoyed that I had coupons. She looked at the people behind us in line and said she was sorry it was taking so long and i quote “we get a few of these a days. you know people try to get something for nothing while the rest of us pay for it”. So I guess lately I am sensitive to all of it. I really do appreciate this site. I think we need local support groups, lol.
Janet says
I bet the cashier was just jealous…..not to mention rude! ;-)
Robin says
I would report the comments to the manager or corporate. There is no reason you should feel bad for following the rules and trying to provide for you family at a lower cost. Don’t feel bad or down about what you are doing!
Grace says
OMG she actually said that to you? I would have flipped out and told her “the day you start paying for my stuff is the day I will not use a single coupon in your line”. How stinking rude!
Heather says
i totally agree grace! cashiers have no business to say something like that, unless they are paying for it!
Christine says
What does it matter to that girl? She gets paid the same minimum wage whether or not her register till is full of cash or coupons. I would have given her an earful and then reported her to her manager.
Grace says
Don’t feel bad! 30 is not THAT many and like you said you left more on the shelf. It’s the people that leave with a whole truck load full and wipe out the shelf that are wrong and are messing it all up for us who just want to get on the deal once.
rose fann says
i have to say you did what you felt you needed to do..it is hard times and she is talking more like ppl grabbing all on the shelf..
Robin says
I don’t think 30 is too much if you are donating to a school and have a larger family. One box could be gone in a day if you are sick! Don’t beat yourself up over it.
Natalie says
I think 30 is a lot.
Robin says
Well, if there are 4 people in your household and they are all sick for 3 days, right there is 10 or so boxes of tissues gone with one round of illness. So, if you don’t have kids or never get sick, then 30 may be too many. But for the rest of us, going through a box of tissues in a day or two over the winter is nothing. Therefore, to buy 30 boxes of tissues to last a few months is not too many.
The rule of thumb for normal couponers is to buy what you use at the lowest price AND buy enough to last you until it is at the lowest price again. So, in general, buying a 3 month supply of something is normal for regular (non-extreme) couponers.
On some items, like tissues, the best price only comes around at a certain tiome of the year so that is when you buy it. I bought around 20 or so boxes this time last year and they lasted until this summer until my daughter started going through them with mild alergies. That is why I bought 30 boxes last week with the Giant gas deal. Those 30 boxes will last me at least 6-9 months depending on how the cold season goes this year. And, I got them at the lowest price possible.
Now, would I buy 30 boxes of cereal at a time? No, since I can get the best price every month or two. But, this is the time of year to stock up on tissues since you can get the best price now. Just like late Spring/early Summer is the time to stock up on bbq sauce and ketchup.
While it may sound like a lot, buying 30 boxes of tissues at a price of FREE at the beginning of cold and flu season is not a lot for any normal couponer.
Grace says
Thanks for the update Shannon!
Grace says
This really stinks. I was hoping to get about 24 with my 4 coupons I have $1/6 boxes. I went in today and my store was wiped out clean. They said more are coming in on Wednesday so I will go in and see if I can do it at least one time.
Tiff says
Amen, Shannon! Greedy hoarders are ruining couponing for the majority of us.
Beth says
Yeah, I wish there was a “secret handshake” so to speak, to get the info on deals to the non greedy couponers. I was really counting on getting the tissues. Personally we should be on government assistance (& not knocking anyone who is) but I refuse to have the govenment to be my provider. So when deals come about, I look as it as provision from the Lord. Too bad some extreme couoponers have fouled it up. I might still go to the store & see if htere is any/ or the deal is still on. However I can’t get there until Wed, so I wonder how much of a chance there really is :-(
Lauren H. says
Oh man – was hoping to grab a few but my shelf was empty:( I also suspected this deal wouldn’t last. Thanks for helping everyone to see the big picture Shannon. You’re so right…
Cathy says
hmmm…I got a rain check yesterday…will they still honor it? Anybody have experience with that?
Anne says
oh, i <3 your rant – i never buy more than the absolute minimum that i need to reach the deal once, maybe twice – so it's never exceeded 10 of the item (and even that was only twice!), and yet i am still able to donate a lot of stuff to the food bank. the stuff that i donate is all the stuff either i have plenty of in my stockpile, or that i (or anyone else i know) do not use (like geriatric stuff!). so, rant away! i'll cheer you on :)
JAH says
Yes, this is true. My manager today called our buyer because the school district wanted a few hundred cases. The buyer told us that the Puffs were never supposed to be included in the P&G promo deal. They were going to let it ride since it was in the flyer but since most everybody’s shelves are cleared they are limiting quantities. I was told that the offer limit is now 1 offer.
Kristine says
I heard that they stopped this deal ~ any truth before I head out tomorrow