[sspunk]

Has anyone noticed MAJOR price increases at K-mart this time ? I don't mean just back to 'retail' either.
Lipton Diet White Raspberry Tea 1.5L $1.69 from $1.25 last time
(all of this style tea went up)
Pepsi $1.79 / 2L
MICHELINA $1.89 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LaChoy Chow Mein $4.29 ($2.69 at Meijer)

These were just a few that I remember. I was somewhat horrified (sorta) by the prices I saw at the time. Kmart was always a "low budget" type of store before, but now ? I didn't buy alot of things this time because at the time I felt that the retail price was way out of line. I asked a manager and they said it was because of the "gasoline increase again" !!??

Anyone else have some thoughts, encounters ?

THANKS !

steve

[momofthree3]

I was noticing the same thing. I skipped alot of the double coupon items I found because I could get them cheaper elsewhere, at stores that were not doubling.

One that stuck out was huggies goodnites. Usually $14.99 now $17.99, hmm exactly the same amount that the double coupon would be worth ($1.50/1 coupons out there right now).

[NinaJo]

Visine Ac was 3.99 yesterday, went back today and was gonna pick up two more................They raised the price to 7.19

[Drea]

Originally Posted by NinaJo

Visine Ac was 3.99 yesterday, went back today and was gonna pick up to more................They raised the price t0i 7.19

WOW, thats a big jump in price....

[hairwiz]

I said the same thing to my DH sunday when we were there.kraft bbq sauce was $2.39.lysol was $5.00,and it was on sale somewhere else for $3.99.Lots of others that I don't remember.I had to be very selective with my q's.

[helenpooh]

Yea, Kmart is doing us dirty. I had a post about this before. It's ridiculous

[crosscountrysoccermom]

I've noticed the price increases also. A great deal of their prices are the same as Walgreens, which is ridiculous in my opinion. They are supposed to be a discount store.

[deetles1762]

I also price increases for several items, earlier this week Dry Idea Roll on Deodorant was 3.99, today was 4.99. There were several others that I can't recall.

[momofthree3]

The dry idea at our store was something like $6, for the regular stuff the clinical strength stuff was $9. Was going to get it for my parents if it was free again (like last double coupons) but I can do better if I wait for Walgreens, they will have it on register reward special in 2 weeks.
I'm thinking they are very aware of the higher value coupons out there and set the prices to reduce freebies during double coupon days. But at my Kmart they never bring the prices back down again.

[joshmamabear]

When our KMart removed price tags on the shelf, that was a red flag to me that their prices would likely be "yo-yo" i.e., flexible. they can easily increase it during doubles so people don't get items cheap/free.

over here, its a lot cheaper to buy them at WAG for HBAs and at SWM and Target, just with sale and coupons even w/o doubles, prices are a lot lower compared to KMart with their super doubles.

[ALilTipsi]

Anything that is free is almost never in stock, even the day before the sale begins. Some of the product is actively advertised in their weekly and monthly newsletters, too, but never on the shelves if there is a coupon. Gillette shampoo was $3.99 a few months back, now $5.89. Kraft BBQ sauce, 10/$10 at Giant Eagle a few weeks ago, $2.69 at KMART. Here, the Michaelina entrees are $1.99. Last time, Ortega taco shells were $ 1 .69, now they are $3.65. The 4 coupon limit was not going to be enforced strictly this time ( I became friendly with a gal in the cosmetics section), but next time, or in the future, it will be. Sears is in trouble. According to analysts , it has dire financial problems. This double coupon ploy may be their way to get customers into the stores, hoping they will pick up other products. I think they have created a lot of resentment, not doubling for ALL stores..it is unfair to those that can't participate. Additionally, do they seriously believe that consumers will not notice the substantial price increases??

[pprogram]

double $2 coupons comes at a price

can't have wmt prices and double coupons

it's a matter of simple math
personally I think the $2 number is too high -

[rstone78]

I was there on sunday and got a great deal on goodlife recipe dog and cat food that was on sale, i found so more coupons and went back on tuesday and they were no longer on sale. What i rip off the sales start on sunday so there was no reason to change the price on tuesday...

[just_jenn]

Originally Posted by rstone78

I was there on sunday and got a great deal on goodlife recipe dog and cat food that was on sale, i found so more coupons and went back on tuesday and they were no longer on sale. What i rip off the sales start on sunday so there was no reason to change the price on tuesday...

On Tuesday started Kmart's new monthy savings guide. The dog food might have been last months savings guide price. That may be why the price changed back to regular price.

[Aradia_Silvermoon]

I noticed some price jumps and it made me mad! They had a small jar of Kraft Parmesan cheese for $5!!! I about passed out! But with some luck and skill I scored some deals. The q's for the overpriced things i'll save for Target/Wal mart.

[LilyMami]

I've noticed A LOT of price increases... I went to Kmart doubles with the list from AFC of "free or almost free at Kmart doubles" printed in hand... and EVERY SINGLE item was AT LEAST .50 - $1 higher... I was like wow...

I passed on a lot of items because of this...

They MIGHT be doing this because of the coupon doubles, and trying to make you "think" you are saving, all while reaping the same profit PLUS the double coupons...

however, 90% their cashiers are so bad at taking coupons... at one kmart they even had it so that if you had coupons a manager had to come over and actually check your items and coupons.... she said "apparently our system takes everything, expired, Internet print (this was before they started excepting IP) and everything... when cashiers do it wrong, it seems good for the customer at the time, but we can't turn those coupons in for redemption. It costs us losses and then we have to raise prices to try to make up for those losses."

Makes me wonder if Kmart doubles is actually HELPING Kmart with as bad as some of the cashiers are about looking at the coupons... I know that a lot of you have posted that you have some problems... but whenever I go to some kmarts... they don't even look they just scan them all...

I'm sure it's a little of both... and as much as I WOULD LIKE to think that it's more of the second one... I think it's probably more of the first... urgh... how sneaky... did they really think we wouldn't notice!? Yeah right, we AFCers are way to smart for that! We will find a better deal somewhere else! :P

[elena_398]

I found some super deals with the $2 double coupons, but a lot of it I couldn't touch... Their prices are literally 50% off more than the "norm". Razors for $7.99 a pack?? Target had them for $5. something.

Their health and beauty prices are what killed me

[kelseys]

I noticed a price hike in coffe mate coffee creamer....3.79 to 4.29...had a $1 off was willing to pay 1.79....since we go through it so much but was very irritated to see the .50 price jump.

[rcsmooch]

The KY stuff that I kept getting for free was $3.99 just a few days ago and when I checked the price yesterday it had been raised to $5.49.

Guess I still have a pretty good stockpile on the stuff.

[sspunk]

I also think that Sears/Kmart is having financial trouble. Of course, when DIDN'T they ! Kmart has never been able to shake the 5&10 attitude of it's forefathers. They've tried over the years but just never made it. Every time I went into the stores here they are empty, of PEOPLE, not stock. Makes me sad, some of my earliest memories are of the soda fountain in downtown Pontiac Mi back in the mid 50's.

BEST TO ALL
steve
ps
maybe we just save our money for going out of business sales ?