[dollarwise]

My neighbor is in upper level management at HT.

In an "over the fence" discussion with him this week he stated that because of the economy and internet networking sites (like AFC, Southern Savers, and others they are aware of) many, many shoppers are becoming such coupon experts that they are "gaming the system" (his words).

He also stated this was the reason for the recinded decision for extra triples and doubles events this fall. They really hate to see those shoppers who shop many times a week end up with many grocery orders having a tiny OOP ...... it means they have to raise their prices to cover it or eat the loss. In past years it was not a big problem because few customers used coupons. He said that at his store today about 85% of customers use coupons with many abusers.

Some things we (couponers) may expect to follow as a result are:
Stricter enforcement of coupon policy corporate wide.
Tighter control of bonus coupon events.
Lower quantities of coupons doubled or tripled per shopping trip, or Shopping card. (other stores have gone to this control model)
Less generous "overriding" for frequent coupon abusers.
More emphasis on store brands in promotions.

There were a few more points that I've forgotten, that I'm sure I will remember later.

The gist of the conversation was his expressed concern regarding the coupon program as it exists today.
My rebuttal was that when they (HT) raise their prices on other items, I can no longer justify doing all of my weekly shopping there. His response was "Exactly!...so you see the delima we're in."

I think I'll wait until I see his car in his driveway to do my HT coupon shopping.

[simba123]

Compared to last year, I don't do half the couponing I used to do. CVS used to have at least 4-5 items each week that were free after Qs and ECBs. Now we're lucky if they have one item. I used to be able to roll ECBs all the time and now it is harder than ever. Walgreen's is the same way. Maybe now I'm a little more picky but I don't think so. I have never shopped at HT unless it was a sale item combined with a Q, or triples etc... The deals are becoming fewer and farther between. I've noticed this since about April of this year things have slowed down alot. Maybe they have finally caught on to how smart we all are and the game is up.

[michaelg0104]

I've often wondered how long Harris Teeter could keep this up! I mean everytime theres a triples or Sdouble event at my HT I see so many people couponing...(including myself)
Sometimes my oop is so low I feel guilty! Think of every other person doing that! I dont know how they can afford to keep their doors open like this!

[cajun-lorelei]

WOW! No wonder all the managers have been in such foul moods lately! They must detest me, b/c I'm in the store every day during a SD or triples event...!

Seriously though, I agree that I wouldn't be shopping @ HT at all if they did away w/ these events. They're wayyyyy too expensive compared to FL or Ingles. I've already noticed an increase in store brands in the weekly ad & I don't think I've purchased even one. I'm too busy concentrating on my OOP in this economy. C'mon, HT, don't drop the ball on this one. Cracking down too much on we couponers will cost you tons of business!

[sar1]

I've also noticed an increase in store brands being advertised. I can see his point, I just don't like it. But if it's not cost effective for them to do it anymore, why did they run so many events so close together this summer?

[chavous]

Due to the bad economy, everyone is on TV telling how you can save money with coupons. Reminds me when they were telling everyone that Real Estate is the way to make money and everybody and their brother was doing it, and you see what happened to that and I guess its happening to Harris Teeter.

[valkyrieanne]

"Lower quantities of coupons doubled or tripled per shopping trip, or Shopping card. (other stores have gone to this control model)" --- just curious, which stores?


I almost NEVER see anyone in my regular store using Q's unless it's triples or super doubles. And they are ALWAYS busy. I frequently stop in at 5:30 am before work and there are even people shopping THEN. That is one heck of a lot of folks who don't use Q's at all. HT is high, but they are NO WHERE near as outrageous as Bloom.
I always shop there for specialty items (dh is on a restricted diet and HT is the only store that carries a lot of things he eats).

[aurorahorse]

Thanks for letting us know that. Unfortunately, he seems to be telling the truth.

I LOVE HT. I LOVE their CS. I LOVE their events.

But...

If they are going to raise prices and have less good sales, I won't buy much. I've already greatly reduced my newspaper buying. I used to buy 24 newspapers a month...I've barely bought any lately. I think maybe once in the past several months. Part of that is that I have so much stuff now, I need to cut back. I also get more coupons from family and friends now (though not as much as I'd get if I bought). But, the reduced coupon events aren't helping.

Maybe it is better for their business model if they have less coupon events and good sales. I certainly don't want them to to go out of business.

But...it's better for MY personal business model to save money, so I'll go where the deals are/prices are best (even if that means I have to go back to Super Wal-Mart and try not to vomit while in there).

ETA: They better not lower the number of coupons they allow...it's too low as it is.

[HockeyMomNC]

Well, I must say they have a dilemma. They want to bring customers in to their stores, and were doing that with these coupon events. But raising their prices WAY ABOVE other stores is driving us away. Its not hard to notice the prices going up right before a "sale" of an item. Bottom dollar is what I look at and I will shop where I can get the biggest bang for my buck! The internet has made it easier for us to find those deals and HT needs to embrace that because it is not going away. But if HT would keep their price competitive, they wouldn't need to bring us in with SD/Triples as much. (though I need a stockpile opportunity once in a while)
They are relying on people being complacent about the prices and just doing all their shopping at one place - I cannot afford to do that in this economy.
(BTW - the 85% seems a bit high - I don't see that many people couponing like we do)

[NCmom]

Originally Posted by aurorahorse

But...it's better for MY personal business model to save money, so I'll go where the deals are/prices are best (even if that means I have to go back to Super Wal-Mart and try not to vomit while in there).

I feel the same way about Super Walmart, ours is filled with the creepiest people and is so dirty, I haven't been there in almost a year. I love HT although with all the great flips in the past six months, this past two weeks notwithstanding, I have been at FL also quite a bit. I occasionally see others using coupons during coupon events and never see anyone using them outside of that, it is still not a lot of people. In the couple stores I shop I'd say it is 10%-20% of people during an event. I hope they don't do away with them, I don't even buy newspapers anymore but I still try to stock up when I can. The last triples event was amazing!

[lms28023]

Can we help it if we figured out the best deals? Don't punish us for using our heads.

[Shoppinglizzard]

I drive to Wilmington to triple at HT and I would definately say 80% of people couponing like we do seems extreme. There may be 1-2 people who look organized but I see a lot of folks with a single envelope of coupons so I would bet that is not the super-organized couponer like us. That is the kind of shopper they want to bring in with these events cause they will use a couple coupons and on top of that buy several other full priced or 'sale' items without coupons.

Secondly I don't worry for Harris Teeter and their profit margin. Let us not forget that HT does get reimbursed face value for the coupon and the type items we are buying by tripling a 0.75 coupon probably doesn't cost them more than 0.75 after they buy in MASS quantity. I can compare the prices at HT to what I normally pay at my military commissary, which does not make a profit after expenses, and even tripling some coupons I can get items for less at the commissary. Harris Teeter's prices are GREATLY inflated!!
I think HT had so many triple and super double events when they did to keep our business during the summer vacation period and back to school time. We will see more promotions during the holidays I bet (I hope).

[ArtGal]

Very interesting information. I guess it makes sense, but the 85% statistic seems VERY high to me. I'm sure it varies from store to store and by geographic area, though.

You should all come shop at my store. I've been shopping there for 5 years and I could count on one hand the number of people that I've EVER seen there using coupons. Maybe the couponers just don't shop at the same times as I do, but I suspect that there aren't very many of us there - probably because it's an urban area and people are less thrifty (and less effected by the economic downturn) here than in other places.

I've only been through one triples, but the store didn't seem any more crowded than usual and all of the good coupon items were well-stocked when I went after work several days. Don't get me wrong - the shelves at my store will be empty of good sale items on a Sat afternoon - but nobody was buying the items that were free or cheap with triples.

Also, I've NEVER seen anyone in my area (Arlington, VA) purchasing a cart full of a single item at ANY store, so I don't think that people do much stockpiling around here. I'm guessing that's because the population here either A) Lives in apartments and doesn't have the space (like me!) or B) Doesn't need to be bargain-shopping, as they can afford the sky-high property prices here.

[Kristina Hughes]

I do see more people with q's than I used to and the shelves at my store gets cleaned out within a day or two during a triples/SD event. I can see their point but if it isn't saving me money then I will just go where I can save the most. That definately won't be HT because their prices are too high. They are the highest store in town and I can get better deals at Food Lion, BiLo, Target and Walmart when there aren't triples/SD events.

[wakeup]

what are the amounts that HT triples with coupons?
Do they stay with their original policy $.99 x 3 or up to $2.97 off?

"We double manufacturer’s coupons up to face value of $0.99;
with total amount not to exceed $1.98 or entire retail of item; whichever is less.
We double up to three identical items with manufacturer coupon;
additional coupons for like item will be honored at face value.
No competitor coupons will be doubled or tripled.
In the event of triple coupons, up to 20 coupons will be tripled per day per customer/household
with VIC card; all others redeemed at face value.
No orders may be separated that would allow the 20 coupon limit to be exceeded."

[JEP]

We are no differnt than HT corp.
They shop to get the lowest price possible for items thay sell

We shop to get the lowest price possible for items we buy

HT tries to increase their profits
We try to increase our cash .

I'm sure the Triples & Doubles have cut into upper mang Christmas bonuses and retirement funds.

But their high prices have cut into my Christmas $$ and retirement also .

When I was in retail ,I shopped for the best deal for my $$

Why should buying groceries be any differnt ?

HT is 30 miles from my house
I've only been to 3 events this year.
Often I find I can double my Q's at Lowe's and after subtracting the gas and time I come out close to the same .

Bottom line , it's who has the best deals!

[anaj06]

I could really use an event. I am "upside down" right now....meaning my coupon binder is busting at the seems and my cabinets are getting low....

[cajun-lorelei]

These are all great points, Ladies! I also refuse to feel sorry for HT & if they are truly reading these boards they need to know how WE feel. So there you have it, HT...we want our SD & TRIPLES & we want them NOW...!!!

[Bandksmom]

I find it hard to believe that their profits are getting slim because thier prices are higher than say Food Lion and I hardly ever see anyone using more than a few coupons except at the big events. I think I have seen just 2 or 3 people with lots like me in the last 3 months.