http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister...cle_994474.php

By NANCY LUNA
The Orange County Register


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To learn if your Vons is eliminating double coupons, call (877) 723-3929.

Safeway, operator of 37 Vons and Vons Pavilions stores in Orange County, said Friday that it will stop accepting double coupons at 16 south-county stores as of Wednesday.

Vons, the county's No. 3 grocery store chain, said it was dropping the program because manufacturers are printing fewer coupons and competitors have stopped the promotions. "Our competitors pulled out of these areas before us. Lower-cost operators such as Costco and Wal-Mart never offered them," Vons spokeswoman Sandra Calderon said Friday. "Customers no longer use as much as before."

Avid coupon clipper Doris Gildea, 68, of San Juan Cap-istrano said that's not so. She spends every Sunday clipping lots of coupons from the newspaper and was livid when she heard her Mission Viejo Vons was cutting her off.

Other shoppers say they can find lots of coupons online, too.

"One of my main reasons for shopping at Pavilions and Vons markets was for the double-coupon advantage," commented Gildea, who said she saves about $30 a week with double coupons. "I think the Safeway stores will see a reduction in patronage as a result of this change."

Vons said San Diego stores also would eliminate double coupons. Roughly 180 Vons stores in Southern California will continue to accept double coupons. Ralphs also accepts double coupons.

Calderon said Vons shoppers could still save with its club card.

"Our club card is like having a permanent coupon without the clipping," she said.

My Vons has never doubled