We just got back from the grocery store and got to talking about coupons. For the standard "Save $0.33 on a box of..." coupon, I don't get it. Why not just put the item on sale?
Why make your customer go through ads and newspapers to cut out a coupon? Why make it so your customer has to remember to give the checker a coupon, or a pile of coupons for you hard core shoppers out there, and make everyone else in line wait for the process to complete?
Why not just put the stupid thing on sale?
I understand the need for "Buy two and get one for half price" coupons. But for the others, you've already got your customer looking through the sales flyer, newspaper ad, magazine ad, etc. to see what is on sale. So you already have the customer's attention and interest in your store. I just don't understand the need to make them jump through hoops to take advantage of a special price.
Is it a way for the customer to be engaged in the process, a way for them to feel as if they're actually doing something to get the special price and thus more rewarding for them?
Beats me. I just don't get coupons.
And in a related rant...
We've all seen people who are extreme couponers. They seem to usually be in front of us in the grocery store checkout line and they've got handfuls of clipped coupons. The good ones have special little files with all their coupons arranged alphabetically.
I've got to admit, I don't get this either.
I've looked at the coupons in the newspaper, magazines, and flyers. Some of them are pretty good deals: $1.00 off on some item or "buy one get one free." But when I really pay attention I see these items are usually:
a. Something I don't normally buy.
b. A name brand item that is considerably more costly than the store brand (which is my usual choice).
Given those two parameters, I'm not really sure how much I'd save if I used the coupons. Hell, I may end up spending more than I normally would!
Ok, that's it for today. I'm going to get off the soapbox and break it up for the firepit.
Thanks for reading, and...
Happy Shopping!
