4 ms·

One interesting trend is how they killed off coupons. Now the only option seems to be the store-run digital coupons. These require navigating a (usually) prett

by tyingq 3y ago

One interesting trend is how they killed off coupons. Now the only option seems to be the store-run digital coupons. These require navigating a (usually) pretty terrible app that makes it hard to use. Manufacturer coupons, that the store can't control, seem mostly gone. Then, in store, it's often difficult to tell if sale prices require a digital coupon. Thus, many items are sold at a higher price than the buyer expected.

empathy_m 3y ago
I think my success rate with grocery store digital coupons is about 80%-90%. I don't bother to ask the self checkout attendant or the unstaffed CS line to fix the bill when a coupon doesn't go through, which I'm assuming is factored into the margins.
bluedino 3y ago
Kroger still sends coupons in the mail as well as the ones that print at the register
- Spivak 3y ago
  And they honor manufacturer coupons which are honestly better than store coupons anyway.
  - tyingq 3y ago
    There are some remains of this, but they have been pretty successful drawing it all down dramatically. A couple of sources: https://archive.is/YpsVv https://archive.is/YpsVv (NY Times) https://couponsinthenews.com/2022/08/01/there-are-now-fewer-food-coupons-or-any-coupons-than-ever/ https://couponsinthenews.com/2022/08/01/there-are-now-fewer-...
    - Spivak 3y ago
      Agreed, you actually have to seek them out now now instead of them being stuffed in your mailbox and it's rare for them to be for staples. I just accept just food will cost more (and switched to Costco) and try to make it up on household stuff.
heywire 3y ago
A good number of digital coupons are manufacturer coupons. (I work in this space) Kroger is usually pretty good about adding shelf tags that highlight the digital coupon. I much prefer digital coupons to paper coupons that I always seem to forget. But I understand that there is a significant portion of the population who prefer paper coupons instead. As for the topic of the post, I absolutely think regulators need to step in block the Kroger / Albertsons merger. We need more competition, not less.
- tyingq 3y ago
  > Kroger is usually pretty good about adding shelf tags that highlight the digital coupon Yes, it's there. You need to see pretty well to catch the small/thin font that says it requires a digital coupon. See https://wehco.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/img/photos/2022/11/17/1D2coupons1118_t800.jpg?90232451fbcadccc64a17de7521d859a8f88077d https://wehco.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/img/photos/2022... (much larger than real-life, at least on my laptop) https://www.journal-news.com/resizer/bV2Abp4e1e1DhAfhn3KYrdwe-Jo=/814x458/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/coxohio/VCZ7ZDEDXVC3VHBJERKEOPXOIY.jfif https://www.journal-news.com/resizer/bV2Abp4e1e1DhAfhn3KYrdw... (a little closer to real-life, though in real-life your face isn't right on the tag.)

by tyingq 3y ago

empathy_m 3y ago

I think my success rate with grocery store digital coupons is about 80%-90%. I don't bother to ask the self checkout attendant or the unstaffed CS line to fix the bill when a coupon doesn't go through, which I'm assuming is factored into the margins.

bluedino 3y ago

Kroger still sends coupons in the mail as well as the ones that print at the register

Spivak 3y ago
And they honor manufacturer coupons which are honestly better than store coupons anyway.
- tyingq 3y ago
  There are some remains of this, but they have been pretty successful drawing it all down dramatically. A couple of sources: https://archive.is/YpsVv https://archive.is/YpsVv (NY Times) https://couponsinthenews.com/2022/08/01/there-are-now-fewer-food-coupons-or-any-coupons-than-ever/ https://couponsinthenews.com/2022/08/01/there-are-now-fewer-...
  - Spivak 3y ago
    Agreed, you actually have to seek them out now now instead of them being stuffed in your mailbox and it's rare for them to be for staples. I just accept just food will cost more (and switched to Costco) and try to make it up on household stuff.

heywire 3y ago

A good number of digital coupons are manufacturer coupons. (I work in this space) Kroger is usually pretty good about adding shelf tags that highlight the digital coupon. I much prefer digital coupons to paper coupons that I always seem to forget. But I understand that there is a significant portion of the population who prefer paper coupons instead. As for the topic of the post, I absolutely think regulators need to step in block the Kroger / Albertsons merger. We need more competition, not less.

tyingq 3y ago
> Kroger is usually pretty good about adding shelf tags that highlight the digital coupon Yes, it's there. You need to see pretty well to catch the small/thin font that says it requires a digital coupon. See https://wehco.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/img/photos/2022/11/17/1D2coupons1118_t800.jpg?90232451fbcadccc64a17de7521d859a8f88077d https://wehco.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/img/photos/2022... (much larger than real-life, at least on my laptop) https://www.journal-news.com/resizer/bV2Abp4e1e1DhAfhn3KYrdwe-Jo=/814x458/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/coxohio/VCZ7ZDEDXVC3VHBJERKEOPXOIY.jfif https://www.journal-news.com/resizer/bV2Abp4e1e1DhAfhn3KYrdw... (a little closer to real-life, though in real-life your face isn't right on the tag.)