Do retailers hate you?

[shengmei]

Do people recognize you everytime you go shopping because you are the one with TONS of coupons and promotion information?

I feel self-conscious everytime I go shopping.

[marglo]

I used to use coupons much more than I do now and I did get that feeling sometimes...not so much hatred but a feeling they were just tolerating me, thought I was a little crazy ...not just the employees but people in line too even though I tried to be as organized as possible and allowed them ahead of me if I could etc. But I also had people who complimented me on how much I was saving...both employees and customers.

But these days I shop at the organic type stores for most of my groceries and don't use many coupons...wish I could...but I like the food better and even though it is more expensive, I buy less now so it works out to be actually cheaper for just the 2 of us,

[cercis]

marglo, we buy organic too and it is difficult to find coupons. One thing we've done is build a big pantry by buying the loss leader items. If it is an item we will use, we will buy a lot of it.

We also write to companies we like. To encourage them, to ask them to work with a local grocery store and to see if they will send coupons. Sometimes they do, sometimes they don't. We also write to the local grocery stores to ask them to work with the organic companies.

I've never really used many coupons. I've never really bought things that they have coupons for.

I think retailers think of me as their sucker. They do everything in their power to suck me in to buy things. They market to my kids.

[marglo]

Cercis, I that with the meat esp...I can't afford to buy alot but even if I'm not planning to buy it that week, if I see the meat on sale I buy it as I know I can use it another week. I love the meat at Wild Oats!

[marglo]

Cercis, I do that with meat...I can't afford to buy a lot but if if I see it on sale, even if I was not planning on buying it that trip, I buy it anyway as I know I can use it later on and it might not be on sale then. Things like that. I love the meat at Wild Oats. If we had a family I'm not sure I could afford to buy there but with just the 2 of us, I do it.

[cercis]

We buy meat there and it is expensive. You have to watch for the loss leaders and take advantage of them.

We have an advantage in that our family actually raises beef cattle, so we can get a lot of natural beef (not completely organic, but mostly) for $2.50/lb. We've changed our cooking and eating habits so much that 75lbs of beef will last us at least a year.

[moneyrant]

Who cares? Doesn't matter what others think. Your money, not theirs.

[PrincessPerky]

They recognize me cause I am the red head girl with a curly long black hair DH with the two cute kids that buys the SAME 3 gallons of milk every week

[CRFSaver]

There was an article recently that BestBuy wants to get rid of some of their customers. In particular those that are too price conscious. They really only want the ones that pay full price without waiting for sales. Then again, Bestbuy makes more money from selling extended warranties then actually selling any product so go figure...

[akaivyleaf]

Hate me? Who cares. My wallet is a high priority and I wouldn't expect them to understand about my wallet. If I have coupons, and promotional items, I'm not ashamed to use them. If people don't want to wait for me to finish with my transaction, hopefully another line will be open to accomodate them. If an employee sighs when they see me coming (as they often do) I make sure my smile is extra cheery. I also try to go to different employees every time, to share the warmth. Now on another thread, someone was ashamed to pay in change.... I might be tempted in the future, just to see the reaction.

As far as Best Buy.... I have a bone to pick with them today, writing them a letter in a few minutes about the incompetence of employees. They won't have to worry about me ever entering their store.

[Luv2shop]

When I walk into a store, everyone knows who I am ( the coupon lady)! My husband is embarrased to go with me. He says I use too many coupons. He's nuts...lol