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Couponing is all the rage these days. I tried it myself only to find out that I do not have the patience or the brains to keep it all straight AND stay sane at the same time. Keeping track of children at the store is challenging enough.
I used to feel guilty about this. Yep, because I needed one more thing to feel guilty about. I felt that since we are not rolling in cash, it was my responsibility to do everything in my power to make the best use of that hard-earned money (yes, hubs has a job again). But with time, I realized that it is up to me to decide how I would do that. Coupons are not the thing for me. Not now.
I decided that it is worth our money to have the simplicity and convenience of couponless shopping. So while I still use coupons for diapers, restaurants and some entertainment, I have given myself freedom to not chase after sales or buy diapers in one store, shampoo in another, and bread somewhere else. Ad matching you say? uuuh, thanks but no thanks. The freedom to cruise through checkout without juggling melting toddlers and a stack of coupons is priceless to me. I choose to pay for that convenience, thank you very much.
And so I am free, until I innocently stand in the checkout line behind someone who is concealing a 3-inch-high stack of coupons. Then it is all over. Convenience all gone. Of course I don't find out about it until all my stuff is on the conveyor belt.
Just a couple of weeks ago I went to the store (yes, it was Walmart) with the 5 and 2 year olds in tow. They were doing great and I was keeping the trip short so we could all make it back to the car still happy. Checkout time. Only one person ahead of me, already checking out so I started loading my things onto the conveyor belt. Swift is what I like. Then I noticed that the lady ahead of me is getting a lot of the same things. Cat food to feed an army (of cats), cream cheese to last a lifetime, and some other items I didn't have time to make out because next thing I see is this woman pulling out a pile of coupons so tall, I knew I was in for it. She could have told me. I would have appreciated the warning.
So one by one, the cashier goes through those blasted coupons. I tried to be all nice and friendly and made small talk with this lady. She proudly told me about her "technique". She pulls newspapers out of the big recycling containers and then finds the sales to match them. "It is amazing how people just throw away the coupons. The recycling containers are full, I don't even need to climb in". While I admired the dedication of this woman, I knew those people have good reasons to just throw their coupons away. Luckily there was a display of pillow pets by the checkout stand so the girls kept themselves entertained, but to be honest, after a few minutes of coupon-scanning, I wished that Jo would give them a taste of what she can pull at a store when she is in a bad mood. That way they would "feel" the inconvenience that was being imposed on me.
It turned out that the store actually owed the lady a whopping $60 for shopping with them. Wow! But money is money, so here comes the manager to go through the whole stack of coupons AGAIN!. I was done being patient. Really done. I told the manager about how careful the cashier had been the first time around and could you please just trust him because I have waited enough. No, she must check again, and then a third important person comes and grabs some of the coupons. AAAAGGGGHHHH! I paid for the convenience of waiting behind this person AND full price for my stuff!!!
I had no choice but to grab my things and move to the next checkout. Fuming, I told this other cashier that they should have lines just for couponers. She just shrugged and said "I wish we could". Didn't she see my frustration???!!!! Of course you can! and what you need to say is "You are so right we'll take care of it right away". "Your highness".
Why share this story? no reason other than to vent one of my many frustrations in life. But I truly believe that stores should have one checkout with a sign that says "WARNING, over 10 coupons accepted here".
If you are a couponer yourself and you are at a store with a total lack of warning signage, then please, kindly flash your coupons to those who dare stand behind you so we can choose a different fate.
I never knew if the lady got her $60. If she did, I should have gotten half.
And now a penny for your thoughts: What does couponing do for you?
So funny! It is too bad that it is socially unacceptable for adults to throw tantrums! We have to hope that our children will to get the point across. :) I too have tried the couponing, but I agree, I have no patience for it. I found that I was using the coupons and getting rockin' deal on things I never used to buy. ? So I ended up spending more money because I still had to purchase the items I always buy that they never have coupons for! It wasn't making a whole lot of sense for me. :)
ReplyDeleteI am in your boat about couponing. People need to 'fess up about having a stash of coupons when they see you lining up behind them. And the reason Walmart ain't nice is because they know they have the lowest prices and won't lose many people due to crappy service. I have had my showdowns there, too. Particularly when they have only one register open, and it is a 15 items or less line. Guess what, I got 59 items, and you have to take me. Don't like it? Open another register. And I absolutely let people with a few things cut in front of me in that situation because I am a NICE SHOPPER. I feel angry at that coupon lady on your behalf.
ReplyDeleteFirst, how are we friends? Just kidding, I have such a long list of frustrations at the grocery store that I can understand your point. That said I do use coupons, but I think the fact that I usually have a full cart and six kids running around (yes sometimes screaming) keeps ANYONE from wanting to line up behind me. FYI I do let people ahead of me. Here's a question for you aren't you frustrated by the fact that certain stores have 27 checkouts and 1 checker (although there do seem to be a lot of managers wandering around presumably to check on those evil coupon shoppers)?
ReplyDeleteHilarious post!! I feel your pain. I've tried the couponing thing, and while it's great if you have the time and NEVER have to take children to the store, it's really not practical. You're right that the stores should absolutely have a "coupon-free" line. In and out is what most moms are looking for.
ReplyDeleteSeriously, Pame, this post is so funny. You should think about writing a book or submitting this to the editor of the newspaper. Thanks for the laugh!
Ya Pame, I am so glad I found your blog. Just reading about your experience had me laughing and feeling sorry for you. I feel like I have done four pregnancies and am raising four kids, I don't have to coupon. I have earned that right! So good for you, stay strong. We are really excited to see you guys :)
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