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News-Sentinel.com Your Town. Your Voice.
Opening Arguments

Couponers clipped

Please, please, please, use these coupons to save money at our store, but just come here and shop real soon, OK? Oh, wait. Everybody's using the coupons, and we're losing money. Put that coupon back in your pocket and get the heck out of here!

Sears has joined a growing list of companies forced to pull online coupon offers early due to a surge in popularity.

 

The $10 off coupon for junior's apparel was supposed to be valid until Nov. 14, but, in a statement to Call 6's Rafael Sanchez, the company said it would no longer honor the discount.

 

Sears did not explain its decision, but did apologize to customers. 

[. . .]

The coupon controversy comes after other area businesses, like Marsh Supermarkets, have had similar incidents where coupons were distributed more widely than intended.

These are tough times for you average, middle-of-the-road retailer. The discount places like Kmart and Wal-mart seem able to tough it out, and there'll probably always be a niche for specialty places like International House of Candles or Moe's Guns 'n' Stuff. But what function do places like Sears and JC Penney still serve? They don't carry items that are particularly distinctinve. It's just stuff, same as the stuff you can get anyplace else. The only reason to go to an actual store instead of getting something online is that you want it right now, today, and most of us will go where the cheapest price is. Better keep those coupons coming, guys.

Comments

Bob G.
Wed, 09/23/2009 - 9:02am

Leo:
Guess I'm one of those "odd" people...the ones that DO want the CHEAPEST price...BUT...willing to wait a few days.

I'm not all that motivated by "instant gratification" (unlike most of the country)...except when it comes to COFFEE...
THERE is where I simply HAVE to draw the line...LOL.

;)

gadfly
Wed, 09/23/2009 - 10:51am

After spending some 40 years working for manufacturers who sold to retailers, and having stood in line at the market for what seemed to be hours while check-out clerks sorted through piles of coupons handed them by customers . . . I have concluded that everyone would be better off without coupons.

Manufacturers have to have the dumb things designed, printed and distributed to retailers and consumers through advertising media. Retailers have to employ additional staff and computer technology to sort, verify and account for the discounts. Consumers have to sort through publications for coupons or hunt them down online, decide when and they will be used, and put up with the ire of disgruntled customers like me, who do not appreciated the delays at check-out.

If coupons are not offered, manufacturing and retail operating costs decline. As a result, lower retail selling prices can be offered on all inventory items offered for sale. This is a WIN, WIN, WIN solution.

In response to the anticipated question . . . No, I do not participate in the coupon fiasco.

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