The Coupon Whisperer: Family Dollar Surreal Coupon Experience

The Coupon Whisperer ^ | January 22, 2012 | PJ-Comix

[PJ-Comix]

The Family Dollar stores have a DESERVED reputation for being hostile towards coupons. Some of the stores accept coupons with no problems but others act like they absolutely HATE coupons...and couponers. One Family Dollar store in Broward County, at the corner of Broward Blvd. and State Road 7, is especially notable for their hostility towards coupons and I normally avoid it like the plague. However, on Friday, I was looking for some easy laughs so I went to that particular store more for entertainment purposes than to get the product, Scrubbing Bubbles Toilet Kits. Yes, I did get my comedic entertainment but at the same time I also entered a surreal Twilight Zone.

I came up to the cashier with four Scrubbing Bubbles Toilet Kits and this is what happened after the cashier stared at my coupons as if they were radioactive objects from an alien planet:

[PJ-Comix]

That same day I had another BIZARRE experience at another Family Dollar store. I picked up 6 Scrubbing Bubbles Toilet Kits and after the cashier rang them up, I handed her my coupons. The manager told me that the cashier could only accept the coupons if the transaction were voided and then the cashier had to ring them up ONE at a time. It took the manager several minutes to void the original transaction and then the cashier tediously would ring up one purchase at a time. Rings up the first Scrubbing Bubbles Toilet kit, I hand my coupon over for it, then I hand my money over. End of transaction...time to start the second transaction doing EXACTLY the SAME thing. This madness was repeated 6 times over, one for each box of Scrubbing Bubbles Toilet Kits while the customers behind me in line were getting pissed over this completely UNNECESSARY waste of time. I can't say I blamed them.

[PJ-Comix]

PING!

[knarf]

Thank goodness your bill wasn't $5.01 and you handed her a ten and a penny.

Deer-in-the-headlights

[Walkingfeather]

exactly why I do not use coupons. I used to never shop without them. I was vigilant. Then I did the math and figured out my time searching, cutting, organizing, and going to certain stores at a certain time to save 50 cents did not equal my time. Folks couponing is not like looking for the Atocha. If you put that time, effort and fortitude into some side business or investment strategy you would be earning 500xs what you are actually saving couponing. All for what, being able to tell your friends you got 2 for 1 on plastic wrap? ... Seriously?

[BRL]

All for what, being able to tell your friends you got 2 for 1 on plastic wrap? ... Seriously?

To some it is Hugh and Series

[PJ-Comix]

You're absolutely WRONG. This Family Dollar store is an exception and I went there on purpose more for comedic entertainment reasons than anything else. Most stores, including even many Family Dollar stores, don't give you grief. As to the value of couponing, let me tell you my experiences of couponing yesterday for about 4 hours:

I ended up getting about $150 worth of stuff for under $10 by using coupons. That was like earning $140 in 4 hours for stuff that I needed including a non-stick frying pan, several 2 liter bottles of Pepsi, mayonnaise, canola oil, ketchup, cleaning supplies, and a ton of other stuff that I needed.

$140 of savings in 4 hours is like earning $35 per hour. Not a bad "payment."

BTW, once in a while I score FREE gasoline via coupons. Not easy but it can be done. I last did this in October for a 2 week period in which my gas tank was constantly FULL for FREE. I figured that the gas money I saved (same as earning since that is an unavoidable expense) came to about $300. I put in about 6 hours total to get that freebie gasoline or about $50 per hour. Not bad.

[mountaineer1997]

Coupons are frequently offered for name brand products that are significantly more expensive than equal quality competitors. I find that I often end up spending MORE even with the discount. Most of my shopping is at SamsClub and the ‘coupon’ is automatic at checkout.

[FatherofFive]

Then I did the math and figured out my time searching, cutting, organizing, and going to certain stores at a certain time to save 50 cents did not equal my time.

My father-in-law did all the couponing for me. He would spend several hours a day cutting the coupons, organizing them, and preparing the shopping list. He would go shopping with me, and get all the coupon items.

We saved a few dollars, but this was his job in retirement. Huge amount of psychic income.

[PJ-Comix]

Coupons are frequently offered for name brand products that are significantly more expensive than equal quality competitors. I find that I often end up spending MORE even with the discount. Most of my shopping is at SamsClub and the ‘coupon’ is automatic at checkout.

Psst! Right now you can go to Sams Club (or Walmart) and price match the Scrubbing Bubbles Toilet Kits with the Family Dollar fliers which list them at $4. They sell for $9.47 at Walmart. Then you take $4 Scrubbing Bubbles coupons (I have them now but Friday I only had the $3 coupons) and get those kits for FREE. Which is exactly what I did yesterday for several such kits.

Now what were you telling me about those "wonderful" automatic checkout coupons?

[PJ-Comix]

We saved a few dollars...

I usually save at least $400 per week. Some weeks much more like when I was scoring my freebie gasoline.

[prisoner6]

Ten boxes of scrubbing bubbles!?

Ten?

I don’t think I want to know...

[WorldviewDad]

This kind of sounds like the same logic that a union worker used to tell me that it was not worth the time to bend down and pick up a coin on the ground. They had done the math and figured how much time it would take to pick up the coin and it did not match their hourly union pay rate so it wasn’t worth it. I promptly picked up the coin...I have a jar at home that I put found money in and then bring it to the bank when full...last time a cashed the jar in there was over $120 in it.

What side business can I run on Sunday afternoon while I watch a football game or movie...this is when I clip the coupons that come in the Sunday paper? Go the simple route...flip through the coupons and only cut out the ones that are for products that you already buy...it is the same as that found coin...small amount of time used...and time that is being used for multiple tasks...I was talking to the union worker while I picked up the coin...

Time to see if the Sunday paper is here...

[PJ-Comix]

Ten boxes of scrubbing bubbles!?

Yeah. They are cheaper than buying the refills that are $3.97 each. These are the kits PLUS the refills. A refill lasts about a month. We have 3 toilets so I got about a 3 month supply. But I also give most of them to relatives.

One time a friend of mine was in a really bad personal situation (known as "broke") so I gave him about 7 dozen boxes of frozen chicken wings to tide him over. So all this stuff has an ultimate purpose.

[PJ-Comix]

Yeah, I also do my coupon clipping while watching TV shows.

[Walkingfeather]

You spent 4 hours of your time to save $140 of things you needed... That may be of value to you...Maybe you do not value your time as much as I do. I wish you the best...

[Walkingfeather]

Oh you watch tv.... got it....

[PJ-Comix]

You spent 4 hours of your time to save $140 of things you needed...

Which also means LESS time I have to work to earn that same amount of money. $35 per hour is not a bad "wage" at all. How many folks here would love to be earning that?

[oh8eleven]

Perhaps one could sell off some inventory during a garage sale and use the money to see a shrink.
Hmmm, I wonder if they take coupons?

[Last Dakotan]

I hate the couponers in line in font of me wasting my time as I hate the lottery ticket buyers.

[yuleeyahoo]

Hey PJ! Great to see your posting again. We’re not found of Family Dollar either.