First of all, I think it's something like 2% of coupons are ever redeemed. They are more likely to stop coupons because of the lack of the rate of return.
Most coupons are put out by the manufactures. They actually want people to use them, and will reimburse the stores for these coupons. So, it's zero lost to the store.
Now, the stores will put out their own coupons, and offer their own sale items.
It is this overlap that allows you to pay pennies on the dollar.
It doesn't make someone a scammer, it makes them a good shopper.
I have a brand marketer-side point of view as far as promotions, including coupons, kara37. I know and have worked with people at Catalina Marketing.
These coupon promotions have an assumption of a certain number of “abusers” built in, they’re aware that a small minority make a hobby out of figuring out how to absolutely maximize them. But, from the brand marketer’s point of view, they’re not there to save you money, they’re there to encourage trial of a new product or to encourage brand switching with an existing one.
These products aren’t “free,” any more than government housing is “free.” Somebody has to pay for them, and that somebody is the brand marketer, who has a specific goal in mind when the promotion is structured, and is willing to forego a certain amount of profit in the short term to achieve that goal.
Too many people sweeping the aisles clean does nothing to further the brand marketer’s ends, and it deprives the majority from gaining exposure to the new product as intended or fails to bring new customers to an existing brand as intended.
So, it’ll end up killing the goose that lays the golden eggs, for the few very frugal individuals who count on these coupons, because it’s being abused. And, this knowledge is why I commented as I did, speaking of “oh, please.” ;-)