Saturday, January 17, 2009

Controversy

So you may have heard by now there's a bit of drama surrounding the $3 CVS coupon. Some folks are saying CVS never meant to have the coupon published online, they only wanted it put out in print. My take on the situation is that if this was really true, CVS could have put a stop to the use of this coupon, either by removing the coupon from the newspaper's website (its still available) or by distributing some kind of memo to its stores. But they've done neither of these things. I personally don't feel using the coupon is wrong because it is still available in its original source, but I'm not going to post about using this coupon any longer. It was certainly fun while it lasted, wasn't it? :)

A&P
  • 6 bags McCain fries $3.99 and $4.19 each, BOGO sale, so I paid $12.55 after the bag discount, I also got back a $5 catalina for spending $20 on McCain products = $1.25 a bag

CVS

  • Super cute Valentines basket $3.99
  • 3 Soy Joys $6 each, used $3 off 10 coupon (1/4 SS) and got back $18 EB ($6 for each, monthly deal Limit 10) = $3 profit
  • 2 Throat coolers used BOGO coupon (or 12/7 SS) and got back $9.98 EB ($4.99 EB for each, monthly deal, limit 5) = $4.99 profit
  • 6 Storage bins $1.99 each, BOGO 50% off sale
  • Used EB's to pay and also used a $4 off $20 coupon
These storage bins are gonna be great for storing smaller items. Love 'em!

10 comments:

American Dreamer said...

I had not heard about the controversy since I am still trying to get caught up after my trip. That said, I 100% agree with you. CVS would have had this coupon pulled from the online addition if they did not want people to use it. Corporate higher ups are not stupid enough to leave it out there if they are losing money on it. Perhaps they felt it would be good advertising for their products. Who knows? But use away till it expires today!

Laurie said...

Uh oh, drama....where did you hear about the CVS thing?

Jennifer said...

I don't feel bad about using the coupon either!!! I planned on using it more this week, but I was too lazy to go out in the cold!

frugalsuz said...

Precious,
Exactly, CVS knows what its doing. People are going in the store to use this coupon and that's what they want us to do.

Laurie,
Some folks left comments on my blog about it and I also saw it mentioned on the message boards I read.

Jennifer,
Its been super cold here today too! I think the high today was around 15 degrees or so -- brr! I definitely braved the cold to make the best of that $3 coupon since it expired today but I'm happy to be back inside, nice and warm.

Lisa B. said...

Everyone has different opinions and standards when it comes to couponing. The ones who say it was only to be used in the original printed form has different standards than us. I also believe that if CVS didnt want it put on the net they would have NOT PUT IT IN PRINT, because they know now after last year, it will end up on the net when printed in an outside publication. They are not stupid.

The thing that should have probably been enforced was the limit of one coupon per person, or whatever it said. That's a manager's descretion.

Kudos to you frugalsuz for all your shopping this week. It's not like your use of the coupon multiple times didnt come without any effort on your part. You are out the time and gas to use the coupon in so many different trips! It makes you a smart and savy shopper. Shop on girlfriend!

frugalsuz said...

Lisa,
Thanks :)

Anonymous said...

Is the 4 off 20 coupon good to use from I heart CVS? I am always scared to use it because I don't want to draw attention to myself if it beeps. The cashier at the store I go to just shakes her head as if to say that it is wrong with what I do.

Jamie @ I Am A Money Magnet said...

Yes, it was fun! There's some other stuff I'd like to say about all the "controversy" but I'll leave it at that. LOL :) I agree with Lisa, you had a great shopping week and thanks for sharing it with us!

frugalsuz said...

Kathy,
It did beep for me, but I've heard other folks used it without beeps. My cashier just pushed it through for me. I think it expires today though.

Jamie,
Thanks! I bought more stuff Friday and Saturday using the $3 coupon but it was just more of the same, so no reason to post about it anyway. :)

The Proverbs Wife said...

I going to frame my last one that I didn't get to use before the 17th.

Just kidding.

It was fun while it lasted. I think that both sides make valid point "to use vs. not to use".

Each shopper must decide for themselves. It is good for bloggers to share the information but each person must choose for themselves.

After discussing it with my husband, and telling him that I had not seen or heard anything directly from CVS corp. He told me to ask the store manager. He said that if they said it is o.k. to use than that he didn't mind me using it and didn't think that I was doing anything illegal.

I also stated that the buzz sounded to him like hearsay/gossip since CVS had not put out anything regarding the coupon.

Anyway, I've said more than my 2 cents. Great shopping trip...good for you.