Wh
at’s in your mail every day? If you’re like me at this time of year, you’re (not your) being inundated with coupons — lots and lots of coupons. Every retailer is gearing up for Black Friday and the big box brick and mortars are even fighting about it with employees up in arms about having to report to work at 3 a.m. or stay until midnight.
The offers are amazing — free panties from Victoria Secret; 40% off at The Gap and its sisters; 20% off all weekend at Kohls and $5 off at Target if I buy its toys; LL Bean; JC Penney, Sears, Eddie Bauer, Fannie May, and the list goes on and on.
Exasperated
I am overwhelmed. Are you? As a consumer, I’m saturated with coupons, discounts and BOGO offers. I can’t even look at a catalog without wondering about which deal is best; heck, at the checkout, it’s the battle for the best deal, and you better hope the sales clerk knows how to navigate splitting your order so you can get the lowest price. The coupons I do bring in often don’t work because there’s a cheaper deal in the store. It’s astonishing, and I’m wondering how these companies will make revenue numbers?
I’m sick of discounts! And now consumers won’t shop without them, but I’m ready for a change — something like deleting all your Twitter followers, and it goes like this…
Marketer Alert
Here’s what I propose — the un-coupon campaign. Tell me, marketers and advertisers, that your retail and consumer products company:
>>Has no coupons
>>Has no deals
>>Has products of only the highest quality
>>Your customer service is off the chain
>>You value my business and appreciate me
I cannot spend enough money to take advantage of all the deals walking through my door. In fact, because I’m drowning in coupons, I keep them and never use them. They get lost on my cluttered table; I forget them on the counter, and then they expire. My over stimulation for deals means I don’t care any more.
I’m ready to pay full price if you just guarantee the quality of your product and the customer service that goes along with it. Anyone else feeling a bit of coupon malaise?
AMEN !
No, not really! I’m more than happy to avail of deals. I’ll still pay full price if it’s a quality product, but I won’t turn down a deal if I get one.
No, not really! I’m more than happy to avail of deals. I’ll still pay full price if it’s a quality product, but I won’t turn down a deal if I get one.
No, not really! I’m more than happy to avail of deals. I’ll still pay full price if it’s a quality product, but I won’t turn down a deal if I get one.
See what all these deals have created???
Where did my comment go back to you from my dashboard? Some little acknowledgment, “see what all these deals have turned us into?” Stark, raving…
I keep restaurant coupons, because I hate to cook. Suze Orman would have a field day with us on our “grocery” bill, because our groceries are often cooked by others, even if it’s just a Veggie Deluxe from Subway. I’ve become my grandmother, whose refrigerator was always filled with takeout boxes.
And the only place I shop for clothes — when I must, because of all the eating out — is Kohl’s, because of their massive coupons and huge clearance racks. I hate shopping, too, though. I’d rather be reading.
And while I haven’t yet used Groupon or AAA Deals, I always peek.
I guess I still like coupons. But I don’t like the way my mailbox is filled with junk mail. Those printing costs get passed on to us one way or another. Better to use email or the internet, and let me print my coupons out when I want them.
That’s funny. Women of the kitchen no more; no time, just time for take out. Heh.
I never was a woman of the kitchen! My Mom tried to teach me, but I was always begging off. I love cleaning, though! How about you cook, and I’ll clean? 😉
I keep restaurant coupons, because I hate to cook. Suze Orman would have a field day with us on our “grocery” bill, because our groceries are often cooked by others, even if it’s just a Veggie Deluxe from Subway. I’ve become my grandmother, whose refrigerator was always filled with takeout boxes.
And the only place I shop for clothes — when I must, because of all the eating out — is Kohl’s, because of their massive coupons and huge clearance racks. I hate shopping, too, though. I’d rather be reading.
And while I haven’t yet used Groupon or AAA Deals, I always peek.
I guess I still like coupons. But I don’t like the way my mailbox is filled with junk mail. Those printing costs get passed on to us one way or another. Better to use email or the internet, and let me print my coupons out when I want them.
Couldn’t hop on this the other day, but I have a few thoughts. I just spent the last few days tweaking an email blast for a retail client of mine, the third in a month now that offers some special deal: the first was a mid-week surprise sale (30%); the second was her annual Black Friday sale (again, 30% off); and the third was Small Business Saturday – the day after Black Friday, mind you, where’s she will offer 20% off. I asked, is that too much? She said no…people expect a deal and I’m getting NO ONE in my doors right now. This is a tough time of year and after many years of training shoppers to expect the deals, why would they want to pay full price when they know a savings or discount awaits them. They’re playing Poker with the retailers. A stand off of wills to see who will cave first. If the shopper doesn’t come in, the retailer caves (like mine) and sends out a deal. If the retailer doesn’t cave, they have to have, as you point out, exceptional service, product and quality (my kids’ shoe store, for example).
My retail client sells Eileen Fisher and higher end clothing; she simply can’t compete with the big boxes unless she discounts.
I read the article and its very helpful, thanks for sharing those tips. hope to read more articles from you.
This was a funny post Jaymee – put down the coupons LOL!
Happy New Year to you miss and looking forward to seeing what you have to share in 2012!