We should use the power of numbers

doodle_bug

I saw on another area of this website someone get a good result with a problem at comet and thought if we banded together and blitzed the likes of comet with emails threatening not to use their shop, we could get good results. My first one would be Asda saying that their coupon policy is ambiguous and unfair etc etc... not shopping at asda anymore. I don't know how many regular posters are here but it must be hundreds, if we agreed to blitz say asda on a particular day, it would be interesting to see the result. How about it?

robin7667

I was thinking exactly the same thing!!!!

Except Tesco would be my number 1 target!!!

Lets do something that will make these guys take notice of us.

I for one spend lots more time in Tesco since using vouchers.

Tim_L

I absolutely disagree. This would be pure folly.

The number of people using large numbers of coupons is relatively small in terms of Asda's customer base, so I doubt they'd take much notice of such a campaign. You might well get a letter explaining that coupon policy is up to the discretion of the local manager, which is the usual response to queries.

On the other hand, as I've just said in a posting elsewhere, if people are actively causing Asda or Tesco problems with redemption of coupons by stuffing vast numbers of Internet copies through, then the most likely reaction is not a relaxation of policy but a clampdown. Even if they don't it's highly unlikely the companies offering vouchers will tolerate the situation for long - either way, the long term result is low voucher acceptance.

There's no absolute right for shoppers to get coupons redeemed when they haven't bought the items involved, and indeed it comes as a surprise to many people that it is possible. If there's no penalty to the supermarkets, they'll tolerate the situation, but as soon as it costs them money or starts causing in-store problems they will clamp down, and the easiest thing for them to do is to implement an IT solution where the coupon is linked to the scanned item and rejected if not matching.

So the best strategy is to not to kick up a stink if there are problems, but just say "oh really", and pocket the coupons for the next time through. Find the operators that are tolerant, and make a couple of trips round so you're not offering massive wads each time through.

aussielle

Well said Tim

halloweenqueen_2

I'm happy to muddle along and if I get some money off - great - its a bonus not a right - once we start demanding we lose out. I'm happy to get a couple of tokens accepted, i have been doing quite well lately with my coupons but am prepared for it not to work next time - you win some you lose some. All that will happen is that they will say we have to stick to the terms of the voucher, a bit of money off when you buy that item. After all they say you can't print money but that is exactly what we are doing with net vouchers, so I'm gonna enjoy it while it lasts!

System

Dont rock the boat is what i say.

Edinburghlass_2

Lets do something that will make these guys take notice of us.

Mmm, thats the last thing I want when shopping, especially with vouchers for things that I haven't actually bought

ELLA

I worked for tesco for 10 years, I have just left due to having a baby but whenever they used to get a huge amount of customers come in with coupons it used to send the cash office into a real state as the staff used to get fed up with trying to sort them out.
I t always got to the point when they were going to put a stop to it but it was down to the manager, I think as long as they come in dribs and drabs and no fuss is made then tesco are happy to accept them but when ever there is a crisis in there eyes there is always a threat to stop them altogether.

robin7667

After reading these replies and going into Tesco this morning I would agree and I change my earlier post.

DONT ROCK THE BOAT.

Rather not make a big fuss, just accept it as it comes along. If I save a few quid great, if not tuff luck...maybe next time ;D

doodle_bug

Fair points but quite selfish.

In Donaster no Tesco or Asda will take coupons, even magazine cut out types if you haven't bought the product, that is fair enough and is applying the rules stated on the coupon.
I live 30 miles down the road and Tesco has a completely different attitude here, you know the policy and my daughter who works there and has been told the policy as we here know and love it,
It does seem selfish  to say hard lines mates in Donny.

The supermarkets here work on a 10% margin on groceries( much higher on other goods)in the US the margin is 2% so the likes of Tesco can easily lose a few quid on coupons. I asked a mate at Tesco if he gets many coupons through his till and he gets a few but nothing on the scale that I use them. They have a board somewhere saying how much the store has taken each day and how much wastage they have, I was amazed at the figures my daughter told me, something like £4 million in a day and it could have been £100,000 wastage, they have got a lot of slack in the system for coupons.
I only discovered this BB recently but I have been using coupons like this for 15 years, looking through magazines, papers, package coupons etc.
I think I've put something in here and taken a lot out, I've seen a poster on another bb and I'm sure he's out to destroy what we have but people on that bb think he's fantastic, where do you draw the line, it's a hard one.
ps. my daughter won't use coupons and she has banned me from her till, Tesco policy is you shouldn't serve family members, I do use her 10% off card though.

Edinburghlass_2

Not really very selfish if you look at it from the other point of view. What if Tesco decided not to take any vouchers across the whole country because of a fuss kicked up in a few stores? As you say there are already some stores who don't and they could decide enough is enough!