Comments on: Why I Am Not The Least Bit Embarrassed to Use Coupons

By: Katie

Katie — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 00:40:33 +0000

I am a retail cashier, and I don’t mind people using coupons at all if they do it in the right way. Respectable, rule abiding, coupon users would be surprised to know the amount of people that try to scam cashiers with coupons, use expired coupons, use more than one coupon for the same item. Also, Coupon users need to understand that cashiers are trying to do their job, that we are trying to get customers out of the store quickly, and that WE are the ones that have to deal with the irritated people that are in line behind you. Also, most coupon users take personal offense when some of their items do not ring up the sale price, I hear the phrase “you overcharged me” way too many times. I personally did not maliciously and purposely overcharge you, the computer did, and I am incredibly sorry for your inconvenience, but most of the time, it is not my fault. A cashier can not possibly remember everything that is on sale in the store every week, and exactly how much it is on sale for, but some (not all) sale shoppers expect us too. I am sure that if many of the devout coupon users took a cashiers position, just for one day, they would understand the frustration that is associated with coupons. It is not a personal frustration, coupons just many times bring out the worst mood in shoppers, they encourage them to get more items than the limit allows, (which it turn, means we run out faster and makes customers angry at us when we run out), and, if used wrongly, are just another way for people to attempt scams.

By: kerry

kerry — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 15:17:42 +0000

I use coupons whenever I can, although not being American, we don’t get the same crazy doubling and things that happen south of the border… I can’t imagine being embarrassed to use coupons, but I think that the next time I meet someone who is, I’ll invite them to use the coupons, and donate what they save to me, since they clearly don’t want/need it anyhow.

The learning curve for me was not buying things just because I have a coupon (that is, spending more by buying stuff I don’t normally use, just because I can save $0.25… took me a while to break the whole “going broke by saving money” habit )

By: Migs

Migs — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 14:47:50 +0000

I am not embarrassed to use them at all. In these times of economic difficulty, every cent counts.

By: Tiffany

Tiffany — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 02:26:59 +0000

I’m never embarrassed to use coupons, especially when I get to watch as money comes off my total bill at the grocery store or in a department store. It’s the next best thing to money in the bank!

By: Momma @ Tales From The Road Less Traveled

Momma @ Tales From The Road Less Traveled — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 01:26:44 +0000

I use coupons every chance I get too. I use them for restaurants. Every single time I’ve used one at a restaurant, the management makes the same type of comment “Great to see our advertising dollars at work”.

Every time a coupon is presented and used, the higher ups at the company smile because they know that they got your money and their next best competitor didn’t.

By: Monroe on a Budget » Are coupons embarassing?

Monroe on a Budget » Are coupons embarassing? — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 00:05:48 +0000

[...] it’s probably to no surprise that I found Shannon Christman’s piece at Saving Advice: Why I am not the least bit embarassed to use coupons to be quite [...]

By: deanna

deanna — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 04:32:43 +0000

I think that some stores do really well with coupons while others make the experience dreadful. My take is that a coupon is free money. If it is something that I was going to buy anyway and I can get it for less money, that money can then be used for other things. Why give it away if there is no need to?

By: Robyn

Robyn — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 04:27:18 +0000

Coupons are fun and many people really enjoy looking for them. I think it is just fine to use them. There is a reason that companies put them out there.

By: Lisa

Lisa — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 19:32:07 +0000

Using coupons with preparation is just as important as not talking on the cell phone during a transaction, having your checkbook out and start writing the check before the total and having your license, credit/debit card out and ready. Waiting until the the clerk asks for your coupons/payment ect. is rude to others. I’ve watched people fumble around in there wallet for a license and credit card for minutes on end. It is annoying.
My ex used to get annoyed with his mother who would use coupons at restaurants. But, that was because she would wave it around and talk loudly about having one making a spectacle of us. It was weird.
I admit I prefer to use gift cards over coupons at restaurants but have no problem using coupns anywhere else.

By: EvieD

EvieD — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 17:29:45 +0000

I remember when my brother went to his high school prom, my parents gave him a coupon they had for the “high falutin’” restaurant he and his date plus another couple were going to dine at. He had a fit, said no way was he going to use a coupon!

Flash forward 10-15 years, and now that he is/was on his own and paying his own bills, he’d stop by my parent’s house to ask them if they had any coupons for products he used.