As you may have heard by now, Kroger is officially ending the double/triple coupon program at stores in Texas on September 13, 2011. On page 4 of this week’s ad you can find this short notification:
“We gladly accept coupons Manufacturer or Digital at face value. Beginning September 14, we will no longer double or triple coupons. See store for details.”
This is very disappointing news for shoppers who are loyal to Kroger because of the double/triple coupon incentive.
Kroger will still continue to accept coupons at face value as well as digital coupons (eCoupons).
This new policy will affect all Kroger stores in Texas (with the exception of the 3 stores in the Bryan-College Station area). There is no “official” news of whether or not this new change will eventually affect Kroger stores nationwide.
*Update – even though Louisiana is in the same division, they are not included in this change. Only Texas stores are affected.
According to the Kroger FAQ, Extreme Couponing is not to blame.
“We introduced the double-triple program in the 1980s at a time when digital coupons, and other savings programs and lower pricing initiatives did not exist. Coupon options have changed over the past few years and shoppers now have more opportunities than ever before to save at Kroger through our fuel rewards, generic drug pricing, 10% senior discount and other programs.”
While Extreme Couponing may not be the sole reason, I find it coincidental that Houston Kroger stores stopped doubling coupons just a few short months after Extreme Couponing first aired and now DFW is ending their double coupon program just a few weeks before the second season of the show airs. I can only assume, but I think that people are mimicking the illegitimate couponing tactics portrayed on the show and now stores are having to do damage control.
Even if you are in another area, this can still affect you. Kroger may be the first, but they are unlikely to be the last to change their coupon policies.
For more information, see the Kroger Southwest Coupon Guidelines and Kroger Southwest Frequently Asked Questions.
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I hate price matching at Walmart. If you continually buy at Walmart over other stores, you will put them out of business. Then watch Walmart's prices. Watch The High Cost of Low Prices, it is eye opening. I have a family of 6 with one income. I know how hard it is to make ends meet. Sometimes the prices are a vast difference and I have to shop Walmart, but if it is close, I always choose someone other than Walmart.
I wonder if they double coupons at the Denton Kroger? It's a college town. Why would they still double in College Station and not in Denton? And I know that college kids are on a budget but so are families.
I noticed that the Kroger in Palestine,TX accepted their store printed coupon and a manufacturers coupon on the same item that I purchased just last week. Strange.
yuk the Kroger here in north texas was filthy anyway i go to albertsons they gladly double and triple coupons
I live in a college town with a population of 210,000 people...we only have 2 stores to choose from- (although there are appox. 4 locations of each store in our town). Walmart and United/Market Street/Amigos are our 2 choices (although we have a specialty store -health foods etc.) The United/Market Street are for the "haves" & "Walmart" Is for the have-nots. Neither Walmart or United/Market Street offer double or triple coupons.They don't even offer a loyalty program. Walmart is less expensive, however even their prices are continually going up. So frustrating. Sad fact is we just do not have any stores that compete for customers... Some people have used terms such as "Offenders & Hoarders" among others. To me that is uncalled for and rude. Many of the extreme coupon users donate alot to our troop's care pkg's and families, homeless shelters, food banks & churches stc. If people would make more of an effort to "BUY USA" products... perhaps it would help not only our pocket books but our economy as well. Also...the same premise would help if a majority would shop only at retailers that do offer the double or even triple coupons if available. Seems, at least in our town- Price fixing is perhaps an emerging issue. Gardening is a great alternative (somewhat- for somethings) and it is very satisfying as well. We all need to try & eat more "Plant based foods". I say get a petion going that states- those that have a Kroger available- "Kroger was a way to save- and was not for convenience....so way stay with them....Good luck!
I live in Colorado and Krogers is called City Market here. I was wondering if the coupon policy is the same. I tried looking on the website but can't find it. I may just be blind. Also they have digital coupons. If you have a value card, on the website you select which coupons you want and its put onto your card. You can print out a list of what coupons you selected.
As with so many things in society today, couponning has been taken to the extreme by some people who I consider to be verging on pathological. And now those of us who use coupons in a reasonable manner are going to pay the price. I bet a lot of those people don't even need or use half of the groceries they have stockpiled. And I don't blame stores for changing their policies because of the abuse, but I do blame TLC.
ATTENTION all North Houston/The Woodlands/South Montgomery County couponers! Found a tiny nugget of a store on I-45 North, called The Food Basket (take the Robinson Rd. exit.) They have the best meat I have tasted in YEARS and the produce is beautiful. Best yet, they still DOUBLE/TRIPLE coupons. Policy states only 2 like items...but still! I really enjoyed shopping at this little neighborhood store. Super-friendly and helpful people. It is small, so it doesn't have 400 varieties of oatmeal, but if you don't find what you need...just ask! They said they can order for you. I really felt good shopping at an independent grocer and bucking the WalMart dominated shopping scene!
Just received The Food Basket's, coupon policy...they TRIPLE the first coupon up to 50cents, DOUBLE the second (like coupon), then face value on remaining like coupons. WOW...triple on 50cent coupons!
Extreme Couponing is ruining coupon shopping for everyone in general because it shows people how to be greedy and shows the most outrageous side of couponing. It's by no means realistic; those types of trips are 1 in 100 or MORE, and it gives people who have never used coupons the opinion that if they are going to use coupons they will never pay for their groceries again, or they'll get $100 for $2, or something else crazy. I wish everyone would stop watching the show, and I'm beginnning to think that the programming on TLC in general needs questioning considering Dance Moms and Toddlers and Tiaras being so outrageous but that's another soap box. Just don't support TLC!!
I found out this first hand today, having skipped their ads for weeks.
Oh well, too bad. I'll just:
1. Take less trips to stores farther away.
2. Buy different brands of the same products. (or different species of canned seafood that are staples in the fam.)
There is always a way. Boo @ Kroger.