Well... I'm not sure I know what to make of this, but TLC is debuting a new show tonight called "Extreme Couponing." The show follows four serious couponers and their efforts to save money.
I can definitely see why this topic would appeal to TV producers, but I'm worried the show is going to make us all look crazy. From what I've seen already, I think this is going to give couponers a bad name. The show (apparently) follows these shoppers to the store, to the recycling center so they can dumpster dive for coupons (yes, people do that) and to their homes, where some of them keep massive overstock piles.
The show is on tonight at 8 p.m. on TLC. Please share your thoughts if you happen to catch the show.
Comments
Yes indeed
December 30, 2010 - 3:24pm — suestock (author)cjkoethc: you are correct. HT does have a limit on how many coupons they will double per day per household (20), as does Lowes Foods. You will note that all of the massive shops done on this show were at Kroger, which has no limit and seems (unfortunately) to have cooperated with TLC to create this filming "opportunity" for the show.
JUST PLAIN GREED!!
December 30, 2010 - 10:20am — jma1947It always amazes me the length some people will go to get their faces, names,etc. in the media limelight. It's embarassing enough for me to go to the grocery store on double, triple coupons and watch these people with huge binders buying the limit of each item while the rest of us would be content to just get one and go. They have multiple coupons for each item - and sorry, Sue, I know that you encourage these large binders, but I still think it looks greedy when my small plastic couponing envelope works just fine. I really do thank you for all your hard work in compiling the coupon lists for us and is the ONLY reason I get the paper, again thanks!!
Agreed
December 29, 2010 - 11:56pm — cjkoethcI love a good deal and I love reaching into my closet for an item that I bought for very little on sale. This show is definitely labeled correctly as "extreme." Its definitely an addiction. These people ruin coupons for the rest of us. They "game" the system to get so many free or nearly free items, that manufacturers think twice about distributing those types of coupons. If these extreme people take ALL the items home (200 Butterfingers anyone?) and shove them in their closets, then retailers aren't reaching their target audiences....the average consumer. Plus, can you imagine being behind these people in line?
Doesn't Harris Teeter have a 20 coupon limit or something? I'm surprised extreme couponers that want to use 1,000 coupons aren't limited.
The first woman profiled said she spends up to 70 hours a week on her couponing habit. Say what???? Time is money. And they bought insurance to cover their overstock? The investment in this couponing habit seems like a waste to me.
I'm especially embarrassed for viewers in other countries that will be watching this show. American excess at its worst.
Thanks for reading to my rant! :) By the way, Sue Stock, you rock!
Not to be judgemental, but...
December 29, 2010 - 9:02pm — corbiniaI only saw one person featured on the show that said he donated part of his stockpile to the needy. I saw a lot of hoarder-like behavior. I totally understand why our local retailers have a limit on the number of coupons. 1,000 coupons for 1,000 items? I wonder how many of those items spoil when so many of them could have been used to bless others.