Saturday, March 26, 2011

Kroger ending doubles/triples in Houston market

I am fielding a lot of inquiries as to where I have read this information and how I know this without a link to a source.  I have to tell you, I received a letter from Kroger about these changes and I will cut and paste the letter below for your reference.  Hope this clarifies some of the questions and conerns you have:


Good Afternoon, Stephanie,

It’s come to our attention that you may be receiving questions about our new coupon policy and are uncertain how to address these inquiries. As we prepare to notify households by mail of the discontinuation of our double/triple program, a key component is educating our front-end associates about the change to equip them to handle customer questions. Our front-end associates and Customer Service Managers (CSMs) were recently informed of the change. We are aware that this information has begun to circulate and as a result, some shoppers may be turning to you for answers and clarification about our policy. Additionally, erroneous information has been posted on other blog sites and savings forums.

We acknowledge that these are issues and questions you must address with your readers now and we welcome you to do so. We’re in the process of finalizing the new coupon policy and have decided to share it with you prior to April 5, in the meantime, the information listed below should prove helpful in responding to any questions about the matter.

Ø   As we openly shared with you on Monday at the VIBE, we absorb the cost of doubling and tripling coupons - not the manufacturers - and it’s a sizeable expense each month. Our data shows that only 7% of households take advantage of doubling and tripling. Although more costly to us a company, more than 19% of households take advantage of the fuel rewards program.
Ø  With the growing popularity of digital coupons, mobile apps and manufacturers producing coupons valued at more than 50 cents, we feel it’s an ideal time to test out a new money-saving program and discontinue double/triple.  There’s a possibility we may re-introduce double/triple by hosting special shopping events intermittently. 

Ø  We will still continue to accept coupons at face value. Part of the new policy states there is a limit of one electronic or paper manufacturer coupon per item. The opportunity to stack is no longer available. A digital coupon and manufacturer paper coupon may not be combined on the purchase of a single item. More than 130 digital coupons are available daily at www.kroger.com.

Ø  If you have loaded an electronic coupon to your Kroger Plus card, then the digital coupon will apply before the manufacturer paper coupon. A digital coupon cannot be removed from a transaction once redeemed.

Ø  In addition to accepting coupons at face value, Kroger still offers a number of ways to save. We saved Texas shoppers more than $25 million in 2010 through different programs including the Pick 6 wine discount, generic drug pricing ($4/30-day supply and $10/90-day supply), everyday 10% senior discount for shoppers who are 59 and older, and fuel rewards.

Ø  Through the fuel rewards program, shoppers save 3 cents per gallon everyday at Kroger Fuel Centers. There are 67 Kroger Fuel Centers in Greater Houston. Customers can save 10 cents per gallon at Kroger Fuel Centers and more than 500 participating Shell locations in the area when they earn 100 fuel rewards points.

Ø  Rewards points can be earned in the following ways:
o    Spend $100 on groceries, earn 100 points. ($1 = 1 point)
o    Spend $50 on gift cards and we double the points. (1 $50 gift card = 100 points)
o    Fill or refill 2 prescriptions at a Kroger Pharmacy. (1 prescription = 50 pts)

A more thorough outline of our coupon policy is to come; however, we want to equip you with the key messages so that you can address your readers’ concerns now. Please feel free to encourage your readers to use their coupons before the double/triple program expires on Wednesday, April 13,

If I can provide any additional information at this time, please let me know.

As always, thank you.

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

They are stating that with double/triple coupons they are absorbing a sizable expense and then state ONLY 7% of households take advantage of double/triple coupons?????? They can keep their "more costly" fuel reward I just want to continue to be the "only 7%" that takes advantage of double/triples.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for keeping us updated!! :)

imm93

sirkerry said...

Well that just sucks.

tonya s. said...

the double/triple coupon policy was the only advantage that Kroger had over other stores. when it ends there will be no reason for me to shop their instead of walmart or heb. this is really bad news.

Anonymous said...

Well, if they don't want my "7%" of their business, they won't get my RX dollars OR my fuel dollars. Considering WE are the "teachers" grading this "test," I can already predict that we need a score LESS than zero -- I don't grade on a sliding scale! They can keep their "intermittent" d/t sales ... I ain't standing in LINES for an hour (like they had Super Double weekend -- the ONLY ONE they did, BECAUSE of the lines) to go shop there. n AND they apparently learned NOTHING from the HUGE mess-up AFTER the SuperDouble when the Qs weren't d/t as they should, to pull THIS stunt on us. -- STACKING AND D/T WERE the reasons I went to Kroger for all these YEARS. I've spent (oop) thousands of dollars there over the years-- I seldom shop at any other store I drive 25+ miles one-way JUST TO SHOP at Kroger I like BECAUSE they are so great with the d/t Qs-- oops, "DID", guess I'll just be going to Randalls, Walmart, Target, and driving further to go to HEB now. Kroger wants to "test" MY loyalty??? I quit shopping at Sears and some other stores over the past 30+ years JUST because of this kind of thing ... Most of you don't remember the names of them because they no longer exist because I wasn't the only one that didn't like being "back-stabbed." [shrug] Kroger doesn't want my business, fine. The ONLY time they will get it NOW will be if I have a Q that makes the item less than a nickle! Take THAT to the bank, Kroger! [jaws1]

Unknown said...

They must think we are idiots ..... Let's look at what they are offering us instead of d/t coupons, shall we ?

- wine discount ... does not apply to me
- generic drug pricing .. we RARELY have Rx to fill , and I can get the same value at Walmart
- everyday senior discount.. does not apply to me
- fuel discount ... not worth spending the $100's on groceries to get my measly $3.50 discount per fill up .



Kroger are there any more wonderful incentives you have up your sleeve ... like perhaps a one cent discount on frozen items ? or maybe $5 off of your $500 order ?

Unknown said...

From a fiscal standpoint, I can certainly understand why Kroger would want to explore money-saving ideas that would appeal to more than 7% of their clientele. Just like us, they are looking to get the most bang for the buck. Although I do use quite a few coupons that are under 50 cents, the majority of my coupons are 75 cents or more, so I think I will still be shopping at Kroger. However, it does open the door for other retailers to compete more effectively. There is still a whole lot of money to be saved out there!

The Martin Family said...

i'm going to go curl up in bed and cry. :(

Casey said...

Sad news for Kroger to discontue double/triple coupon policy, that's the only reason I still shop at Kroger when they have good sales! Now they're giving up their only advantage! I don't understand who came up this new idea to "test" their consumers.

But on the other side, do you think they may replace this with new money-saving policies? (I mean at least comparable to this one for the sake of money-saving for consumers?)

Mary S. said...

Not Kroger related (boo Kroger) but I just noticed that Randalls has the save $5 on $15 frozen items again. Does anyone know if the California Pizza Kitchen catalina is still active and when it expires? Thanks!

Mary S. said...

Oh, disregard previous question regarding CPK pizza catalina. Just found out it ended 3/20. Oh well. That sure was good pizza.

Super Coupon Mom said...

Stephanie,
Do you have a contact you can share with us. I don't feel that we will make much impact simply writing to the corporate email. I do believe that Kroger is simply leveling the playing field for all of their competitors. I took a 7 year break form Kroger years ago due to customer service issues and I have no problem going to other stores if my coupons are now worth the same amount. Thank you,
Emily

ryan said...

BOO! HISS! I am so upset

Ginger said...

Thanks for the info! I shared it with my readers as well. I try so hard to remember that couponing is a privilege and not a right. However, I do believe that Kroger will be surprised to see the effects of this. They did provide a great advantage with the doubling and tripling of coupons, which was a HUGE incentive to shop there. Funny that this news comes right after Wal-Mart announces a pretty awesome coupon policy stating outright that they will give you coupon overage! I guess I am going to have to deal with the lines at Wal-Mart now! I will still give Kroger my business if I am in a hurry and need to get a gallon of milk or something. Judging from everyone's reaction, it sounds like I will have NO ONE in my way there! lol

katycouponers said...

Ginger, keep in mind CVS often has better prices on milk and if you use organic, Randalls has the cheapest with the O Organic brand, always at least $1 cheaper than I have seen anywhere else.

Becky said...

Does the include City Market, Kingsoopers, and Fred Myers as well?

Lori said...

Well, this stinks! I agree with the 1st Anonymous poster...only 7% is too much for them to absorb! Wow...Sounds like they need better financial management, if it is just NOW becoming a problem, when they've doubled/tripled coupons as long as I can remember.

I'll be curious to see what other "new money-saving program" they come out with and when???!

Anonymous said...

cant expect anything else when you have people bragging they walk out spending .17 cents a week .... what do you think that these stores should allow you to walk away digging into their own pockets so you can stock up 19,045 cans of free beenie weenie?

Kim said...

I can't believe that they are cancelling double/triple coupons. This helps me to be able to afford groceries a little better for my family of 6. I don't use the wine discount or senior discount, but I do use the rx and gas discount, but don't go out of my way for the gas discount. Gas stn is out of way and seems Shell has gone up 10 cents higher to compensate the discount. I shop exclusively at kroger and not sure I will after this. I will shop the ads and see who is cheaper. I really don't like this!

Anonymous said...

Giant Eagle stopped doubling coupons in Northeast Ohio and a group of us put our efforts together to try to get them to change their mind. We set up a site called BringBacktheDoubles.com, got in the media, called the right people, e-mailed, spoke to store management, etc. About a couple weeks later they changed their mind and brought back the doubles. So don't give up! Good luck! Joe http://www.joethecouponguy.com

Post a Comment