Mile High on the Cheap

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Breaking News: King Soopers Ends Double-Coupons!

POSTED BY
Bryan

Clip CouponsToday is the day bargain hunters feared. It’s the last day for double coupons at King Soopers. Be sure to check out our “How To Get The Best Deals at King Soopers” guide tomorrow for money-saving tips! If you’re a true bargain hunter and regular coupon clipper, take a deep breath. Are you ready? King Soopers will no longer double coupons. The popular promo will end on Tuesday, August 23. According to the chain, “Only a small percentage of shoppers use double coupons and customers are responding favorably to the recent increase in the quantity and value of the digital coupons available.” To their benefit, King Soopers promises to invest additional resources in digital coupons. (We’re still in shock. Bryan can’t recall a time, when King Soopers did not double coupons and he’s a Colorado native.)

If you’ve ever attended one of our coupon workshops, you know we’re not big fans of digital coupons for a variety of reasons, namely because it limits access to savings for many populations. (Bryan’s so cheap he doesn’t even own a smartphone!)

In addition, for die-hard smart shoppers, customers are typically limited to just one coupon of a particular kind. Whereas, with paper coupons, you can use multiples in a single transaction, depending on a store’s coupon policy.  Plus, there’s the issue of remembering to check and download new coupons every week. (Note: King Soopers will continue to accept paper coupons — just at face value.)

One of our biggest issues arises, when there is a problem with a digital coupon at check-out. It can be quite arduous and time-consuming to “prove” you had the coupon. To be fair, we have experienced problems with digital coupons and/or offers at just about every store that offers them, not just King Soopers.

If you can’t pull up your account on site, it becomes very cumbersome and often requires the involvement of a manager. More than once, we’ve left a store without getting our digital savings — only having to return with a print-out at the customer service counter for an adjustment.

We contacted Safeway and have confirmed that they have no plans, as of now, to end its policy of doubling coupons.

Double-coupons have been our biggest asset in saving big bucks at the grocery store. As a result, we will probably spend more time and energy focusing on finding deals at other supermarkets and retailers. If you’re a King Soopers regular and use coupons every time, now’s the time to stock up on the savings.

How do you feel about King Soopers no longer doubling coupons? Do you like digital coupons?

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Filed Under: Coupon · Groceries

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Comments

  1. Don’t have a smart phone so have to print list of coupons…go to store…check list…and then check and hope that the discount appears on the register. Paper coupons are so much better!

  2. I like both. Do not have a smart phone, not everyone has one. So I use digital I Print from my computor and from the paper. I think they should still double coupons.

  3. I am very sad about double coupons ending. It is hard to believe that only a “small percentage” of shoppers used them. I will need to reconsider where I do the bulk of my grocery shopping now. Perhaps I will only buy my produce at King Soopers – if that.

  4. I will miss the double coupons and now plan to shop more often at Safeway and stores that offer them. I do to a lesser extent use the digital coupons but don’t always get on the computer and have a problem remembering the exact offer: e.g. size, and expiration date.

  5. I have a hard time believing that fewer customers are using double coupons… Really??? If you have a coupon, you expect it to be doubled (unless it says otherwise on the coupon). What a poor excuse by King Soopers to save money! Since I don’t have a smart phone either, this poses a problem for me should paper coupons vanish. Also, I’ve tried loading the “Friday Savings” digital coupons on my King Soopers credit card and haven’t had success. So, each week I need to have a clerk adjust my bill for that item. What an inconvenience this is both for the clerk and me. I hope King Soopers will re-evaluate this new policy!

  6. when do the stores offer “double” coupons? I thought that was no longer in use a long time ago. Is it for certain days? Which stores and which days for whatever stores? I’d like to take advantage of this feature if it is still in use. Thx.

  7. I love bargains and hate to see double coupons ending. I’m not a lover of digital coupons as I forget what I’ve marked and don’t have the time to stand and check them on my phone. I’ll have to start making a list of them and take it with me but it’s not going to be like a double coupon. I’ll look for other places to get good deals now.

  8. I use the coupons on the Kroger app all the time. Some of the coupons you can use up to 5 times on the same visit. I was never one to spend the time clipping coupons and if I did they usually expired before I got the chance to use them. With the app, or even online, I can sort the coupon sections by what I’m looking to buy and see if they have any that I’m interested in. You also don’t need a smartphone to use the coupons since you just login to your Kroger account online and click on the coupons you want and when you check out you just give them your reward card or enter your alternate ID and the coupons get added to the order automatically. I love the digital coupons.

  9. Not too happy about this! I’ve been using the double coupons for ever and now it won’t be worth the effort to cut the under $1 coupons out. I’m sure Kings was counting on that! Might sell my stock in Kroger!!

  10. I have to give King Soopers credit, the digital coupons are easy, work well, and I’m more often surprised pleasantly by having something apply I’d forgotten about than unpleasantly that something didn’t work.

    I also appreciate how they send me physical coupons very targeted for the items I buy regularly.

    The time/value calculation of their coupons is definitely higher than scanning the Sunday paper for those few I might use — more so now that doubling has ended.

  11. I don’t have a smart phone either. I did digital coupon last wk. and of course it did not show up. The clerk was nice enough to give it to me anyway without calling a mgr. I will go to Safeway with my coupons. I just don’t like when you have to buy 2 of something to use the coupon. I won’t do that.

  12. I’m old enough to remember triple-coupons, and the days before total savings were limited to $1. This is lousy, but the reality is that coupons have been getting worse for a long time: they’re offered for almost nothing I buy, expiration dates are short (remember “no expiration date” coupons?), and the requirements for loyalty cards and digital accounts.

    Barring some serious regulatory changes, I will never use digital coupons. They are not there for your convenience, but rather to infringe on your privacy by collecting even more of your personal information. I’m still angry about the legal precedent set by the Safeway Club Card!

  13. I had NO idea they doubled coupons for the last several years I’ve been shopping there!!!!! Wish I’d known with more than 12 days to use them….

  14. I used to scour the printed fliers to find deals. I’m like the lady that had expired coupons if I ever remembered to bring them to the store. I don’t get the digital coupons and agree that it is a way to get info from buyers. I find that the products from corporations that give out coupons don’t save me money even with coupons, compared with what I can save by buying the generic version of the so-called sale item. I look for deals, read labels that let me know the price per ounce, per pound, etc. and try to buy in bulk when things are on sale. I also find that items with coupons are generally not as healthy as items without, i.e. produce over canned vegetables. It all comes down to time vs money. If you have one, you usually don’t have the other.

  15. I MUCH prefer printed coupons. As you said, you’re restricted to one time use (with occasional exceptions of 5X use, but ONLY in a single transaction) with digital AND they don’t double! Except for the store brand coupons, the ones online are the same as ones I find in coupon flyers. If I have both a printed and digital option, I ALWAYS go for the printed, so it doubles.

    Also, I have the printed one in hand as proof. I have had regular problems in getting a downloaded coupon credited. I now ALWAYS print out a screen shot of all my downloaded coupons, so I can point to them and prove it right then and there. Still, it takes extra time and trouble to get the credit – they have to call the manager or they look at you like “it’s too much trouble to adjust and correct, why don’t you just skip it!” SOOO annoying!

    Finally, would MHOTC PLEASE double check and give us an exact list of just WHICH Safeway stores double coupons? NONE of the Safeway store near me (Capitol Hill) double – haven’t for years! Believe me, I ask regularly.

    Oh, actually, one MORE thing – I shop almost exclusively at Sprouts for produce – they regularly have the best prices and the freshest produce!
    King Soopers is dropping precipitously from my favor. Blatant cheap move, poorly disguised as better for the average customers. Phooey! (Can’t say what I REALLY want to say!)

  16. Ive had trouble with digital coupons, Sorry to see this go away. I hate their Simple Truth line POOR QUALITY. I get my produce at Sprouts and will take my coupons to Safeway. I have been over-charged so many times at King Soopers. Last week the clerk made me walk him to the cereal I had been over-charged to show him the sign. When we got back to check-out he had to go get the ad at the service counter. When he came back he still had to call a manager. REALLY!

  17. extremely upset.
    I have been a loyal KS customer for 30 years.
    I’ve always hated Safeway but now that Albertsons bought them out, they are back in favor. Looks like I may have to jump ship and climb on board with Safeway.

  18. I actually cried. If only a few of us use double coupons, then just leave us alone and let us continue.

    I really think we ALL need to call King Soopers customer service. I did and Cassidy at 303-778-3245 listened and promised she would pass on my passionate comments.

    Thanks for all you do at MHOTC. I do hope you will push for people to call/protest the action by King Soopers.

  19. Really disappointed in this change by King Soopers. I too have had digital coupons not be reflected on my receipt for a shopping trip in the store. I then had to spend time sending an email to the webmaster, having an email discussion with that representative and still being denied. This is inconvenient and shows a lack of customer service on the part of King Soopers. Additionally, I have hit the maximum number (150) of digital coupons posted to my card- so then the system locked me out of adding any additional coupons. This was never an issue with paper coupons. This policy change certainly doesn’t appear to benefit coupon using customers, via my perspective. BUt I’ll be anxiously awaiting how this change is for the better. Thanks MHOTC for giving us a place to mourn with others who share my disappointment.

  20. In Sunday’s paper there was a large ad that said that Safeway AND ALBERTSON’S double coupons. All is not lost! Let’s take more business to these stores to thank them for this money-saving opportunity.

  21. I do not believe fewer people are using paper coupons! I was really bummed to learn about this! I do have a smart phone but I’m old fashion! I still like paper. I was told that the digital coupons would be more generous than on the past. We shall see! I need to get to the store tonight to double any coupons!

  22. Since my previous comment about the Safeway stores around me NOT doubling coupons, that half page ad in the Post appeared, saying all Safeway AND now Albertson’s will double coupons. I have cut out the ad and will take it with me EVERY time I shop at Safeway or Albertson’s, so they can no longer capriciously deny doubling coupons! Hooray!
    Gee, do you think Kings will now lower prices, since they no longer have to make up for the doubled part of coupons? Doubt it.
    PLEASE, everyone take the time to write and/or call Kings and register your anger and disappointment with the cancelling of the double coupons policy. Probably won’t make a difference, but you never know. Cancelled TV series have been brought back due to viewer protests. COULD work for the doubled coupons if enough of us make a stink and cut our shopping at Kings. Hit ’em in their bottom line hard enough and it could change their minds!

  23. I’m a big couponer as I live on a very restricted budget. I will simply go to Safeway and do my shopping. The digital coupons do not add up to the same value as a coupon I could double and Kings knows this. Unless ALL their digital coupons are going to be $1.00 ( and I know they’re not) financially I have to go where I can get double the value.
    I noticed the first week they announced they were eliminating double coupons they had great digital coupons, for a variety of brands/products. This week a lot of coupons were for Private Selection or Kroger brand, so basically you buy their brand or no deal for you.

    Very disappointed in this company! I’ve been a loyal customer since moving here in 1991.

  24. Judy, you are correct. Only about 3% of all the coupons redeemed in the past year were digital. The rest were paper. – Laura

  25. Hi Brian, Laura:
    It actually ended Aug 22, not Aug 23, as on your post. I brought my last coupons to the store and all didn’t double. Was very embarrassed! I blamed it on my procrastination. I will no longer shop in Kingsoopers but will bring from now on only shop in Safeway and Albertsons, my family prefers buying Steaks from Safeway and Pork from Albertsons as they are better quality in our opinions from Kingsoopers.