Shelf clearers

**New-mom-to-be** · 09-25-2011, 10:11 AM

Do you get annoyed when something you need is on sale and within the first hour of a store opening, someone has cleaned out the entire thing?

**MamaTreadler** · 09-25-2011, 10:17 AM

I've never seen that happen.

**jacqueline** · 09-25-2011, 10:26 AM

i do! this is one reason why i can't watch that show on extreme couponing. these people shouldn't be celebrated. i do coupons but use them on things i am going to use. i also stockpile. i don't clear shelves.
i don't think it's fair for the person who has driven into town to shop for their family and is unable to purchase the things they need because someone else has taken it all. also i don't think it's fair when i go to the store, coupons in hand and i didn't get there in time to get in on the deal. if i don't get to my local rite aid on sunday, i don't get the deal because of others who coupon that have come from another area because they've shopped out their store. i found this out while talking with the manager.
sorry for the rant -- it's a sore point with me. but i do agree with you.

**Debbie-cat** · 09-25-2011, 10:39 AM

Yes, it really annoys me! I then have to make another trip into town, wasting gas and my time!

**l8eebugg** · 09-25-2011, 10:57 AM

I don't like it when stores are out of item untill magically they get the item the day after sale has ended!

**hotprincesscm** · 09-25-2011, 11:01 AM

It annoys me as well. But I also think it's the store's responsibility, to take into account that there is "extreme couponers" out there and should order plenty of the sale items to have them instock for the week of the sale. It's not like that item won't be able to be sold after the sale....so if they order more than what is needed they can always keep it in the back room for stocking shelves at a later point!

**nuisance26** · 09-25-2011, 11:10 AM

~Well, I rarely get to the store an hour after a sale begins but that hasn't happened to me yet.
I don't think that you're describing a problem with extreme shoppers though. It's a problem with the store replenishment system.The majority of markets keep more than 20-50 of a sale item on hand. There's more in the back. Ask an associate to get some out for you. If the store really did plan that poorly than you can get a rain check.
I do encounter a lot of empty shelves these days but I attribute that to the fact that we now have one supermarket serving too many people. We had three supermarkets here last year.
If you think about it rationally, 20 different shoppers could have come in ahead of you and bought just a few of the sale product. You assume it was one person. How many people shop at that store? Probably thousands. It's lucky any of us get sale items when you think that you're probably competing with thousands. I know I am. I wouldn't be surprised if 10000 people shopped at my grocery every week.~

**valerian** · 09-25-2011, 11:33 AM

I hate it too! I think that the stores should be more on the ball and restock when this happens.

**shoiji** · 09-25-2011, 01:25 PM

It can get annoying. But if the item is something I will definately use I will get a raincheck. Most stores will give you one if you go to the customer service desk. Sure it might take a few minutes but the extra effort is worth it.

**gapeach** · 09-25-2011, 03:00 PM

I've had this happen to me a few times. Publix is very good to give rainchecks on the item. Kroger, on the other hand, is not but they have instituted "limit # per customer" on a lot of sale items. I watched a lady one morning buy an item with a limit 2 per customer. She would purchase 2 and take them out to her car and come back in to purchase 2 more. I watched her do this 8 times!

**ncarr** · 09-25-2011, 04:23 PM

I hate this too! It happened to me today at CVS

No free Thermacare wraps for me

**wunsagin** · 09-25-2011, 04:37 PM

I have to drive so far, 30mins one way, I will get rainchecks then shop weeks later when I know they have restocked. I think shelf clearers are rude, especially around here, they buy because 'they can'.

**Libby** · 09-25-2011, 04:37 PM

Oddly enough, the discount grocery stores here don't 'stock up' before an advertised sale. They also don't give reinchecks either b/c they are a discount store. Its a first come first served basis. And yes it does irk me at times but if its truly something I *need* I'd pay a higher price for it.

Example: if they only had 10 items of something advertised in the flyer on Thursday night before closing and the sale starts Friday am...you're pretty much out of luck if you're going to try to pick it up after work Friday.

**steelergal** · 09-25-2011, 09:14 PM

Thankfully all the stores I shop at seem to either have a limit on the items on sale or offer hassle free rainchecks!

I always think those extreme couponing shows are interesting but then again it really bugs me! I enjoy the ones that donate to food banks but when they are doing it out of greed- it really bothers me (like the guy who stocks up on diapers and has no kids yet- he could donate those to a local womans shelter!).