Manufacturer's couponing strategy

**sdrjeolsen** · 01-19-2008, 11:13 AM

I ran across this on thesimpledollar.com blog, interesting how manufacturers use a couponing strategy to increase their sales. It made me rethink my couponing stategy.

"Many people don’t bother to clip coupons for various reasons, mostly revolving around the belief that a fifty cent coupon doesn’t make it worth the effort. About two months ago, I was talking about this very fact with a friend of mine who works for Hy-Vee, the large grocery store chain here in Iowa. He gave me a tip. Coupons in the newspaper are usually the first wave of a product push from large companies. They’ll put out coupons to start bumping up the sales, then they’ll move onto sale prices later on in the promotion. The reason for doing these in waves is so that the overall product sales trend looks solidly positive and not just a big spike with a fall-off. Plus, coupon users who use the product, like it, return to the store, and notice the item on sale are often willing to buy the item again. I’ll admit to noticing this working for me in the past with products like V-8 Fusion."

He went on to say most times the particular item goes on sale 4 weeks from the date the coupon is published in the paper.

**dcompton** · 01-19-2008, 11:37 AM

That's interesting. Hmmmmm. So the sale begins probably just after the coupon expires?

**emily_hope** · 01-19-2008, 11:59 AM

That is interesting. I don't think I have been to that website. Going to go check it out, thanks.

**emily_hope** · 01-19-2008, 12:02 PM

Originally Posted by dcompton

That's interesting. Hmmmmm. So the sale begins probably just after the coupon expires?

He is saying to save the coupons and then bring them out and they should sync up with the sales. This way you can get items at a very good bargain. Some may expire within the month, but there are many that do not.

**JustJoy** · 01-19-2008, 12:03 PM

Good to know.....Thanks!

**Marie78** · 01-19-2008, 12:19 PM

I've wondered if this was true. I have held onto coupons before waiting for the item to go on sale in addition to the coupon. Sometimes this has worked out for me and sometimes I have had to use the coupon because it was about to expire and then a week or so later the product went on sale.

I thought maybe I was being paranoid, but I am glad to see there's some truth behind the coupons and product sales. Thank you for sharing your info. with us.

**lisettelovebug** · 01-19-2008, 12:24 PM

i noticed that a lot of times, at least in my area, that i will get a coupon on sunday and there's a good chance it's on sale that week either at one of the grocery stores or at rite aid. sometimes many of the stores have the same product on sale. like this last week i got a coupon for skippy and skippy was on sale at several places.

**inneedofhope** · 01-19-2008, 03:29 PM

I've noticed that, too. It must be an upstate NY thing. I also notice, though that sometimes the sales are misleading. The discount is really small, compared to other times the item will be on sale.

**IntlMom** · 01-19-2008, 09:11 PM

The other thing about that is that the new products are ususally "rolled out" with very high value coupons.....by combining them with the inevitable sales prices to follow - I have gotten lots of free cleaning products, pasta, hair care items...................

**mom2matty** · 01-19-2008, 10:56 PM

Very good to know!!

**cissylu** · 05-31-2008, 09:47 PM

Denise thank you so much for shareing.

**Budgetbryan** · 06-01-2008, 11:46 AM

The website Couponmom.com does this for you online. Each week they will list what is on sale and which week the coupons came out so you can just watch the site each week and clip only what you need. Free registration to the site as well. I have found that they only list what is in the circular though, and not everything on sale in the store will be in the ads. I have gone a different direction and brought a list of my coupons along with my expandable mini folder of coupons and went through the store and found some great sales along with the coupons.

**hippytreehugger4ever** · 06-01-2008, 01:16 PM

Originally Posted by IntlMom

The other thing about that is that the new products are ususally "rolled out" with very high value coupons.....by combining them with the inevitable sales prices to follow - I have gotten lots of free cleaning products, pasta, hair care items...................

And Grillin Beans!!! LOL And when they came out with that antibacterial Windex I ended up with 14 free bottles because the coupons were B1G1F and there was a sale on it B1G1F!!!