Extreme Coupons: TV Show Draws Extreme Backlash

CHECK OUT THIS ARTICLE ON YAHOO FINANCE OR READ HERE!

http://financiallyfit.yahoo.com/finance/article-113020-10125-1-how-to-get-the-most-from-coupons

I am putting in red things I want to share about. 
Last month I described five reasons to steer clear of extreme couponing, and now I think I have a sixth: It brings out the worst in both consumers and retailers. ( from Kay... I agree, cause I have really found the retailers to be ugly lately, and it makes me ugly).

Industry watchers say TLC's popular reality show, Extreme Couponing -- which depicts coupon-obsessed men and women spending 30 to 40 hours a week cutting coupons to net pounds and pounds of groceries for pennies on the dollar (exhausted yet?) -- may be causing more harm than good in the real world. (from Kay... I do not spend 30 to 40 hours a week... I enjoy what I do, and not hoarding)

On the retail front, some big retailers -- wary of couponing copycats -- are pushing back on former coupon allowances for ordinary shoppers:
• At Rite Aid, shoppers can no longer combine buy-one-get-one-free coupons or promotions --
 a strategy that, in the past, allowed customers to get two free items.(from Kay.... I used to love the BOGO because this is were I got the free makeup with a coupon BOGO to go along with the store's sale) The chain is also limiting the number of coupons a shopper can use per item to four, as long as there is enough stock. ( from Kay... this actually may be a good idea, so others can get deals)Before, the store accepted "multiple identical coupons for multiple qualifying items."
• Target now forbids "stacking," the act of combining manufacturer and store buy-one-get-one-free coupons, in order to receive both items for free.( from Kay. now that is not fair)

Meanwhile, viewers are trying to take on the TV show's tricks to no avail -- and becoming depressed by their inability to replicate the savings achieved by the pros on the show. "Is Extreme Couponing Hurting Self Esteem?" asks Leah Ingram on her blog Suddenly Frugal. Phil Lempert, food industry expert and editor of Supermarketguru.com, told her that "shoppers no longer feel good about saving $10, or 10-to-20 percent. They're becoming depressed that they are not able to buy $1,000 or more groceries for 25 cents."
And, believe it or not, some of the coupon-obsessed across the country have reportedly turned to newspaper theft to take advantage of as many coupon circulars as possible. Some subscribers complain that their papers are missing coupon inserts, while some regional newspaper companies report papers have been stolen from coin-operated racks. Now, that's extreme. ( from Kay.... This is why I buy my papers at the convenient store,  I look thru them to make sure my coupons are in them)

Coupon Dos & Don'ts
Still, as wary as I am of coupon mania, I'm willing to concede that there are some smart ways to use coupons -- as long as you're buying something you actually want or need. Many stores still have lenient policies.
(from Kay.... wrong!  sometimes you need to buy what you don't need to get what you want free, or cheap and you can give what you don't need away!)

Here's some advice for tactfully getting the most out of coupons and some coupon etiquette Do's and Dont's.
Do Know Your Limits. Save time, energy and embarrassment at the register by playing with the rules established by retailers and manufacturers. Visit their Web sites to learn if there have been any updates or changes to their coupon policies.(from Kay... most deffinitely keep up with coupon policys and their changes)
Do Ask Friends and Neighbors to Leave Aside Papers. Some people actually subscribe to newspapers for the articles, not the coupons. It's perfectly acceptable to ask these friends and family members -- politely -- to set aside the coupons for you to pick up at a later time. (from Kay... some men especially get the paper just for the sports section, and I saw a man one Sunday throw his inserts away when he went out the door of the store, and guess who went in the trash... heehee.  and    yes ask your neighbors, friends, relatives to save their papers and tell them you will give them stuff occasionally)
Don't Barter for New Papers. According to a report in North County Times, local publishers say customers are asking to return papers for new ones with fresh coupon circulars. I'm all for trading up, but, really?
Do Start a Small Coupon Swap. Rather than stealing your neighbor's Sunday paper to benefit from the extra coupon circular, create a support system through a small, local coupon exchange. Members can meet once a week in person for 30 minutes to exchange coupons for things they actually would buy anyway. (One person's buy-one-get-one-free instant oatmeal is another person's 50-cents-off cold cereal.) Online exchanges also exist at savingsadvice.com and thriftyfun.com.
Don't Copy Coupons. Many stores mention in their coupon policies that "coupons are void if copied, scanned, transferred, purchased, sold …" etc. Again, stick with the official policy. You'll still manage to save a good chunk of change -- and by skipping a long debate at the checkout, you'll also avoid unnecessary delays both for you and the shoppers waiting behind you.
Do Ask Manufacturers to Send Coupons Directly. If you can't find manufacturers' coupons readily on their Web sites, email or call them to request coupons be sent directly to your inbox. That's what many successful couponers claim to do. It sometimes earns them freebies, as well