"Extreme Couponers" engage in hoarding behavior. One does not have to look further than the 70 mustards, 15 packs of gum, years of baby diapers (and has no kids), years supply of dishwasher detergent (and doesn't have a dishwasher).
These behaviors are ruining it for the Family Couponers and the Everyday Couponer. Retailers are serious about curbing these people through many different options, including banning coupons.
The Extreme Coupon crowd, go search it on Google, all are to blame for any drastic measures that retailers will finally take. Some blogs have blamed the retailer. This is not correct.
In Houston, TX one retailer (Kroger) banned doubling and tripling of coupons in response to Hoarding Couponers. The result? A gigantic swing to profitability. Literally, the behavior of the Hoarders was putting at risk the stores they were cleaning out!
Another issue we most recently came across regarded the reselling of items at garage sales. Kroger is on this and investigating it. See the picture below of an in-store label in the Mississippi market.
We have seen a shift on the Hoarding Couponers sites. While originally they promoted reselling at garage sales, stockpiling goods, getting things for free they don't need or use; our message seems to have affected them. They are now promoting charity, community, and moderation. They should have started there in our opinion.
We continue to espouse our approach to couponing: We are a family just like yours. A family that struggles with $4.00 gas, rising electricity, etc. We use couponing to lower our bills and we want to share our experience to help other families. We do not hoard, stockpile, resell, clear shelves, buy stuff we don't need. We do save money, share our knowledge, post about items our community cares about, and donate to the local Men and Women's shelters.
We changed the game on these hoarders and we are just getting started. Stay tuned.
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