Tuesday, March 10, 2009

CVS & Me

So...I received an anonymous comment today...I'm going to post it here before I respond to it. Here is the love I received:
"Anonymous said...

I hope you know that every CVS employee absolutely hates you. People like you clog up our lines and take 45 minutes at the check out while other customers are waiting to actually buy something with real money."

Now, let me just post a very quick response to this. I have only been CVSing for a couple of months and I have heard many stories of nasty cashiers and managers. I know some employees don't like couponers. I think this is typical of employees who deal with inconsiderate couponers. There are ways to save money playing the "CVS game" and still be a customer that is actually liked.

First off, I NEVER complete multiple transactions in a row if there are others waiting in line. I move to the back of the line for each new transaction. Sometimes I don't even bother getting in the line. I stand off to the side or browse a little more until there is no line.

Secondly, I don't clear the shelves of product (unless there are only 1 or 2, in which case I consider that to be a stock issue, not a couponer caused issue.)
Finaly, I do NOT use coupons unethically. I feel there are plenty of money saving methods without trying to use expired coupons or coupons on products other than those they were intended for. I follow the rules and do my research which enables me to save a significant amount of money on products that my family uses or wants.

In direct response to this comment I would also like to add that while some employees may not like seeing a customer "score big" there are many out there who enjoy it just as much as the customer. The employees at my local CVS know me by name. We talked about our families and our lives when I stop in to shop. The store manager makes it a point to save me a copy of any publication they have that has a coupon in it and actually walks the store with me to become more familiar with the best deals each week. Maybe I am blind to the "hate" they have for me because they do such a good job of hiding it, but I think it is more likely that not all employees dislike "people like me." In fact, in regards to the particular post the this comment was left under (the 90% off Essence of Beauty products) the employees that were working when I purchased my 2 bathrobes at $1.49 each all purchased the remaining 15-20 robes after I checked out. The employees at my local store appreciate the deals that I get because often they find a deal for themselves as well.


6 comments:

  1. #1 totally rude comment which is better kept private. I'm sorry anyone felt the need to be nasty to you via the internet. It's not called for.

    #2 CVS can actually make more money by selling us products where we use coupons than they would have made if we bought the item full price without. The more I began to understand how the marketing of coupons, sales and incentives works the easier it is to understand why stores offer sales in conjunction with coupons. It's not to loose money that's for darn sure but completely the opposite.

    #3 I too step to the side or wait until the line is empty but will try to do better so that those who are there to grab an item and run can get out faster.

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  2. What a mean comment! What are they doing on this site anyway? Just someone being nasty. I am also a very considerate person in CVS. I will wait until there is no line before I even check out most of the time. I have NEVER made anyone behind me wait. I appreciate how CVS works. I have a big family and this has saved me so much money. Maybe that person doesn't need to save money like the rest of us.

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  3. You go girl! You are an example of a classy couponer!!! :)

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  4. If Anonymous wasn't identified as a CVS employee I would swear she was the rude cashier I encounter from time to time at the Walgreen's that I frequent.

    What this employee fails to understand is that #1)CVS stands to make more money with you using coupons than without (the reimbursement is always a little more than what we would have paid out of pocket without the coupon: meaning CVS makes more money when you use a coupon than when you do not); that is the marketing strategy. and

    #2)this Anonymous commenter continues to have a place of employment because of the business people like you and I bring to the store where he/she works with or without coupons. and

    #3)Most of us "hated" couponers donate a good deal of these "great deals" to: battered women's shelters, children's homes, programs that provide breakfast items to needy children in the summer who otherwise would go hungry, to food banks, to church pantries to help those less fortunate, to rehabilition centers for those trying to beat addictions to drugs and alcohol, to huricane victim programs, to missionaries around the world and I could go on and on. Most of the avid coupon users I know try to help other people.

    These employees who "hate" couponers like us are quite sad in my opinion. I rejoice when others find good deals that help them make it through this difficult time in our economy, not hate on them. I enjoy being able to pass on my couponing deals to help other people who are having a hard time and trying to rebuild their lives. Said CVC employee needs to take his/her misery else where.

    I refuse to allow the "haters" of this world to dampen the spirits of those who are trying to #1)provide for our own families and #2) help others. If said CVS employee hates those who helps others, he/she has a real problem that probably won't be touched by this explanation. Some people just have a mind to be miserable and spread their misery with others.

    That being said: I am thankful for those like you who blog and help those like me to help ourselves and in turn help those in our communities. So, "Thank you."

    Keep on keeping on.

    Tasha

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  5. LMAO at "Real Money" - the person that left this comment obviously does not realize that stores make MORE money from couponers. Each coupon is paid in full + the store is given an $0.08 handling fee per coupon. It actually costs the store $0.02 - $0.04 to handle each coupon resulting in a PROFIT of $0.04 - $0.06 EXTRA that they wouldn't have gotten from a non-couponer that paid with Real Money :-)

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  6. Wow, I'm sorry you got such a rude comment, that was horrible.

    http://couponmommyof2.blogspot.com/2009/11/boogies-wipes-review-and-giveaway.html

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