For those of you who haven’t heard, I have sad news for you: Dillons announced that they will no longer be doubling coupons beginning August 7, 2013.
Here’s what they wrote on their Facebook page:
In an effort to provide all of our customers with the most value for their dollar, we’re implementing a New Lower Prices program. Effective August 7, we’re reducing prices on thousands of everyday items that you and your family rely on. To make this possible, on August 20, we’re discontinuing our practice of doubling (up to 50 cents and rounding to $1.00) manufacturer coupons in Dillons stores. We will continue to accept manufacturer coupons and other coupons at face value, including digital coupons, e-coupons, Catalina coupons and printable coupons.
We truly believe these changes reflect our efforts in providing the best shopping experience to all of our customers. We hope that you’ll come in and see our new low prices as well as the many other ways to save.
• Downloadable, clip-free coupons daily on www.Dillons.com/digitalcoupons
• Weekly sales and special sales events, such as Mega Event and Cart Busters
• Fuel savings program that offers up to $1 off per gallon when you redeem up to 1,000 fuel points at Dillons Fuel Centers and Kwik Shops
• Loyal customer mailings containing customized coupons
• $4/$10 generic drug pricing (see pharmacy for details)
• Faster checkouts
If you’re feeling really discouraged by this news, I’d highly encourage you to head over to Deal Detecting Diva for a full in-depth analysis of what this means and why it’s not as bad as it seems.
Thanks, Motherhood on a Dime!
Debbie says
So far our Kroger’s is still doubling but I know it is coming soon. Meijer has just announced it will stop doubling at the end of the month. I suspect Giant Eagle will not be far behind. I’m happy I have an Aldi close by but will continue to shop at Kroger’s some. I will never shop Walmart if I can help it! For those of you who are loyal Meijer customers, just an fyi……they are NOT loyal to you! Once their building gets a little age on it they will up and move to a “nicer” part of town. It has happened in my neighborhood, on the other side of town, and in a neighboring city. They all did great business and no matter how many people begged them to stay they turned a deaf ear. I seldom shop Meijer because of that reason.
Erin says
It’s interesting that Dillon’s is now limiting coupons, bringing itself in line with Kroger’s coupon policy. For as long as I can remember, we were limited to two like IPs and five like coupons. Rules are rules, and it wasn’t really a big deal to me until you see others shopping at Dillons with lower prices, more relaxed coupon policies, AND better doubles (only .50 and lower doubled for us). Granted, I don’t want eight free tubes of toothpaste, but it just seemed so unfair. I’m thankful we’re getting an Aldi’s soon!
RuthS says
Our Meijer is stopping doubling on the 25th as well, so no more double coupons for me.
Sabrina says
I’m shop in Lexington, KY and our local Meijer stores just posted on their mperks page that they will also stop doubling coupons. It’s a bummer, but I’d still rather shop with them than Walmart. Their produce section is fantastic!
RuthS says
Agreed! Love Meijer 🙂
Jamie says
The produce at my local Meijer is awful – I can’t count the number of times I’ve had to point out moldy produce to employee’s or gone to grab a piece of fruit and my fingers went right into it. I’m glad they are keeping better produce at some of their stores.
Erin says
It’s a bummer but not the end of the world by any means. It means the end of some fun freebies, but I’m not really missing them. Plus, I find that I’m saving money by not stopping by as frequently. I’ve actually been skipping mega sales, especially those where you have to buy ten products, since it is difficult to find ten items that we want that are in stock and for which I have coupons. I shifted a lot of my business to Martin’s because they still double and they began sending $X/$X coupons after Kroger stopped doubling. I can find much better deals on meat and bread there.
The Prudent Homemaker says
Many years ago, I was discouraged by my inability to keep lowering our grocery bill while stocking up after not being able to grocery shop for over a year. Our income was cut so dramatically (75%) that I have needed to shop differently than I had before that year of no shopping.
I watched the deals that you posted, Crystal, and I couldn’t do the ones where you had double coupons, or where you had some items so much lower than I have here in the land of no double coupons.
I kept looking for other ways to lower my grocery bill, though, because it was essential for me to do so, and I didn’t let the fact that we couldn’t double coupons stand in my way of lowering my bills. I knew if you could do it, so could I. I would just have to do it a little differently.
In 2011 and 2012 I only had $100 a month for our family of 9. I managed to not only shop but to stock my walk-in pantry with good food for my family on that. I used coupons for things I bought (even though I couldn’t double), started learning how to stack coupons at Target when the printable Target coupons came out (for toiletries) and made many changes to what I cook and what I buy so that we can have enough to eat.
It used to be that I shopped at my Kroger affiliate (Smith’s) a lot many years ago, but that has changed for me. It might change for many who have several choices of where to shop. Now I only go in there a couple of times a year for a really good sale.
I’m writing a series of posts on my blog right now on how we’ve fed our family for so little (it’s 40 Cents Per Person Per Day) for those who are looking for other ways to lower their grocery bill.
Heather says
Dillon’s = Kroger from what I can tell from the pics of their signage along with their receipts and the websites are nearly identical. I don’t know about Dillon’s but the new lower prices at Kroger are laughable. There are a bunch of items which are 4-9 cents cheaper than they were before. Nothing to compare to what a doubled coupon would save, HOWEVER much like you, my amount saved due to double coupons was only $3-$5 per trip, right in line with yours. It wasn’t the end of the world, I still shop at Kroger, though I am still a bit sad they stopped doubling, but I also won’t switch to Wal-Mart to do grocery shopping.
We do have a grocery store called Martin’s that I have been shopping at more since the changes a few months ago at Kroger. They will double the first 1 one of each like coupon up to .50, so if you have 5 coupons to save .50 on Juicy Juice, they will double the first, and take the rest at face value. They also have the same fuel points program. I think other parts of the country call it Giant, but here it is Martin’s. They are slightly more expensive than Kroger, so I haven’t done the hard calculations to figure out which is cheaper with the differences. It will be okay, us couponers always find a way to adapt 🙂
Allison V. says
Yes, Dillon’s is a Kroger chain. Back in my heavier coupon shopping days I shopped a lot at Dillon’s but only with coupons because their usual prices are considerably higher. I’m just starting to coupon a bit more again (I’m a working single mom now with much less time) so this is a little disappointing for me. Guess we’ll see how it pans out. You are right, we’ll adapt!
Catherine S. says
I do want to point out that Deal Detecting Diva has several reasons to keep people upbeat about the change – she wants people to continue going to her blog! That is her source of income and she has every right to defend it. But I will not be shopping at Dillons as much as I used to. I also save $3-5 a trip due to double coupons; at 1-2 trips a week, this is between $300 and $500 a year that I save my family – that’s a significant amount of money to me. Without it, the prices at Dillons will not be lowered enough to beat the other grocery stores in my area. I think the extreme couponing craze has simply caused them to panic and end the program despite the fact that only a small percent of their customers are regular coupon users.