Publix Digital Coupons? Share Your Feedback
April 27, 2012
Yesterday, Miny & Lindy from the I Heart Publix Facebook page both shared a link to an article from Tampa Bay Online about Publix testing digital coupons in select stores.
I think it might be an interesting addition to our savings options at Publix. Here in Atlanta we have Kroger and they offer eCoupons from Cellfire, Shortcuts an well as loadable eCoupon on their home page. While I like the extra option for coupons I have a few issues with them.
- eCoupons are often very temperamental…sometimes they come off and other times they don’t.
- They require you to use a store loyalty card…which drives me crazy! I am not a huge fan of having to use a key card to get a deal. I figure, I am in your store–just give me the best price without making me jump through hoops!
- Digital coupons do not double – often they are not the best option for me since the equivalent paper coupon will double! Pair that with the fact that if you have an eCoupon and a paper coupon for the same item – the eCoupon will come off first. So you have to be careful what you load or you may not get the biggest discount!
- My biggest issue with digital coupons is that you only get one! I like being able to gather as many paper coupons as I need for as many products as I purchase!
Now of course I am not sure how, what or where Publix is testing and these issues may not be the same. The TBO article suggests the following:
Customers would go online to the coupon publisher SmartSource.com or Publix.com, log in with a new Publix ID or other membership code, then choose and digitally clip coupons.
SmartSource then would digitally credit the customer’s account. When Publix shoppers reach the checkout, they would enter a phone number in the credit card swipe terminal, and the register would automatically deduct the coupon value from their total purchase.
I will be curious to see what comes of this test. While it could mean more options for savings – it also may bring more hassles?? So what do you guys think? I’d love to hear any feedback on what you think of the possibility of Publix Digital Coupons!
Presumably, Publix is doing this to be more eco friendly. You know what Publix REALLY needs to start doing? Not requiring multiple copies of YAB/GAB coupons.
I like the idea of digital coupons…but you’re right, they’re tempermental.
I’m with you. I wish we only needed one of the YAB/GAB coupons and didn’t have to clip multiple coupons (more importantly, not have to take multiple copies when we only need one of the coupons out of each flyer). Then, if they need to set a limit of how many items can be purchased during one shopping trip, that would be fine with me.
My Publix here in SC only requires 1. I just write the number of times it needs input on the face of the q! Just ask your manager.
I agree with you about them being tempermental, and every time I use them at Kroger (which is not very often–Publix is best), I don’t feel in control, and I hate feeling like I didn’t get all my deals. Kroger has terrible receipts that make it hard to find if you really did get the best deal.
I would be more in favor of Publix using Savingstar, and not really doing their own on their website, especially if creating their own coupon site means they will scale back on all the many paper coupons they put out like in the advantage booklets and others.
they are trying to be more eco friendly I got a letter from them asking if I would rather use their flyer online versus getting it in the mail.. this option might be good saves ink too.. and if you use one of the e coupons if you find another printable or in the paper like for bogo items you could combine that one and the ecoupon for the same item right?
I thought the same things. I would not like only being able to put 1 coupon. If there was a way to clip the coupon a certain amount of times, that would be fine with me. Like for example, if you could digitally clip the coupon 2 times or even 4.
Maybe this would limit shelf-clearers. But of course, I would suspect they would still accept paper coupons.
How odd. I wonder how they are testing. hmmmmm
The best way to limit inconsiderate folks that are shelf-clearers is for each store to limit how many of sale items (or any items) can be purchased at one time (except for special orders and quantities that are pre-ordered).
Limiting Qs with ecoupons affects the people that shop Publix with coupon deals because it is the only way they can afford to eat well while paying Publix prices.
If I could only use one coupon on everything at Publix, I’d likely stop shopping there for 90% of what I buy now. I’ll be fine at Aldi’s and Super Target.
Last resort, I’d go to Walmart (even though my local store is way too big and noisey for my taste). Oh, and the lines — I have never encountered such long slow lines as this Walmart (and, pretty much any Walmart I’ve ever been in except one in a resort town).
I’m not crazy about the idea personally. I like knowing exactly how much I will save, etc.
I do like Kate’s idea of not requiring multiple YAB/GAB coupons-that would help alot!
Sounds like a hassle to me. I have no desire to keep up with a store loyalty card. In fact, I deliberately do not shop at stores that require one. I mean, I’m taking the time to come to your store instead of going to your competition, so don’t make me carry some card around in my wallet or on my keychain! Stores that make it easy to shop are the ones I go to.
Loyalty cards in general drive me insane. I’m with you on this one Michelle – I think if I have chosen to shop at your store, I shouldn’t be required to have a special card to get the best possible price. This is a big (a really big reason) I hate shopping at Kroger and Harris Teeter and therefor, I don’t shop at these places unless I have absolutely no other option. Plus digital coupons are a hassle for me – especially since you can’t stack them with a paper coupon, plus you only get one.
The manager at my preferred store had mentioned this to me back around december. He said they were trying to move away from the green and yellow flyers. I am not sure that I am happy about this, but it seems like many stores are trying to cut back on coupon usage as well as manufacturers no longer giving high dollar coupon discounts. I think this is unfortunate, but as long as shows like Extreme Couponer and what not exist, and people mis-use coupons intentionally, I think we will continue to see a decline in support of coupon usage from the stores and manufacturers.
I agree the shows have changed couponing and the ones that mis-use them frustrate me. I feel like I’m doing this following the rules, but have to suffer for their dishonesty. Very well said!
Just a note for u about the ya/gab qs… u may want to ask ur mgr because my store actually has the flyers at the registers and I dont have to have them at all. I just tell them which one I need and how many
its great!
There are probably 8 Publix stores within a few miles of my house and not a single one of them will do this until every copy of the flyer is gone. SO annoying.
My store(s) just recently started doing this. Told me I don’t have to have ANY GAB/YABs since each cashier has them @ register. Nice.
If the primary purpose of this program is to better manage the coupons in the yellow and green flyers, then I would think posting the coupons online, like at Publix.com, for us to print would be acceptable. I wouldn’t mind printing the exact coupons that I need and would understand if they impose a per-customer limit of, say, 6 or 8 to limit shelf clearing. I do feel that there is a waste of paper and printing with flyers when all I want is 1 or 2 coupons out of the multi-page flyers.
But overall, I have found that loading coupons electronically is a hassle and I tend to not purchase the specific products, since the coupons are more out of sight, out of mind. Plus, if they end up trumping a higher value coupon we happen to bring along, then for sure, that would be frustrating.
Ugh. all of that sounds complex. I do not mind carrying around a Publix store card. I have them for Winn Dixie and CVS, and with both stores, there are added benefits because the cards are used, with Winn Dixie its fuel perks, with CVS you can print out extra coupons at their machines and they have a bonus “cash back” quarterly program too.
I guess if it would be an ADDITIONAL means of saving it wouldnt be too bad, but if they cancel or limit regular coupons or whatnot, it would be disappointing.
I understand Publix is probably trying to stop wasting so much paper which is great for the environment; however, I have used the e-coupons at Kroger and it was terrible. The e-coupon always trumps the paper coupon and then I don’t get my double. If Publix used the e-coupons for only Publix store coupons and let you put a manufacturers paper coupon with it, then that might be a good deal for the consumer and stop Publix from having to print their own inserts.
I think the idea odf an “account” that you just punch in a phone number at the register might be cool. That way there is no card to remember. If the only thing they loaded into the “account” were the YAB & GAB flyers then gave you a limit of so many uses per coupon per visit that might work out well. I sometimes feel really bad collecting 8 or 10 flyers over the course of the 3 weeks they are out and only using 1 or 2 coupons from each one.I have never tried E coupons so I really have no basis to judge them.
I, as well as most here don’t like the idea. Couponers usually are already fumbling to get the coupons gathered, debit card out and watching to make sure everything is done right, throw in another card and it will cause some chao and more pissed off people behind them. I think they should just key in the codes in the yaf and gaf no matter how many times we use one within reason and I also think allowing folks to link their debit card to an email and have their receipts emailed would be a good idea.
I am not a fan of digital coupons, you have to a card & that comes with limitations. Publix is consumer friendly, doing the digital thing will only take a step in the other direction of stores like Food Lion.
The only issue that I would have is that my 5/30 coupons would be harder to use. I can see the people at the register insisting I use my card first before my 5 dollar discount. I hate change and would much rather print out the yab and gab flyers if need be. It is amazing to how many people don’t even think of those coupons at the door.
I don’t shop at Kroger for this very reason. Their ecoupons are difficult & I get really steamed when I find a better paper coupon. I also really despise shopping cards. I feel like adding this feature will diminish their fantastic customer service – as it is now, they are always so agreeable and easy to work with, making “shopping a pleasure”.
I actually like the concept as I’m constantly digging around in my purse for my envelope of coupons, sorting, straightening and unfolding the bent edges for the cashier–plus remembering to give them to her in the ‘right’ order. I imagine using electronic coupons would (eventually) speed up the checkout process also and save some of those tedious and embarrassing barcode-won’t-scan-call-over-a-manager scenarios.
I also like the idea that Publix is thinking eco-friendly.
I remember (not so long ago) when I resisted the idea of going online for coupon matchups and I now thank Michelle every day for making my life simpler by posting to this site. Some weeks I don’t even look at the published Publix sales flyer because of the online information I’ve already received.
So I’m willing to give it a try, even if it means adding another card to my keychain.
I would like it if I could use them IN ADDITION to paper coupons. When I lived and worked in New York, they did both at Wegmans.
I dont like the idea of ecoupons…I think the system works fine just the way it is…and if ppl are having trouble with coupons not coming off then we probably won’t see much savings as we have been seeing in the past. But then again, I think if a coupon would not come off I would do the same thing I do if a regular coupon didn’t…go to cs and let them know…and normally they just take care of it. thanks!
I don’t like that either. I think paper coupons are easy to know what you are getting and saving on. What about rainchecks? If the coupon expires electronically before the store has the item in stock, then what? I guess we’d miss out on the savings and the whole reason for the raincheck. I think I’d only use them if they were a SUPER deal and couldn’t do better with paper ones ever.
I would take my coupons to Walmart & I am not a fan of Walmart!!! I do not like loyalty cards if I am in your store that should be ENOUGH!
This post echoes my concerns precisely. I am also worried at how this might limit my purchasing (once again). Even if they allow multiple deals on one of the ecoupons, they will most likely put a limit like this coupon good for up to 5 deals. And thus, Publix controls how much I buy. Right now, I am able to get as many items and coupons as I can get my hands on. If my family needs 20 items of something, and the only coupon available is the ecoupon, and I can only load it once on my card and good for only up to 5 deals, that limits me considerably.
Over the last year or 2, I have noticed a shift with Publix and not able to get such great deals as we once were able to. Like the coupon expires just before the sale begins on an item; or vice versa, the coupon doesn’t come out during the sale, but after the sale is over, etc. This ecoupon thing just makes it seem like that is just one more constriction on trying to get a good deal.
Anyway, I guess in the end, it will be back to Aldi and Walmart/Target for me eventually. I will let Publix corporate know that for sure.
Yes! I have also noticed this with the expiration dates. I have not been couponing as long as some here:) but once i got my system going, this was very noticeable. I love Publix, but I do not want them to go the direction of eCoupons. Like others have said, if there is a way to not clip the coupons out of the flyer, that would be great. I think Wal-Greens has a system where they type in their store’s Q # and it takes it off for each item you have in the purchase. For example, you have 3 Toilet papers, you give the cashier the Q and she types in 1, and it takes it off all 3! that would be ideal.
I can answer a few of the major concerns since I work at Publix and our store is in one of the test markets (Huntsville/Athens, AL.) I haven’t heard anything about the program being tested to take the place of green or yellow flyers, and in fact I don’t see how that can be the case at all because the coupons are mfr and not store coupons which is what the majority of the flyers have. I also don’t see this causing Publix to put out fewer store coupons because store coupons are considered by the company as a price reduction and they are planned far in advance with each supplier.
you will NOT be required to carry a store card. You will create an account at http://www.publix.com/dcoupons (site is live now so go ahead if you live in the area) and you will be prompted to enter your phone number at the pin pad. All customers will continue to receive the same sale prices even if they are not doing the digital coupons.
You will not be allowed to use the digital coupons multiple times, just like with other stores who have digital coupons. Nor will they double in value, just like other stores who have them.
If you have a paper coupon for an item that you also have a digital coupon for, you can only use one. So if you have a paper that will double, be sure to give it to your cashier at the beginning of your order so they can apply it before the digital one, giving you the best value. If you don’t, then the register will apply the digital first and won’t allow the cashier to take the paper coupon.
As a couponing mom myself, where I can see them being a good thing is for items that may not normally have coupons or if I have lost or forgotten my paper coupon. I was a customer at Publix long before I worked there and I have always been happy with their policies, and working there I see just how far Publix goes to make sure customers stay happy and get the best possible deal.