NEW MAP UPDATED: Kroger Stores that Double Coupons - I am sure this map will change very soon, as we predicted Kroger did double up on the divisions ending double coupons (Atlanta and Louisville effective 9/22/13). We look for all Kroger and Kroger affiliated stores to end double coupons by the end of this year. If you hear of any changes please keep us updated. Also please take the time to post a comment on Kroger's facebook page and tell where you are shopping now, good-bye, and unlike the page while you are there (you can still post after "unliking" the page). Thanks for your support!!
BRING BACK DOUBLES FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/Bringbackdoubles
KROGER COUPONERS GROUP https://www.facebook.com/groups/Krogercouponers/
BRING BACK DOUBLES: http://bringbackdoubles.com
BUYCOTT: http://www.buycott.com/campaign/455/boycott-kroger-bring-back-doubles-food-should-be-affordable
PLEASE SHARE: Kroger doesn't like double coupons or paper coupons that slow down their 26 second checkout time - - but has received over $40 BILLION in vendor allowances (shelf fees) since Dillon took over as CEO. This information is on file in Kroger Co financials. There is no reason to shop Kroger without DOUBLE COUPONS. Kroger stated the prices have been lowered, this is not true - the prices are higher and many examples have been posted here and on Kroger and Kroger affiliates Facebook pages.
Kroger makes up for all discounts in the retail pricing structure. Kroger is the number 2 food retailer by sales with fiscal 2012 sales of $96.8 billion. Ending double coupons is about the digital race to collect more CUSTOMERS DATA (as noted previously Kroger's joint venture with Dunnhumby has already profited over $1 billion). Many are misinformed that double coupons cost Kroger money. Kroger has several price structures: 1. No card price 2. Store card price 3. Personalized pricing (each customer is segmented in a group by Dunnhumby datamining and pays a different price) with Kroger store and digital coupons 4. Any additional discounted price
* Food Companies Quietly Give $100 BILLION Cash To US Retailers
http://lists.ibiblio.org/pipermail/market-farming/2004-April/016989.html
** Markets' Shelf Fees Put Squeeze on Small Firms
In Southern California, the fees start at $25,000 per item at Ralphs, $20,000 to $30,000 at Albertsons and $10,000 to $15,000 at Vons, Los Angeles-area food makers said. Each ice cream flavor, each different-size jar of mayonnaise, constitutes a separate item...How do supermarkets command such premiums? Market power. Three companies hold two-thirds of the Los Angeles market: Kroger Co., which owns Food 4 Less Warehouse Stores and recently bought Ralphs Grocery Co. (Ralphs swallowed Hughes in 1997); Safeway Inc., which owns Vons; and Albertsons, which recently acquired Lucky...Slotting's critics say that shoppers end up eating most of the $9 billion manufacturers pay for space, as slotting fees are built into the price of products. Bagels jumped 159% in price after grocery stores in the Midwest booted out local bakeries in favor of a big corporate supplier that agreed to pay slotting fees, manufacturers say." http://articles.latimes.com/2000/jan/29/news/mn-58869
The Motley Fool may want to update their article - - The Hidden Profit Machine for Grocery Stores http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2013/08/26/the-hidden-profit-machine-for-grocery-stores.aspx#commentsBoxAnchor
BIG DATA RACE.......
+ Harnessing Big Data Players in the shopper space ultimately challenged with overlaying POS and syndicated data with lifestyle data: A 2011 McKinsey study suggests that by using Big Data to the fullest, a retailer could increase its operating margins by more than 60%. Retail giants like Kroger are investing accordingly, partnering with Big Data crunchers like dunnhumby to exploit the vast reservoir of POS and loyalty card data already at their disposal....And because it's shopper and transaction level, you can do things like segment and target shoppers likely to be most responsive, understand market baskets (what consumers buy at the same time to inform what items to include in a shopper marketing event), track shoppers over time for long-term impact of your programs, and gain insight into how your shopper marketing is working" in terms of bringing in new buyers or making existing buyers more loyal.....To that end, some major data providers are playing in the space. Dallas-based consumer data company Epsilon's recent acquisition of CatapultRPM could mean that Big Data is poised to transform shopper marketing in a big way, Kramer says. Epsilon, which also hosts the electronic platform for Walgreens' Balance Rewards loyalty program, gathers lifestyle data via consumer questionnaires addressing everything from pets and music preferences to specific health conditions.....Fort Worth, Texas-based customer analytics company Buxton works with CPGs to identify who their best consumers are. Drawing from 250 databases of demographic, psychographic and behavioral data, Buxton helps identify potential new customers "who look just like them" in a particular trade area, says Bill Stinneford, senior vice president of account management.....Jim Harold, general manager of the Consumer Industry Group at the enterprise data firm Acxiom Corp., Little Rock, Ark., says Acxiom's overall data strategy is to "move consumers from unknown to fully identifiable with their network of friends from social media," along a "customer image spectrum" progressing from anonymous to "fully profiled," like Mary. Online consumers are assigned a unique ID for recognition and traceability, but their identifications and data are anonymized for privacy. "Where we're going is the linkage between online and offline personas in an anonymous way," Harold says." http://p2pi.org/node/121917
ADDING: Angela Ahrendts, CEO of Burberry “Consumer data will be the biggest differentiator in the next two to three years. Whoever unlocks the reams of data and uses it strategically will win.”
Kroger got a $80 Million Coupon from Bernanke - did you? We need affordable groceries!! Top 1% Getting 95% of Income - - KROGER "The stimulus was a huge saving grace in the economy overall,” said J. Michael Schlotman, the chief financial officer at Cincinnati-based Kroger Co. (KR), the grocery store operator that estimates it’s paying about $80 million less in interest than it would have pre-crisis." http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-09-17/bernanke-saves-companies-700-billion-as-apple-to-verizon-borrow.html http://finance.yahoo.com/blogs/daily-ticker/top-1-getting-95-income-gains-washington-responsible-151332783.html
Kroger received Millions in Corporate welfare/tax incentives - how much did your community give Kroger?
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=633375333345642&set=pb.267675876582258.-2207520000.1379516164.&type=3&src=https%3A%2F%2Fscontent-b-atl.xx.fbcdn.net%2Fhphotos-ash3%2F163394_633375333345642_1259882371_n.jpg&size=665%2C540
Kroger CEO Dillon 66% increase in pay 195:1 to employee pay
Now why is food so expensive? Why no double coupons?
http://www.payscale.com/ceo-income/fortune-50
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/11/ceo-worker-pay-ratio_n_2259233.html#slide=more268490
DOUBLE COUPON WORDING MISSING FROM KROGER ADS: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=806198949396612&set=a.269347386415107.88573.267675876582258&...
September 6, 2013
"Kroger announced Friday it will cease doubling coupon values Sept. 22 in most of its Kentucky, southern Indiana and southern Illinois stores. Local Kroger stores are not alone in the change; The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that coupon doubling would end Sept. 21 in Georgia, South Carolina and Alabama stores. There’s even a Facebook page called “BRING BACK DOUBLES” and a website, www.bringbackdoubles.com, with the titular goal of urging Kroger to reverse the trend. The Facebook page even has a map tracking the doubles’ disappearance, showing that stores in much of the South and Midwest have already done away with them."
http://www.state-journal.com/latest%20headlines/2013/09/07/kroger-to-end-double-coupons-in-kentucky
Another one bites the dust!! Kroger to stop doubling coupons at most Kentucky stores - The Kroger Co. announced it will end the doubling of coupons on Sept. 22 at 98 stores in Kentucky, southern Indiana and southern Illinois, as it has in other markets. This includes its Lexington locations. http://www.kentucky.com/2013/09/06/2806892/kroger-to-stop-doubling-coupons.html
How exciting Bring Back Doubles makes the news in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution! Thanks for the mention Nedra!
"No more double coupons at Kroger - As of Sept. 21, Kroger stores in the Atlanta division will no longer double coupons....A Facebook page designed to Bring Back Doubles at Kroger has documented the eradication of double coupons since July 2011."
http://www.ajc.com/weblogs/atlanta-bargain-hunter/2013/sep/06/no-more-double-coupons-kroger/
Other articles:
Kroger to end double coupons, push digital promotions - WKYT
September 5, 2013
Kroger Atlanta Division Press Release: I took the liberty to correct their statement due to Kroger management is having a tough time keeping up with their own internal changes in the divisions - - KROGER SETS UP NEW DIVISIONS SHIFTS EXECUTIVES (http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/blog/2013/06/kroger-sets-up-new-divisions-shifts.html)
Meantime all over the internet customers are vowing not to shop Kroger...where are you shopping now? I do find the timing of Kroger ending double coupons ironic with Kroger's? PROJECT JASPER in Atlanta - $225 million facility to help it compete with AMAZON.COM Amazon Fresh overnight groceries. http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/2013/09/03/1200-job-project-eyes-atlanta-westside.html
Double coupons will end September 22, 2013 for the Atlanta division (Georgia and South Carolina) and for the Nashville Division (Alabama only).
Kroger to End Double Coupons 5:13 PM, September 5, 2013
Kroger stores in the metro Atlanta area are implementing a new pricing strategy that will result in double coupons being discontinued as of September 21st.Currenty, Kroger doubles coupons valued at .50 and below.The company says it plans to lower prices on more than 3000 products as part of a new pricing strategy. It calls the new strategy a multi million dollar investment. Coupons will still be accepted at face value with a renewed emphasis on digital coupons downloadable on Kroger's web site. The new policy applies to Kroger stores in Georgia, Alabama and South Carolina.http://www.11alive.com/news/article/305311/3/Kroger-to-End-Double-Coupons-
Kroger stores in the metro Atlanta area are implementing a new pricing strategy that will result in double coupons being discontinued as of September 21st.Currenty, Kroger doubles coupons valued at .50 and below.The company says it plans to lower prices on more than 3000 products as part of a new pricing strategy. It calls the new strategy a multi million dollar investment. Coupons will still be accepted at face value with a renewed emphasis on digital coupons downloadable on Kroger's web site. The new policy applies to Kroger stores in Georgia, Alabama and South Carolina.http://www.11alive.com/news/article/305311/3/Kroger-to-End-Double-Coupons-
Official Press Release: Kroger to Enhance Customer Experience with New Price Campaign Beginning Sept. 8, Multiple Atlanta Division stores to reduce prices on thousands of everyday products
ATLANTA (September 5, 2013) Kroger stores in three areas of the Atlanta Division – Georgia, South Carolina, and Alabama – are refreshing the customer experience and introducing the launch of an exciting new price campaign, which will lower prices on over 3,000 products. Starting Sept. 8, Kroger stores in these areas will lower prices on popular food and household items, including those in grocery, produce, organics, natural foods and general merchandise. National and private label brands are included in the widespread price reduction. “As Kroger continues to evolve and expand, we are looking for new ways to help our shoppers maximize their savings,” says Glynn Jenkins, director of communications and public relations for Kroger’s Atlanta Division. “Price is an important factor in the shopping experience, and this multi-million dollar investment will allow customers to save even more on the items they buy every week.” Along with new lower prices, Kroger will continue to offer weekly and everyday sales including discounted pricing for 30- and 90- day generic drug prescriptions and Fuel Reward points, through which customers can save up to $1.00 per gallon at Kroger Fuel Centers and 10 cents per gallon at participating Shell locations. Kroger will also place a renewed emphasis on valid print and digital coupons that are downloadable at Kroger.com and through the grocer’s mobile app available on iPhone and Android devices. As a result of the new price campaign, the company announced it will discontinue the use of double coupons – which will only be accepted until Sept. 21, 2013. “While we have chosen to discontinue double couponing, our customers can still reap the benefits of incredible savings with these new lower prices on thousands of everyday products,” says Jenkins. As part of the new campaign, Atlanta Division customers will see a refresh in signage, which will provide a more unified look across stores. “Customers will see a more cohesive brand while shopping at their local Kroger stores,” says Jenkins. “We are removing unnecessary signage while at the same time lowering prices to give shoppers a better – and more economical – in-store experience.
September 4, 2013
A press release from Kroger coming soon: Effective September 22, 2013 Kroger Atlanta Division will end accepting all double coupons.http://www.iheartkroger.com/index.php/2013/09/04/kroger-ends-double-coupons-southeast-region-922/
Please post a comment on Kroger's wall: https://www.facebook.com/Kroger?filter=2
August 11, 2013
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=786591138024060&set=a.269347386415107.88573.267675876582258&...August 6, 2013
You can't TRUST KROGER - Trust takes YEARS to earn and SECONDS to break!! (Kroger) Dillons ends DOUBLE COUPONS August 20, 2013 - but they told all their customers in May they would NOT end double coupons. Why DIGITAL COUPONS: The BIG DATA race is on 2011 McKinsey study using Big Data a retailer could increase its operating margins by more than 60%. Retail giants like Kroger are investing accordingly, partnering with Big Data crunchers like dunnhumby to exploit the vast reservoir of POS and loyalty card data already at their disposal. The only reason stores are ending doubles is to push digital coupons to data-mine customers - Kroger's Dunnhumby has already profited $1 BILLION.
http://www.bizjournals.com/wichita/blog/2013/08/dillons-lowers-prices-but-will-end.html
May 2013: http://www.bizjournals.com/wichita/blog/2013/05/kroger-stops-doubling-coupons-in-many.html
August 4, 2013
- Meijer It's true that we no longer double coupons, effective August 25. We are shifting our resources to mPerks digital coupons. Less than five percent of Meijer customer used double coupons, but nearly 1.5 million have signed up for mPerks, with as many as 25,000 joining each week. We are also expanding mPerks to include rewards for our pharmacy. Signing up is easy at: http://bit.ly/TPxSx0. Of course, in addition to mPerks, we will still accept coupons at face value, and still offer our everyday low prices and weekly specials.Like · Reply · 1 · 23 hours ago
Meijer Ends Double Coupons at ALL stores - If you haven't heard Meijer's is ending ALL double coupons in ALL stores by August 25. "We are shifting our resources to mPerks digital coupons". https://www.facebook.com/meijer/posts/10151509603281636
Isn't this really about the FOOD INDUSTRY collaborating to make more PROFIT for shareholders and make food unaffordable? Extreme Couponing BACKLASH? Coupon redemption is down $800 MILLION - Kroger CEO pay raise 66% - Kraft CEO pay raise 49% - and food companies like Nestle profits almost $12 BILLION.
http://www.marketingcharts.com/wp/direct/consumers-savings-from-cpg-coupons-dropped-18-in-2012-26549/
http://www.foodprocessing.com/top100/
I have been stating that I believe all Kroger stores will end ALL double coupons by the end of this year. We suggest you post on Meijer's facebook page and let them know double coupons and affordable food prices were the ONLY reason you were loyal to them and you will vote with your wallet! I am sure this news made Walmart's day!!
WHY DIGITAL: A new GfK report, based on over 120 campaigns run by Coupons.com in 2012, shows that digital coupon users spend 42% more per year at supermarkets than the average shopper – a differential of $1,029. http://finance.yahoo.com/news/digital-coupon-users-spend-42-143700170.html
We have been alerting our supporters this would happen since 2011 when we started our Bring Back Doubles facebook page and site http://www.bringbackdoubles.com/ as well as the Kroger Couponers Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/Krogercouponers/.
#Kroger #Meijer #Doublecoupons #Bringbackdoubles #Meijerendsdoublecoupons #Affordablegroceries #Digital
Kroger’s Central Division will stop doubling coupons July 31, 2013 which includes Indiana and Illinois and is about 150 stores. Adding: we hear all Kroger stores to end double coupons by the end of the year....GET READY!!
http://www.indystar.com/article/20130709/BUSINESS/307090016/Kroger-quit-doing-double-coupons
Kroger to buy Harris Teeter for about $2.44B are they NEXT to lose double coupons?
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/kroger-buy-harris-teeter-2-114456751.html
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/kroger-buy-harris-teeter-2-114456751.html
The Delta Division of Kroger ENDING DOUBLE COUPONS JULY 10, 2013.... which includes West Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas, Southern Missouri and Southwest Kentucky, has announced the launch of an exciting new price campaign. Adding: we hear all Kroger stores to end double coupons by the end of the year....GET READY!!
http://www.thv11.com/news/article/269454/2/Kroger-starts-new-price-campaign-no-manufacturer-coupons-acceptd
"But a group of zealous Kroger customers have started voicing their opposition to the news by starting a Facebook page called “Bring Back Doubles.” And a website called “buycott.com” has published lists of Kroger Division presidents to help consumers voice their opposition." http://blogs.clarionledger.com/consumerwatch/2013/07/01/kroger-to-stop-double-coupons-july-10/
Out of Kroger's almost 2,500 stores only approximately
600 Kroger Region Stores still DOUBLE COUPONS.
BOYCOTT Business of Kroger Board of Directors:
Staples, GAP, H&R Block, AT&T, Morgan Stanley, the Carlyle Group...http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/people/board.asp?ticker=KR
Kroger says DOUBLE COUPONS are NOT coming back
...and more markets may lose DOUBLE COUPONS. What are you hearing? Are you BOYCOTTING Kroger? Kroger Annual Shareholder meeting was yesterday but there is NO MENTION in the transcript about the loss of DOUBLE COUPONS - Links:http://seekingalpha.com/article/1525362-the-kroger-co-s-ceo-hosts-annual-shareholder-meeting-transcripthttp://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/blog/2013/06/ive-things-you-need-to-know-from.html?page=all
http://www.wcpo.com/dpp/money/business_news/kroger-kr-ceo-david-dillon-were-not-done-growing
http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20130627/BIZ/306270084/Kroger-closes-100B-sales?nclick_check=1
http://couponsinthenews.com/2013/06/27/kroger-confirms-all-doubles-may-be-doomed/
Extreme Couponing BACKLASH - Industry Collaboration
to make food unaffordable?
Coupon redemption is down $800 MILLION - Kroger CEO pay raise 66% - Kraft CEO pay raise 49% - and food companies like Nestle profits almost $12 BILLION. http://www.marketingcharts.com/wp/direct/consumers-savings-from-cpg-coupons-dropped-18-in-2012-26549/ http://www.foodprocessing.com/top100/
Kroger ended double coupons after being the "STAR"
Retailer on TLC Extreme Couponing Show - One
Coupon Star a 6 Figure stockpile - -
TOTAL $21,817.14
transactions at Kroger - see link. Every episode seemed to show store coupon policies broken, no limits on coupons,coupon fraud, overage allowed on coupons (Kroger keeps all coupon overage for most coupon users, and multiple transactions allowed. Who profited the most from the TLC Extreme Couponing show?
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=731545786861929&set=a.269347386415107.88573.267675876582258&...
No DOUBLE COUPONS are rolling out nationwide: Texas, California, Cincinnati, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia, Tennessee..get ready! Atlanta next? Our mission is to seek the restoration of Double coupons to the Kroger stores and affiliates and to prevent the elimination of double coupons and limits on coupons rolling out to other markets. We are concerned that Kroger is using these markets as a test and other markets will see the end of double coupons. The rumor is Atlanta region is NEXT!https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=731545786861929&set=a.269347386415107.88573.267675876582258&...
Since April 2011 thousands of posts to Kroger’s facebook wall have gone unanswered. Kroger promoted the TLC Extreme Couponing show which supports unethical couponing. You can not duplicate the transactions of 1000 products with coupons as demonstrated on this show – the TLC spokesperson said the show was never meant to teach but only show behavior. Kroger ended double coupons in Houston and Dallas, now no double coupons are rolling out nationwide. Many customers are finding out at checkout that Kroger is changing coupon policies and limiting coupons. Now that Kroger created the “Perfect Storm” for coupon fraud – the customers in this weak economy with skyrocketing food prices are suffering; Kroger stated they would have to increase prices due to extreme couponing. Many believe Kroger went on the show to cause the death of paper coupons; to maximize its profits on digital coupons after data-mining its customers.
Many Kroger customers are now boycotting Kroger.
KROGER: Who’s Ignoring Their Customers? A Survey Of
The Largest US Retailers and Their Use of Social Media
LINK to study: Conversocial-White-Paper-US-Retail-Nov2011.pdfBIG DATA...$1 Billion Selling Kroger Customer Store Card Data
Kroger has over 60 million customers...Kroger and dunnhumby is generating billions in revenue by selling Kroger's shopper data to CPG brands ... 60 clients in all 40% of which are Fortune 500 firms... Kroger is realizing over $100 million annually in incremental revenue from these efforts. Updated for 2013 Kroger/Dunnhumby $1 Billion - http://adage.com/article/news/dunnhumby-time-ditch-demographic/239689/May 14, 2013: This is the FIRST time Kroger has
disclosed to its shareholders it was ending the
CUSTOMER 1st LOYALTY REWARD
NO DOUBLE COUPONS
Kroger Defends Double Coupon Elimination - "Kroger Co.’s chief financial officer on Tuesday defended the chain’s recent discontinuation of double coupons in several markets, saying the practice was “a VERY EXPENSIVE REWARD proposition that a very small number of [our] customers actually engage in.” Speaking at BMO Capital’s Farm to Market conference, Michael Schlotman said eliminating double coupons has helped the company invest in lower everyday prices that benefited a larger group of shoppers than the chain’s heavy coupon shoppers. “Now, they're a very vocal part of your customer base, and they don't like it when you stop giving them that reward,” he said. “But the percentage of customers who actually enjoyed the benefit of that, our view was we were better off taking those dollars and investing them in better prices for all of our customers rather than rewarding just a select segment of our customers.” Kroger introduced lower everyday prices to coincide with the removal of double couponing. Kroger so far has stopped doubling coupons in Houston, Southern California, Cincinnati and most recently in the Mid-Atlantic states."
Open Letter to Kroger Company Shareholders Why
Customers are No Longer Shopping at Kroger
March 1, 2013: Kroger ended double-triple coupons for Houston in April 2011. We reached out in a letter to Kroger CEO David Dillon, Houston Store Managers, and all Division Presidents.(1) Kroger repeatedly told customers these changes would not roll out to other regions, and yet to date this has rolled out to many regions.
When you see a drop in both profitability and foot traffic to the Kroger stores, it is due to customers VOTING with their WALLETS. Kroger management chose to drastically change coupon policies and limits, as well as make their cashiers sign “Coupon Agreements” causing customers to be berated for use of coupons. To date none of these extreme changes to Kroger’s Customer 1st Strategy have been reported to shareholders in the Kroger financial reports/transcripts.
Thousands of customers posted on Kroger Facebook and were ignored: “Kroger missed 100% of their consumers' complaints on social networking sites in a study conducted by Conversocial.”(2) Many customers mailed/emailed letters to Kroger asking them to reconsider these new policy changes and noted there was no incentive to continue to shop at Kroger. Customers sadly stated how many generations, years of loyalty, and memories they had wrapped up in shopping at Kroger stores.
The most recent region to lose double coupons effective March 1, 2013, is the Cincinnati Region which includes stores in Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio. It appears Kroger is rolling out these coupon policy changes in the markets they are currently ranked #1 and #2. (3) Dallas/Fort-Worth lost double coupons in September 2011. Ralphs lost double coupons in April 2012.(4) Fry’s Food Stores ended double coupons in Sierra Vista, Casa Grande, Yuma, and Greater Tucson area stores on September 14, 2011 and later reversed their decision.(5)
Kroger has repeatedly denied their participation in TLC’s Extreme Couponing show was an influence on ending double coupons, even though this new policy coincided with the new season of TLC Extreme Couponing. Kroger was the BIGGEST STAR retailer (6) participating in the majority of the episodes with two million plus viewers each show. Many participants used endless amounts of coupons, did not have the store limit coupons, or apply the stores coupon policies. There was no legal disclaimer in the show stating this could not be duplicated under normal circumstances. Kroger.com website traffic clearly benefited from the show with an increase of over 1 million visits.(7) The pilot airing of the show in December 2010 had advertising sponsor Staples, whose President also serves on Kroger's Board of Directors. Was Kroger a silent producer of the show?
Kroger told Houston they would end double-triple coupons because of the cost of the new Fuel Rewards program. Kroger has added many other regions to the $1 Fuel Reward, and has NOT removed double-triple coupons from these other regions. Kroger said that only 7% of customers use coupons and only 1% use more than 10 coupons per transaction. Kroger said they lowered prices and yet most reported prices were not lowered but almost identical to Kroger’s other regions. Kroger said $25 million was the savings under the old savings program with double coupons and the new savings program would represent much more savings for the Houston customers. Kroger said the TLC Extreme Couponing Show did not ruin its bottom line, yet Kroger later said in the media that due to extreme couponing they would have to increase prices. During this time many of the Kroger ads had the double coupon wording and limits of coupons not included in the fine print of their advertisements for many regions. Kroger continues to set NEW coupon limits in many Kroger regions without prior notice to customers or in their advertisements.
Does Kroger really understand what Customer 1st means? In the end companies will only be successful that are engaging, relevant, truthful; earning respect, and creating value. The game of creepily gathering data/spying on your customers, trickery in prices and promotions, broken digital coupons, ending doubles is not working. May the best retailer win!
LINK: http://tinyurl.com/a9g9lfb
(1) http://tinyurl.com/allmqsr
(2) http://management.fortune.cnn....RRnLI.dpuf http://hwigton.files.wordpress...ger-co.pdf
(3) http://supermarketnews.com/kro...ng-channel
(4)http://www.consumerworld.org/pages/doublecouponsprs.htm
http://www.mouseprint.org/2012/03/26/no-joke-ralphs-dropping-double-coupons-on-april-1/
(5) https://www.facebook.com/notes/frys-food-stores/manufacturer-coupon-announcement/278916155452706
(6)https://www.facebook.com/groups/Krogercouponers/doc/232075473522751/
(7) http://siteanalytics.compete.com/kroger.com/
When you see a drop in both profitability and foot traffic to the Kroger stores, it is due to customers VOTING with their WALLETS. Kroger management chose to drastically change coupon policies and limits, as well as make their cashiers sign “Coupon Agreements” causing customers to be berated for use of coupons. To date none of these extreme changes to Kroger’s Customer 1st Strategy have been reported to shareholders in the Kroger financial reports/transcripts.
Thousands of customers posted on Kroger Facebook and were ignored: “Kroger missed 100% of their consumers' complaints on social networking sites in a study conducted by Conversocial.”(2) Many customers mailed/emailed letters to Kroger asking them to reconsider these new policy changes and noted there was no incentive to continue to shop at Kroger. Customers sadly stated how many generations, years of loyalty, and memories they had wrapped up in shopping at Kroger stores.
The most recent region to lose double coupons effective March 1, 2013, is the Cincinnati Region which includes stores in Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio. It appears Kroger is rolling out these coupon policy changes in the markets they are currently ranked #1 and #2. (3) Dallas/Fort-Worth lost double coupons in September 2011. Ralphs lost double coupons in April 2012.(4) Fry’s Food Stores ended double coupons in Sierra Vista, Casa Grande, Yuma, and Greater Tucson area stores on September 14, 2011 and later reversed their decision.(5)
Kroger has repeatedly denied their participation in TLC’s Extreme Couponing show was an influence on ending double coupons, even though this new policy coincided with the new season of TLC Extreme Couponing. Kroger was the BIGGEST STAR retailer (6) participating in the majority of the episodes with two million plus viewers each show. Many participants used endless amounts of coupons, did not have the store limit coupons, or apply the stores coupon policies. There was no legal disclaimer in the show stating this could not be duplicated under normal circumstances. Kroger.com website traffic clearly benefited from the show with an increase of over 1 million visits.(7) The pilot airing of the show in December 2010 had advertising sponsor Staples, whose President also serves on Kroger's Board of Directors. Was Kroger a silent producer of the show?
Kroger told Houston they would end double-triple coupons because of the cost of the new Fuel Rewards program. Kroger has added many other regions to the $1 Fuel Reward, and has NOT removed double-triple coupons from these other regions. Kroger said that only 7% of customers use coupons and only 1% use more than 10 coupons per transaction. Kroger said they lowered prices and yet most reported prices were not lowered but almost identical to Kroger’s other regions. Kroger said $25 million was the savings under the old savings program with double coupons and the new savings program would represent much more savings for the Houston customers. Kroger said the TLC Extreme Couponing Show did not ruin its bottom line, yet Kroger later said in the media that due to extreme couponing they would have to increase prices. During this time many of the Kroger ads had the double coupon wording and limits of coupons not included in the fine print of their advertisements for many regions. Kroger continues to set NEW coupon limits in many Kroger regions without prior notice to customers or in their advertisements.
Does Kroger really understand what Customer 1st means? In the end companies will only be successful that are engaging, relevant, truthful; earning respect, and creating value. The game of creepily gathering data/spying on your customers, trickery in prices and promotions, broken digital coupons, ending doubles is not working. May the best retailer win!
LINK: http://tinyurl.com/a9g9lfb
(1) http://tinyurl.com/allmqsr
(2) http://management.fortune.cnn....RRnLI.dpuf http://hwigton.files.wordpress...ger-co.pdf
(3) http://supermarketnews.com/kro...ng-channel
(4)http://www.consumerworld.org/pages/doublecouponsprs.htm
http://www.mouseprint.org/2012/03/26/no-joke-ralphs-dropping-double-coupons-on-april-1/
(5) https://www.facebook.com/notes/frys-food-stores/manufacturer-coupon-announcement/278916155452706
(6)https://www.facebook.com/groups/Krogercouponers/doc/232075473522751/
(7) http://siteanalytics.compete.com/kroger.com/
Kroger CEO got 66 percent pay bump in 2011
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/kroger-ceo-got-66-percent-135624985.htmlWill Ending Its Double Coupon Program Hurt Kroger? Consumers, according to the News & Observer, "flooded" Kroger's Facebook page this weekend to protest the end of double coupons. Several likened Kroger's action to J.C. Penney's ill-fated decision to end coupons and sales under former CEO Ron Johnson.
http://www.retailwire.com/discussion/16744/will-ending-its-double-coupon-program-hurt-kroger
Kroger changes pricing strategy, phases out double coupons However, in the last 20 years, Walmart has used its everyday low price model to climb to the top of the nation's retail ladder. Kroger's new strategy is designed to help it compete better against the Bentonville, Ark.-based retail giant.
http://www.dailymail.com/Business/201304300195
BOYCOTT KROGER http://www.retailwire.com/discussion/16744/will-ending-its-double-coupon-program-hurt-kroger
Kroger changes pricing strategy, phases out double coupons However, in the last 20 years, Walmart has used its everyday low price model to climb to the top of the nation's retail ladder. Kroger's new strategy is designed to help it compete better against the Bentonville, Ark.-based retail giant.
http://www.dailymail.com/Business/201304300195
http://Kroger.com
http://www.thekrogerco.com/
