You know the feeling. You’ve been planning a trip to your favorite store for an awesome deal for the past few days. Your list is made, your coupons are clipped, and you head out on Sunday.
Only to find this…
The empty shelf…
Shelf clearing is one of the most frustrating couponing faux pas in my opinion. Most of the time, it’s rude, inconsiderate, and just plain greedy.
Few things are more frustrating in the world of couponing than an empty shelf, especially on the first day of a sale. Granted, some empty shelves are the result of stores not ordering enough stock, but more often than not inconsiderate couponers are to blame. At least around here, anyway.
If you’re a couponer, though, shelf clearing can be a tricky thing to recognize. How do you know if you’re a shelf clearer? Does taking the last few items on the shelf make you a shelf clearer? What if it’s the last day of a sale? Or clearance items?
The answers to these questions are usually judgement calls that you must make on your own. However, here are my thoughts on the matter…
Recognize Shelf Clearing Habits
So, how do you know if you’re guilty of shelf clearing? Not to put too fine a point on it, but if you’re wondering if you’re guilty of this offense…you probably are.
Shelf clearing usually happens when a shopper takes every item, or almost every item, off of a well stocked shelf to buy. Shoppers, particularly couponers, usually do this to take advantage of a great deal. One of the most frustrating aspects of shelf clearing is that it usually happens during the first day or even the first hours of a sale.
There are a few exceptions, though. For instance, buying the last couple items on the shelf does not a shelf clearer make. If there are only two or three items left on the shelf, I typically don’t feel bad buying them.
Also, toward the end of a sale, shelves are usually getting pretty bare, especially when shoppers can score a sweet deal with coupons. If it’s the last day of a sale, I usually won’t feel bad about clearing the shelf of the last few stragglers either.
Avoid Shelf Clearing
So, there’s an awesome deal on a product at your local store. You want to stock up on a large quantity, but you don’t want to be guilty of shelf clearing. What’s a couponer to do?
Well, there are a few different tactics you could use…
- Shop throughout the week. Go ahead and hit the sale early, but don’t buy more than a few items. After all, most sales last for an entire week, so you can make a few more trips back to the store and buy a little at a time. That way you can still stock up but leave some for other shoppers as well.
- Visit multiple stores. For instance, if there are three Target stores in your area, visit each one and purchase a few items. You’ll be getting quite a few items, and still leaving some on the shelf for others.
- Preorder large quantities. Many grocery stores will allow you to preorder large quantities of products during a sale. Preordering allows you to get the large quantity you want without having to clear the shelves. Call the manager of your local store to inquire about preordering.
- Get a rain check. If you shop throughout the week and the item you want to stock up on ends up running out, don’t be afraid to ask for a rain check! You can use a rain check at a later date to take advantage of a sale price at a later date. There will usually be much less competition for a product when it’s not on sale, and you’ll still be able to reap the savings.
What are your thoughts and feelings on shelf clearing?
More Frugal Living Resources:
Pinching Your PenniesYou know the feeling. You’ve been planning a trip to your favorite store for an awesome deal for the past few days. Your list is made, your coupons are clipped, and you head out on Sunday.
Only to find this…
The empty shelf…
Shelf clearing is one of the most frustrating couponing faux pas in my opinion. Most of the time, it’s rude, inconsiderate, and just plain greedy.
Few things are more frustrating in the world of couponing than an empty shelf, especially on the first day of a sale. Granted, some empty shelves are the result of stores not ordering enough stock, but more often than not inconsiderate couponers are to blame. At least around here, anyway.
If you’re a couponer, though, shelf clearing can be a tricky thing to recognize. How do you know if you’re a shelf clearer? Does taking the last few items on the shelf make you a shelf clearer? What if it’s the last day of a sale? Or clearance items?
The answers to these questions are usually judgement calls that you must make on your own. However, here are my thoughts on the matter…
Recognize Shelf Clearing Habits
So, how do you know if you’re guilty of shelf clearing? Not to put too fine a point on it, but if you’re wondering if you’re guilty of this offense…you probably are.
Shelf clearing usually happens when a shopper takes every item, or almost every item, off of a well stocked shelf to buy. Shoppers, particularly couponers, usually do this to take advantage of a great deal. One of the most frustrating aspects of shelf clearing is that it usually happens during the first day or even the first hours of a sale.
There are a few exceptions, though. For instance, buying the last couple items on the shelf does not a shelf clearer make. If there are only two or three items left on the shelf, I typically don’t feel bad buying them.
Also, toward the end of a sale, shelves are usually getting pretty bare, especially when shoppers can score a sweet deal with coupons. If it’s the last day of a sale, I usually won’t feel bad about clearing the shelf of the last few stragglers either.
Avoid Shelf Clearing
So, there’s an awesome deal on a product at your local store. You want to stock up on a large quantity, but you don’t want to be guilty of shelf clearing. What’s a couponer to do?
Well, there are a few different tactics you could use…
- Shop throughout the week. Go ahead and hit the sale early, but don’t buy more than a few items. After all, most sales last for an entire week, so you can make a few more trips back to the store and buy a little at a time. That way you can still stock up but leave some for other shoppers as well.
- Visit multiple stores. For instance, if there are three Target stores in your area, visit each one and purchase a few items. You’ll be getting quite a few items, and still leaving some on the shelf for others.
- Preorder large quantities. Many grocery stores will allow you to preorder large quantities of products during a sale. Preordering allows you to get the large quantity you want without having to clear the shelves. Call the manager of your local store to inquire about preordering.
- Get a rain check. If you shop throughout the week and the item you want to stock up on ends up running out, don’t be afraid to ask for a rain check! You can use a rain check at a later date to take advantage of a sale price at a later date. There will usually be much less competition for a product when it’s not on sale, and you’ll still be able to reap the savings.
What are your thoughts and feelings on shelf clearing?
More Frugal Living Resources:
