Ann Arbor area Meijer stores ending double coupons next week
Meijer is ending double coupons at all of the company's stores. (The new Detroit store is pictured here)
MLive
Meijer eliminated double coupons in several Michigan and Indiana markets earlier this year, and starting next week, Ann Arbor area shoppers will be affected by the policy change.
Double coupons are when a retailer accepts twice the value of a coupon.
Signs notify customers of the policy change at the store on Carpenter Road in Pittsfield Township. Meijer spokesperson Frank Guglielmi said signage was posted in stores on Aug. 4.
Meijer first announced the decision to eliminate double coupons company-wide on its Facebook page on Aug. 3. The statement:
“We are shifting our resources to mPerks digital coupons. Less than 5 percent of Meijer customers 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 ... Of course, in addition to mPerks, we will still accept coupons at face value, and still offer our everyday low prices and weekly specials.”
In 2010, Meijer launched mPerks — an online digital couponing program. Customers sign up online, and can preview and select coupons that are then stored in their personal account. The coupons can be redeemed when shoppers enter their phone number at checkout.
Meijer operates stores in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky. The company — which has two locations in Pittsfield Township and one in Scio Township — opened its first Detroit store in July.
Lizzy Alfs is a business reporter for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at 734-623-2584 or email her at lizzyalfs@annarbor.com. Follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/lizzyalfs.
Comments
arborani
Wed, Aug 21, 2013 : 6:33 p.m.
Update: Alas, just lost some of my good feeling for Kroger @ Stadium/Industrial and, I presume, elsewhere. They have switched to clear produce bags so thin and fragile, took me 3 tries to get an undamaged one. Penny wise etc., etc.
Nicholas Urfe
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 11:54 p.m.
I stopped shopping at any Meijer stores after the corpation illegally infuenced the public election in Acme, MI in order to force the township to allow a new store. It was also determined that they sued local township officials individually in an effort to intimidate them. I will *never* patronize Meijers. http://blog.mlive.com/grpress/2008/02/meijer_says_it_likely_broke_la.html
NeedMoreSun
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 8:27 p.m.
The most valuable part of Mperks is when a 5% off all grocery items coupon is offered. Lately its been showing up about once a month. If you've "clipped" that coupon, plus an Mperks coupon for an individual item, plus a manufacturer's paper coupon you really hit the jackpot. The program has really been upgraded in the last 6 months and is really very easy to use. You don't need texting capability, you can call an 800 number to enable your account after registering online.
sueblue
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 3:52 p.m.
I primarily shop at the Krogers in Milan. They still double manufacturer coupons up to 50 cents.
blackstarwhitelight
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 3:32 p.m.
Why the hate for MPerks? I've been using it since it first came out, and while it was bulky/awkward/not user friendly at first, they've REALLY stepped it up over the last couple of months. The Meijer app is finally integrated with MPerks (and a lot less clunky to boot), so it takes almost no time at all to access what you need. And they have a shopping list function that'll integrate with your clipped coupons. Plus, for the last month or so, they've been giving out free food (one week was a free 1doz eggs, a couple weeks it was a free gal of milk, once a free jar of Jif, etc.) if you enter a code that they reveal on their Facebook page weekly. And as far as user accessibility goes, they've really managed to dumb it down for the "least common denominator" type of user; I think even my 86y.o. grandmother could handle this, and she's deathly afraid of technology. Seems like maybe some on this site should spend a little less time complaining about how things aren't "the way they used to be", and embrace some change. The new world and its gadgets aren't so bad.
Themadcatter
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 7:32 p.m.
Not everyone has hopped, or can afford to hop on, the latest, greatest techno bandwagon. I share a cell phone plan of 600 minutes with 5 other family members. I have texting turned off because I was receiving so many spam calls which are charged against the plan. Plus I have a simple flip/camera phone that can't even download pictures to a computer (they have to be texted). Without these features I cannot play the coupon game on my phone while I shop. I do it all from a home PC. The shopping list that can be printed is quite cumbersome and wasteful - it needs to be condensed so one doesn't have to 3 or four sheets of paper to the store with them. And I refuse to allow any company to manipulate me into adding them to my Facebook account. (So that explains why I haven't gotten the MPerks freebies - I never even knew about them).
bunnyabbot
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 2:37 p.m.
As an avid couponer this is discouraging. Using all methods of couponing helps extend my grocery budget so that I can use the money towards other personal goals. These store reward cards and mperks, where you use your phone number have LOADS of personal data of the customer, stores like Krogers and Meijers sell this data to other companies. Basically, we are all many businesses commodity at once as they data mine to find our shopping habits.
Ben
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 8:51 p.m.
Funny, isn't it, that stores like Trader Joes can succeed perfectly well as a grocery business without selling your shopping habits to marketing firms.
obviouscomment
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 2:19 p.m.
We were struggling to afford groceries for our family of four but we don't qualify for any food assistance. We cut back on many things in our lives to afford food and other necessities for our family and we were still barely getting by. With coupons we've cut our shopping bill down from $150 every week to less than $150 every 2-3 weeks. We were buying the cheapest of the cheap before and sometimes eating very little to make it to our next pay check, with two growing kids it's hard. Now we have been able to have plenty of tasty food without being greedy. We buy 2 newspapers every Sunday from the Dollar Tree and we have a friend who doesn't use their coupons so we get theirs on Tuesday after their done with their paper. We consult BargainsToBounty.com to get the best matches for our coupons at Metro Detroit stores (we mostly shop at Kroger, Target, and Walmart). We stock up on things we know we will use but we don't take it just because it's a good deal or even just because it is free. We do not consider ourselves to be "extreme couponers", we are doing "reasonable couponing". Personally I feel that "extreme couponers" are being greedy. Many of them buy 10+ newspapers a week and clear shelves at the grocery store and get anything and everything that's super cheap just because they can, regardless of whether THEY will actually use it. I know many of them donate a lot, but when we go grocery shopping after an "extreme couponer" and all the shelves are empty it's very frustrating. They say they do it so they can donate and help others who are needy but what about our family? I know everything being out of stock isn't always because one person cleared the shelf, but I have witnessed it at my local Kroger and Target. I do think those shoppers are ruining it for the rest of us who only buy what we know we will use...I usually don't buy more than 6 of an item (most coupons are for 2 items each and I usually have 3 coupons).
obviouscomment
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 7:06 p.m.
@bunnyabbot Thanks for the tips. Yes I usually do some shopping at the Dollar Tree while I'm there to buy my papers. And they started accepting coupons so sometimes you can use a coupon on their stuff which makes it even better.
CLX
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 2:52 p.m.
Sounds like a great system. I would throw gardening into the mix if you have the space, although it doesn't take much space. Pots will do, and you can use just about anything for a pot if you can punch in some drainage holes. Start seeds inside in the spring and transplant after Memorial Day. If you can exchange produce with friends, all the better.
bunnyabbot
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 2:45 p.m.
there are food banks if you need help with groceries, Catholic Social Services is one.
bunnyabbot
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 2:43 p.m.
I stopped by the Dollar Tree the other day for craft paper. The soap aisle had soaps (certain brands) that are more at major chains (or basically less per ounce at the Dollar Tree) that I never see coupons for. Ditto for toothbrushes, they had an Oral B and Colgate brand, not those brands highest style, but still a good soft toothbrush. I also checked out the food aisle, many items were made out of country but I found some US brands that were cheaper per ounce, again, if you can't find a coupon for them. I now get a few select items there that I know have a lower per ounce cost than at the major stores.
arborani
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 2:31 p.m.
When you see a good "special" advertised, but you find the shelf empty, you might ask (at checkout) for a rain check honoring that price, usually good for at least 30 days.
gerald Grzesik
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 2:16 p.m.
M Perks will not work on my phone now what?
Themadcatter
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 3:40 p.m.
I have never had to use my cell phone other than to give them my cell phone number when I created my account and enter it at the checkout to redeem the coupons. I log into the Meijer website on a PC to add the coupons to my account. Usually I'll print out the list and take it with me. Is it a land phone you're trying to use? That won't work.
Robert D. Mosley
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 2:08 p.m.
Thanks for the info. My wife will be interested in this. I like Kroger myself.
Hmm
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 1:58 p.m.
Thanks Lizzy
Ignatz
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 1:32 p.m.
I've been using M Perks for months. It's fairly easy, spam is minimal and they do offer savings on both the less expensive Meijer brands, as well as fresh produce.
Billy
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 1:24 p.m.
"Less than 5 percent of Meijer customers used double coupons" I HIGHLY doubt that with the coupon fad that's been going on recently....consequently double coupons were one of the ONLY reasons my wife liked to shop at meijers....so you can say goodbye to one customer at least...
CLX
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 1:07 p.m.
Kroger has a similar program and I like it a lot, although I do have to print out a list of which coupons are on my card so that I remember to use them. Also, Kroger provides coupons for vegetables, cheese, milk, peanut butter - basic items. Otherwise, I find couponing mostly useless because they are usually for expensive packaged products that we would never buy anyway.
obviouscomment
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 1:57 p.m.
The key to couponing is using coupons on sale/mark down items...that's when you get the good deals. Otherwise you're right, the store brand is almost always cheaper than a regular priced name brand with a coupon.
Doug
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 1:07 p.m.
And so is my shopping at Meijer ending!
dexterreader
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 12:39 p.m.
I, too, resisted joining the mPerks program until recently when I learned paper coupons would no longer be doubled (boo!! hiss!!). I had to give a cell phone number AND an e-mail address to join (translate -- already getting regular "promotional" material on my e-mail account after signing up 4 days ago). As a die-hard couponer (but not "extreme"), I've wondered for years why more people don't use them to save money. And for years I've also wondered how the "extreme" couponers pull it off. Maybe I'm not as successful as them because I refuse to dumpster-dive :) Also, it seems every store featured on that show gives double coupons up to $1.00. Well, yeah, I could be a LOT more successful if my local stores did that regularly also. Since Meijer is my primary store, I really had little choice if I want to continue saving as much money as possible. We will see how it goes.
EyeHeartA2
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 12:37 p.m.
" — opened its first Detroit store in July." Funny this it the first I have heard of it. For some reason this didn't get the press that the Whole Foods opening did. Although, I bet if you asked the people of Detroit would they rather have a Meijers or Whole Foods, the overwhelming response would be Meijers.
notnecessary
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 4:56 p.m.
It got some pretty decent press -- whole foods probably got more because it was well, a whole foods, and also because I think they were the first national grocery chain to open in Detroit for a while whereas Meijer is the 2nd. Also...the Meijer store is on 8 Mile right on the border and doesnt really serve any different people than the Kroger store on 8 mile like a mile or less to the west just located on the north side of 8 mile (Royal Oak Township I believe...) not Detroit.
Lizzy Alfs
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 1:06 p.m.
You can see a photo gallery of the store on opening day on MLive: http://photos.mlive.com/4469/gallery/detroit_meijer_opening_day/index.html#/0
Steve Hendel
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 12:22 p.m.
Why is it news when a store changes one of it's operating policies ? Shouldn't it be labeled "Advertising"?
treetowncartel
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 12:12 p.m.
Stopped going to Meijer years ago. TLines were always hoRrendously long. Grocery shopping atKroger offers discount on petrol, and the other items Meijer's carries can be found at Target with a percentage going to a local school of my choice. Oh and can't forget to give a shout out to Gordon's Food Service while I'm at it.
Urban Sombrero
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 12:11 p.m.
I like the idea of MPerks, but I forget to log in a lot of the time. It's nice, however, to not have to carry coupons and fish around as I'm shopping and checking out to see what to redeem. That and I always, ALWAYS forget to use them anyway. I'll clip the little boogers out, stick them in my holder and then totally forget about them until I have to toss them because they're expired. It's not a good system.
Paula Gardner
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 11:57 a.m.
I've been hot and cold on MPerks. I struggle to remember to use it, and I've had trouble using it while in the store. But I'm willing to give it a shot. I've also struggled to consistently use paper coupons. One plus with the paper: the consumer tracking can't be quite so personal. I'll admit to some discomfort with that, too.
TryingToBeObjective
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 12:47 p.m.
I find it easiest to remember to enter my Mperks if I do it first- right when I get to the checkout. I usually go to the self scan. The hard part for me is remembering to go online to choose the coupons I want on there beforehand. I try to look whenever I get a chance (and remember). Also, the new pharmacy perks are a $10 coupon with 5 pharmacy refills, and you have to enter your Mperks number when you pick up your prescription to get that benefit. I'm disappointed they are discontinuing double coupons- that added up for me on occasion. Oh well.
Arieswoman
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 11:29 a.m.
I get coupons downloaded to my Kroger card very easily. I tried to sign up at Meijer but I don't text with my cell phone. I have had trouble signing up with Meijer. Like another poster I don't like to give out my cell phone number!
Ann English
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 12:05 p.m.
Today, you don't need to be able to receive text messages on your cell phone in order to use mPerks; calling their mPerks help line enabled me to use mPerks. Like Kroger, you can print out on a sheet your electronic coupons and what they're for, plus their expiration dates; of course, they don't scan like real paper coupons would, and you do need to know your mPerks password, entering it in when it's time to pay.
A2comments
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 11 a.m.
Meijer is our primary store. Use few coupons due to paper going away... Mperks is less than user-friendly.
Ann English
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 12:09 p.m.
On the first week of this month, 20 Meijer promotional coupons came out of the self-checkout I used. Ever get paper coupons yourself from those checkouts? Usually, such coupons are for competing brands of items you are buying that day.
Themadcatter
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 10:59 a.m.
What I don't like about MPerks is the requirement one must give a cell phone number to participate. Those without cell phones are out of luck. I finally caved in but I really don't like giving out my number to anyone. It's a nuisance to have to check to see what coupons are online before you shop and have them loaded to your MPerks account (why not just have them all automatically load?). Many have conditions that are easy to forget thus one fails to satisfy the conditions and loses out on the discount. And you can only use a coupon once, no using it again on your next trip. Lastly, you can't use any other coupon on top of an MPerks coupon. That's fair - it was just something I had to adjust to. Oh...and don't forget to enter your Perks number at checkout! Couponing, back in the good ol' days, was challenging and fun, like a game. I was what one might consider a "coupon queen" - one of those irritating people that tied up the checkout line with her cart load of coupon-able purchases and multiple separated purchases to get receipts for rebates. Looking back...I think my life values were perhaps misdirected, there are much more important things to be concerned about in life and the world. We weren't put on earth to see what "deals" we can get. What a waste of one's life. However, couponing can be therapeutic as it's a distraction from those things we feel we have no control over.
TruEMU_fan
Wed, Aug 21, 2013 : 9:06 p.m.
You can use an MPerks and a paper manufactuerer's coupon so long as the MPerk is marked as a store coupon and not a manufactuerer's coupon
Themadcatter
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 8:34 p.m.
I have not been able to use a manufactures coupon with MPerks. Once the manufacturer's coupon has been scanned a message pops up asking which coupon do want to use. If you choose the MPerks coupon the cashier hands back to you the paper coupon.
NeedMoreSun
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 8:13 p.m.
"Lastly, you can't use any other coupon on top of an MPerks coupon. " Yes, you can use a manufacturer's coupon while using an Mperks coupon. That's a "double play"!
dexterreader
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 12:46 p.m.
I don't think it's a "waste of one's life" when you have a family or are on a budget and you spend your time creatively coming up with ways to save money. Some families have no choice. I don't think the "extreme couponers" are misguided in any way, as long as what they are doing is legal. Many of them say they started the habit out of necessity -- a lost job for instance. My personal feeling is that I don't want to give any retail entity (or utility company, or credit card company, etc.) any more of my hard-earned money than I have to. I think as long as you enjoy doing it (and the extremers certainly seem to), and it's not taking time away from other important things in your life, there is nothing wrong with it. For us bargain-hunters, it's a "high" to see how much money we can save and what kind of bargain we can get!!
Ann English
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 12:25 p.m.
Howzitchick, I agree, the paper coupons most available are NOT for the basics, but for the newest items, like Fruitful yogurt by Yoplait. Fresh and frozen vegetables are a strong suit for Meijer, over competitors. So you're saying that their mPerks deals on some produce makes their strong suit even stronger? It does add some variety to brand choice that way. Themadcatter, It IS a convenience at the Meijer checkouts today, for us to scan our coupons ourselves, instead of waiting to get the attention of the self-checkout cashier to do it for us.
Howzitchick
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 11:29 a.m.
I agree with many of your comments. I find it a nuisance to sift through all the coupons & it is hard to keep track of how many of each item & size is required to meet the criteria. Unfortunately, I think extreme couponers have caused current conditions. I never understood how they got all groceries for free - you have to purchase the extra coupons. While Mperks has its flaws, it does, sometimes, have coupons for crab fruit & vegetables, like a $1 off Campari tomatoes or Earthbound lettuce. Most paper coupons seem to be for the newest product & not the basics.
jns131
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 10:29 a.m.
I never knew that. But then again take the Meijer Flier to Wal Mart and they will match the prices. Otherwise, only go to Meijer for certain things now. Krogers ended their double coupon thing a long time ago.
TruEMU_fan
Wed, Aug 21, 2013 : 9:03 p.m.
From what I understand Lizzy, the Central Division in which you linked is NOT the division in which our Michigan Krogers are in. As far as I know, my Kroger in Ypsilanti still doubles coupons, no more than 3 like coupons per day (i.e. you can't bring in 10 coupons for Crest and get them doubled).
Lizzy Alfs
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 1:03 p.m.
Yes, Kroger stopped double coupons, too. http://www.indystar.com/article/20130709/BUSINESS/307090016/Kroger-quit-doing-double-coupons From what I've read, some people speculate the move at both stores might be in response to "extreme couponing."
kitten2
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 11:35 a.m.
The Kroger I frequent still offers double coupons up to fifty cents.
FredMax
Tue, Aug 20, 2013 : 11:12 a.m.
I find that Meijer is cheaper for groceries. Either way, it seems simpler to just go to the place with the lower price rather than go through the trouble to step the cashier through every price match.