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Alright everyone…I know this is a topic near and dear to some of your hearts, so all I ask is that you are respectful in the comments. 😉
Shelf Clearing: Have you done it? Have you seen it done? What do you think about it?
If you are unfamiliar with what shelf clearing is, it is basically when a couponer purchases all or almost all of the products that are on the self. This prevents others from getting in on the deal since the shelves are bare by the time they get to the store.
Ben says
I do not shelf clear, but in my city there are several of the same store – there may be 5 Ralphs, 2 Walmarts, etc. So I always go to the biggest one. I live 2 minutes from a Walmart Supercenter, and they always have TONS and TONS of each item – so if I need 20 of it, I can take it and leave literally 100 for others. If I need more than that I pre-order it.
Lisa says
I’ve only cleared the shelf when there are only a few left. I’m usually getting annoyed because the shelves are already cleared (and empty for weeks on end when something is free, like the toothbrushes at KS for the past ~6 weeks). I did have a stocking guy get a bit cranky when I bought 10 cans of tomatoes once (and that WAS NOT with coupons; it was a buy 10, save something sale.) I use a can or two of tomatoes pretty often, so that’s really only a month or two stock-up for me.
Kathy says
I try not to judge others, but I do believe in leaving some unless like many are saying there is only 1 or 2 left when you get to the store. I left quite a few of the RR deals at my Walgreens today, except the schick womens razor blade refill as there was only one package left. I gladly got the one and do not feel bad.
Aleesha says
I have a self set 3 coupon limit. There is just 2 of us, my house is small, limited cupboard space and I refuse to make my garage into a stockroom. It is upsetting to find the shelves bare, when you just need a few items. Sad to say but I think the stores need to put a limit on things. (every addict has there vise)
Sarah B says
I only bring 3 coupons with me at anytime. If I happen to clear the shelf with my 3 things then I will, but then I get irritated that someone has come and cleared the shelf before me. I actually see a lot of shelf clearing in my town and it really makes me sad. I was trying to teach my younger sister to coupon and we went to 2 separate Walgreens and the shelfs were cleared at both, it was very frustrating especially since all I wanted was one for me and one for my sister.
I even feel a little bad when I’m clearing the shelf with my two or three items that I’ll be using within the next couple months.
Courtney says
I have never gotten more than 6 of a like item using coupons. I think shelf clearing is just plain inconsiderate and RUDE! If you have that many coupons call the store the day before and place an order for the number of items you need. You won’t have to look for the item and you won’t be the jerk clearing the shelves before the rest of us get a chance to get the deal. The only time I think shelf clearing is acceptable is when there are only x amount of that item left or if you intend to give the majority of those items to a charity. Some of us are struggling just to get by, I coupon to feed my family and buy essentials like toothpaste so we can afford our bills at the end of the month. I think anyone who is shelf clearing is just getting the ‘high’ and they are giving us a bad wrap. Don’t be so greedy!
Ria says
You are awesome Courtney.
Christine says
I was going to suggest to you to bring up this topic. The only time i have cleared a shelf was when there were only one or two of the items. I know how frustrating it is when you go to a few stores looking for a specific item and they are all out of that particular item. Often times you don’t know who to blame, the people who are clearing the shelves or the stores for not keeping up with the supply and demand.
Jennie says
Thanks for all of your feedback so far! It has been great to read through your different responses!
I agree that Shelf Clearing is not a good idea. However, I can definately understand a newbie going out there and getting caught-up in the excitement of it all. Placing special orders is a great way to get around it if you do want to pick up a whole bunch of a freebie. If the store cannot guarantee that your order will be in before the sale ends, just ask for a raincheck!. 😉
Angela says
I have never cleared a shelf, but I see it happen especially when the Voskos yogurt at KS goes on sale for $1 and people have a $1 coupon!
CJ says
The only time I would even come close to clearing a shelf is if I need a certain amount of items to do a deal (rebate, catalina coupon, etc) and they only had that amount on the shelf. Or if I was making a special trip to stock up – I only go to Walmart a few times a year for Tidy Cat litter so I buy as many as they have (which is usually less than 10). I support any store that limits quantities especially Walgreens, multiple RR transactions in the same trip shouldnt be allowed.
Elizabeth says
I have not done this. I have bought several of one item but if it looks like they aren’t gonna have very many I limit how many I buy. It is especially annoying when I’ve gone to Walgreens on Monday and find that they are completely out of something. That’s obviously someone coming in on Sunday and clearing the shelves. This happens a lot with the RR deals like the optic white this week. I just don’t understand doing that. I mean it’s toothpaste how much are you really gonna use? I know they are getting RR for each of them but geez 🙂
Robin says
I agree! Never cleared a shelf. Why would I need 50 of the same product? That’s not stockpiling because one family cannot use that many items unless you have 20 kids. I take what I need and maybe two extra. That’s it. The only time I’ve cleared a shelf is when there is one item left. Ha!
Stella says
Great minds think alike–one of your fellow Savings.com DealPros posted about this today on our blog:
https://www.savings.com/blog/post/TLC-Extreme-Couponing-and-Confessions-of-an-Unapologetic-Shelf-Clearer.html
Jennie says
Thanks Stella…it is always good to see other points of view! 🙂
Hazel says
Jennie your timing couldn’t be more perfect! I saw a preview for one of the Extreme Couponing shows coming up and the woman is a self proclaimed (and proud of it) shelf clearer. Got my fur up, that’s for shore.
Last week a cashier and I got into a conversation about couponing. She said Safeway was trying to implement a policy where you couldn’t stack a store coupon with an MQ. This was confirmed when I went back that night for different items. Quite a bit of vitriole towards couponers. I understand why they’re upset with shelf clearers, but, most of us are ethical and not out to clean them out. Alas, it’s like anything, the bad occurences are what sticks in the mind and makes the rules change against us.
I remember in Couponing Class what you said and the main thing I think about is a friend of mine that’s seriously struggling. If he went to the store and needed a can of soup and had a coupon, but a shelf clearer had been there moments before, his kids wouldn’t have the much needed soup … but the clearer would have much more than needed.
Thanks so much for opening up this discussion!
Casey says
I have cleared the shelf once or twice at our Walgreens because there were only two or three products left, but I don’t think that counts. I was just watching the Today Show and it had extreme couponers on it from the TLC show. One lady told of a money maker she once did with Splenda. She bought 100 boxes so she could make $100. I am sure she cleared the shelves at several stores in order to do that. I think this is the kind of behavior that gives the rest of us a bad name, and most likely the reason we are getting so much resistance from some of the store managers.