As an extreme couponer, I have tons of loyalty cards. My keys now looks like a ugly charm bracelet from all of the loyalty key tags I have. I hate the way it looks, but I am on a mission to save money every day.
Before I was couponing, I found it ridiculous that I needed to scan these loyalty cards to get the store sale price. “I don’t have my card with me. No, I can’t punch in my number, because I probably used a fake one when I signed up. Can I just use yours, please?”
Now that I extreme coupon, I can see the benefits. For example, at Harris Teeter, I get customized deals sent to me that are not available to everyone else. I can also get electronic coupons attached to my account. (Although, there are always issues with it working properly!)
At Giant, I get to participate in their gas deal. I now have almost 9,000 points (my record was over 11,000 points) and pay just $0.93 a gallon for gas weekly.
At CVS, I get to scan my card at a red machine in the store and get extra coupons that virtually help make my total zero. And it earns me extra care bucks, which is the same as cash and helps me get around $20-50 worth of stuff of week for almost nothing.
Last week I read an article in the Washington Post about a company called Applied Predictive Technologies aka APT. I had never heard of it. But when I read how 100 of the largest companies in the world use them (think CVS, Wendy’s, Redbox, and Wawa), I wanted to learn more.
APT claims $1 of every $5 in U.S. retail transactions goes through its database. How is this possible?
APT is a cloud-based predictive analytics software company. They have incredibly large databases that companies can use to help improve their business decisions. Using their data and research, ADT can help tell companies if a certain model generates greater sales, if a wall color helps sales more, if store prices are working as well as they should, if store hours are maximizing what they should, and even if the overall design is aiding sales.
On top of that, they take clues from your loyalty cards, your ATM withdrawals, and even receipts to create some kind of predictive outcome, like that I am more likely to pick up Haribro gummy bears if they are by the checkout lane. (Which is true!)
As a research nerd, I find this kind of fascinating. I am sure in their eyes, my data looks beyond insane. 40 oatmeals, 20 cereals, 5 razors, 3 dozen eggs, 3 organic milks, 3 bags of apples, 4 bags of oranges, 55 fruit snacks, 3 romaine lettuces, 10 Lindt chocolate bars, 90 rolls of paper towels, 10 gallons of ice cream. You get the picture.
I know some people cringe at the idea that companies are stalking its customers using Nostradamus-like technology, but personally, if it helps tell them how to better serve me so I have a great experience, I am all for it. If you know what I am interested in, what I will buy, and what incentives to send me, I don’t mind. With three kids five and under, any help I can get to save money and feed and clothe my kids is appreciated.
Although, I admit, as an extreme couponer, I am not loyal to stores like I used to. In fact, I now understand stores, their promotions, policies, user interface, and more than I ever have. My loyalty has been tested at every store. Whether it is being accused of misusing a coupon (when a cashier has not been properly trained), having a cashier sigh really loud when they are annoyed at how much I am buying, having not one employee connect with me when there are many standing around and I need help, having managers come up and yell at me when a coupon is valid yet they don’t want to deal with it or me, or talking with 6 different employees about how their store sold a particular wine for over a year and now it is gone and when will it be on the shelf again? Answer. We have no idea.
I often find myself wishing stores would hire extreme couponers to give insight from the field, like mystery shoppers do. Sometimes, I get really nice cashiers and it really makes my day. I always remember the nice ones and then I look for them when I return.
From my experience, loyalty isn’t given. It’s earned. And I have to say from all the stores I shop at, the CVS in Haymarket, Virginia is by far always the best experience for me. It’s probably the only store I am loyal to.
euphoria meets holy crap meets badass 
Comments are compliments!