Brent left this comment to my Equip Them to be Smart Shoppers post:
I've been thinking about this as well. Showing my children how to shop the deals and compare prices is something that I'm going to do.
However I don't feel right getting free, or almost free, things from CVS to just give away. These deals are to encourage shoppers to come and spend money at their store, not get free things to just give away. I'm pretty sure if that was the case they would do that themselves.
To each their own but to me this is taking advantage of the system far and beyond what it is intended. Some take it even further and claim a tax deduction on the "giving".
As I said though my children will learn about comparing and spending money wisely.
I've been thinking about this as well. Showing my children how to shop the deals and compare prices is something that I'm going to do.
However I don't feel right getting free, or almost free, things from CVS to just give away. These deals are to encourage shoppers to come and spend money at their store, not get free things to just give away. I'm pretty sure if that was the case they would do that themselves.
To each their own but to me this is taking advantage of the system far and beyond what it is intended. Some take it even further and claim a tax deduction on the "giving".
As I said though my children will learn about comparing and spending money wisely.
My Reply:
Thank you Brent for your comment.
We have had a CVS in our town for 10 years or more, I think I have shopped there twice and the prices were way too high. Since Wal Mart has run most of the grocery stores from our little town, I do almost all of my shopping at Wal Mart because of price and convenience.
CVS is a smart company and their ECB's are all about smart marketing, just like all those door-buster deals at Christmas that every store offers. They know how to bring the costumer in. They know that you will eventually buy additional products. I have found unadvertised deals also. CVS gets credit for the coupons used by costumers. Without the coupons the deals at CVS would be good, but not GREAT! As I stated earlier, I never really shopped CVS before, but now I have spent a good bit of money there that I would have spent at Wal Mart. They also put limits on the quantity that can be bought, so I doubt anyone will really take advantage of them.
Then there is the issue of relationship. At our CVS the lady that works nights is very friendly, this makes me want to go in there, but I avoid the grumpy day people.
I don't think CVS is offering these limited deals because they care about us, they are doing it because it is good business! And I doubt they care if we hoard our 25 tubes of toothpaste in a box under the bed or give it to battered women in a shelter. They don't care what we do with the product, they just want us to buy it!
It's smart marketing and it works, otherwise they wouldn't do it. Just as Wal Mart will let you use competitive pricing with an ad.
But each person must have a clear conscience. You sound like a very sensitive and compassionate person and I appreciate that! :o)
CVS is a smart company and their ECB's are all about smart marketing, just like all those door-buster deals at Christmas that every store offers. They know how to bring the costumer in. They know that you will eventually buy additional products. I have found unadvertised deals also. CVS gets credit for the coupons used by costumers. Without the coupons the deals at CVS would be good, but not GREAT! As I stated earlier, I never really shopped CVS before, but now I have spent a good bit of money there that I would have spent at Wal Mart. They also put limits on the quantity that can be bought, so I doubt anyone will really take advantage of them.
Then there is the issue of relationship. At our CVS the lady that works nights is very friendly, this makes me want to go in there, but I avoid the grumpy day people.
I don't think CVS is offering these limited deals because they care about us, they are doing it because it is good business! And I doubt they care if we hoard our 25 tubes of toothpaste in a box under the bed or give it to battered women in a shelter. They don't care what we do with the product, they just want us to buy it!
It's smart marketing and it works, otherwise they wouldn't do it. Just as Wal Mart will let you use competitive pricing with an ad.
But each person must have a clear conscience. You sound like a very sensitive and compassionate person and I appreciate that! :o)
1 comment:
I think CVS just has smart marketing. I NEVER bought anything there before the ECBs started. It was way too expensive!
CVS is banking (literally) on people getting the ECBs and never using them. That's why they don't just give you the $ amount off the item to begin with. You have to buy a tube of toothpaste for $2.99 and get the $2.99 back as ECBs, making the toothpaste virtually free--providing you actually use the ECBs. If you don't, well, then you just spent $2.99 on a tube of toothpaste at CVS instead of at Wal-Mart. THAT is their marketing plan and how they make money. Believe me, if they weren't making money doing this, it would have been discontinued a long time ago.
Just my $.02!
Blessings--
Dana
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