Giant Eagle Trims Double Coupon Limit in Pittsburgh

PITTSBURGH -- On the heels of last week's news that it was discontinuing the redemption of manufacturer double coupons in the Cleveland and Akron markets, Giant Eagle here said it is also cutting back on redeeming the value of double coupons in the Pittsburgh, New Castle, and Youngstown, Ohio markets in favor of promoting other incentives to attract consumers to its stores.

Effective Sept. 6, the area's market leading grocery chain will no longer double any manufacturers' coupons worth more than 50 cents in the Pittsburgh/New Castle/Youngstown corridor, which represents a change from the past 99-cent maximum value.

Giant Eagle said it will continue to offer double-coupon savings at or below the 50-cent level in the aforementioned markets.

As explanation for the change, Giant Eagle said coupons now seem to be of less value to customers compared to other incentives, such as everyday low prices and its fuelperks! customer loyalty program that rewards grocery shopping with 10-cent gasoline discounts for every $50 worth of purchases made inside of its supermarkets and GetGo c-stores.

"Consumers and manufacturers alike are moving toward the trend of lower coupon usage overall, opting for more specialized loyalty programs and everyday savings," said Giant Eagle spokesman Rob Borella.

Borella said Giant Eagle price reduction efforts have resulted in more than $120 million in annualized customer savings since November of 2004.

As previously reported, the chain’s double-coupon policy changes were even more dramatic in northeast Ohio markets of Cleveland and Akron, where it said it was discontinuing double coupons altogether. Giant Eagle shoppers in Canton saw the end of the double-coupon program earlier this summer.

However, shortly after announcing it was eliminating the popular double coupon program in those markets, Giant Eagle temporarily reinstated the program on Sept. 8, and said it will remain in effect through September 30.

"Customers expressed concern about not having prior notice of the double coupon program discontinuance in the Cleveland and Akron stores,” Borella was quoted as saying in local press reports. “Therefore, the company has decided to extend the redemption of double coupons through the end of the month."
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