If you haven't heard, Season 2 of Extreme Couponing will premiere on TLC on September 28, 2011 at 10:00pm.
I have to say - I have very mixed feelings about this show returning. While I am glad that it causes people to become interested in using coupons to cut their grocery bills, this show has often shown the very worst side of coupon usage: shelf-clearing, barcode decoding and coupon fraud, stockpiles that were so large that they could NEVER use that much stuff, and more. Just as bad, people watch that show and think that they can (or should) start saving 75 to 95% on grocery bills the first week. It creates unreasonable expectations!
But there were some good moments....the couples who went shopping for the sole purpose of donating their haul to the needy and/or our men & women in uniform, the few times that they showed couponers helping other shoppers in the store, etc.
Since Extreme Couponing started on TLC, we have seen stories on the news of people getting kicked out of stores, being arrested for stealing newspapers, and stores changing their coupon policies. I don't really want to watch it, but as the owner of a Deal Blog, I almost feel as if I HAVE to watch it.
But if the preview for Season 2 of Extreme Couponing is any indication, things are only going to get worse for couponers (in terms of public perception). This woman is clearing shelves and outright rude to the other shoppers and personifies every stereotype people have about people who use coupons. If Season 1 made the stores hate us, Season 2 just might make the other customers hate us even more.
Will you be watching Season 2 of Extreme Couponing? What are your thoughts on the preview video?
Looking for more Extreme Couponing tips? Make sure that you check out all the posts in my Coupon 101 and Coupon Ethics sections!
Cheryl Sirote
For 1 thing, I stil say that people that do extreme couponing are to me hoarders. They have a sickness. Why would you want to keep buying stuff when you have probably over 60-100 packages of the same thing on your shelves? My feeling is they are hurting us little couponors who probably maybe buy 10 of something if they have a sale buy 10 for $10. Out here in Las Vegas, NV all stores do not double. Every once in a while Albertsons Grocery store will have a coupon that doubles the value of ONLY 1 coupon, but nothing else. I still think that these extreme buyers are gonna hurt us small timers in the long run. I hope something is done to them if THEY COMMIT FRAUD while on TV. I probably watch it and get disgusted anyway.
SuzyCue
I must say, watching Season 1 of Extreme Couponing, left a bad taste in my mouth. I was disheartened to see, what I call, organize hoarding occurring. I mean, how many bottles of Tums do you really need and how long will they have them on a shelf in the pantry after the expiration date expires? There's a difference between stockpiling to save money for a family and hoarding everything and anything people can get their hands on, all because it's free or close to being free. I had to stop watching it. It was upsetting. But I'm glad to see that they did have segments where they donated their stock to the needy or helping others. I think Couponing and being thrifty are smart practices for people to exercise, especially in this economy, but it disappoints me to see that most coupons offered are for processed food or junk food and hate to think of how many children aren't having the opportunity to eat healthy, home cooked meals with fresh or organic produce. But that's a different story..
Machelle
This preview just made me sick. I hated the first season and will not watch the second. I hate when I go to the store (mind you at 9AM) and everything is GONE! I can not get in on the deal because someone came at 6AM to get things. I agree that they are hoarders and are just plain mean for not thinking about others who may need to coupon to save money in their lives as well. The coupon policies have changed dramatically here when I live and you can not get as many good deals any more. Now I only save about 50% on every transaction. This show just makes me mad and this new lady Michelle is just horrible and mean and rude!
Nece
I think the show actually hurts the rest of us who use coupons to try to save money on everyday groceries because now some stores and even manufacturers seem to be cutting back on some coupons and have put more restrictions on them. Several coupons now have "limit of 4 like coupons per transaction" written on them.
Tiana
I will NOT be watching this show. I don't want to give them any more ratings than they already have. I cant believe that the lady in the clip cleared all the shelves she could...especially when the guy wanted to buy some to actually eat and use right now! She was laughing at it and honestly, I didn't find it funny at all! I coupon a little and I have already felt the bad that this show has done...honestly I don't believe that it has done anything good at all!
Robin
I have watched a few episodes of this show and other than the couple who gave it all to charity , it is sickening. I am a coupner, I use them as they are meant to be used and I give lots of it away.But our words would be wasted on these obnoxious people, they are sick, sick, sick!!Can you say 15 minutes of fame?