Coupon clip vs. price match: Which strategy is better?

Why are Canadians turning to price matching?

Historically, US consumers turn to coupon clipping while many Canadians will opt for price matching. Which one is better and why?

Canadian retailers have different rules than their American counterparts. This will make stacking savings – or extreme couponing – more difficult in Canada. This includes both manufacturer savings coupons and retailer coupons. As a result, price matching becomes a more effective method to save on a grocery bill in Canada.

Price matching is a competitive policy many grocery stores have that allow shoppers to prove a lower price for a product at another store and honouring that price tag.

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Is extreme couponing a thing in Canada?

While manufacturers and retailers offer coupons, most retailers in Canada make it hard to use the large quantities of coupons many Americans do to realize those dramatic hundreds of dollars in savings that you see on TV shows.

Tips for if you plan to use coupons

Know the store policies: Go through your frequent retailers’ websites and see what their coupon and price-matching policies are. They vary from store to store.

Be flexible on brands and products: Coupons rotate through retailers and various flyers, so be open to using coupons on different types of products you know you will use.

When possible, use your coupons on products that are already on sale: This will increase the amount of savings you see on your purchases.

Be organized: Keep a coupon and flyer organizer, or better yet, use an app such as Flipp to save deals, coupons and comparison shop. Flipp allows you to punch in your postal code to find the best deals on your frequently purchased items.

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Where to find coupons in Canada

If you are looking for a good deal on your favourite products, there are a few places to find coupons in-store or online:

• Look at featured products at end caps or the front of the grocery store to see if there are pads of coupons for new and featured products. Some stores even have coupon stations where you can go through highlighted savings.
• Products you purchase – think cereal boxes – have manufacturer coupons attached to them for related products. Don’t pass those up as sometimes they can be hefty savings.
• Free sample stations will often pass out manufacturer coupons. If you like it, you may as well save on the purchase! Don’t forget to grab one.
• Retailer emails and loyalty programs like PC Optimum will have many featured offers for products they know you buy often or even related items they think you might like. The important thing with this is you must remember to load your offers before you hit the checkout aisle.

Popular coupon sites in Canada

• WebSaver.ca: A great website with both printable coupons and coupons with cashback. With cashback coupons, you shop for your items and upload a photo of your receipt to get your cashback credit.
• Getwellstaywell.ca: An aggregate of strong coupons for premium brands in the pharmacy and wellness aisles.
• Walmart Coupon Centre: For those who frequently shop at Walmart, this is a great centralized place to find all current coupons and deals.
• SaveaLoonie.com: A strong resource for Canadians that includes information on current coupons, free samples, codes, contests and flyers.

How to price match in Canada

As mentioned, price matching varies among retailers. Some stores will only recognize a select list of competitors, while others will only allow you to price match certain brands and items. Some stores are corporate-owned while others are franchised. So, look up your neighbourhood stores to see what their rules are.

Then, it’s important to know how often your retailers refresh their deals. Many flyers refresh on the same day to time with flyer circulations in mailboxes, and deals will also update on flyer comparison apps, such as Flipp.

Organize your price matches in a wallet or folder, or keep bookmarks of the price match clippings or website URLs to show the retailer in the checkout aisle. No one likes it when someone is holding the checkout line while they fish out proof for the price match.

Bottom line

There are pros and cons to both couponing and price matching in Canada. While we may not be able to extreme-coupon the way they do in the US, there are still some lucrative coupons to be found – you just need to do your research.

Price matching is also competitive, so you must stay aware of your stores’ policies and be organized with your matches between shops. Luckily, some great websites and apps help you do it automatically!

Sources

1. WebSaver.ca: Home page

2. Getwellstaywell.ca: Home page

3. Walmart Coupon Centre: Home page

4. SaveaLoonie.com: Home page