Kroger will no longer accept P&G digital coupons
In a battle over who needs whom the most, Kroger and manufacturer Procter & Gamble have come to an impasse and will part ways — in an Internet sense — at the end of the year, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has learned.
For consumers, it means that Kroger.com will no longer host the P&G eSavers electronic coupons on the grocery chain’s Web site and P&G digital coupons will no longer be valid on the Kroger Plus loyalty card. Makers of everything from Pampers to Pringles, P&G is a major player in the world of grocer goods. But Kroger, with 132 grocery stores in Atlanta and surrounding areas, was unable to persuade P&G to keep its coupons on the Kroger site without redirecting shoppers directly to the P&G site. So P&G will discontinue its eSaver program with Kroger after Dec. 31.
Kroger and metro Atlanta rival Publix will still accept paper coupons for the P&G products they carry.
The Kroger-P&G spat is a development about convenience — and control.
“Kroger is really focused on customer loyalty,” said Thomas Harpointner, CEO of Atlanta-based AIS Media, an Internet marketing strategy company. “They want to keep customers on their Web site, just as they would want to keep them in the supermarket. Your Web site is your business; it’s not a brochure. They don’t want you to have to leave the store and walk down the street to get a coupon.”
For about 18 months, customers have loaded coupons from P&G, AOL’s Shortcuts and Cellfire onto the Kroger Plus cards and applied the coupons at checkout. However, shoppers have had to leave Kroger’s site to get to the coupons. Beginning in January, customers will find digital coupons, including ones from News America, directly on Kroger.com. P&G, which notified its followers via e-mail this week, declined requests to comment about its relationship with Kroger.
“We have tested it with third parties, but are moving to offers exclusively on Kroger.com,” said Meghan Glynn, director of corporate communications for Kroger. “We have invited several vendors to join us.”
The grocer has lifted the lid on tussles between retailers and manufacturers in online marketing. In this case, the issue is whether the P&G brand is strong enough to allow it to stand without the partnership with Kroger, and how Kroger will respond in the long term to getting snubbed by one of its primary product suppliers. As interactive marketing grows 16 percent annually, expect increased jockeying for consumers’ loyalty.
“Retailers and manufacturers are fighting over the power in the channel,” said Ken Bernhardt, a marketing professor at Georgia State University. “Traditionally, the manufacturer had most of the power; in recent times, retailers, with access to information they’ve never had in the past, now have a great deal of the power.”
At the end of the day, it’s the shoppers who want the most control — of their money. Printable coupons still lead the way over electronic coupons, but digital technology is shifting the landscape.
“Online coupon users are pretty savvy, and it won’t take long for people who want them to access them,” said Marietta’s Stephanie Nelson, founder of CouponMom.com and author of the new book “The Coupon Mom’s Guide to Cutting Your Grocery Bills In Half.” “People who don’t know about the P&G eSaver coupons and go to Kroger to look at online weekly ads won’t be exposed to them.”
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59 comments Add your comment
The Devil You Say!
December 16th, 2009
4:14 pm
What a shame!
Pat Cooper
December 16th, 2009
4:28 pm
Oh for heaven’s sake – do either of these pinheaded companies really care about the consumer? We’re the ones who will be suffering (in both dollars and convenience) because the boys won’t grow up and play nice.
Jim
December 16th, 2009
4:38 pm
Two things:
1-Once my wife figured out how to work the Publix buy one get one free thing (you use TWO coupons) Kroger was pretty much done for in her book anyway.
2-When Kroger started getting into this whole “buy 10 of this and save five bucks” and made it very, very complicated to track if you had enough stuff, that was the final nail in the coffin for her. As she notes, even a four year old can figure out how Publix does it. The Kroger thing takes a math degree just to follow the rules, so why bother.
This whole “you’re on MY web site, and you’ll stay there” thing is so overblown it’s not funny. Consumers do NOT see web SITES, they see the WEB as a whole-get used to it Kroger.
Annoyed Shopper
December 16th, 2009
4:53 pm
Customer loyalty goes only so far. When Publix offers a BOGO, if you don’t need 2 of the item, you can get just one for half price. There are some things that aren’t used that often in my house that I need to store a second for a year. At Krogers, their specials like the buy 10 to get a certain price or discount, are a hassle. I seldom need 10 items to fulfill the deal. Therefore, I now only go to Krogers for the few items I want that aren’t carried at Publix, or for a really special sale. As a result 90% of my shopping is at Publix. I recently started using on-line sources for coupons, so I guess it will be 95% or more at Publix. Krogers loses, because when I do go there I spend $50-$100.
David S
December 16th, 2009
5:01 pm
Proctor and Gamble murder 50,000 innocent animals every year in completely unnecessary “safety” tests. Virtually all of their competitors have awoken to the senseless suffering of animals and have instituted alternative testing procedures involving computer modeling, cultured tissue based tests and others to confirm that their products are safe for human use.
Kroger’s move is obviously motivated by other concerns, but for those of us who shun P&G’s cruel products, any move that hurts this animal abusing company is a step in the right direction.
TV Times
December 16th, 2009
5:02 pm
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10 Counting to ten is not that hard—C’mon!
Hadley
December 16th, 2009
5:16 pm
“I recently started using on-line sources for coupons, so I guess it will be 95% or more at Publix. Krogers loses, because when I do go there I spend $50-$100.”
Yeah, lady – LOL – like YOU are going to put Kroger out of business. It is a known fact that Publix is more expensive to begin with anyway. Stop nickel and diming your way around town to save a few bucks as it is not going to help your puny finances, it is a waste of time. Coupons are going away in the not too distant future which thrills me. Everyone hates being in line behind “couponers” because they are fools and usually buy crap they don’t need.
Hadley
December 16th, 2009
5:18 pm
TV is you are so right. It is sad that so many people can’t count to 10. No wonder our economy is in the toilet.
Hadley
December 16th, 2009
5:23 pm
I need major help. My life stinks.
da blu one
December 16th, 2009
5:24 pm
Enter your comments here
market_researcher
December 16th, 2009
5:24 pm
You don’t have to buy 10 of the same at Kroger to get the sale price. Buy one and you get the price. Also, buy-one-get-ones at Kroger, if you buy only one, they are half-price.
In a recent study, Publix was the most expensive chain grocery store in Georgia. Kroger was one of the best.
John
December 16th, 2009
5:25 pm
David,you took my thunder.Good riddance to P&G.There are other companies to choose from that respect the life of animals.
I would love to find a major chain that did not stock P&G cruelty products.
WestOfAthens
December 16th, 2009
5:33 pm
Well i’m just gonna have to throw a wrench into all of this nonsense….
Ingles Markets are the best, and i don’t even live inside the perimeter.
PETA= people eating tasty animals
December 16th, 2009
5:42 pm
David and John you two need to get a life. If that is all u have to worry about you are in a sad state. I have no problem with animal testing. Sure it’s note cute and friendly or politically correct but purposful yes. God made animals to provide for humans. While I agree that animals should be treated humanely I have no problem harvesting one to eat. Actually I enjoy it. It’s called hunting and has occured since biblical times. GET OVER IT!!!!!
rickster
December 16th, 2009
5:51 pm
I hate it when you have to have a card to get what little discount they give you. Get rid of the card and sell the same product at a discount and you will have more customersIf you can sale it with a card you can sale it without a card.I`ve had a card since 95 and left it home and they charged me full price,so from now on I only shop where they don`t need one BYE!!!!!
DogGoneGaDawg
December 16th, 2009
5:53 pm
What P&G really needs to worry about is the Kroger Brand stuff. Most of it cannot be differentiated from the national brand. With Kroger being the #2 grocery chain in the country it won’t be long before P&G comes around.Count on it.
jess
December 16th, 2009
5:56 pm
Commaents that concern HUMANE tyreatment of animals make me laugh. HUMANE is a variation of the word HUMAN which refers to mankind , not animals.
Kroger 4 Life
December 16th, 2009
6:05 pm
Kroger has over 26,000 items for sale compared to 10-12,000 for Publix. you ever wonder why Publix looks so much neater than Kroger?? It’s easier to organize fewer items. And to agree with the previous bloggers, Publix is priced consistently higher overall, than Kroger. I’ve lived in other states where Kroger’s had other competition (no Publix in other words) and Kroger was consistently priced lesser than the other competitors.
So in other words, despite this coupon quarrel…..Kroger will be just fine.
AJ
December 16th, 2009
6:09 pm
WestofAthens – We know you don’t live ITP – because there are no Ingles ITP!!
Courtney
December 16th, 2009
6:21 pm
Publix BOGO is the best. I go to their site every Thursday to see whats on sale and go thru my coupons to see if I have a coupon for those items. Keep in mind Publix doubles all coupons with a face value of $.50 or less and Kroger does not. I agree Publix has higher prices, but, and extra $.25 is not worth the trip to another grocery store.
randy
December 16th, 2009
6:21 pm
kroger is slitting it’s own throat! Publix will kill them over time, kroger stores are nasty and overpriced. buy meat at your own risk at Kroger! Publix also takes other coupons from stores like target. Publix is the best!
SA
December 16th, 2009
6:21 pm
I won’t put Kroger out of business but this is the main reason I still shopped there. No more. I am 100% Publix—their stores are cleaner, the staff nicer and the produce is not rotten.
Julie
December 16th, 2009
6:40 pm
My husband is a manager at Publix.. they are fanatical about the store being clean and in order.. I cannot tell you how many times he has come home and told me that a delivery truck driver,
(18 wheeler) taking groceries to the stores, has told him how nasty the back of the Kroger stores are and how clean the back of the Publix stores are. And that is from a truck driver!!
SaveMoney
December 16th, 2009
6:42 pm
Here’s where I like to get groceries, and it’s all built around saving money with good food: first, go to Aldi and get whatever is there that I need; second, go to Ingle’s for meat; third, go to Wal-Mart for most of the rest. I know a lot of people have problems with Wal-Mart, but I save plenty of money and they have a decent selection, and in this economy, that’s what matters. The only time I go to Publix is if I’m in a hurry because it’s the closest; I don’t go to Kroger – too hard to find things at the one near me. Publix just re-organized and now I can’t find anything there either, so I’ll stick to my three main stores which are all within two miles of my house (so I’m not burning gas driving all over the place – plus the gas is way cheaper at Wal-Mart anyway). In this matter, I think Kroger is way off base.
12-inch Sandwich
December 16th, 2009
6:55 pm
Neither company is going out of business over this stuff. Kroger is a top national grocer, Publix is a top regional grocer (southeast).
I’m not a coupon person, but knowing that I can go online and load up my Kroger card with coupons and don’t have to carry any around, that’s just awesome.
Kroger is significantly cheaper than Publix, so it makes sense that it is dirtier. Publix spends more money on keeping things clean and hiring more people to do it, so your groceries are more expensive (WalMart and Target work the same way, WalMart is dirty and disgusting, but Target isn’t. Guess which is more expensive?).
All that said, I’m brand loyal to Publix, but when I’m buying a lot of groceries, I’ll go to Kroger and save some cash.
Garden of Eden
December 16th, 2009
7:08 pm
Wal-Mart is nasty !
wic4real
December 16th, 2009
7:12 pm
OMG my cable,cell,car payments are due….THIS WILL NOT HURT FOOD STAMPS will it? My 8 kids by 8 different daddy’s wont be able to eat!
Kristoffer
December 16th, 2009
7:20 pm
I am not sure what Kroger some of you are shopping at but at mine if it’s a “10 for” sale then you don’t have to get 10 to get the sale price. Same with the buy one get one. You only want 1, then it’s half price. Now the last time I was at my local Publix I had to get 2 of the BOGO item, otherwise I paid full price for the one. As for the person who was upset about having to have a loyalty card to get the sale price, I agree. Just put the stuff on sale and don’t make people hassle with the card (but places these days want to have a database of who buys what and when)…
However, you can punch in your phone number on the credit card thing and get the discount if you forget your card, so not sure why you would pay full price just because you didn’t have your card that time.
As far as the coupon thing goes I can see Krogers point. I personally have a web site and I don’t want to direct people off my site and send them somewhere else and hope that they come back. If it benefits the consumer to allow Kroger to have P&G’s coupons directly on the Kroger site, like many other companies… why would you not do that?
Robert
December 16th, 2009
7:41 pm
Grocery stores operate on a very very thin margin. They cant afford to give things away. Pay your fair share.
kayerobinson
December 16th, 2009
7:48 pm
Not all Wal-marts r Nasty!Its the people that shops there that makes them nasty!I would hate to see some of their homes!Turn those kids lose to spill drinks and food they graze ( Free) all over the stores. That makes everyones grocerys go higher.The women r most very nasty! than mens restrooms! A woman who writes in her own monthly blood on the walls is very disgusting!Until U have cleaned a few dont be judging why they so dirty as u say! They R some nasty people in this world period! U clean up crap and blood and cooking oil and sugar and every thing from A to Z.U want be to fast to judge why they so nasty as u say!!!!!!
Jerry Luquire
December 16th, 2009
7:52 pm
Enter your comments here
KROGER was the only chain to have an official tesify in FAVOR of retail Sunday alcohol sales last March in the Georgia Senate Committee on Regulated industries. They lost far more business than they would have gained from such sales. This Bill was by Senator Seth Harp for the third year. He is a candidate for Insurance Commissioner. Jerry Luquire, President of Georgia Christian Coalition
BlondeHoney
December 16th, 2009
7:52 pm
Kroger is nasty and it smells funny; at least the one by my house does. Whether or not Kroger is cheaper depends on what you buy however I will tell you that they use certain items as loss leaders. Loss leaders are items retailer underprice on while they OVERprice on everything else. When I get suckered into the Kroger I find the the the items they overpriced on far outweigh what they underpriced on, at least for what I buy. And their meats are nasty too…they inject a sodium solution of at least 10% (Wally World does the same) which adds weight to the meat and unhealthy things just to jack up the price. Read the labels, guys…i would NEVER buy meat at Kroger OR Wally World. Yuck.
past perfect
December 16th, 2009
7:52 pm
My mother shopped at Publix from 1959 until she died. I never heard her complain about them. I still shop there and I dont remember a time I felt cheated or disappointed. Why do we have to have a card at Kroger to get a good price? Albertsons had preferred customer cards and finally gave them up. Presently they are being run out of FL by Publix. Kroger had better take a lesson. Its about making it easy on the customer while saving them money.
kayerobinson
December 16th, 2009
8:05 pm
Kroger is Union! They have good prices! most of the cashiers where i shop at r very friendly.Which that is very rare for any where U shop now! Nobody knows how to say hello anymore! and call the law it seems .If they should give out a thank You to a customer anymore.Run people ahead of other people whats with that igorant approach? It should be the NEXT PERSON in line.Not the next person U want to wait on!And the person behind u shouldnt knock u down to run ahead either! Thats part of the worlds problems No Respect! No MANNERS either! And it dont cost a thing(MONEY) to do either!! At least animals dont know any better and humans should? I take my dog ANY DAY over some humans! ITs all races and states of people U sure cant show anyone else kindness if u dont spread a little thats goes for everyone to!Bash someone u dont even know? Thats sick?
jm
December 16th, 2009
8:07 pm
Publix is overpriced and the employees are rude! Kroger all the way!
Hadley
December 16th, 2009
8:29 pm
Julie is a cashier at Publix. She has no husband but does have 4 kids. She needs her job and therefore will say anything to keep it.
kayerobinson
December 16th, 2009
8:30 pm
I have nothing bad to say about Kroger R Wally World.They both have kept money in my pockets.some money is better than NO MONEY!ANd saved me money to. I have a roof over my head and food in my house so far.So my hat goes off to them.say what u may.Both r good in my book! And half the people say they dont like either.chances R -U will see them shopping there to At some point and time!Even Rich people sneek and shop there to.
Virginia
December 16th, 2009
8:30 pm
You know what the REAL rip-off is…when you PAY to shop at a CLUB store…COSTCO and the other one and they MAKE you buy LARGE quantities of products. Think about it. Yea for KROGER me being in control of MY money.
Jim
December 16th, 2009
8:34 pm
animals smanimals….God put them here for man kinds use. So use them. stfu. krogers has 10 for 10 deals, and no you buy whatever quantity you want and still get the discount. publix is overpriced. stupid homemakers that have no clue about simply math and looking at their receipts.
Kat
December 16th, 2009
8:43 pm
rickster: You should be able to give the phone number associated with your card to get the discount.
Also, at Publix, you don’t even HAVE to have the penny coupon with you on Sunday/Monday to get the penny item – it’s a fact.
Finally, at Publix, you do not have to BOGO with two items. One will work just fine at half price.
KayeRobinson: If you like your dog so much, let him/her write your entries for you so they are at least understandable. Thanks.
Kat
December 16th, 2009
8:46 pm
Yes, Virginia, you are an idiot! You pay to join those types of clubs with the expectation (on the consumer’s part) that he/she will save much more than that by buying larger quantities. Yes, they do “MAKE you buy LARGE quantities of products,” that’s the whole point. Don’t join a warehouse club if it doesn’t make sense for you and your family!
PG an E electronic coupons void after the first of the year? - Page 2 - Kroger - Coupons @ AFullCup.com
December 16th, 2009
9:03 pm
[...] Kroger will no longer accept P&G digital coupons | Atlanta Bargain Hunter Saw this story on the AJC website. [...]
kayerobinson
December 16th, 2009
11:04 pm
kat: it just so happens my dog did help me write.Shes sitting here with me.HA HA Bet animals nor people like U either> The truth does hurt thats why u dont understand! U live under a rock.
Mark
December 16th, 2009
11:16 pm
If Kroger was the only chain to testify in favor of Sunday beer and wine sales then that’s where I will shop. Glad they did not bow to pressure from the liquor store owners’ lobby and the “we don’t trust ourselves enough to not drink on Sunday” crowd from Georgia Christian Coalition.
Jeff
December 17th, 2009
1:37 am
Hey David S….to ensure product safety on consumers, can I just use it on you or your loved ones? Geez, what a tool… “leave P&G because they are cruel to animals” blah blah blah. Hey, if I can lower my already-outrageous bills in this greedy society, to heck with the three-headed spotted Tibetan bunny…
David, why don’t you & PETA grow a pair.
Oh, and in regards to this original blog: Both Kroger and P&G are acting like f-ing 7-year-olds. What the hell was that comment by this guy: “Thomas Harpointner, CEO of Atlanta-based AIS Media, an Internet marketing strategy company. “They want to keep customers on their Web site, just as they would want to keep them in the supermarket. Your Web site is your business; it’s not a brochure.”
WTF??? Your friggin SUPERMARKET is your business, not your web site!!! This is not Old Navy where you can order a hoodie and have it shipped to you! This is a GROCERY business where I have to go pick out the choice meat, check for the freshest produce, etc. Your STORE is your business… I have shopped at my local kroger for 10-12 years and I have NEVER gone to their web site! I cut out coupons from mailers and newspapers and cut my bill by 30-50 percent weekly when I do that consistently.
You over-the-top, marketing genius, tech-savvy, uber-nerds of the world need to STOP. I don’t get grocery coupons online, I don’t take pictures with my cell phone and I don’t need a nav system in my car to tell me how to get 5 blocks to a bookstore. I PLAN AHEAD AND USE MY BRAIN! I encourage all of you to do the same.
Sorry for sounding grumpy everybody… this is what happens when you skip dinner!!!
Rob
December 17th, 2009
1:59 am
Way too much misinformation in here. Kroger DOES double coupons up to .50. The huge majority of their meat is not injected with anything either. What are some of you people? Publix employees? It’s called libel when your purposely lie in a forum like this. Also, as for the card, oh no! I have to carry a tiny tag on my keys or input my phone number! Give me a break. For some time I couldn’t use my phone number, and would occasionally forget my card. I never once was denied using a card they had to get my sale items at Kroger. They have them at every register just for this purpose. I’ll shop at Publix sometimes for sale items, but that’s pretty much it. Way too overpriced! I also don’t understand why their sales periods don’t start on Sundays like everyone else.
sansho1
December 17th, 2009
2:44 am
I shop at both, but go to Kroger for larger shopping trips. Yes, they double coupons. And their sales flyers don’t list the same item on five different pages like Publix does. The typical Kroger flyer lists 75-100 sales items on four pages, while Publix takes 8 pages to list their +/- 30 sales items.
Michael
December 17th, 2009
5:10 am
Animal growing and harvesting is cruel, unusual and not remotely related to hunting. Except maybe that hunting where they tether the animals and you go and shoot them. Chicken farmers typically pay about $500k for a coop and make about $20k per year while working for Tyson or Perdue. Big Farm feeds the world while exploiting cheap labor (imported from Mexico) and monopolizing seed (google monsanto and soybeans). I try not to think about all this when in the line at Chick Fil A or sitting at Bones.
Thomas
December 17th, 2009
7:21 am
Proctor & Gamble will cater to Wal-Mart instead.
Take-A-Break
December 17th, 2009
8:03 am
Way to go Jeff…….if you want to waste your money, then shop at the store of your choice…I did say your choice. Bottom line, ask a neighbor or friend if they had to go grocery shopping for ten items they needed at that time, what would those items be. Go to Publix and Kroger, use your math skills, and total those items. Kroger wins every time. My wife and I battled over Publix and Kroger pricing for ten years and now that the economy stinks she suddenly agrees that Kroger is less expensive.
Some people spend $50,000 for automobile rather than $40,000 for one that performs just as well…..it’s their choice. So if you love your unbelievably clean, overpriced Publix, then shop away….it’s your money.