Formula coupons at grocery store check-out? - Page 3

[witchygrrl]

why can't we get coupons for breast pads linked with breastpad purchases? or coupons for dapers, if that's what we're buying? why FORMULA?

[mamazee]

Originally Posted by witchygrrl

why can't we get coupons for breast pads linked with breastpad purchases? or coupons for dapers, if that's what we're buying? why FORMULA?

They see us as an untapped market. We have babies who aren't (as they see it, yet) using formula and obviously haven't chosen a favorite brand.

[Minarai]

Originally Posted by PatioGardener

Totally against the WHO code.

Need I remind you that the United States neglected to sign on to the WHO code (oh gee, I wonder why)?

[PatioGardener]

Originally Posted by Minarai

Need I remind you that the United States neglected to sign on to the WHO code (oh gee, I wonder why)?

Just because the USA didn't sign it doesn't mean that they shouldn't still be held to that standard. They haven't signed (ratified) the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child either - doesn't mean that the USA shouldn't be following it!

[moondiapers]

Originally Posted by TinkerBelle

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Okay. I don't think that they do. If someone is determined to BF, a few coupons are not going to stop them. And like it or not, people do use formula for one reason or another. It is what it is, at least at this time, so I say, give them to someone who will use them.

So NOT true. I wanted to breastfeed SOOO bady...but my nipples were bleeding and cracked and there wasn't much help available in the town I lived in almost 14 years ago. No one to tell me that my skin would become accustomed if I could tought it out. Everything I had said that if it hurt I was doing it wrong. This was NOT true. My skin was chapped and cracked and bleeding, it had NOTHING to do with improper latch or techique. We had a box of free formula samples and coupons that we'd been sent. So I caved and gave them to her to give my nips time to heal. Within a day she was refusing the breast. I couldn't get her back on. I'd been sabataged by Ross Pediatrics.

[mamazee]

Originally Posted by moondiapers

So NOT true. I wanted to breastfeed SOOO bady...but my nipples were bleeding and cracked and there wasn't much help available in the town I lived in almost 14 years ago. No one to tell me that my skin would become accustomed if I could tought it out. Everything I had said that if it hurt I was doing it wrong. This was NOT true. My skin was chapped and cracked and bleeding, it had NOTHING to do with improper latch or techique. We had a box of free formula samples and coupons that we'd been sent. So I caved and gave them to her to give my nips time to heal. Within a day she was refusing the breast. I couldn't get her back on. I'd been sabataged by Ross Pediatrics.

[Ruthla]

We all know there are women who need to use formula for a variety of reasons. My heart goes out to any MDC mama who desperately wants to breastfeed but can't, or who needs to supplement.

But, if formula companies didn't spend so much money on advertising, they'd be able to sell formula more cheaply. Those moms (and dads, and foster parents, etc.) who truly need to use formula would spend less money on it if the companies didn't market like this. Even moms who formula feed by choice would benefit financially if formula companies didn't spend money on advertising. NOBODY benefits from formula marketing except for formula companies!

What I'm not sure about, though is who is responsible for these check-out coupons. Is it the check-out coupon company (COCC)or the formula company (FC)? It could be that the COCC has a few general categories for products, and "baby" is one of them. If that's the case, then it's the COCC who's responsible, if the FC just wants to market to those who buy "baby" products. But, if the COCC lets companies choose which items to link to their products, and the FC chooses to select breastfeeding supplies for their coupons, then the FC is at fault.

I routinely get check-out coupons for products I'd never use, and I can't always figure out what products I purchased is connected to the coupon. Why did I get a coupon for Lactaid milk? Is it because I regularly purchase the store brand milk? Because I occasionally buy rice milk at that store? I can't figure it out. I do know, however, that they link to products I buy with my store card, and the coupons that print up are connected to my overall shopping habits, not just what I purchased that time.

[terrabella]

♥

[jeminijad]

I do not think that the register coupons undermine breastfeeding in any meaningful way. The free samples/coupons onslaught that new mothers get hit with as a whole probably does, but this particular issue seems fairly minor to me.

Of course a company- whether it is the formula manufacturer or the coupon printer- is going to target an untapped market. We do live in a capitalist nation, and these corporations have a responsibility to their shareholders to be as profitable as possible!

As deeply as I support breastfeeding, I can't condemn any organization that exists for no other reason than to make money for attempting to make a little more money.

Feeding a kindergartener a breakfast cereal that is as much as 44% sugar every day may literally lead to his/her developing diabetes, being unable to fight off the flu, developing learning problems... things that may be as damaging as formula feeding, but no one is shrieking that they got a Count Chocula coupon after they bought steel cut oats at the grocery store. This is the society that we live in, and it is our own responsibility to not fall prey to advertising for things that aren't good for us!

My energy is better spent helping to change the environment that makes women uncomfortable with nursing freely, and ignorant of how to tackle the problems that happen in the early days. We should be fighting for better maternity leave, rather than bashing our heads against the brick wall that is a basic tenet of the American existence- everyone trying to make as much $$ as possible.

[nia82]

I get them at Target. A lot. I bought Lansinoh pads there and Earth Best baby food (I know I know). They give me coupons for formula and Pampers and I always hand them to the cashier with a smile: no thank you. We breastfeed and use cloth diapers." I have never gotten a bad response.
I do get them for Safeway brand formula/diapers/wipes at Safeway, self checkout when buying baby food or yobaby.
I'm not offended at the Safeway one, I just toss them, but Target bugs me as they give me formula coupons when I purchase breastfeeding items. That does undermine breastfeeding and is just wrong and a nuisance.

[MissE]

Originally Posted by Blueone

I doesn't annoy me. There are people out there who have legitimate reasons for using formula and I'm sure they appreciate it if it's a formula they are using.

Yeah that...I've seen a friend struggle with breastfeeding, left hanging by her midwife and LLL. She ended up giving formula after an 8week struggle.

those coupons wouldn't annoy me...I've never gotten them though. Not at Walmart nor Target or anywhere else.

[mamazee]

Formula coupons don't bother me if they're targeting just plain old baby purchases, but we're talking about formula coupons that are printed when someone purchases breast pads or breast milk storage bags. If they want to help moms who use formula, they could just attach a coupon to their formula. But that's not the purpose of these coupons.

[leavemealone]

Originally Posted by Ruthla

What I'm not sure about, though is who is responsible for these check-out coupons. Is it the check-out coupon company (COCC)or the formula company (FC)? It could be that the COCC has a few general categories for products, and "baby" is one of them. If that's the case, then it's the COCC who's responsible, if the FC just wants to market to those who buy "baby" products. But, if the COCC lets companies choose which items to link to their products, and the FC chooses to select breastfeeding supplies for their coupons, then the FC is at fault.

I routinely get check-out coupons for products I'd never use, and I can't always figure out what products I purchased is connected to the coupon. Why did I get a coupon for Lactaid milk? Is it because I regularly purchase the store brand milk? Because I occasionally buy rice milk at that store? I can't figure it out. I do know, however, that they link to products I buy with my store card, and the coupons that print up are connected to my overall shopping habits, not just what I purchased that time.

I used to work at a large consumer packaged goods company and this is how is was explained to me: The coupons are distributed through a company called Catalina Marketing, but the coupons are manufacturer coupons (just like you would find in the newspaper). The coupons are often referred to as "catalinas" or "catalina coupons". The manufacturer has set certain parameters for when their coupon will print, usually when you purchase (or have a history of purchasing) a competing product. They can also print if there's a promotion of if you buy X quantity of an item, you will receive $X amount off your next purchase.

If you buy Huggies diapers, you might get a catalina for Pampers. If you buy Heinz 57, you might get a coupon for A1. I've received catalinas for formula just b/c I bought newborn sized diapers (my only baby related purchase at that time). Yes, they are targeting people who are more likely to purchase that product (whether it's formula, steak sauce, frozen meals, shampoo, or anything else). Formula is certainly different from steak sauce, and I don't agree with them printing just b/c a person bought diapers (or breastmilk bags).