Coupons/ Rebates/ Pricing

Arlington, Va. -- The Retail Industry Leaders Association on Tuesday issued a statement in response to Bank of America’s decision to abandon its plan to charge new fees on debit card users.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — Sears Holdings announced that its Shop Your Way Rewards members can now receive 5% back on all qualifying purchases at Sears and Kmart stores through Jan. 28, 2012. 

"We know budgets are tight, so we want to reward our customers by offering them ways to stretch their dollar," said Dave Friedman, SVP and president marketing at Sears Holdings. "We believe this program will help families get more out of every visit to Sears and Kmart when they use their Sears card."

It was a wonderful weekend to be a coupon clipper, especially for shoppers looking to load their pantry with P&G brands. In Sunday newspapers this weekend, the consumer goods giant dropped its P&G Brand Saver insert, which featured some very high value coupons, including one for $2 off a 100-ounce jug of Tide that was ostensibly offered as a gift to shoppers to commemorate the detergent’s 65th anniversary.

The latest pricing studying from Deutsche Bank analyst Charles Grom shows a basket of 50 items is still cheaper at Walmart than Target, but by a slimmer margin than in the past.

Any given week Target’s circular is filled with various offers of free gift cards designed to incent shoppers to purchase key items.  Some of the offers can be quite generous, as was the case this week with a $50 gift card available to those who purchase an Xbox 360 bundle or a $20 gift card with the purchase of KitchenAid appliances priced at $99.99. The most common gift card denomination is $5, and it tends to be offered on multiple items from the same manufacturer or brand family such as two Gillette razors or three Dial products.

AUSTIN — Whole Foods is supporting Share Our Strength's No Kid Hungry campaign with several promotions:

• Whole Foods will match donations up to $25,000 of funds donated online, WholeFoodsMarket.com/holidays, to the cause;

• When shoppers purchase gift cards from Nov. 16 through Dec. 31, Whole Foods will donate $1 for every card purchased to No Kid Hungry;

NEW YORK — Despite concerns about the economy and rising household expenses, nearly 3-out-of-5 consumers (59%) will put aside economic worries and spend the same or more this holiday season, according to Deloitte’s 26th annual survey of holiday spending intentions and trends. While this is a slight decline from 2010, it represents an eight percentage point increase from 2009.

San Jose, Calif. -- Cellfire has expanded its Digital Offer Network by partnering with D’Agostino, Marsh and Harps grocery stores, providing digital coupons to a new geographic set of customers, including Manhattan.

Cellfire coupons will be accessible for all 17 D’Agostino stores in New York, 97 Marsh-affiliated stores in Indiana and Ohio, and 64 Harps stores throughout Arkansas, Oklahoma and Missouri.