Safeway-owned Vons and Vons Pavilion supermarkets are giving shoppers a 10 percent discount when they cash their economic stimulus checks in stores.
Consumers can cash the checks for free at any Vons, or Safeway-owned grocery store, the company said. In addition, Vons club card customers who cash their check will get a 10 percent discount certificate valid on purchases made that same day or the following day.
The program runs through July 19.
Interesting move by Safeway. But, I wonder if it will work, considering its competitors seem to be offering better deals.
The grocery chain’s main Southern California rivals are Ralphs (owned by Kroger) and Albertsons (owned by Supervalu). Both chains are actually giving bonus money to shoppers who load gift cards in $300, $600 or $1,200 increments.
For example, if you load a Ralphs gift card with $300, you’ll get an extra $30. A $600 gift card will be loaded with $660 and $1,200 will be $1,320. Albertsons is offering a similar program.
A $300 check at Ralph gets you $330 in groceries whenever you get them. You don’t have to use the gift card in one trip. But, to beat that Ralphs offer at Vons, you have to spend that much in one shopping spree!
Personally, I’d rather get the free money, and split it over a few trips.
How about you?
Related links:
- Ralphs giving bonus money to shoppers
- Grocery prices soar to 17-year high
- Wal-Mart promises steep rollbacks on food
- Consumers plan to spend federal rebates on groceries, survey says
- Consumer Reports: top 10 ways to save money at the supermarket
- Sears, Land’s End offer similar tax rebate freebies
- AP story: Retailers offer gift card deals connected to tax refunds
Those of us who received our stimulus check via direct deposit, although loyal Ralph’s or Albertson’s shoppers, are discriminated against because we do not have a “check” to cash to receive the bonus offered.
The whole thing is a misguided and negative PR ploy that is leaving a bad taste with the direct deposit shoppers who are unable to take advantage of the bonuses offered.
Actually i’d rather cash my check for free at Vons and get a 10% discount certificate. It actual works out better for most people who don’t want to spend $300 minimum or if that is not the normal store they shop at. I don’t like feeling forced to buy a gift card for one certain store and for a certain amount. At Vons you get the 10% off no matter how much you spend and you can use the rest of the money for things other than groceries. Just my opinon….
Domingo: At Ralphs (not sure about Albertsons), you can actually just load a gift card for $300, and it doesn’t matter if you have an actual stimulus check in hand.
Otherwise, yes, I agree — it discriminates against those of us who got our money via direct deposit.
I think it’s a good concept, but I see it as marketing scheme. I work for a company that manages gift cards, and I wouldn’t recommend converting the cards unless you’re certain you’re going to spend it all there, and spend it quickly. I blog about gift card issues on savvywallet.com. When the IRS stimulus topic first became hot, I was commenting on the possibility of consumers losing their cards. Consider this: last year a study found that $100B was spent on gift cards and around $8B was lost or unclaimed. Imagine this: family of 4, converts 1200 in GC, and before they get to spend it, they lose their purse or wallet, and just like that, money is lost for the family. Granted it may be going back into the economy, but it’s not going to where it’s needed most. I commend the retailers offering bonuses, but take some caution. My advice? put it in an IRA, savings, put it towards debt, children’s education fund. I don’t think 10 2L cokes for $10 is the best thing.
Another example of Vons not getting it. We’ve stopped shopping there, our local Vons is a ghost town of high prices and bad expiration dates.
This also sucks for people who filed for an extension. My mother-in-law is my accountant and she always files for an extension even if she doesn’t need one. My rebate won’t come until Fall (I think) and this deal will be long gone.