A coalition of consumer groups is asking grocery chains to rethink their digital-only coupons, saying the deals discriminate against people who don’t have smartphones or reliable internet access.
Digital-only deals __ advertised online or on store shelves __ can offer significant savings, but they generally require customers to electronically clip a coupon in a grocer’s app or on its website. …
“There’s nothing wrong with digital coupons as long as they’re equitable and everyone can take advantage of the advertised price in one way or another,” said Edgar Dworsky, a consumer advocate and former assistant attorney general in Massachusetts who runs the website Consumer World.
Dworsky and others __ including Consumer Reports, Consumer Action, the Public Interest Research Group and the National Consumers League __ sent letters this week to Kroger, Albertsons, Stop & Shop and Smart & Final urging them to make sure deals are available in both digital and non-digital formats.
[Don’t paper coupons discriminate against younger people who are less likely to subscribe to a newspaper, by the same logic? What’s the difference, and why shouldn’t grocers target specific audiences based on their engagement level with a specific medium? — Ed]
Join the conversation as a VIP Member