Reader Rebecca 
Remember that awesome Purex deal I found out about earlier this week at Fred Meyer? Well, apparently some stores have contacted the Catalina company and the promotion has been shut down entirely at several stores. Apparently there was "one bad apple:" a Cincinnati couple cleared out 20 stores and ended up buying 800 bottles of Purex for free after coupons and Catalinas.
This absolutely blows my mind. What exactly was this couple planning on doing with all that Purex? And I don't want to hear, "oh they were going to donate it!" Come on already – 800 bottles?! If Purex wished to send 800 bottles to needy people, let them be the one to make that sort of donation. But to completely clear out multiple stores so no one else can take advantage? That is greed, pure and simple.
I'm hearing more and more about this sort of thing happening and I hope you can see how one or two obnoxious couponers truly can ruin it for all. Rebecca writes: "I'm so aggravated…I hadn't purchased my Purex yet and was just about to head out…TOTAL BUMMER."
Given this, please do not be surprised if your store 1) has no more Purex in stock and/or 2) no Catalina coupon prints at checkout. Best of luck if you try this deal.
Thanks for the heads-up, Rebecca.
{ 26 comments… read them below or add one }
Wow…speechless. Sounds like they need to read up on your coupon ethics.
He he he….I hope they are reading this, but I highly DOUBT they are. It sounds like this might just be shut down in the Ohio area. Rebecca (who let me know of this in the first place) is going to try a Seattle-area store to see if it’s still working.
If it is? Um. Don’t buy 800 bottles. Don’t even buy 400 bottles. Use common sense and courtesy!
Oh, I know how it feels. I went to my local Fred Meyer just a couple of hours after the deal was posted, and sure enough–completely sold out. I wasn’t in a real desperate need, so I only planned on getting 4.
What I think is happening is that a lot of people just buy stuff it’s free or nearly free, regardless of whether they even need it. For me, I’m so stocked on Toothpaste that I didn’t even consider doing the recent deal at Walgreens. Unfortunately, I don’t think many other people this this way.
Ugh, greed… pure and simple. No matter what they planned to do with the detergent.
Why oh why do people do this?
A manager at one of my area drug stores told me that every Sunday morning the same three people are waiting for her to unlock the door so they can clear the shelves of whatever the week’s freebies are. She later sees these people selling the stuff at yard sales and flea markets. Technically it’s not illegal, but . . .
i can’t even imagine how long it took buy 400 transactions!
What I don’t get – why don’t stores limit transactions/quantities when abuse is clearly happening? You know, before things get out of control? If I was the manager at that Walgreens, you bet I’d be putting the beat down on that kind of behavior. I believe that in some states reselling items like that is illegal. And in the states were it is legal, I still find it pretty obnoxious.
oh…i think you hit the nail on the head. they must be reselling them. wierd.
2? Yes. 5? Okay, you need to stock up. 800?! How rude and inconsiderate. Not to mention just plain crazy!
Maybe THAT’S what the deal was. I stopped at a Manhattan, KS Dillons on Monday to pick up a couple of the Purex detergents. The detergent was completely sold out, but I did get two of the liquid fabric softeners…and no catalina.
such a bummer! I bought 2 bottles on Monday and didn’t get the Catalina then… this was the Tigard, Oregon Freddy’s…
Rebecca just emailed to say she didn’t get it at her Seattle-based store, either. Looks like this one has been shut down. But can you blame the Catalina company for doing so? Seriously?
Even at $1.65, it’s still a great stock-up price IMO. If your store is out, ask for a raincheck.
I hope my Fred Meyer isn’t sold out! I am out of detergent and was planning a trip for tomorrow. I would be happy with 2 bottles at $1.99 each!
Note: In yesterday’s Red Plum insert there was a B1G1 free coupon for….. PUREX!
Fingers crossed for my local Freddy’s to have stock!
ps – does anyone know if they are offering rain checks if sold out?
Worked in university place.
WOW-
Thanks Anglea for the info! I love that you are totally no nonsense and not afraid to tell it like it is.
I think I will get a raincheck and hope the BOGO comes in the RP in my area Sunday!
~Monica
I went today to 2 Seattle area stores (Renton and Totem Lake) and both had a decent amount in stock and printed the catalina. I had read elsewhere that you have to get the 50 ounce, not the one with ‘20% extra free’ on the bottle. I got the unscented ones in the white bottle.
The catalinas printed for me this afternoon at the Redmond, OR, Fred Meyer. I got the hypoallergenic ones in the white bottles. There was still ALOT of bottles left on the shelves.
800? I can’t imagine how long that took to do. That’s just plain greedy.
Printed for me at Thrashers corner, I stocked up on 4 bottles, was thinking of going back, but I don’t know if I’m going to now. What goes through these people’s minds?!?! Maddening…
WOW, by the way, I have seen “details” on how to have a garage sale with drug store finds on blogs before. Imagine we will see lots of Purex this summer.
I am in Columbus, OH (2 hours from Cincy) and although my shelves were stocked with Purex, there were no catalinas printing. I did call Catalina Marketing to ask about it and was told my transaction would be reviewed and I would possibly be mailed the cat. We shall see…
Angela – I love your blog, I follow it regularly. Although our stores aren’t the same, I love your stance on things and to see what’s going on in your corner. Piper is too precious! Thanks for the pics!
Are you kidding me?! To your reader in Trasher’s Corner, I live there too, and did get my catalina a Freddies on Bothell-Everette Hyw. yesterday (2/17). Hope it still works for some people!
We don’t get as good of deals around here due to limited stores, but it does aggrivate me when people take advantage, I only purchase what I can use.
Oh my goodness!! I do admit that I was hoping to buy several months’ supply (probably 20 bottles), but now I am afraid the cat won’t print!! Thanks for giving me the head’s up so I don’t waste my time.
I am so angry about this. yet again someone ruining a good deal for everyone! My mom works at Fred Meyer and she called me this morning to say she was informed the cat was pulled due to some Ma&Pa owner in Cinci buying up a ton to stock their store shelves. Lovely. I go through detergent so quick here, I was planning on buying 4 bottles and felt even that was pushing it for *me*. but 800?!?! love how greedy people can ruin things for everyone.
Yes, I confirmed with the Catalina company today that they have discontinued this promo at the Kroger stores…too bad…
Sadly, people ruining deals for everyone else happens far too often. People who do things like this aren’t interested in how their behavior can hurt others down the line. I grit my teeth whenever I hear about someone abusing a promotion…how many of us have seen someone brag about being able to print a coupon like 20 times (or more) when there seemingly isn’t a print limit on it? It’s frustrating for sure.