McKim Family News

So, after moving just a year ago, we're going to be relocating again this summer. Find the newest news on my new blog.

Anyone still out there?

Just wondering if anyone is still reading this. :)

If you're dropping by looking for deals in Southeast Iowa, pop over to see Erin at A Good Deal Of Savings. She's in your area and covering the Mt. Pleasant/Burlington deals similar to what I used to do when I was there.

All's well here in Muscatine with our family. I've taken a part-time job and we're keeping busy. Never too busy for deals though. :) I know the Walgreen's folks on a first name basis and Fareway's my new grocery home. I still do some HyVee, but not very often. May have to hit the one day sale there tomorrow though.

Muscatine Fareway

I was glad to see an 8 page ad from Muscatine Fareway this week. The 4 page ads don't have enough sale items in them for my liking.

68 cent Dole salad is a must buy, as is the 78 cent AE lemonade. Also glad to see pork sausage for $1.99 again, as I am about out. I've finally figured out that they run it about every 4 weeks at that price, so now I know how much to buy.

I might even get really crazy and snag a few minute steaks. I know, I know...I swore I'd never make the family eat them after my parents burned me out on them as a kid. But a few weeks back, I tried a couple and they were quite tasty. Much better than I recollect as a youngster. I think Fareway's might be better quality than the ones I remember as a kid that were filled with grissle and hard to eat. Maybe it's just my memory that's clouded of them. :)

If you're looking for the HyVee matchups for the week, pop on over to Penny Pinchin' Mom.

July Newspaper Column

Here's a link to my column in this month's Burlington Hawk Eye newspaper. I tackle the topic of how to buy school supplies on the cheap.

The average family will spend $96 this year on supplies. No way that's happening around here! Just a few more things to purchase and both my people are ready. Now, all we need is late August. Bring it on, I'm ready!

HyVee Drugstore: Muscatine

I scored a nice deal this week on some of the Oscar Mayer Deli Creations sandwiches. My HVDS has the turkey and dijon flavor on special this week for $1.25 each. Combined with my $1/1 coupon I got a cheap sandwich for some day when Mike can't get home for lunch. Can't beat a quarter for lunch.

Also got my HV Food to price match HVDS on Wonder brand buns at .77 each. Not a spectacular price, but about the best I can do up here in "the big city". Best part was they PM'd but let me keep the in-ad q, so I can do the deal again.

My HVDS also has Pillsbury brownie mixes for .88 each this week. I wish I had some more of those $1/2 'any Pillsbury' q's I found awhile back on the q board at Fareway. Would have made for like 33 cent mixes. Drat I spent them all already. :

Trying to decide if I want to go do the 15% off meat deal at HV Food tonight or tomorrow. I'm not really in need of anything so not sure it's worth it.

Definitely can not do as well at the HV Food or DS here as I could in Mt. Pleasant. Most of the ad specials here are on HV label products which I can't ever combine with a coupon. Occasionally I can pick up a hot deal like the sandwiches...but not regularly.

On the plus side, I have found a few deals at Family Dollar recently. Still learning the couponing ropes there, but the couple deals I've done have worked well and they've been very q friendly. Might be a possibility to pick up some nice savings there in the coming months.

I really hope someone runs a Nestle Toll House chocolate chip sale soon. I have about 15 $1/1's from the Fareway coupon board and I'm running low on them. Please? Someone. Anyone. :)

Monthly Newspaper Column

High expectations can mean retail savings
From The Burlington HawkEye Newspaper, June 25, 2010,

I've never been a passive shopper. I have high expectations for customer service in the stores I patronize.

I suppose it goes back to my six years working retail in a department store during my high school and college days. My employer placed strong emphasis on customer service and merchandising.

As an employee, you either gave exceptional customer service or you got fired. It was a simple philosophy.

My years there have led me to expect nothing less than excellence from the stores I shop. Most meet or exceed my expectations, and I'm happy to fill out a survey or write an e-mail of thanks when I find superior service.

Occasionally, there are times when customer service or merchandising goes wrong. When that happens, I'm the customer who speaks up and asks for a manager.

Now, I'm certainly not advocating fabrication of facts to get a discount. If the facts are there, I have found that speaking up can yield some nice rewards that may save your pocketbook a few dollars.

A few years ago one of my children was going through the Thomas the Tank Engine phase. You know, the one where they have to have every pricey Thomas-emblazoned item they see? I was once fortunate enough to have found favor with the clearance rack gods and spied a Thomas T-shirt perfect for him.

Unfortunately, closer inspection revealed two problems with the shirt. First, it had a tag indicating it was part of a three-piece set, and — you guessed it — the other two pieces were missing. Second, I found a decent-sized stain on one shoulder.

The missing two pieces didn't really concern me, because it was the shirt I would have been most interested in anyway. After doing the tried and true mom-lick-and-spit test, I determined the stain was something I could remove with a good washing at home. I decided if it didn't come out, it would be all right. The shirt would soon have chocolate ice cream stains down the front anyway.

I wasn't as brave then as I am now, but looking back, I still feel great about how I handled the situation. I asked a clerk to call a manager, and clearly laid out the two problems with the shirt.

Knowing from my retail experience that they'd much rather sell the shirt than hold on to it, I offered a very low price. "Since the outfit is priced at $12 and there's a stain, will you take $3?" I asked. Imagine my surprise when the manager agreed. I was thrilled and so was my Thomas-lover.

On another occasion, I again found the gods of the clearance racks smiling my way. In need of a new winter coat near the end of the season, I managed to find one that fit in a style I liked. When I put my hand in the pocket, I discovered a half-dozen buttons, all missing from various parts of the coat.

Employing the same strategy as before and asking for a manager, I negotiated $20 off the clearance price.

Though I spent that evening sewing buttons on, I still smile at the thought of my great bargain every time I wear it.

Just this weekend, I was in a store that specialized in selling home furnishings. In need of some new accessories for a bathroom renovation project we're about to complete, I set to work scanning for clearance items to complement my new decor.

Browsing the aisles, my eyes landed on a clearance sign positioned over my ideal set of bath accessories. I was sure I'd hit the jackpot. My brain already was positioning the items in my new bathroom.

On closer inspection, it was clear the sign did not go with the items adjacent to it. Thinking it had been misplaced, I fruitlessly looked at all the nearby items trying to find the ones indicated on the sign. Eventually, I gave up and asked for a manager.

It turned out the sign was not for any of the items in the aisle and should have been pulled off earlier in the week. Taking the sign, the manager turned to walk away.

Disappointed, it took me a moment to compose myself.

And then, the shopping monster in me came out.

My shopping monster is somewhat akin to The Incredible Hulk. You don't want to meet me when I'm shopping and I'm disappointed.

Quickly regaining my composure, I stopped the manager from walking away.

Keeping my shopping monster in check, I calmly explained that I'd now spent more than 15 minutes trying to determine which items were on sale, now to be left disappointed. My firm, but polite question was, "How are you going to compensate me for both my time and for pointing out your signage error?"

I didn't give him room to wiggle. The store didn't deliver excellent customer service when they left incorrect signage in place. I clearly and politely communicated that I had an expectation that I'd be compensated for my trouble.

In the end, I got a bit of money off my purchase at that store. It wasn't enough to buy a pizza, but it covered the sales tax cost of my purchases. In the end, I left the store as a satisfied customer.

I fully recognize that mistakes happen and I appreciate it when stores own up to theirs.

It doesn't always work out so well, though. My grocery store was out of their value-priced milk this weekend. Since they were out of what I really wanted, I decided to see if they'd sell me another brand for the value price. I asked, and was told it wasn't possible.

I accept that negotiating won't always work. My philosophy is that I'll never know if I don't ask.
I'm not afraid of being told no.

The next time you're in a situation where the service doesn't meet your expectations, assess the situation. Determine your negotiation strategy based on the facts. Compose yourself, then speak up and ask for a member of the management team.

In this age of retail competition, you might be surprised what you get.

Quick Update

Wow.

I haven't posted anything since school got out.

I wonder why?

Possibly the two little people in my house who are constantly needing something?

Or bickering?

Or hurting themselves.

Or needing to be taken somewhere.

Or picked up from somewhere.

Busy.

I do want you all to know that I am totally in love with Fareway. I used to be so loyal to HV, and now I feel a little bit like a traitor. I haven't been there in a couple of weeks. Why should I, when Fareway price matches them, is closer to my house, and a whole lot less hassle? I was in and out of there today in under 30 minutes picking up the 2 day sale specials. (Wow, wish I had some Q's for that Skippy $1 sale. So sad I don't.)

The only bad part of not going to HyVee is that they have our favorite kind of lunchmeat, Sara Lee Buffalo Turkey. But we're learning to eat something else and be content. Not to mention the HV stuff, while good, is like $8 per pound.

Talk about one way to save some money.

I've got an article coming out in tomorrow's Burlington Hawk Eye that chronicles my shopping experience in Waterloo this weekend. Was out visiting the parents and needed some rugs for the almost completed bathroom renovation.

Plumber.

Again.

Still. Holding us up!!!!

I think you'll enjoy it. I'll try to remember to post it here after it goes live on their site after 11 AM.

That is if the munchkins don't have me tied up doing their bidding.

How many days until school starts???