The Sunday newspaper has been an excellent source of coupons for a very long time. Couponers looked forward to clipping coupons from the inserts in the Sunday paper long before coupons went digital. Recently, P&G changed the way it distributes coupons. This change is making some couponers very upset.

P&G (Procter and Gamble) is the company that makes Tide, Gain, Downy, Bounce, and plenty of other well known brands. Many people find a brand of laundry detergent that they like and stick with it. This is especially true for families who have a family member with allergies or sensitive skin. It’s always nice to find a coupon that helps you save money on your favorite brand.

In January of 2016, P&G started changing the way it distributes coupons. They are rolling this change out regionally, which has led to some disappointed couponers.

Back in the days when the Sunday newspaper coupon inserts were the only option for coupon clippers, it was only possible to know what was in your local newspaper. Today, couponers are able to discover what the coupons in the upcoming Sunday paper will be ahead of time – which could influence them to buy multiple copies of the newspaper. Couponers also can go online and learn what coupons are available regionally.

Previously, people could open up the P&G brandSaver insert that came in their Sunday paper and find several coupons. P&G has, in some regions, replaced those coupons with a white box that says: “Go to pgeveryday.com to print out your Tide, Downy, Bounce, and Gain coupons!” Those who went to the website found that they had to make an account before they could print out any coupons.

This change is leaving some couponers feeling angry or betrayed. This is especially true for coupon clippers who do not want to give their email address to a brand in order to obtain coupons. The change made by P&G may have already come to your region. If not, you can expect that it will arrive eventually.

Companies that switch from paper coupons to online coupons do this for several reasons. They can collect email addresses of consumers who want their coupons. Often, those email addresses are used to send advertisements and special offers to those consumers. The company can control how many copies of a coupon a consumer can print out, and can control what kinds of coupons are available to people in specific regions.

When P&G stops putting coupons in your Sunday paper, you will need to make a decision. Do you want to make an account at their website and continue to have access to P&G coupons? Or, would you rather switch to a brand that is still offering paper coupons?

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