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Safeway online coupon program coming to all stores
July 13, 2009 by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance
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ClaudeDrug Store News reports that Safeway is expanding its couponLink program, an interesting and innovative take on online coupons.
Shoppers visit the Safeway Web site to browse available coupon offers. After selecting the ones they want, they can then transfer them to their loyalty card; at checkout, the POS recognizes and automatically applies all eligible coupons on the card.
 | "This takes the hassle out of shopping with coupons," stated Mike Minasi, Safeway president of marketing. "There is no paging through newspapers and no clipping and carrying coupons. Customers don't even have to remember to bring coupons with them to the store." |  |
The system is powered by Shortcuts.com, which is owned by AOL and also provides online coupons to Kroger, Smith's and a number of regional grocers.
Coupons have been a source of concern and frustration for some time, with fraud easier to commit than ever thanks to easy-to-use image manipulation tools and inexpensive, high-quality printers. In a now-famous incident, Purina issued 250 coupons in 2008 for free dog food; within a few months that coupon was redeemed 2,500 times.
Safeway joins a growing number of retailers that are subverting fraudsters by literally taking the coupon out of the couponing process.
About James Bickers
James Bickers is the former senior editor of Retail Customer Experience, and also manages webinars for Networld Media Group. He has more than 20 years experience as a journalist and innovative content strategist, with publication credits in national, international and regional publications.
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