28 years of free Dove soap gone

[Jennie]

I was an extreme couponer long before the name existed.

In the 1970's I worked in a building near a paper recycling plant. The owner allowed me to come on my lunch hour and take manufactures coupon inserts from discarded Sunday newspapers (for free). I shared them with co-workers, many of whom had low paying jobs and were struggling to feed their families. Many supermarkets would double the face value of the coupons. I would buy a lot of extras and sell them to my colleagues at my cost--not for profit--just to be a "good guy".

We particularly loved the free fast food offers from McDoanlds and Burger King.

Well one week there was a half price sale on Dove soap, the brand I used for my sensitive skin. I went to 10 different Caldor's store locations and obtained altogether 200 4 packs "for free", paying only 3 cents tax on each pack. They have held up fine in my basement all these years. I am now using the last one. When I checked the current price they are 4 times more than what would have been the price w/o coupons 28 years ago, and they are half the size. A freind just told me that the current ones "melt" very fast and will not last nearly as long as my "old" ones do.

 

[Dc3drivr]

Soap

The end of an era....

 

[pedro47]

Wow, 800 bars of soap in 28 years and all were free. You are a coupon king.

 

[dioxide45]

I can vouch for the newer bars melting fast. We use coupons a lot and try to load up on Dove soap when on sale and can pare it with a coupon. Never got any for free though. All the supermarkets around us have quit doubling coupons.

It does melt pretty fast, we go through a bar once every couple weeks between the two of us. Then there is a sliver left that pretty much has to be tossed unless you can fuse it to a new bar somehow, but it isn't easy.

 

[MOXJO7282]

I was an extreme couponer long before the name existed.

In the 1970's I worked in a building near a paper recylcling plant. The owner allowed me to come on my lunch hour and take manufacture coupon inserts from discarded Sunday newspapers (for free). I shared them with co-workers, many of whom had low paying jobs and were struggling to feed their families. Many supermarkets would double the face value of the coupons. I would buy a lot of extras and sell them to my colleagues at my cost--not for profit-just to be a "good guy".

We particularly loved the free fast food offers from McDoanlds and Burger King.

Well one week there was a half price sale on Dove soap, the brand I used for my sensitive skin. I went to 10 different Caldor's store locations and obtained altogether 200 4 packs "for free", paying only 3 cents tax on each pack. They have held up fine in my basement all these years. I am now using the last one. When I checked the current price they are 4 times more what what would have been the price w/o coupons 28 years ago, and they are half the size. A freind just told me that the current ones "melt" very fast and will not last nearly as long as my "old" ones do.

That was a savings of a lifetime. Have you ever tried to figure out the value you received? I'd have to say it was several $100s worth, maybe as much as $500?

I'm thinking the average person spends what $25-$30 a year in soap? Back then it was cheaper but still on average over the time maybe $20 X 28 years. That is amazing.

It must be a sad day though when you run out of something that was free and so important to your daily life.

 

[pjrose]

Wow, what a great deal!

Remember when Dove soap would advertise that it had lotion in it, by showing some lotion being poured into the soap? Well I thought it was like those hard candies that have the soft jelly in the middle, and that when I got to the middle of the bar of Dove I'd find the little pocket of lotion :roll eyes:

I haven't bought soap in years; I'm quite happy with the little hotel and TS bars we bring home

 

[MuranoJo]

What a great deal you got way back when, Jennie!

I've seen a number of the couponers in the grocery store with large binders of coupons, and try my best not to get behind them in line. But I do admire their ability to cut costs (as long as they don't turn into hoarders, not using what they get). My favorite brands just don't show up very often though, or the rare time I clip one I forget to use it, so I've never gotten into this.

(Speaking of Dove, I love their body wash you can get @ Costco in a 3-pack.)

 

[artringwald]

If only it was 800 Dove bars. But then it certainly wouldn't have lasted 28 years.

 

[vacationhopeful]

Wow, what a great deal!

...I haven't bought soap in years; I'm quite happy with the little hotel and TS bars we bring home

Isn't that so TRUE ....

 

[pjrose]

If only it was 800 Dove bars. But then it certainly wouldn't have lasted 28 years.

Oh yes!

 

[SueDonJ]

28 years, that's really incredible when you think about it.

 

[Passepartout]

DW also has sensitive skin - and a bit of rosacea (sp) that's aggravated by strong soaps, so when we could no longer get Cetaphil bar soap at Costco, she switched to Dove. It seems to work fine. Then, what'd'ya' know, we found our previous favorite Cetaphil on Amazon Prime for about $21 delivered a 6-pack. Here: http://www.amazon.com/Cetaphil-Gent...=UTF8&qid=1393003051&sr=1-8&keywords=cetaphil Not as good as 28 years' worth for free, but still not bad.

Jim

 

[rleigh]

I love your story and agree with another poster who said it's a sad day for you.

I love the idea of having huge supplies of stuff. One year with some of my tax return I bought about a year's supply of laundry soap, dishwasher soap, tp, & other household necessities. It was a wonderful year.

Remember back in the day, the losing game show contestants would get a lifetime supply of something? I'd always think how cool that would be....

 

[Rose Pink]

Wow, Jennie, that was a great buy. Hope you can score another one.
-------------------------
I gave up on bar soaps when my bathroom drains started clogging all the time. Since switching to liquid soaps years ago, I no longer have that problem. They can be pricey, though. I found that the cheap shampoos, such as VO5 and Suave, make great body wash. They come in many scents and colors for any decor. They lather great and at less than a dollar for 15 ounces or more, last a month or so. My DD likes the foaming hand soaps she buys for her bathroom. After one of the dispensers ran out, I found that by diluting the cheap shampoos half and half with water, they worked great in the foaming dispensers. That makes it last even longer.

I do try to keep several weeks worth (or more is even better) of household supplies. I try to buy in bulk if I see a good price but I don't read the ads and cut coupons like I used to.

 

[UWSurfer]

Some 18 years ago my wife also did extreme coupon'ing when the stores doubled manufactures coupon value and accepted expired coupons. We ended up with a lot of soup too as well as boxes and boxes of cereal, other processed foods & toothpaste, tooth brushes and other things you get coupons for free or pennies on the dollar.

I think our soap ran out after about 4 years after the stores tightened up their practices and my wife lost interest.

 

[pjrose]

. . .

I do try to keep several weeks worth (or more is even better) of household supplies. I try to buy in bulk if I see a good price but I don't read the ads and cut coupons like I used to.

I used to tease my parents for having some shelves in their basement, with extra cans/boxes of whatever. They didn't want to run out, and aimed for "a pair and a spare".

Now you should see my pantry

Our grocery gives gas points that yield ¢ or $ off per gallon, and each week there's a different collection of buy six or so of these items and get 40¢ off per gallon. The items are usually also on sale for a lower price, and they double coupons. I got annoyed at DH when he didn't want to buy an extra six of something we USE to get another 40c off (this time we're up to at least $2 off), because the pantry space is right. The offer in this week's circular doesn't have anything we use in it