Many Michigan residents are waking up to find something missing from the Sunday paper: the RedPlum inserts they expected to find.
While it’s not yet widespread across Michigan, this appears to be part of a pilot program that Valassis (parent company of RedPlum) is rolling out nationwide. It began as early as 2008 in other areas. At first, Valassis made the change when a newspaper’s circulation fell below 60% reach in the market – but now, it’s making a market-by-market decision. As newspaper circulation numbers continue to fall, that may mean that you may receive one RedPlum coupon insert in your mailbox instead.
Why is the RedPlum coupon booklet no longer in my newspaper?
In select markets, the RedPlum coupon book is delivered through the mail along with weekly grocery circulars. Go to RedPlum Coupon Finder to type in your address and find out where you might find RedPlum offers in your neighborhood.
What can I do to get my RedPlum coupons?
- Print RedPlum coupons online when you can. These are still available and many of them match the coupons you’ll find in the inserts. They do reach a print quota and disappear, so for best results, print what you need on Sunday when they arrive.
- Ask friends & neighbors for unused RedPlum inserts. If you’ve visited the RedPlum Coupon Finder and have learned that your area is now getting the RedPlum in the mail, ask those around you for the copies they’re not using. It will be limit 1 per household, so you many need to get creative.
Did you get your RedPlum inserts in the Sunday paper today?
Paul says
This is going to make couponing a little more challenging & creative. I buy for my church’s food pantry and 2 charities in the area. It will be interesting.
RANDYK says
PAUL:
YOU ARE RIGHT AND I GUESS FOR NOW I WILL MAINLY BE USING SMART SOURCE Q’s ON THE DEALS, SINCE MY PAPER CARRIER TAKES CARE OF ME WITH EXTRA INSERTS WHEN HE HAS ANY.
Louann says
Randyk you are VERY lucky. I think the best coupons are in the SS, but I have to make do with one copy. I don’t have any idea who my carrier is, and for awhile the Free Press was asking him to put a Meijer ad in my copy because our part of town stopped getting them. When that stopped last month, and I called again, I was then told he could have been fired for that because Meijer has printed specific amounts and there are no extras for other areas of cities they don’t want to advertise in. Since I don’t have time to read the paper, buying it is becoming more and more a waste of money.
Louann says
When I got that email, I replied to tell Red Plum how much I hate this change. I told them they are going to help put newspapers out of business, since many people only buy them to get the coupons. I remember when we used to get the coupons with the Saturday paper, so we could plan the week’s shopping earlier, or even use them on Saturday, and I hated waiting til Sunday for them, but this is even worse. I’m not sure if they are really going to come in the mail, or continue to be included in the yellow bags that get delivered to us on Monday by Valassis. Right now several neighbors let me take the bags because they consider them junk. But if they are in their mailbox, I don’t see how I am going to be able to do that anymore, plus who knows if everyone will get them on Monday, and even if so, our carrier usually comes much later in the day than the yellow bags got delivered. I wish everyone who doesn’t want more mail they consider junk, would contact RP and tell them to go back to the way they used to do things.
Angela Barrett says
I honestly thought people were stealing all the red plum inserts until I read this!!
Barb says
I thought the same as Angela. My husband bought the paper at CVS and when I saw the my paper did not have the RP inserts (before I saw this email), I called CVS to complain. They checked all the remaining papers that were left, and none had the RP. I was disappointed that my husband didn’t buy at Dollar Tree like I told him to. He paid double for the paper and we got 1/2 of what we should have!
Krissy says
Thanks for the info. I’ve been having a heck of a time finding coupon inserts in the Free Press recently. I just figured they were cutting waaaaay back since it seems like most weeks they were missing one or the other. Usually checked the Times Herald, and they seemed a little more reliable, but coupons were generally not as impressive. Didn’t find any Red Plums in either paper today, and the coupon book is not available in my area.
Kelly says
No RedPlum for me today either, was very disappointed! Thank you for posting this news, I thought my carrier just forgot to put them in the inserts.
Terri Dean says
The printables are frequently lower value than the inserts. I just subscribed to the free press and got my first paper today. I am so disappointed. So very, very disappointed.
Roseioh says
I didn’t get Red Plum in my paper! Looks like I’m suppose to get it in the mail with some of the other ads.
Sarah says
I haven’t been getting the red plum in the paper or mail…I get the paper delivered..
O says
I got mine with my grocery ads
Julie Hinds says
I’ve never seen couons in Birch run mail so I guess I’m out of luck, disappointed to say the least!!
Rodney says
I got the RedPlum coupons in the mail on Wednesday. I know it will depend on the mail carrier in a given area, but I’m fine with it. In fact, I hope SmartSource follows suit. That would cut the Sunday Detroit Free Press sales drastically. I look forward to seeing them going out of business.
My reason – I despise the Freep because of their awful political bias – it’s not News, it’s Opinion – and I am offended by the nasty way they go about it. But the Tree Huggers should also want them gone, as SOOOO many people buy the paper…take out the coupons…and toss the rest. Waste.
Until that happens, I will continue to buy the Sunday paper (even if there are NO COUPONS), because I like the Crosswords & other Puzzles. The Sports page is still OK too, but Meh.
Don’t know if I should share this (and it may not be at all locations), but Dollar Tree sells the Sunday paper for $1. A lot of people go in…buy several copies…take out the Qs… and leave a stack of papers on the trash can outside.
Robin Bouza says
Time and place.
Shane says
Phoenix, AZ
2 Sundays past One Redplum Insert.
Last Sunday………(pause for effect)……No Redplum Inserts.
Karen T. says
Delivery carries are not responsible for putting papers together they only deliver papers.Paper are put together by a third party at warehouses different locations in different cities contact your local city Warehouse .paper come on a truck in bundles, drivers only roll the papers put in bags and deliver my son did this for 3 years!
ram says
I am missing REd Plum Coupon