WTOC, Savannah, Georgia, news, weather and sports | Kroger starts using digital coupons for your cell phone
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SAVANNAH, GA (WTOC) - There's new technology to help you save money, coupon clipping through your cell phone.
They're called digital coupons. All you need is a cell phone with internet access and a Kroger Plus Card in this case.
A company called Cellfire is using Kroger Grocery Stores as a sort of guinnea pig and hoping to pass savings on to customers at a time when they could use them.
Cell phones at the grocery store are nothing new. Now, they could be useful. A mother of three, Latrice Bird is always looking for extra savings.
"It's good to save money and have money in your pocket," Bird told WTOC. "Now is hard times with gas prices going up. Yes, I think that would be great and save some money."
Downloading coupons to your phone, the thought is now reality.
"It's a new way to pass saving onto customers, downloading coupons onto your mobile phone to your Kroger Plus Card," Lewis Woody, Kroger District Manager, told WTOC.
Woody says the grocery chain has teamed up with www.Cellfire.com, where you can use your cell-phone, log onto cellfires website and every two weeks, exclusive online savings are available through digital coupons. Just click the coupons you want, and through a software you have to download to your phone, the coupons will be transferred directly to the Kroger Plus Card.
"It's just a way to give our customers another savings through the Kroger Plus Card and help save a little bit more money," Woody said.
The program is under way, with a big push over the next few weeks to get customers familiar with the option. To increase awareness, Kroger is even throwing in special deals, like 10 dollars off your 50 dollar purchase, to get customers involved.
"Now is a great time, with the economy is the way it is, every is looking for way to stretch a dollar and these coupons are very good coupons by the way," Woody said.
Bird says she's signing up and won't forget her cell phone on her next shopping trip. "I would use it," she said.
When you download the program, and log in, you type in your zip code. Cellfire mobile will show you coupons, not only for Kroger, but Arby's, Hollywood Video, Hardee's, Sears and even local retailers who offer savings through the website.
It costs you nothing, but there is a catch. You have to agree to the terms of the program. If you don't have free text messaging, make sure you opt out of the texts to your phone about savings, or your phone bill could go up.
One other thing, if you sign up, you get 10 dollars off your next 50 dollar purchase at Kroger, but it will take a few days for the coupon to be available. It will not immediately be added to your Kroger Plus Card.
