Houston do we have a problem??
Seems that a LOT of people are missing inserts. These are the 2 that I got today from the paper that was delivered. Sometimes there are differences between coupons in the papers that are delivered and papers that you can buy at the store. But it seems like a LOT of people are missing the Smart Source inserts in their papers.
Emails from readers:
Hi Tiffany,
I was just wondering if you knew if the Houston Chronicle was no longer putting the smart source insert in the sunday paper? I keep getting the run around at smartsource and no answer from the chronicle. The last two weeks my paper was missing it (bought it at Kroger on rayford) even though their schedule listed it should be in it.
I was curious if you have run into the same problem being in the this area?
Hi Tiffany,
How many inserts were in today’s Houston Chronicle? I thought there were supposed to be three (3) – (1) Red Plum, (1) Smart Source, (1) P&G. The insert schedule as well as several RSS posts showed there should have been the three (3) inserts.
I can not find a store that has all three inserts! (I’m in The Woodlands @ the 242/Greenbridge/FM1488 area.).
Yesterday and again today, I tried 3 stores (same 3 stores each day) – Timewise Exxon at 242 & Greenbridge, the new Corner Store convenience store on FM 1488 @ Trails End/Kuykendahl, and Randall’s at 242 @ FM1488.
Yesterday when I tried to get my two (2) Sunday papers, the Timewise Exxon had only a Red Plum insert, and the other 2 had the Red Plum & P&G. I decided to wait until today to see if I could find a paper with the three (3) inserts. Today I ventured out again, but again, no Smart Source inserts anywhere. Only the Red Plum and the P&G. Of course, no store clerk could tell me the number of inserts there should have been (and this should surprise me??)
Hi Tiffany,
My wife and I always double each newspaper before we buy it to make sure all of the coupons are there. We wanted to know if other people in the Houston area experienced the same problem.
We’ll probably call the Chronicle to order a few more papers on Sunday to avoid this issue again.
Reader Frank called the Chronicle and this is the answer that he got:
The response from the Chronicle was that the vendors/manufactures for the coupons will not always provide the same coupons to both the Saturday and Sunday paper purchased through other outlets other than the Chronicle. The Chronicle will guarantee that subscribers will always receive all of the available coupon sets on each Sunday paper. No guarantees for newspapers purchases made at Walmart, Target, Kroger, etc. The Chronicle wants more people to subscribe to receive the Sunday paper.
Does anyone have any idea? I get the same answer as well. The only thing I can think is that they are trying to force you to purchase a subscription, to make sure that you get all the coupons. OR the individual vendors are stealing the inserts and selling them? But then all the inserts would not be in the papers….
I wish I knew and could tell you what is up. If anyone has any idea please let us know!
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My papers were purchased near Cypress and the Smart Source was not in with the ads, it was between newspaper sections. Hard to find, but they were there.
I am near the Conroe area and I got all inserts. I bought it from a convenience store.
I never buy any newspapers because I’ve always been able to get La Voz ( which is free) . But lately I haven’t been getting the RP and the past two weeks no SS either 🙁 I guess as long as people continue buying coupons from EBay there will always be missing inserts..
My husband works for our local paper and this is how it works for us: the manufacture sends out a set amount of inserts every week. If the circulation (amount of papers going out) is higher than the amount of inserts provided then the mail room has to decide where the inserts go. Since subscribers are a guaranteed sale every week, they typically get the coupon inserts first. Most of the time a shortage of inserts is not the papers fault…in fact, they usually get more than they need. The manufacturer does make errors such as sending the wrong insert or not enough inserts. I hope this helps…and what a bummer 🙁
I, too, have noticed the missing ss inserts. I have bought them from CVS on Westfield, the corner of 242/@45, convenience store at 242 and all of them had them missing. However, I get one paper delivered and that one has had complete sets of inserts each Sunday. I try to look through the papers before I buy them, but some stores won’t let you. I noticed about 3 weeks now that they are missing.
Make sure to check the entire paper, two of my inserts we stuck in various sections, they were not with the add bundle like you would expect. I got mine at HEB on Sawdust and got all three, but had to look through the entire paper.
I get my papers at Walgreens in Conroe and I have notice that 1 out of 5 are always missing ss coupons but this week I got the ss with the dollar store ad but not the one with the bbq sauce. My delivered paper had all the coupons. I try to make sure all the coupons are in the paper before I buy them.
Thanks so much Tiffany for posting this! I was trying to figure out what to do so this was helpful to see these comments about how the inserts are prioritzed to subscribers. Guess I need to just subscribe instead of picking up a few papers each sunday.
Thanks for all the work you put into this!
Gosh, so sorry to hear about the inserts. Downtown (77006) seems to not only have them all…. (I get the coupons from 2 neighbors)….But Sat. night, while walking my dog, there were Free throws in the yards. (yellow wrappers)..And…. they had all 3 inserts in them…Dang !…. Couldn’t believe it !.
Those are called the “flat packs” and my neighborhood gets them, too! When neighbors don’t want them and put them out for recycling we pick up extras! Great to get free coupons.
Got mine from an Exxon Station @ S Beltway 8 and Hilcroft… had all 3 inserts inside. Although I did have to search through the entire paper to find the last ss.
It isn’t just a problem where you live. I live near Decatur Illinois and have the same problem. I get mine at Dollar Tree. Some of the employees know me, so they let me check before I buy them. One store has had to put them behind the counter because they thought people were taking the ads and inserts. I asked the manager to talk to circulation about the problem but she hasn’t had time to call. When I spoke to the paper last year, they told me the same thing one of your other readers said earlier. I guess it is luck of the draw if you don’t subscribe!
I subscribe to the Houston Chronicle and have never had inserts missing. I pay $1.00 or 50 cents per Sunday paper per week (various deals are offered) x2. That way you save time (never have to run around buying papers), it’s cheaper, and all inserts are there.
Dang, glad it wsn’t just me going crazy. I went all over the area to find the SS inserts. No luck. I really don’t want to pay for the subscription b/c they are only offering Sun/Wed and I don’t want the Wed paper. I also pick up LaVoz once in a while, but it seems that the one store I go to doesn’t have the current paper.
I got my 5 papers delivered on Sunday (Conroe) and I received all 3 inserts
Where can you find La Voz papers?
I subscribe to the chronicle and didn’t get the Red Plum or Smart Source inserts. Called the Chronicle and no one answered. Have to call back Tuesday. Picked up newspapers from the store and they didn’t have those two inserts either. Don’t know if I will see them.
It’s a holiday weekend, so you typically don’t see Smart Source or RedPlum inserts. You should have had one P&G this weekend.
There was only the P&G today
There is a women and other people stealing the inserts and selling them i think she is a vendor for the paper she is on facebook she announces were she will be at to sell all the inserts and the voz papapers , its called couponeras de houston
I just moved to Crockett, what papers carry inserts here?
I am a subscriber and had no inserts on 4/16/17.
We used to get the chronicles delivered to our house then a few months ago it stated to be missing we found out that the people that deliver it started to sell it for 8$ when they are so posed to deliver it
I’m in the woodlands area off Rayford and coupons are still missing a lot from several allocations:(