New for 2007: Chinook Book
It’s sad to say, probably, but one of the things I’ve come to look forward to in the beginning of the new year is the publication of the newest Chinook Book. For the $20 investment (or currently at New Seasons, 2 books for 30 bucks), it’s definitely worth the dough. Using the coupons in the book has really helped me explore restaurants, shops, etc in and about town that I otherwise may never have set foot in, and I’m sure this year will be no different.
Even if the book itself is, slightly. I’ll admit I got spoiled last year, when there were at least six TriMet passes in the back of the book, so seeing only two this year was a bit disappointing, even if it does immediately give me back nearly half the book’s cost. More disappointing though, was the lack of Wild Oats coupons — last year there were two $10 off $50 spent in the book, and this year? Just a page of Wild Oats advertising– why advertise in a coupon book if you’re not going to have any coupons? Say what you will about Wild Oats, and I know many people don’t like them much, but 20 bucks of free groceries is 20 bucks of free groceries.
The other big change this year is the fact that all the coupons expire at the end of November. Since I (and others, I’m sure) went into a panic when December hit and I realized there were a bunch of coupons lingering in the 2006 book and went on a marathon of shopping to utilize these, I’m wondering if this change was a plea from the businesses in the book to keep people from swamping them in the last month of the year. I heard a firsthand report from 2005 about a line for Pastaworks in the last weekend of December just for the free-pound-of-pasta customres.
But really, isn’t business business, and shouldn’t everybody be happy just to be seeing customers walk in the door? Even at the places where the coupon was a “one free” something, I know I nearly always spent money in whatever place I was at.
Nonetheless, the book is still worth your time and money, and is a great resource for finding and helping out local businesses. One of my pledges for this year is to use more of the coupons than I did last year to really make it worth my while and do some further exploration of town.
UPDATE: First off, big props to Wild Oats for their quick response to an e-mail regarding this, even if it raises more questions on the issue. Here’s the response I just got:
We appreciate you taking the time to contact us. The Chinook Book has
been quite an issue with us particularly since they put us in it without
our consent. This has been an on-going problem we are making every effort to sort out
and we apologize for your disappointment.
Really, you were in there without consent? That’s kind of crazy if true — and if so, then why would you advertise in the 2007 edition (because there is a full-page Wild Oats ad in the new Chinook Book, just no coupons). The e-mail also included an offer of a separate coupon, which I provided. We’ll see what kind of offer that is.
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I hate to say it, but I think that this year’s book is a very big disappointment. There is no Zupan’s coupon, there is no Wild Oats coupon. I hate that everything expires earlier. The restaurant section is meager and what they offer is nothing (20% off!). Also, the grocery coupons are fewer than last year.
I will be hard pressed to even get my money back from the initial $20 investment. Moreover, if this is a charity, I am unsure of who/what it benefits. The fact that it isn’t readily available info makes me suspicious.
Jonas: Tell Wild Oats about it!
http://www.wildoats.com/u/contact/
As best I can tell the book itself isn’t a fundraiser, but organizations can sell it as a fundraiser if they wish. Their site is http://www.chinookbook.net/
They also list a ton of places to buy them: http://www.chinookbook.net/retailers.asp
Please let us know how you do with cashing in those coupons, and if you need help with any of the restaurant ones please let me know. (:
thanks, banana lee– i’ll send a note to Wild Oats and update if i get a response
My daughter’s school sells Chinook Books as a fundraiser; ten dollars of the purchase price goes right back to her school’s PTA. Many other schools & community groups get the same kickback…
Sadly, I forgot to use many of my Chinook Book coupons last year (and meant to bring the unused ones into the office to share with co-workers), but I still made my money back plus some.
Wow - so this is like a more local version of the Entertainment Book? I totally didn’t know it existed. We always buy that one from my niece as a fundraiser for her swim team and just by using the Safeway coupons and the Regal movie coupons we more than break even on the cost.
yeah, very much like the entertainment book, but with an emphasis on smaller (mostly) local businesses.