SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — Don’t have an app for that? Well, if you are in a San Diego grocery store, you don’t need one anymore, as the San Diego City Council has passed a first-in-the-nation policy to ban digital-only coupons.
The council on Monday unanimously passed the Grocery Pricing Transparency Ordinance, a first-of-its-kind policy that seeks to give all San Diegans the same access to grocery store coupons.
Now, grocers in the city who offer digital deals are required to also have paper coupons available in-store and accessible to all customers. This allows all San Diegans to utilize the same deals, whether or not they have access to smartphones or the internet.
San Diego is now the first city in the country to implement a policy like this.
The ordinance was brought forward by Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera and Councilmember Marni Von Wilpert.
“San Diegans are doing everything they can to stretch their dollars, but corporate grocery chains are turning basic shopping into a rigged game,” said Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera. “This ordinance is a common sense step to fight back against corporate tricks and stand up for working people and families who are being squeezed at the checkout line.”
The city council unanimously passed the ordinance on Monday after it initially unanimously passed through the select committee during its first meeting in late February.
“Many senior citizens are living on fixed incomes and are feeling the financial strain of the increasing cost of living,” said Councilmember von Wilpert. “This ordinance will ensure that all consumers, especially our seniors, have the opportunity to benefit from the same grocery savings opportunities.”
AARP California also issued a statement after the passage of the ordinance, saying, “AARP California supports the grocery coupon ordinance as a vital step in promoting the financial security of older adults and vulnerable populations. Older adults on fixed incomes are struggling amid rising costs, and the digital divide limits those without internet access or the ability to navigate digital coupons. This proposed ordinance can help ensure savings through paper coupons or shelf-tag discounts. By removing barriers, it can help older adults, people with disabilities, and others to afford their essential groceries. AARP California urges the City Council to pass this ordinance to help make San Diego more affordable and livable for older adults and vulnerable communities.”
However, some grocers say the ordinance is too vague, and could cause more harm than good the way it’s written and structured now.
“We’d have to have a paper copy in the store. There are thousands and thousands of different types of coupons and discounts that people receive digitally and we would physically not be able to go and prepare those all in store just for anybody to grab at anytime,” said Tim James with the California Grocers Association.
James said the idea would backfire, leading to less opportunities and discounts for those who do not participate in loyalty programs and use digital coupons now.
But supporters say there’s no more time, they argue that San Diegans need a financial break and this ordinance is a step in the right direction.
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Juliette Vara and Danielle Dawson contributed to this report