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Comment by jameshart | Hacker News Reader

So because this involves high status goods - flights, car rentals, etc - it's a cool hack; but when an old woman exploits the couponing rules at Market Basket and gets a cart full of canned goods for 25c, I can't help feeling that's not going to make the front page of HN...

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Not my thing but it is impressive and clearly there is at least some demographic that does find the game entertaining.

Maybe not HN, but there is a show devoted to that kind of thing: http://www.tlc.com/tv-shows/extreme-couponing/

And some of the people on that show who really exploit the coupons seem to be ex-white-collar alpha-types turned stay-at-home parents who would be the same people who do these mileage hacks back when they were travelling for work.

Flights are probably a major expense and inconvenience for lots of people here, while grocery spending isn't. People are naturally interested in things related to their situation, it isn't necessarily anything nefarious.

For instance, in the game Battlefield 4, using the mortar, considered on pure game mechanic merits, is worse than the crappiest of Atari games. Yet it is still compelling within the larger battle, especially if you are using it with some goal in mind like taking out recalcitrant snipers.

Reading an article on extreme couponing or hyper miling might be likewise dull unless it relates in a personal way to a challenge you have faced or goal you have had, even if you would never actually go to the lengths described to alleviate it.

(Mortar in BF4, gamplay wise it is basically just moving a crosshair over little arrows: http://i.ytimg.com/vi/XYawN6jiaRc/maxresdefault.jpg )

that get's it's own TV show. higher profile than HN

Who still watches TV shows?

People who clip coupons at Market Basket

I'd upvote it.

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