A standoff over the country’s first digital deal law appears to be easing, though it doesn’t necessarily remove a dark cloud looming over the country’s second digital deal law.
Albertsons-owned stores in the city of San Diego have slowly and quietly begun adding more digital coupons back to their online coupon gallery, months after removing most of them and blaming manufacturers and city lawmakers. Albertsons now has more than 200 digital coupons available to shoppers at its 29 San Diego Vons, Albertsons and Pavilions stores. That’s still far fewer than the 400+ available right outside the city limits – but it’s many more than the few dozen that were available in the city just a few months ago.
Back in October, San Diego’s “Grocery Pricing Transparency Ordinance” officially took effect, requiring grocery retailers to offer alternative ways for shoppers without online access to obtain digital-only promotional prices. “If a grocery store offers a digital discount,” the city explains, “the store must provide an in-store option that allows customers to receive the same discount value without using digital tools.”…