Giant Eagle, the region's dominant grocer, set off a kerfuffle Thursday by noting that it had made a few "clarifications" to its coupon redemption policy.

Within two hours of mentioning the change on Facebook, the O'Hara grocer had received more than 100 comments from people concerned about how this would affect their discounts and arguing over exactly what had been changed. Some threatened to take their business elsewhere.

A company spokesman, meanwhile, described the changes as simple refinements of existing guidelines, spurred mainly by the advent of digital and other Internet-generated coupons, some of which are printed off home computers while others are loaded onto loyalty cards.

For example, Giant Eagle already banned "stacking" coupons, a maneuver in which two coupons are used on one item. Now the rules clarify that consumers won't be allowed to stack a paper coupon with an online coupon, said Dick Roberts, in an email response.

In addition, the grocer now specifically states that a maximum of 12 coupons per same 12 items can be used within a 24-hour period per loyalty card customer.

Such fine-tuning has become prevalent among retailers this year as a tough economy has renewed interest in using coupons, whether they be from traditional sources or via the Internet. In addition, some point to tactics used in the cable TV show, "Extreme Couponing," as encouraging customers to push the limits.

Earlier this year, drugstore chain Rite Aid limited each customer to four coupons on four same items as a way to avoid consumers clearing the shelves of sale items. Discount retailer Target in June said "buy one, get one" coupons can't be doubled up to get two items for free.

A few months ago, the region's Shop 'n Save group of independently owned stores developed in-store signs to explain its online coupon policy, said spokesman Dan Ayer. Also, an overall coupon policy has been posted on the Shop 'n Save website, the first official guidelines there.