cashier annoyed with me using coupons!

[Disneefun]

Can't guys use coupons in this day and age?

Sure, you just don't see too many. Funny story: This week I was in the grocery store and I saw a guy, alone, with a huge binder spread out across the cart seat. My first thought was, "Hey, cool, a coupon guy!" But then I noticed that he was on his cell phone and I could overhear him saying things like, "Now this coupon goes with what?" And, "You wanted me to get how many of these?" And, "Where's the second coupon?" as he flipped through the binder. He was getting exasperated by the time I passed him again in frozen foods.

Sounded like he was on the phone with the wife/gf that had sent him to the store and she was directing this expedition. Poor guy. He was clearly in over his head.

 

[MineMail]

I don't know if it would help, but my mother taught me to always put the coupon items on the belt last. That way, when the cashier starts to ring up the coupon savings, the items are fresh in her mind as the last ones scanned. They're also in the last bags packed, so they're accessible.

I don't know that the online screens at all stores let them see the details needed for some coupons - ie. size, qty, brand/style. Sometimes, they do have to see the packaging itself.

 

[It'sWDW4me]

Ok, going to get a little off topic here. I see this all the time about CVS, but can someone please explain to me how if I spend $30.00 and I get $28.00 in coupons back, I have, "in essence" spent $28.00. Because frankly half the time, those coupons are for things that I don't and won't use. So really I did spend more than $2.00, Not all coupons are created equal. I don't like to spend more money just to get more coupon for a later date, especially when I may not use those coupons. FWIW, I have never gotten out of CVS cheaper regardless of coupons. I go elsewhere, they are overprices and never have what I need.

The coupons are usually ExtraBucks - basically, a coupon to use on absolutely anything. A week or two ago, CVS had Coke 12 packs on sale for 5 for $15 with $5 Extrabucks with a $15 purchase. I bought 5 cases and my coupon printed out at the bottom of the receipt. The coupon's good for 2-3 weeks and I haven't used my $5 off yet but this week they have Pespi on sale: 4 cases for $14 with $3 EB back when you buy 4. I don't need soda since I stocked up with Coke the other week, but I COULD buy 4 cases of Pepsi for $14, use my $5 EB coupon, pay $9 for 4 cases of Pepsi and get ANOTHER coupon for $3 off my next visit. Oh, and you can use manufacturer's coupons in the same transaction!

My mom is the queen of CVS's Extrabucks - she combines sale prices with manufacturers coupons with EB coupons and she usually winds up getting a cartload of stuff for like $1.53.

 

[monkey30]

OP that sucks! No other way to put it! I have had this happen more often or not, I just say thanks at the end have a great day, and walk away, no big deal.

I also avoid that cashier the next time I go in with coupons.

I print them at home keep them in a basket and while making my grocery list take them out and put them with the list. We don't always use them, but every little bit helps!

 

[mjkacmom]

I always use coupons, and the cashier at my grocery store always asks if you have any before ringing up your order. Don't you hand over the coupons before the transaction? The cashier looks at each one before she starts scanning.

 

[eyor44]

CVS must give their staff outstanding training! This morning, I popped into CVS to purchase a few items. The woman ahead of me on the line had a bunch of items and coupons. The cashier was very friendly and helpful and happy that the woman was using coupons. Well, at the end after she paid, the CVS coupons started printing with the receipt --- amazing!! The customer got $28 in coupons and had just spent $30 so she, in essence, got her cartful of stuff for only $2. Not only was I excited about it, but the cashier was ecstatic! She was so happy for her customer's good fortune!

Now, THAT is customer service!!!!

I love the cashiers at my CVS. They are always asking if I have coupons for different things on sale or encouraging me to purhcase the full quantity of what is allowed of an item on sale. (10 soups, etc) They also make sure I always scan my card at the coupon machine and tell me about special coupons that should print. My CVS has great customer service.

 

[hereyago]

In the video she was, as I remembered rude. She rolled her eyes, she got more unhappy when a coupon would scan. Her comments weren't too bad but she did have attitude. The real coup de grace happened after I left. On the video she says something to the bag boy. The manager played it back and then he quickly apologized. He was M-A-D.

Her comment? Her comment questioned my sexual orientation because I used coupons. I guess it is a good thing that she didn't see that I drove a Prius. The manager gave me a $10 off $30 store coupon and promised me that he'd deal with the situation. I haven't seen that cashier in the store since and every time I see the manager he asks me if I saw the coupon on this or that. Can't guys use coupons in this day and age?

I only shop at that store once a week but I always have 10-15 coupons to use. It just makes sense.

Holy moly! that cashier was all sorts out of line, good grief. And yes guys can use coupons this day and age, so you go work those coupons!
And kudos to the store manager, HE knew what customer service was about. Sorry you had that happen.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

I will let it go this time but if it happens again I am going to talk to a manager. This is the second time something like this happened. Once I only had like 2 coupons and the cashier made me dig through my bags to find the items to prove I got those specific products!

I think I'd gently remind the cashier exactly who's job it is to know what they just sold me You wanna know what's in my bag? There it is, YOU go dig through it

But, to avoid future issues maybe hand the coupons over up front at that particular store.

 

[bumbershoot]

I always use coupons, and the cashier at my grocery store always asks if you have any before ringing up your order. Don't you hand over the coupons before the transaction? The cashier looks at each one before she starts scanning.

I don't use many, but I give them over at the end of scanning. That way it's all in the computer, and if I've handed over a wrong coupon the computer will reject it. I have great faith in the computer. I always do have them in my hand, however, so that the cashier can see that there will be coupons. And my hand is up on the card swiper area, with my store club card to be scanned when they are ready to scan it.

I will let it go this time but if it happens again I am going to talk to a manager. This is the second time something like this happened.

Since it's the second time at the same store, I'd do it now.

Sorry that happened to you OP.

The store must not have a really good register system that could "know" if you bought that item or not and take it off automatically instead of going through a bag.

I would have honestly said"you know the screen can be your guide" with a smile on my face.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Her comment? Her comment questioned my sexual orientation because I used coupons. I guess it is a good thing that she didn't see that I drove a Prius.

I guess I'm "okay" since I drive a 1-ton 4x4 truck, but MAN I'd love to have something that got 45 MPG for a daily driver!!!

 

[Natalie's Mommy]

I use coupons often. When I had a cashier get a bit of an attitude with me for it, I complained via their website.

The manager of the store invited me in for a morning cup of coffee and asked me to bring my receipt. It was a great experience. He gave my receipt to someone and we got a cup of coffee from the in store Starbucks. We walked through the store and he showed me some of the store's features that he checks on his periodic walkthroughs during the day.

When we returned to his office, he opened up a video of my transaction at the register on his computer. We watched it together. I could see from his expression he wasn't happy. The quality of the video was EXCELLENT. I think if I had tried I could have read the coupons on the video.

In the video she was, as I remembered rude. She rolled her eyes, she got more unhappy when a coupon would scan. Her comments weren't too bad but she did have attitude. The real coup de grace happened after I left. On the video she says something to the bag boy. The manager played it back and then he quickly apologized. He was M-A-D.

Her comment? Her comment questioned my sexual orientation because I used coupons. I guess it is a good thing that she didn't see that I drove a Prius. The manager gave me a $10 off $30 store coupon and promised me that he'd deal with the situation. I haven't seen that cashier in the store since and every time I see the manager he asks me if I saw the coupon on this or that. Can't guys use coupons in this day and age?

I only shop at that store once a week but I always have 10-15 coupons to use. It just makes sense.

wow that is a great manager! and i bet that casher got fired!

Sure, you just don't see too many. Funny story: This week I was in the grocery store and I saw a guy, alone, with a huge binder spread out across the cart seat. My first thought was, "Hey, cool, a coupon guy!" But then I noticed that he was on his cell phone and I could overhear him saying things like, "Now this coupon goes with what?" And, "You wanted me to get how many of these?" And, "Where's the second coupon?" as he flipped through the binder. He was getting exasperated by the time I passed him again in frozen foods.

Sounded like he was on the phone with the wife/gf that had sent him to the store and she was directing this expedition. Poor guy. He was clearly in over his head.

that is totally my husband right now!

 

[Gumbo4x4]

that is totally my husband right now!

I see I'm not the only one to make the "call of shame"

 

[Bell30012]

I admit I'm a bit addicted to couponing. I love saving money. I've been getting 49 mpg in my Prius... Trying real hard to get that average over 50. I've got a gas-guzzling Navigator at the house if I need to impress a young lady.

 

[sophie832]

OP (and others who have posted their experiences), so sorry that happened to you! I coupon (yes, I had a binder, but now I'm using another method) at Vons, and I've noticed different cashiers have different attitudes. There is one, though, that always makes a point of reading every single coupon before she scans it, and often making the bagger take the item out so she can verify. One time, she started arguing with me about the validity of a coupon vs. what I was buying, but the item I was buying was in the picture! So, I just don't go into her checkout line anymore unless I have to. Vons has a great program now where all of their coupons are preloaded onto my club card, so I only have to deal w/manufacturer coupons. Makes it a bit easier.

 

[luvdzny]

I think I'd gently remind the cashier exactly who's job it is to know what they just sold me You wanna know what's in my bag? There it is, YOU go dig through it

I am a cashier and it is not my job to know what I am scanning through my register. It is my job to scan the items as quickly as possible. We are timed and we have to scan a minimum number of items per minute or we can get written up. If we took the time to look over every item that every person purchased it would add minutes on to each transaction. I am sure that the customers would not appreciate having to wait in line longer while we examine their groceries.

The computer sometimes will not allow a coupon to go through, it is the cashier's responsibility to make sure the item was actually purchased. If the coupon is expired or the item was not purchased we do not receive the money from the manufacturer. When I ask to see an item that the customer purchased it is not because I am trying to make things difficult, I am just trying to do my job. As a previuos poster mentioned, the descriptions we see on our screen do not provide many details, it is sometimes hard to tell based on that description if the correct item was purchased.

At our store most, if not all of the cashiers handle the coupons in a polite way and do not try to make the customer feel guilty for using them. Cashiers are just like people in general, some are good, some are bad.

I have had my share of "extreme couponers" and some of them are a huge pain to deal with. They get to the check out and are not at all prepared. They start to sort through their coupons and their groceries and it can take a long time to get each separate order ready. We have a weekly double coupon day when we will double 5 coupons on a $25 purchase. Yesterday I had a lady that did 7 separate transactions, each time she had to dig through her cart and then sort her coupons to find the ones that she wanted to use. Then she wrote a check for each separate transaction and she was not in any hurry. I had other customers leave my line because it was taking so long. She tried to use a number of coupons for items that she did not purchase. I just bit my tongue and tried to smile through the whole thing. She ended up buying 10 boxes of Alka Seltzer Plus, seems like a bit much to me. It is people like that her that make it hard for others who are just trying to save a little money.

 

[hereyago]

I am a cashier and it is not my job to know what I am scanning through my register. It is my job to scan the items as quickly as possible. We are timed and we have to scan a minimum number of items per minute or we can get written up. If we took the time to look over every item that every person purchased it would add minutes on to each transaction. I am sure that the customers would not appreciate having to wait in line longer while we examine their groceries.

The computer sometimes will not allow a coupon to go through, it is the cashier's responsibility to make sure the item was actually purchased. If the coupon is expired or the item was not purchased we do not receive the money from the manufacturer. When I ask to see an item that the customer purchased it is not because I am trying to make things difficult, I am just trying to do my job. As a previuos poster mentioned, the descriptions we see on our screen do not provide many details, it is sometimes hard to tell based on that description if the correct item was purchased.

At our store most, if not all of the cashiers handle the coupons in a polite way and do not try to make the customer feel guilty for using them. Cashiers are just like people in general, some are good, some are bad.

I have had my share of "extreme couponers" and some of them are a huge pain to deal with. They get to the check out and are not at all prepared. They start to sort through their coupons and their groceries and it can take a long time to get each separate order ready. We have a weekly double coupon day when we will double 5 coupons on a $25 purchase. Yesterday I had a lady that did 7 separate transactions, each time she had to dig through her cart and then sort her coupons to find the ones that she wanted to use. Then she wrote a check for each separate transaction and she was not in any hurry. I had other customers leave my line because it was taking so long. She tried to use a number of coupons for items that she did not purchase. I just bit my tongue and tried to smile through the whole thing. She ended up buying 10 boxes of Alka Seltzer Plus, seems like a bit much to me. It is people like that her that make it hard for others who are just trying to save a little money.

interesting to see the cashier side of things, thank you for posting your side.
I do have a question if I may? not an extreme couponer question, but which was is easiest for you-cashier wise to have the coupons? with the products themselves as some products are "free", or do you like the coupons in advance?

Good grief 10 boxes of Alka Setlzer,whoa.

 

[luvdzny]

interesting to see the cashier side of things, thank you for posting your side.
I do have a question if I may? not an extreme couponer question, but which was is easiest for you-cashier wise to have the coupons? with the products themselves as some products are "free", or do you like the coupons in advance?

When you have a coupon for a free item it is easiest (for me anyway) to scan that product last, that way it is easy to find when you are scanning coupons. It also works to put the product with the coupon or let the cashier know that you have a free coupon for what ever product. It goes a lot faster that way. Thanks for asking!

 

[Lovin' Disney]

I am a cashier and it is not my job to know what I am scanning through my register. It is my job to scan the items as quickly as possible. We are timed and we have to scan a minimum number of items per minute or we can get written up. If we took the time to look over every item that every person purchased it would add minutes on to each transaction. I am sure that the customers would not appreciate having to wait in line longer while we examine their groceries.

The computer sometimes will not allow a coupon to go through, it is the cashier's responsibility to make sure the item was actually purchased. If the coupon is expired or the item was not purchased we do not receive the money from the manufacturer. When I ask to see an item that the customer purchased it is not because I am trying to make things difficult, I am just trying to do my job. As a previuos poster mentioned, the descriptions we see on our screen do not provide many details, it is sometimes hard to tell based on that description if the correct item was purchased.

At our store most, if not all of the cashiers handle the coupons in a polite way and do not try to make the customer feel guilty for using them. Cashiers are just like people in general, some are good, some are bad.

I have had my share of "extreme couponers" and some of them are a huge pain to deal with. They get to the check out and are not at all prepared. They start to sort through their coupons and their groceries and it can take a long time to get each separate order ready. We have a weekly double coupon day when we will double 5 coupons on a $25 purchase. Yesterday I had a lady that did 7 separate transactions, each time she had to dig through her cart and then sort her coupons to find the ones that she wanted to use. Then she wrote a check for each separate transaction and she was not in any hurry. I had other customers leave my line because it was taking so long. She tried to use a number of coupons for items that she did not purchase. I just bit my tongue and tried to smile through the whole thing. She ended up buying 10 boxes of Alka Seltzer Plus, seems like a bit much to me. It is people like that her that make it hard for others who are just trying to save a little money.

Amen! I am also a cashier and what was written was well stated. I don't mind coupons at all. The more, the merrier, *as long as the customer is actually purchasing the correct product!* And I think it makes life a million times easier for both of us if the customer places the coupon with the item on the belt. Then the cashier can scan the coupon as soon as the item is scanned and if there is any discrepency, it can be resolved right at that moment. It also makes free item coupons go more smoothly.

 

[mjkacmom]

I don't use many, but I give them over at the end of scanning. That way it's all in the computer, and if I've handed over a wrong coupon the computer will reject it. I have great faith in the computer. I always do have them in my hand, however, so that the cashier can see that there will be coupons. And my hand is up on the card swiper area, with my store club card to be scanned when they are ready to scan it.

Although the cashier asks for coupons before scanning the groceries (and your club card, which is scanned first), she doesn't scan the coupons until she is done. I'm guessing she's checking for expiration dates, free products, and maybe things that need multiple items, to reduce issues at the end of the transaction.

 

[nzdisneymom]

I will let it go this time but if it happens again I am going to talk to a manager. This is the second time something like this happened. Once I only had like 2 coupons and the cashier made me dig through my bags to find the items to prove I got those specific products! Then the next time I went I asked the cashier if she wanted the coupons placed on the items before they are scanned to avoid any issues and she said no, I shouldn't have to do that and she could take the coupons at the end no problem. she said the other cashier must have been new. I usually only have like 1-4 coupons. The last coupon times I have had about 10. Like I said last week the cashier thought it was cool and today a different cashier was annoyed and took forever to figure them out, and kept saying how she couldn't remember what items I bought. Craziness!

I choose the line I get in based on who the cashier is and my previous experience with them, particularly if I have coupons. The ones I use regularly know that I have coupons and that I have the items to correspond with them. I hand them my coupons at the beginning of the transaction, usually saying "so I don't forget to give these to you" and some will sort them out and look over them at the beginning (familiarizing themselves) and some just wait til the end. If they hesitate over a coupon, I am ready to remind them what it was. I also put my items on the belt in a particular order so that helps me know where the item was (at the beginning, in the middle, etc.) should they need to look back on their screen for it. If I have "complicated" coupons, I usually put those items at the very end of the transaction (like buy two of these get one of those free types).

Anyway, I agree with others that Extreme Couponing show really changed the way the people who work in the stores view coupon using customers. But like anything, just being calm, considerate, polite and most importantly, organized will get through the line and save you money!

As for people behind me, I always have my coupons in my hand visible so they can choose to get in another line if they don't want to wait. I had a 7 minute delay at Walmart the other day, not because of coupons but because the register "ate" my receipt - and the cashier didn't have the authorization to print a duplicate receipt so we had to wait for customer service. The woman behind me was my son's former 5th grade teacher - I felt bad that she had to wait. If we'd just had consumable items, i wouldn't have bothered, but we had a few things that if we needed to return them, I'd need the receipt.