Coupon policies in reference to grocery stores....

[21yankees]

I just needed to get this off my mind. I've been reading so much on this board lately about how: 'the stores are in on it' (in reference to the extreme couponing), 'no store does XXXXXX', 'I've never seen', etc.

So here goes, unless you know the coupon policy of every grocery store in the US please stop making generalized statements. There are over 391 grocery store chains (national, regional, etc). Not to mention local grocery stores that may only have a handful of stores. Even within the same company they may have different policies based on regions.

It just seems that this board is focusing so much on the Extreme Couponing show it has lost the focus on being a budget minded board.

So there are my 2 cents.

steph

 

[maggiew]

I thought it might be useful for people to post the coupon policies from their stores, if its available??

This is from Walgreens website:
As a customer-focused retailer, Walgreens encourages the use of coupons by our customers in our retail stores, in accordance with the following guidelines.

Guidelines:

General
All valid coupons should be presented to the cashier at the time of checkout.
Walgreens does not accept expired coupons.
Coupons and their face value cannot be exchanged for cash or gift cards.
Competitor coupons are not accepted at Walgreens.
Walgreens cannot accept coupons for items not carried in our stores.
The number of manufacturer coupons, including Register RewardsTM manufacturer coupons, may not exceed the number of items in the transaction. The total value of the coupons may not exceed the value of the transaction. Sales tax must be paid, if required by state law.
Any coupon offer not covered in these guidelines will be accepted at the discretion of Walgreens management.

Sale Items
Walgreens will accept manufacturer coupons for an item that is on sale.
In the event that any item's selling price is less than the value of the coupon, Walgreens will only accept the coupon in exchange for the selling price of the item. Coupon redemption can never exceed the selling price of an item and no cash back is ever provided in exchange for any coupons.

Multiple Coupons
When purchasing a single item, Walgreens accepts one manufacturer coupon and applicable Walgreens coupon(s) for the purchase of a single item, unless prohibited by either coupon offer.
The coupon amount must be reduced if it exceeds the value of the item after other discounts or coupons are applied. (For example, a $5.00 coupon for a $4.99 item will result in a $4.99 coupon value).
When purchasing multiple items, Walgreens accepts multiple identical coupons for multiple qualifying items as long as there is sufficient stock to satisfy other customers, unless a limit is specified. Management reserves the right to limit the quantity of items purchased.

Buy One, Get One Free Coupons
When items are featured in a Buy One, Get One Free promotion, up to two coupons can be used against the items being purchased, as long as the net price does not go below zero for the items being purchased.
Sales tax must be paid for any Buy One, Get One Free coupon offers, if required by applicable state laws.

Internet/Print at Home Coupons
Walgreens accepts valid internet/print at home coupons.

Register RewardsTM coupons
Earning Register RewardsTM

Register RewardsTM will only print for in-stock merchandise during the promotional period.
Register RewardsTM can only be earned for eligible items. No substitutions.
There is a limit of one Register RewardsTM (RR) printed per offer per customer per transaction.
Customers redeeming a Register RewardsTM against the same offer may not receive another RR.
Redeeming Register RewardsTM

Customers redeeming a Register RewardsTM against the same offer may not receive another RR.
Refer to Register RewardsTM coupon for expiration date.
The RR coupon value cannot exceed the total purchase amount. No cash back and no cash value for RR coupon.
The number of manufacturer coupons, including RR manufacturer coupons, must not exceed the number of items in the transaction.
Register RewardsTM must be forfeited if the qualifying merchandise is returned.
Register RewardsTM cannot be used toward the purchase of gift cards and pre-paid cards.
Register RewardsTM can be redeemed for eligible items only. Ineligible items include but are not limited to:

Prescriptions
Tobacco products
Alcoholic beverages
Dairy products
Lottery tickets
Money orders/transfers
Transportation passes
Special event/entertainment tickets or passes
Postage stamps
Gift cards/phone cards/prepaid/Green DotTM cards
Prescription Savings Club" memberships
Health care services, including immunizations
Any items prohibited by law


Maggie

 

[maggiew]

CVS coupon policy from email of Customer Service:

Thank you for contacting CVS/pharmacy. Your e-mail has reached the Customer Relations Department. We appreciate the time you took to contact us with your inquiry. Our coupon policy is not available on our Web site. We reserve the right to change this policy at any time.

Our registers are set to allow 1 CVS coupon and 1 manufacturer coupon per item. Free coupons or “offers at the register” (OAR’s) are unearned and issued to you as a valued member of the CVS/pharmacy ExtraCare program. These coupons take the form of “open ended” coupons such as $3 off $15 or a certain dollar amount off a specific item. In any given transaction our registers will allow only one “open ended” coupon per transaction. CVS Extra Buck coupons are earned when you make a qualifying purchase. These print out instantly at the register upon reaching the threshold for the offer. You can use more than one Extra Buck coupon provided the purchase threshold has been met for each offer amount on a per-transaction basis.

In the case where a particular item is on sale for “buy one get one free” (BOGO), you are only allowed to use one manufacturer’s BOGO coupon. For instance, if Revlon lipstick is on sale for BOGO, you can use one manufacturer’s BOGO coupon. You would get both items free and pay any applicable tax. We reserve the right to limit quantities after the first purchase. If our store is running a sale for BOGO, you can use two manufacturer’s coupons for a specific dollar amount off. For example, if Revlon lipstick is on sale at our store for BOGO, you can use two $1.00 off Revlon lipstick manufacturer coupons.

CVS/pharmacy does accept manufacturers’ coupons that have been obtained from manufacturer sponsored and/or authorized Web sites. The coupon should be complete and contain a bar code that can be scanned at the register. If the coupon does not scan, the cashier should politely inform you that we cannot accept your coupon. We do not allow manual overrides at the register for coupons printed from the Internet. CVS/pharmacy will not accept offers printed from unauthorized Internet postings or reproductions, copies, or facsimiles.

We do not accept competitors’ coupons for front store items. We feel that our sales and ExtraCare program are comparable if not better than any sales or coupons offered by our competitors. We also do not accept any expired coupons, CVS or otherwise. We do not “double” or “triple” coupons.

Again, thank you for contacting us. We value your business and look forward to serving you in the future.

Sincerely,
Korrine
CVS/pharmacy
Customer Relations

 

[maggiew]

Jewel-Osco Coupon Policy

The following policy and guidelines provide a definition of the various coupon types and the Company’s respective redemption policies and guidelines for each type. All associates are expected to adhere to these policies and guidelines.

Coupons are a form of tender presented by the customer to reduce their order total based on merchandise purchased in stores where the retailer has agreed to accept manufacturer coupons. Retailers are not required by law to accept manufacturers’ coupon. Coupons can be printed and/or in electronic form, and maybe integrated into the register systems where they are deducted automatically when all purchase requirements are met. Coupons can not be doubled.

The following coupon types are accepted by Jewel-Osco:

1. Any coupons that do not scan or do not have barcodes should be checked for validity of expiration date and purchase requirements MANUFACTURER COUPONS:
Manufacturer Coupons are coupons issued by the manufacturer containing:
 “Terms of agreement” (legal paragraph ‘To The Retailer’)
 Face value
 Expiration date
 Verbiage “Manufacturer Coupon.”
Have a barcode. We do not accept expired Manufacturer Coupons or coupons that have had the expiration date cut off. If in doubt, call your manager.
NOTE: Jewel-Osco and other retailers issue coupons such as printed ad media coupons that are manufacturer coupons and contain the words “redeemable only at their retailer (e.g. Dominick’s, Walgreens) this type of coupon is redeemable at Jewel-Osco as long as the coupons states “Manufacturer Coupon”.

2. STORE COUPONS:
Store Coupons are the Company’s discount offer in various forms of media including, but not limited to:
 Print
 Newspaper
 Direct mailers
 Electronic (e.g. RX coupon printed on the bottom of receipt)
 Company websites
Store Coupons may contain the words:
 “Redeemable only at Jewel-Osco”
 “Discount applies only with Preferred Card”
We do not accept expired Store Coupons.

 Buy One Get One FREE variable weight Store Coupons must have the dollar value and checkers initials written on the coupon at the time of redemption.





3. CATALINA COUPONS:
Catalina Checkout Coupons/Rebates are triggered by individual items purchased at checkout which print on the Catalina printer. Two types of Catalina coupons:
 Manufacturer Coupons
 Store Coupons
It is Jewel-Osco’s policy that:
 Coupons are intended for use on a future customer purchase
 Catalina coupons must be given to each customer when printed (the Catalina printer beeps to alert Checker that there are coupons to present)
 Checkers must destroy any coupons refused by the customer who was the intended recipient, by tearing coupons long-ways down the middle: associates CANNOT keep coupons that are left behind by customers, for themselves nor hand them to another customer or associate.
 SCOT Attendants must consistently monitor Catalina Coupon Machines to insure that any coupons left behind by customers are destroyed by tearing coupons long-ways down the middle.
 Catalina checkout coupons printed at other retailers may be accepted for redemption following these guidelines:
 Manufacturer: (e.g. coupons state “Manufacturer Coupons” and contain the words “redeemable only at their retailer (e.g. Dominick’s, Walgreens)”
 Competitor store coupon: (e.g. $.50 coupon for Dominick’s brand 16oz loaf bread may be redeemed when a 16oz loaf of Jewel bread is purchased)
 Catalina offers may have possible limitations (i.e. limit one pre purchase, etc.)

4. INTERNET COUPONS:
Internet Coupons printed from a website are redeemable with a qualifying purchase. Jewel-Osco DOES NOT accept internet coupons containing the following conditions:
 Coupons that have expired
 ‘Free’ product offers that do not require a purchase
 Redemption value exceeding $5.00
 Absence of UPC bar code
 Absence of Legal paragraph

5. COMPETITOR COUPONS:
Competitor Coupons are other retailers’ company discount offers. Jewel-Osco will only redeem the following 2 types of Competitor coupons:
A. Competitor ‘Own Brand’ merchandise coupons on:
 Exact size and type of Jewel-Osco ‘Own Brand merchandise’
 At the face value of the coupon
 Within the valid dates of that coupon
(i.e. $.50 coupon for Dominick’s brand 16oz loaf of Whole Wheat bread may be redeemed when a 16oz loaf of Jewel Whole Wheat bread is purchased). If the exact size and type can NOT be matched, the Competitor “Own Brand” merchandise coupon may not be redeemed.
B. Competitor Minimum Purchase Coupon can be redeemed:
 At the face value of the coupon
 Within the valid dates of that coupon
(e.g. Dominick’s $5.00 off a minimum purchase of $50.00).

Competitor coupons can NOT be:
 Doubled or tripled
 Be used with a Jewel-Osco Store Coupon
 Customers may choose between coupons (Jewel-Osco or the Competitor’s) to receive the best price as long as the value of the product is not exceeded.
DO NOT ACCEPT Competitor coupons for “National Brand” items. (e.g. Dominick’s Store coupon for $.50 off 8oz Kraft Cheese is NOT redeemable at Jewel-Osco.)

COUPON HANDLING PROCEDURES ON POS

One Store and one Manufacturer coupon per item may be redeemed.

Credit all coupons by either:
 Scanning the barcode (key entering barcode # if needed)
 Key entering in the amount using the proper coupon and department key
Examples:
o Manufacturer Coupons redeemed within an EBT Link order must be key entered NEVER scanned.
o Competitor ‘Own Brand’ coupon key entered as a Store Coupon.

NOTE: The coupon’s Tax/Food Stamp eligibility should always match the item.

Coupon Acceptance Information:
Manufacturer Coupons:
 Buy 1 Get One Free and Cents off coupons. A customer may use a B1G1Free manufacturer coupon and a manufacturer cents off coupon on the one item that is being purchased as long as the coupons do not exceed the price of the item. (e.g. customer purchases 2 cans of Bush’s Beans, they have a B1G1Free manufacturer coupons and present a $1 off coupon, as long as the price of the 2 cans of beans exceed a $1 both coupons may be redeemed).
 A coupon can NOT exceed the price of the item.
 A coupon value can NOT be altered.
 Illinois/Iowa: Liquor Coupons that state they are redeemable on a purchase of liquor and a non-alcoholic item are redeemed without the customer having to purchase the liquor item, however, some restrictions may apply when printed on the coupon (e.g.”One coupon per customer”).
 Indiana: Liquor Coupons are NOT to be accepted – No coupons allowed for liquor purchases.

Sort and secure all redeemed coupons in check stand till or designated location.

Unconditional Free Coupons should be rung up as a separate order in the State of Illinois.
Cashiers must:
1. Validate that the price of the item does not exceed the maximum value on the coupon.
2. After scanning the coupon you will be prompted to key in the value of the free item (verify that the value of the item does NOT exceed the maximum allowed on the coupon).
3. Write and circle the retail value redeemed on the coupon

SERVICE DESK PROCEDURES

• Customers are eligible for cash back on their coupons no later than 60 days after purchase.
• A legible, dated receipt must accompany all applicable coupons.
• Coupons expiration date must be valid for the date the purchase was made
• Verify coupons to items on receipt by circling items and initialing.
• If redeeming a coupon specific to an order amount, write amount of redeemed coupon on the bottom of the receipt near total and initial. (i.e. $5.00 off a minimum purchase of $50.00).