Coupons Users- Do you feel you are treated unfairly?

[si-am]

None of the stores around here take internet coupons anymore. They've had signs up for ages about it being due to coupon fraud.

 

[Duckyiam71]

I typically shop the commissary. But when I go to Walmart, I use the self check out lanes and rarely ever have a problem when I do it myself. I personally banned Walmart for quite awhile fro bad customer service. Now I just avoid the cashiers. BTW, my district manager left Starbucks for Walmart and was shocked at the bad customer service. What rock was he hiding under?

 

[eyor44]

I also had a problem with the Tinker Bell coupon. I buy all of my Disney movies at my WalMart and use the $10 coupon. This time, a long time cashier, said she didn't think she could take it as I had also comped the price from Target. She went to ask a CSM, who said, "Wow what a great deal, take it and good for her." Funny thing, I had also comped two games and had coupons for those and she didn't see a problem with those.
I wonder if it is something that has to do with the Tinker Bell coupon.

I did notice copies of a few coupons tape above the register that said "do not take these". But the Disney coupon was not included.

My Target does not take the internet coupons, accept for their own. Not even Disney. I wish they did so I could have used the $5 Tinker Bell Target coupon also.

 

[cm8]

I typically shop the commissary. But when I go to Walmart, I use the self check out lanes and rarely ever have a problem when I do it myself. I personally banned Walmart for quite awhile fro bad customer service. Now I just avoid the cashiers. BTW, my district manager left Starbucks for Walmart and was shocked at the bad customer service. What rock was he hiding under?

and Harris teeters and Publix, and I have never had an issue with using coupons, they ask me so much if I have any that I need to start using them. I just wonder how much more I could save shopping at the commissary and using coupons.

 

[hipchickie]

The costs of accepting plastic is not "per swipe", but a percentage of the total on the receipt (depending on which card you use).

For example, MC/Visa charges merchants 3%, while AmEx/Discover charges 5% for card acceptance. If you are using an ATM/Debit card and using a PIN, the charge to the merchant is only 1% (good to know if you are dealing with a small business versus a national chain).

There is a per swipe charge as well as a % charge

 

[hipchickie]

Who, by the way, does not accept non-Costco coupons (whether it be from the manufacturer, or otherwise).

Costco also does not accept MC/Visa/Discover cards.

Sams club does not accept ANY coupons, and only accepts discover and debit cards

 

[Grumpy's Gal]

for me, Target is the worst!

when you could still print Target coupons at the kiosk in the store-- I went in and printed a coupon from TARGET'S OWN KIOSK. It printed on TARGET'S OWN BLUE PAPER.

It was a TARGET coupon from the TARGET website.

When I got to the register, the checker told me I couldn't use it because it was a FAKE coupon.

I explained that I printed it on their own kiosk , on their own paper, from their own website just minutes ago. She would not take the coupon.

I think I must have been on candid camera. Really? how idiotic can this situation get. I can't make this stuff up!

Once I had a coupon good on "ANY market pantry brand mexican food item." And I can't remember what I selected but it was market pantry and it said mexican on the label. The checker told me the coupon wasn't good on that item. I pointed out the coupon said ANY and she said "I don't think they meant it to be for this though."

I used to spend thousands of dollars at Target each year but I have almost stopped going. I maybe go once every 3-4 months and maybe spend $25.

 

[Grumpy's Gal]

Target scanned my coupons in wrong last week and I couldn't catch it until I was back home with a calculator. It ended up being $3 in manufacture coupons - which they'll get the money and get to pocket. The register didn't beep and it rang through as if it was successful.
I feel completely cheated. $3 isn't a lot but how many other purchases did the store have during the day where the coupon didn't ring right? That money would add up fast for a tidy little profit for the store. It's stealing from their customers.

One time when I was shopping at Target weekly, they made an error of about $5 on my coupons and I called as soon as I got home. SHe said I'd have to come back the same day! Since there were about 2 hours left before they closed and it takes me about 30 minutes to get there, I said I'd come back later in the week. She said it was today or nothing. Niiiiice customer service.

I know some of you have GREAT targets but for some reason, I have a crappy one. I dislike Walmart and we don't have Kmart so I'm kinda out of luck!

 

[I*heart*MickeyMouse]

Walmart hates coupons. And eats babies.

 

[Leajess99]

The majority of the time that I have seen that kind of treatment has been at Walmart, they don't care how they treat their customers.

I usually try to shop at Harris Teeter and Food Lion where I have had cashiers point out specials to me I had missed and seem to be as pleased with my savings as I am when they tell me how much I saved on my receipt. I may get a hurried or grumpy cashier occasionally, but that's to be expected and not the norm.

This is so true. My daughter has been hit in the face by a funoodle (no injury but a lot of shock) from a couple of employees messing around. The manager's response was basically "oh well". Not acceptable. I have seen employees treat elderly customers horrible and even refuse to help them. It is sad. I try to avoid it as much as possible.

 

[maxiesmom]

You know, it's tough. I am an avid coupon user. I am also a Target cashier. So I get both sides.

On the perspective of Target. I am a longtime cashier. I know the coupon rule backwards and forwards. In fact, I even work in the the cash office where we sort & send the coupons!

On the otherhand, all sales floor team members are cashier trained, and may come up to the checklanes to cover a rush... but they don't do it very often. So they aren't as well-versed as someone up there full time. Sad to say, even managers outside of "front end" don't get couponing very well.

And then, sad to say, there is crazy coupon fraud. Sunday coupons photocopied. Folks trying to pass coupons on brands they didn't even buy. Remember the free Doritos (scam) coupon, and how ladies even here on dis were trying to use it even if they knew it was fradulent? Shoot! Last year there was even a fraudulent coupon going around for a free XBOX!

So on one end, you got a cashier who will scan anything and everything... whether it's legit, whether you bought the correct merchandise or not. Then BAM! Store management gets wind of a slew of conterfiet coupons coming through and they throw down the hammer. Now cashiers are afraid of their shaddow.

Seriously, it would be easier on all us coupon users if the decietful tricks that others try to play would be stopped. Some of those scammers even seek out new, less experienced cashiers on purpose to see what they can get away with. When that poor cashier gets "coached" by management for accepting a bunch of bogus coupons, well, he's going to be a bit gun shy about EVERY coupon, especially if he isn't confident in his abilities.

I work for another retail company, and I second your post!

Unfortunately it is the same sad story, just a different verse. People go around scamming companies. Companies get mad and crack down. Nice honest people get cracked down on too. It sucks.

 

[starwood]

I had trouble at Walgreens. I had 2 $1.00 off coupons for the purex sheets. They had the 2 pack for .99. I bought 2. The first coupon scanned with no problem. The second wouldn't scan. She said I could only use one. But I was buying 2. So I had her get the manager. After I explained it to him twice (that I had 2 coupons and 2 items) he overrode the system.

 

[mhsjax]

I hate walmart. I try not to do any shopping there at all.

I have never had a problem at Publix using coupons, internet, store, or from the newspaper. They are even happy to give you a cash refund if you happen to forget to use your coupon at the register. I've walked out realizing that I was still holding the coupons in my hand, went back to the service desk with receipt and coupon got cash back. And more than once, the cashiers seem to up to date on sales and specials, and will let me know at check out if it would make a better deal. They'll even send the bagger to go retrieve the second item.

There truly is nothing like Publix. I think all stores should take lessons from them.

 

[mommyof2princesses]

I haven't had too much trouble with coupons. I have noticed some stores stopped taking internet coupons that don't have a barcode. I do have one instance where I left a store.

I went to Target to buy some Tylonel cold medicine for my daughter. I had a coupon from the normal weekly coupon circular that was for Tylonel cold, any variety. It did have a picture of a bottle version but said any Tylonel cold item. I brough up my caplets and the cashier refused to take it because it didn't match the picture on the coupon! Seriously. Are we still in grade school? I tried to point out that it said ANY tylonel cold product but she kept going back to the picture, even the stupid front area manager apparently couldn't read. So, I left, went to food lion, got my caplets and used my coupon..no problem!

Usually I don't have problems in Target like that. I avoid Walmart when I can due to the attitudes most of the cashiers have.

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

I typically shop the commissary. But when I go to Walmart, I use the self check out lanes and rarely ever have a problem when I do it myself. I personally banned Walmart for quite awhile fro bad customer service. Now I just avoid the cashiers. BTW, my district manager left Starbucks for Walmart and was shocked at the bad customer service. What rock was he hiding under?

Which Commissary do you use? I have had some of the rudest cashiers at the Commissary. I even carry a copy of the coupon policy from DECA printed out in my coupon folder and have to whip it out and show it when I get grief from cashiers. Thankfully at our new post the cashiers seem on the ball about coupons and overage!

and Harris teeters and Publix, and I have never had an issue with using coupons, they ask me so much if I have any that I need to start using them. I just wonder how much more I could save shopping at the commissary and using coupons.

Seriously? A TON! The Commissary allows for overage so you could save quite a bit depending on what you buy. Have you visited the forums at A Full Cup and Hot Coupon World? When I was heavy couponing I was saving at least 50% each week in coupons. I could buy an overflowing large grocery cart of healthy groceries (meat, produce, milk, bread, and plenty of snack items) for less than $100 at the Commissary after coupons.

I had trouble at Walgreens. I had 2 $1.00 off coupons for the purex sheets. They had the 2 pack for .99. I bought 2. The first coupon scanned with no problem. The second wouldn't scan. She said I could only use one. But I was buying 2. So I had her get the manager. After I explained it to him twice (that I had 2 coupons and 2 items) he overrode the system.

It beeped because the coupons were for more than the price of the item. CVS would have adjusted the 2nd coupon down to .98 so you would have gotten the items free but not have made 2 cents on the deal.

There truly is nothing like Publix. I think all stores should take lessons from them.

Amen - they have the best customer service, a great deli and yummy bakery too. Now if they would just lower their prices it would be all good!

 

[starwood]

The first coupon went through correctly. It took off. 99. The second beeped and she said it was because it was for more than the price.

 

[JB2K]

I buy all of my Disney movies at my WalMart and use the $10 coupon. This time, a long time cashier, said she didn't think she could take it as I had also comped the price from Target. She went to ask a CSM, who said, "Wow what a great deal, take it and good for her."

You can absolutely price-match AND redeem a manufacturer's coupon at Walmart (or else you could tell a manager you'll go to Target, since it was their ad, to begin with). Trust me, they want your business.

I did notice copies of a few coupons tape above the register that said "do not take these". But the Disney coupon was not included.

Those were probably known fraudulent coupons - of course the Disney ones wouldn't be included, since they are legit.

My Target does not take the internet coupons, accept for their own. Not even Disney. I wish they did so I could have used the $5 Tinker Bell Target coupon also.

That is completely and totally wrong on the cashier's part (could it be, as a PP said, you may not have been dealing with a regular cashier, but rather another team member "filling-in"?). All Target stores are supposed to be on the same page -- they are not independent operations like IGA or ShopRite.

Speaking of pages, I suggest you keep this page with you and show it to the cashier next time your internet coupon is denied. If that doesn't work, ask to speak to their Team Leader (since it says on the corporate website that Target "gladly accepts valid internet coupons"). Hope it helps...

It's a shame the Budget Board no longer has a regular "host/moderator" - I think links to Target and Walmart's coupon policy pages would be an excellent "sticky" for those not "in the know" to reference...

 

[mistysue]

I've tried to use coupons at Walmart twice and been turned down twice.

My Target is very good about taking them, but I also know that we shop there every couple days so the cashiers know me.

 

[Free4Life11]

There truly is nothing like Publix. I think all stores should take lessons from them.

Actually Publix is the one store where I HAVE had a problem. They have BOGO sales all the time and I purchased 2 cartons of OJ and tried to use two coupons. She said I could only use one since I'm only buying one. I questioned it but she wouldn't budget so I said fine just use the one coupon. Then I walked over to customer service and returned both OJ's. The cool thing was they gave me the full price back, even though I had used the one coupon

 

[scrapquitler]

Actually Publix is the one store where I HAVE had a problem. They have BOGO sales all the time and I purchased 2 cartons of OJ and tried to use two coupons. She said I could only use one since I'm only buying one. I questioned it but she wouldn't budget so I said fine just use the one coupon. Then I walked over to customer service and returned both OJ's. The cool thing was they gave me the full price back, even though I had used the one coupon

I'm in CT. None of our grocery stores will let you use a second coupon on BOGO items. I think the logic is that you are only paying for one, so you can only use one coupon.