Using EBT getting NO coupons at checkout!

[Beezle2]

I hesitate to post this but it has been bugging me. Due to some recent family issues my husband and I have 2 children we are fostering. Because of that we receive EBT for them. I have noticed that when I shop with the EBT card I get zero coupons from the machine that ALWAYS spits them out when I use my debit card. Does anyone think this is a deliberate thing about EBT?

It really seems unfair as I would use them no matter how I was paying if they were offered.

 

[maxiesmom]

I'm sorry but I don't think it is unfair. I think those coupons are a perk you earn, and as you are not paying for the items you don't earn the perks.

 

[lauradis]

I hesitate to post this but it has been bugging me. Due to some recent family issues my husband and I have 2 children we are fostering. Because of that we receive EBT for them. I have noticed that when I shop with the EBT card I get zero coupons from the machine that ALWAYS spits them out when I use my debit card. Does anyone think this is a deliberate thing about EBT?

It really seems unfair as I would use them no matter how I was paying if they were offered.

That is stinky, its not like the store is losing money over ebt purchases.

 

[dpswift]

This does not make sense. The stores around here that have the coupons they are printed as the item is rung up not at the end. It may be that you are buying items that do not have a coupon prompt.

 

[maxiesmom]

This does not make sense. The stores around here that have the coupons they are printed as the item is rung up not at the end. It may be that you are buying items that do not have a coupon prompt.

Maybe it is a Michigan thing, but here they always print at the end of the transaction. Right when your receipt is printing.

 

[cah5525]

You are paying for the transaction, the store receives payment for the transaction. It shouldn't matter the form of payment. See if the store has a customer service number and make an inquiry.

 

[Marionnette]

This does not make sense. The stores around here that have the coupons they are printed as the item is rung up not at the end. It may be that you are buying items that do not have a coupon prompt.

Around here, some coupons will print as the items are scanned and others print after payment is made. I don't see a difference between when I pay with cash or when I use a credit card. Quite often, the coupons are for items that are from competing manufacturers for the items that I purchased. IOW, if I buy Tropicana OJ, a coupon will print for Minute Maid. I didn't think that it matters how you pay for your items. It was only a matter of what you purchase.

OP, are you talking about all coupons printed by the catalina machine, or are you referring to the coupons that get you $X-off your next shopping order wyb specific products?

 

[vacationer1954]

Stores are required to both accept coupons and grant trading stamps for SNAP transactions just like cash, credit and debit transactions. I think a store would get in trouble trying to claim that cash register-issued store coupons shouldn't be considered the same as trading stamps so I think the rules say that they aren't allowed to not issue register-issued store coupons because someone is using EBT to pay. However, a store can issue register-issued store coupons based on whatever other criteria they want (other than SNAP) including total amount of the sale, the past purchasing history of that specific customer (except for how they paid for their past purchases), the purchase of specific items, and even the purchase of specific items at specific prices instead of discounted by a coupon. The only way to know for sure if the store is doing something wrong is to go in and have the same customer make the purchase at the same time in cash, credit or debit, and compare what coupons are offered.

 

[1Mouse2RulethemAll]

Its a government rule. Where I am, you do not get coupons or rewards if you use funds from a government program. No 5% coupon from prescriptions, for example. I am a government employee and since my insurance is through the government, I do not get rewards and such.


Posted from DISboards.com App for Android

 

[Beezle2]

[QUOTE
OP, are you talking about all coupons printed by the catalina machine, or are you referring to the coupons that get you $X-off your next shopping order wyb specific products?[/QUOTE]

I'm speaking of the ones that print at the register after you pay. Like if you buy one brand it will kick out something for a different brand. I get those all the time if I use my debit card. It just seems really weird that I never get anything when I use the EBT card. I am shopping Meijer and using my MPERKS code for each transaction so they kknow it's me and they have a long history to read from because I always use MPERKS and coupons no matter how I pay.

It seems not right that the store would do that on purpose but I have been paying attention this last month and I'm not imagining it.

 

[reginaastralis]

I'm sorry but I don't think it is unfair. I think those coupons are a perk you earn, and as you are not paying for the items you don't earn the perks.

Actually, I think the opposite is true. OP (and all of us) are paying for food stamps through taxes. As an added benefit, it would make sense to encourage coupon use for any purchases made through EBT and WIC, making the money the government is providing "go further". EBT doesn't pay for an entire month of food, it's supposed to be a supplement of what the government expects a family of that income bracket to pay for food. Therefore, coupon use is only a positive.

 

[Beezle2]

Its a government rule. Where I am, you do not get coupons or rewards if you use funds from a government program. No 5% coupon from prescriptions, for example. I am a government employee and since my insurance is through the government, I do not get rewards and such.


Posted from DISboards.com App for Android

Well color me surprised then! It woulls seem to make sense to me if a person is using EBT they could use the money saved from the coupons!

 

[MaleficentRN]

This does not make sense. The stores around here that have the coupons they are printed as the item is rung up not at the end. It may be that you are buying items that do not have a coupon prompt.

That is my experience at the grocery store. Often coupons come out as soon as my loyalty card is swiped at the beginning of the transaction.
I've never shopped at a Meijer. Maybe it's a store by store thing?

 

[worm761]

Its a government rule. Where I am, you do not get coupons or rewards if you use funds from a government program. No 5% coupon from prescriptions, for example. I am a government employee and since my insurance is through the government, I do not get rewards and such.


Posted from DISboards.com App for Android

This was my thought too. DH is a federal employee and we are not allowed to participate in any of the programs that give perks with our insurance. Something about there being kickbacks or whatnot.

 

[scrapquitler]

I hesitate to post this but it has been bugging me. Due to some recent family issues my husband and I have 2 children we are fostering. Because of that we receive EBT for them. I have noticed that when I shop with the EBT card I get zero coupons from the machine that ALWAYS spits them out when I use my debit card. Does anyone think this is a deliberate thing about EBT?

It really seems unfair as I would use them no matter how I was paying if they were offered.

Ask your store's customer service manager. There may be some kind of state regulation that prohibits them from giving you Catalina coupons when you pay with an EBT card....I'm thinking that might be the case the same way you can't get the gift cards from a pharmacy for transferring prescriptions if you are using a Federal health insurance like medicaid.

 

[supersnoop]

Just thinking through this:
1. There's no incentive for someone paying with EBT to use coupons; they don't see any savings.
2. The nature of these coupons; suggesting other brands and whatnot, may not be applicable to EBT customers since those brands/sizes/etc may not qualify under the EBT program
3. Any coupons would be earning a discount on the backs of the taxpayers. The purchaser could try to turn the coupons into cash by selling or trading for other items.

There are so many ways in which it wouldn't be right, that I imagine it's simply prohibited.

 

[Beezle2]

Just thinking through this:
1. There's no incentive for someone paying with EBT to use coupons; they don't see any savings.>>
Have to say, not true. I want the coupons so I can use them to lower the bill! I plan what I buy around whats on sale with a coupon. And I can still use a coupon that I have cut out of the Sunday paper so why not give me a coupon for tuna A when I bought tuna B this time? I think it's weird

2. The nature of these coupons; suggesting other brands and whatnot, may not be applicable to EBT customers since those brands/sizes/etc may not qualify under the EBT program.>>>

I't not WIC it's just Food Stamps. You can buy most grocery items with them.To use my first example..I would maybe buy tuna A next time if they gave me the coupon.

3. Any coupons would be earning a discount on the backs of the taxpayers. The purchaser could try to turn the coupons into cash by selling or trading for other items.>>>

I'm just not nefarious enough. I guess I don't get it. Who would trade me what for a $1.00 off cereal coupon? And I'm a tax payer..I'd be making money off the back of..myself? lol

Good thoughts though, but I think I will contact the store manager and ask. It has been bugging me and I want the darn coupons so I can stretch the amount!

 

[tvguy]

I just have to wonder if the OP in their current financial situation has changed their buying habits in such a way that the brands that trigger coupons are no longer being purchased.

Remember, the manufacturer, not the store determines who gets coupons. If you normally buy Heinz Catsup, I can see you getting a coupon for Hunts Catsup, but if you buy Store Brand Catsup, I can see you getting no coupon because even with the coupon, the brand name is likely going to be more expensive. You have already told them price, not brand, is more important to you.

 

[mrsklamc]

I usually don't get them at meijer when I pay cash either; just if I use credit/debit.

 

[tvguy]

I usually don't get them at meijer when I pay cash either; just if I use credit/debit.

Actually, you may have nailed it. They do use credit cards, debit cards and store rewards cards to track you and your purchases and custom taylor coupon to you buying habits. Maybe they can't do that with EBT, they certainly have no way to track you if you pay cash.