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“New” Coupon Policies at Stores – What You Can Do!

I seem to get at least 1 email per day that sounds something like this:

“I went to the store yesterday and they told me they no longer accept printable coupons. Is this true?”

Sometimes it will be about a new policy limiting the number of coupons you can use, or stacking a manufacturer coupon with a store coupon, but it’s always a “new” policy that I’ve never heard of.  And it’s almost never true.

If a cashier tells you they have a new policy in place just ask to see the new policy.  If there is really a new coupon policy in effect there will be written proof.  Corporate does not send these new policies telepathically.  Anything as important as a policy will be documented.

They should be able to provide something to back up their new policy.  If they don’t, ask to use their telephone so that you can call corporate and verify this radical policy change.  If it’s true – they will not mind.

More than likely, the store will “allow” you to go ahead and use your coupons “this one time” and never show you anything.  If, however, they do provide proof of the new policy change, be gracious about it.   Thank them for the new information and let them know you are happy to comply with their rules and policies.  Also be sure to let them know that it is confusing for consumers when they do not advertise their coupon policy changes.  How can you follow rules that you are not aware of?  Thank them for their help in clearing up the mystery and ask if you can have a copy of their policy for future reference.

Most coupon policies can be found on the store’s website (look at the bottom of the page in the fine print for a link) or at the customer service desk at the store.  If you cannot find it, then email the store and ask for a copy of their coupon policy.  Be sure to include any specific coupon questions in your email in case those are not addressed in their policy.  Print and carry a copy of the policy with you when you go to the store so you can show it to the cashier in case there is ever an issue.

Hopefully this information will make your shopping trips a little less frustrating!

    30 Comments

  1. I went to Staples last Tuesday and tried to use an Office Max “$10 off $30” coupon on $31 in merchandise, most which I would submit for an easy rebate. The manager rang me up and said I could use the Office Max coupon, because they do accept competitors coupons, but it would “kill” my rebates, since it would take a percentage off of each item, and I would pay less than the rebate – so, I didn’t use it. Does anyone know if this is true, if you use a competitors coupon and pay less than the rebate will you still get the staples easy rebate? Thanks for all the great tips!!

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  2. @Stephanie LOL! No worries. I took the maximum dosage of my “migraine” prescription, stuck a disposable heat pad on my neck, and went to bed. After that, I woke up hungry, so I had a nice green salad with boiled eggs. Tasty and not likely to contribute to my headache. Yeah, my head still hurts but I’m not quite as cranky as I was before. ;oP

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  3. Anytime I end up quoting or showing them there company policy is when I get the whole “new” policy thing. My mother has worked for Meijer for 30 years, after shopping there and being told by a Manager, yes a manager that they no longer double coupons (and showing her in the paper where it stated that they did), I called the store director then my moms boss who I have known since I was like 10. The cashier was punished for lying to start with, and the manager ended up getting fired.
    . I had this very problem at Kroger using Catalinas last week, the Store Manager himself showed me where it said one per purchase when I explained in the coupon world there is a huge difference between Purchase and Transaction. I contacted customer service and they told me they were sorry but basically store managers couldnt have complaints against them because everything is simply sent to the store.

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  4. Oh and I know there’s $2-$3 coupons out there too, but mostly not ones I use at Giant or Safeway. I tend to use those at the drugstores. Also, Giant or Safeway won’t take any for free items either. There also must be that extra barcode on them as well.

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  5. More often I get refusal to take printed coupons at grocery stores. I have never had this happen at Rite Aid, CVS or Walgreens just yet. At Giant and Safeway, they keep a big book of fraudulent coupons and have to check if any that you have are part of them. It is embarrassing and take them a lot of time and causes a line of angry people to get backed up behind you. So one day I asked the manager if I could look through the book with him to see if I had any of the fraud coupons by mistake. I noted a few things and told him how to make it easier. The fraud coupons are almost always 1.) way over $1, and 2.) have long expiration dates. I told him that if the amount is $1 or under and the expiration date is within a few weeks… it’s usually legit. He agreed after the review of the book and when I showed him the ones I printed at legit sites online. I haven’t seemed to have any problems since then, so maybe I helped make it easier for them and other customers going forward. 🙂

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    • @Donna Mc., That is great that you showed them how to spot fraudulent coupons! Think of how much money that store will save because of your help! I always groan when I see coupons that the cashier has accepted that are obviously fake – and then they scrutinize my 50 cent newspaper coupon! LOL

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    • @Donna Mc., I’m a cashier at Meijer and we also have a list of fraudulent coupons, and we always get updates in the same folder so I’m sure that is where a new policy would go if we were to get one, which we haven’t in the past two years that I’ve worked there. This was a very good article though for dealing with it at other stores thank you. -Amanda

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  6. Pingback: How to Respond When Informed of a “New” Coupon Policy « Totally Temberton

  7. I ran into this problem just the other day @ Kroger.. First off, the cashier was in a crabby mood.. When he was scanning my coupons, they weren’t scanning. He said “did you even buy this”… I was a bit irritated at that point, and snapped said YES… Didn’t you pay any attention??? ugh

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  8. This is great advice. I have had the “we don’t accept Internet coupons” anymore. I just said, “oh ok.” I got home, looked up the policy online and they do accept them. I went back to the store and spoke to the mgr who assured me they DO accept them…and that she would speak with the cashier. I don’t know why i didn’t challenge it standing there, but I was taken aback a bit.

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  9. I find that the times in which the stores offer me a survey to fill out online is a good time to inform the corporation that clerks are saying things that are not true.

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    • @Stephen, So true!
      There’s a survey thing that prints out with my Wal-mart receipt. I fill the survey on a regular basis not for the chance to win a gift card (although that would also be nice) but to let corporate know that there are some things that could be better.
      If they’re asking for my opinion, why shouldn’t I give it?

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  10. One thing I’ve learned is that the cashiers don’t always understand their policy or don’t listen to what the managers actually tell them. And then they are concerned that they will get in trouble if they accept the wrong thing. For example, I was at Tom Thumb and the cashier said, “Oh, we no longer accept printable coupons.” Obviously, I asked to see the manager since I shop there EVERY week. He came over and explained to her that they don’t accept printables for FREE items, which is typically the policy for all stores.

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  11. Great advice, Wal-mart is one of the worst. Currently our local Wal-mart is not accepting any coupons due to fraud. Hopefully they will reverse this policy decision.

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