You can find cashiers who are insecure, overly fussy, or downright hostile about accepting coupons in just about every store that accepts coupons (right now, according to posts over on the San Antonio Budget Grocery Facebook page, some of you are running into problems at Walgreens and HEB, but in the past I've also heard about similar issues from Target and Walmart shoppers.)
So how can you maintain your sanity at the checkout stand while still getting a good deal and saving money for your family? Here are some tips that can make dealing with a coupon-challenged cashier less stressful or confrontational.
- Be prepared. In an ideal world, all cashiers would receive extensive training on how to accept and handle coupons within their particular company's coupon policy. In reality, many cashiers just don't have the experience dealing with coupons that even a new couponer will have. Remember, only about 3% of the coupons that are circulated each year actually get redeemed -- so while it seems like handling coupons is part of a cashier's everyday tasks, it may actually not be something they do for more than a few transactions a day. Practice makes perfect, on either side of the cash register -- and patience goes a long way when someone is practicing a skill, as any parent will tell you.
- Have a copy of the store's coupon policy. I can't stress this enough -- having a printed copy of the store's coupon policy tucked into your coupon binder will save you so much stress and heartache at the cash register. It may very well be the first time your cashier has even seen the policy, and it makes contending with misconceptions (like the old 'you can't use coupons on Register Rewards items at Walgreens' urban myth) much simpler. Go here for links to the coupon policies of the major grocery stores here in San Antonio -- so you don't have to waste time googling them for yourself.
- Ask for the manager. The manager on duty can clarify for both you and the cashier how a particular store interprets company policy -- and many chains do leave some components of couponing up to a store manager's discretion if a situation isn't already outlined in writing. The manager may not agree with your vision of how the transaction should work 100% of the time, but the exchange will help you a) decide in the moment whether a deal is still worth it and b) if a particular store should be avoided in the future. NOTE: Some chains (especially Walmart) actually require managers to approve large coupon transactions...not because they have to scrutinize a shopper's coupons, but because they need to make sure a customer is actually there, and the cashier isn't trying to steal from their own till and use coupons to hide the theft!
- If you don't receive a coupon from the cashier you were expecting to print at checkout, be sure to ask for the manager then too. Some stores have coupons printing out at the register (like Register Rewards at Walgreens or catalinas at HEB), but they'll only print if the cashier has paper and ink in the printer. So a manager can help troubleshoot that situation for you. And if a coupon prints and your cashier tries to pocket it, you should get a manager right away -- stores consider that internal theft.
- If you're paying with a debit or credit card, don't swipe until all your coupons have been confirmed. Otherwise, you could wind up with a temporary double charge on your account if you have to re-start the transaction. That can be a real hassle if you're on a tight budget, even if it's only for a few days while the voided sale falls off your account.
- Don't feel guilty about walking away. If a deal is falling apart at the register, there's no shame in asking your cashier to void or return the transaction. You should always have a bottom line in your head of what you're willing to pay for an item -- and if it's not a good financial match for you at that store, it might be somewhere else (even in the same company.) And be sure to retrieve your coupons!
- Share your experiences. If you have an especially positive or negative experience in a particular store, that's something that other people should know about. Take time to send the company an email or give them a call on their customer service hotlines, and for sure tell your fellow couponers on the SABGE Facebook page all about it. This is a terrific way to help redirect more traffic to stores and companies who really get the couponing experience and are actively soliciting those customers into their stores.
- Develop relationships with coupon-friendly cashiers. If you find not just a store that gets it right, but a especially knowledgable cashier, you could be at the beginning of a beautiful friendship. For example, I have favorite cashiers at the two closest CVS stores to my house, who walked me through the intricacies of the CVS coupon policy back when I first began couponing. Now, I save extra coupons for both women, and it's always such a great feeling to walk into the store and know someone there is excited to see what kind of deal I'm going to work that day! :D
Hi Jennifer!
ReplyDeleteIs there a "right" way to hand over different coupons at each of the major stores- CVS, Walgreen's, HEB, Target?
For example, I read this is the way to do it at CVS- CVS dollar off transaction coupons (ex. $3 of $10 beauty purchase), then CVS store coupons/manufacturer coupons, and finally your ECBs.
Just wondering if there is a "right" way at the other 3 stores... TKS! Ari
In general, you should always give a dollars off transaction coupon before anything else; otherwise, the rest of your coupons could drop you below the minimum you need to use the dollars-off coupon. That rule of thumb will serve you well wherever you go.
ReplyDeleteAs far as any additional coupon usage tips, I haven't found a difference in how things are rung up at any of the other stores, so whichever way you want to manage them should be fine. I do like to group like coupons together, which saves time when the cashier wants to count items before applying multiple coupons. :D
I also have had issues with HEB and Walgreens. Generally, HEB is pretty good. I go to the one on 1604 and Potranco. Recently, they started a policy that if the coupon doesn't scan, you can't use it. The funny thing is that half the time their yellow coupons won't scan. I was told I couldn't use an Excedrine coupon for this reason, but I had printed it from their site! Also, the Walgreens just a little down Potranco from there had a seriously rude cashier. I warned the girl in a friendly way that I was going to make a couple different transactions in order to use my RR. She told me in a very rude manner that I'm only allowed 2 RR items period. I asked if she meant 2 of the same kind or if it was 2 regardless of the items purchased. She went through a long explanation that showed she clearly had no clue what she was talking about. I asked her where on the add it said that there was a limit of two total RR. She was very snotty and said that they're allowed to limit quantities. I told her that wasn't the policy last week. She said, Fine, do you want to talk to my manager? After talking to the manager, I was right. She told me she was sorry, but in the tone of voice that a 16yr old would. Then, as she was ringing me up, she actually stopped to do transactions for other customers who had gotten in line after my first transaction! I will not be returning to that Walgreens.
ReplyDeleteIf the coupon is an Heb coupon then as long as you have the item. They should also do this with manufacturer coupons also. They may ask to see item but other then that should not reject them. The only coupons that Heb can't take are Internet coupons that don't scan. I am a fellow couponer and a Heb cashier.
DeleteThanks Jennifer for telling them to find a coupon friendly cashier. It helps to have a caring compassionate person on the other side of counter!
Deletemany cashiers now a days do not know real customer service. many of them are rude, impatient, never say hello, especially at walmart, target
DeleteSpeaking as a cashier - yes, that Walgreen's cashier was a little bit rude but when presented with something new she probably didn't know what else to do and I'm betting she had a bad coupon experience in the past. As well, if she was alone and there was a line backing up and she KNEW you were going to take a while to get through the rest of your transactions I can't fault her for trying to get others out of the store first. You make it sound like she suspended your transaction in the middle to stop and handle someone else, which is clearly not the case. You had finished one transaction and paid. If other customers were waiting, it was their right to get out of the store fast and not have to wait behind someone doing multiple transactions with coupons, and it's always less stressful as a cashier when you don't have a line backing up. She could have been more polite about asking you if it was ok to let others go first but again I sympathise more with her than with you! You're the one playing with loopholes in policy to save a few cents and I wouldn't want to deal with you at the register either.
ReplyDeleteAnd retail management is notorious for NOT backing up the cashiers even if the customer is wrong, so you saying you were right doesn't convince me (you might have been, but you might also have been just nasty enough with the manager that he or she didn't dare tell you 'no'). If you get an attitude with someone working in retail they'll lay down and let you walk all over them rather than risk you going to corporate over it. Most of us can't afford to lose our jobs over a coupon and don't want the headache you bring with you when you start nitpicking coupon policies at the register. If you had your coupon policy print-out with you, maybe you could have educated her more politely and saved everyone some time and headache!