Conversation with Cashier and Customer Service

[LovesDivine]

I was at Albertson's today checking out and heard a Customer Service tell my cashier that she could only accept one coupon per order. So I of course questioned what exactly did that mean?

What they were talking about was the Marcal coupons. They clearly state one coupon per person. They asked me how people get so many of these coupons and I told them that I purchase 6 papers a week. I told them that some people trade them and some buy them on Ebay and other coupon clipping sites. Customer service told me that for this particular coupon it says you can not auction it. I told them that my experience on Ebay is not that the item is being auctioned but that it is sold for a stated price.

Anyway, the conversation went on to where they also told me that they are not allowed to accept 2 coupons on a BOGO because the way their registers work, the free item actually rings up at zero dollars so it is NOT being purchased. I told them that Publix allows 2 on a BOGO because the coupon companies allow one per item purchased regardless of the stores sale. I showed them a Publix receipt and we noticed that in our area, Publix BOGO's ring in as item 1, price, item 2, price, and then after item 2 is a minus for the price of the item. So technically the item is not ringing in at zero dollars.

So, just a heads up that at least at my store, Providence and Bloomingdale, they are really watching coupons and you will no longer be able to use 2 coupons on a BOGO.

About the Marcal. They said that you needed to leave the store and re-enter to purchase another one and use the coupon. And they asked me to please ask you to have patience with them. They are just doing their jobs and don't want to lose their jobs. Recently a cashier that never missed work and was good at his job was terminated for accepting coupons in a way that went against their policy. They are very nervous about making an error and losing their jobs too.

Thanks for listening!!!!

[mollysmom]

Just one more reason to continue to shop at Publix and not Albertson's. (: Thanks for the info.

[teston]

Oh no ! :hectic1::hectic1::hectic1: The Marcal is just about the only reason I visit Albertsons anymore. I was there Sunday afternoon and they took more than 1 of them at that time. The cashier is one that I know has been there a long time. I wonder if it just started today?

[LovesDivine]

Teston I think its been a long time coming. Even Publix is cracking down on coupon usage. In a very passive way I let the cashier and customer service rep know that their competition is very much more "friendly" and kinda looked around at the 3 service lines that were open and not packed...versus right up the road the TWO Publixes that had 8 lanes open each that were packed.

It pains me to see a business running themselves out of business but I have a feeling its like a case of they just can't order in the quantities that Publix can so they have to police harder. Just doesn't make sense to me as a couponer when I know the coupon companies will reimburse. But they told me about vendor and what not audits and losing business so maybe they know something we dont.

[mattfohs2006]

I am sorry for your experience, but clearly those associates do not know what they are talking about. I work at an Albertsons in Pinellas county as a Front End Supervisor and we have always taken multiple marcal coupons per order, no overage through. As for the BOGO at my store we have always done one coupon per product, we are not suppose to allow overage but most the time as long as the register does not beep you can get through without an issue, especially if we are busy.

Maybe it's just our two store over here in Pinellas but we are so busy for the most part to worry about coupons, so as long as they scan, your good to go! Now of course every cashier works differently and your can catch one on a bad day who wants to make a fight about following the rules to the letter but for the most part if you are friendly and get the right items for the coupons and they scan without issue (beeps) you can get out of our store without issue.

[sdasilva27]

What store in Pinellas? I work there and my store in Manatee is so bad, that I haven't gone in months. I can't see driving there for an item or two anyway. If your store is good and is near work, I may start shopping there again.

[LovesDivine]

Matt maybe you or your manager can give our store a call and find out the truth about what the cashier and customer service associate told me about the coupon policy. One thing that I have noticed about Albertson's is that it seems to be up to the managers decision on the coupon policy. Their competition seems to be more consistent from store to store...

Don't get me wrong, I love my store and the people that work there. Very friendly, they know me and always smile and are there to help if they can. I just read about others experiences at other stores, and see so many closing...it saddens me that customer service and policy may be a contributing factor!!

[mattfohs2006]

Matt maybe you or your manager can give our store a call and find out the truth about what the cashier and customer service associate told me about the coupon policy. One thing that I have noticed about Albertson's is that it seems to be up to the managers decision on the coupon policy. Their competition seems to be more consistent from store to store...

Don't get me wrong, I love my store and the people that work there. Very friendly, they know me and always smile and are there to help if they can. I just read about others experiences at other stores, and see so many closing...it saddens me that customer service and policy may be a contributing factor!!

You are right on the coupon policy, I have been a Front End Supervisor for over 3 years now and if have never really had a coupon specific policy other that no overage. We all at my store tend to be pretty lax on coupons because we process them properly and get our money back. I discussed this with my Front End Manager the other day and she told me some stores including yours have been extremely bad on turning in their coupons properly and thus not getting the money their suppose to get back and thus are trying the limit coupon use in order to limit their loss, which we both thought was stupid because they would not have the issue if they were turning them in right.

I do the best I can to accommodate couponer's since I am one myself, one reason I think our stores have so many issues with coupons is our POS system sucks. I had a customer the other night with rain checks and coupons on the Marcel products which he had well over 30,but the way the system works though we have to enter each price and coupon amount by overriding the system which is very time consuming and aggravating.

[LovesDivine]

Interesting that my store is not turning in the coupons correctly! Who is it that typically turns the coupons in? I bet as a manager it is interesting to you to see what we get all excited about in the sale ads!

And I agree, Albertson's cash registers are a bit of a pain. Last year when the bumblebee tuna was on sale for a dollar and there were dollar coupons out, I special ordered 100 pouches. When I went to pick it up, they literally had to close a lane for me so that a cashier could ring in my sale. It was very tedious for her to do the transaction.