Corporate Policy: Albertson's Corporate Coupon Policy

[Benichole]

Originally Posted by melodyjg They have promised that in OC before to me so don't get your hopes up yet

They let me double a hot pocket catalina that said do not double today so I am going to try again when the next doublers come out. Hopefully

[Wasaver]

Originally Posted by Benichole They let me double a hot pocket catalina that said do not double today so I am going to try again when the next doublers come out. Hopefully

I spoke about this with our Albie's Manager and he told me that we can use the doublers even if the MQ says DND as the doublers are theirs and not the manufacturers.

HTH

[eabeeb]

Was told tonight by an Albertsons manager in West Linn that they have been instructed not to double internet coupons. I asked if it was a new policy, and he said he thought that it had always been the policy, but had not really been followed, but that recently they have been getting grief from upper management for it. He was pleasant about it, and actually did double my internet printables tonight, but I will avoid him as my checker from here on! I was really hoping to find something in Albertsons corporate policy which I could bring to him, but can't find anything which addresses this issue.

[stacyloucks]

Great information! Thanks to all that contributed here.

[kalmey]

I notice it's been a while since anyone has posted here but I had a question I hope someone can answer.

I had a huge problem at my Albs today.
I had bought some stuff using my $10 cat from a promo--BBQ sauce, Head & Shoulders for $2.49 (then I used $1 off coupon) some ribs, etc.and paid 11 cents after my cat. When i got home I realized I had Head & Shoulder conditioner instead of shampoo.
Today I went to take it back so I could get the cash and buy the right one and they said they could give me $1.49 back and I said what about the $1 from the coupon, since they were going to get reimbursed for the coupon. They said they could give me the coupon back and I asked how since it was a few days before.
She went to get a manager and he came over and started accusing me of COUPON FRAUD! He said they could only give me the 11 cents I actually paid them and I asked how that was right since they were getting reimbursed for the coupons. They also told me that coupon redemption was governed by the feds and that they could lose their jobs over giving me my money back. (I tried to find this on the internet and could not--anyone else?)
I have to say I was ok until that point. I didn't freak out (I always remember to be polite, so not to ruin the couponer name) but I asked them if they thought couponers were trying to steal products and if so how since it was like cash that they got back. I told them I could understand if I had brought in a bunch of stuff I bought with coupons and tried to get cash for them, but I made a mistake and now I was being accused of fraud. And really, if I was trying to rip them off, I wouldn't have brought in a receipt! Thankfully I'm not a new couponer or I would have been mortified!
Strangely, instead of giving me $1.49 they exchanged the conditioner for the shampoo, which was $4.79! That made no sense, although I'm glad they did it.
I still love shopping Albs, but this particular Albs has been doing some weird things to couponers lately.
Any insights?

[queenofthehivemomof5]

Originally Posted by kalmey I notice it's been a while since anyone has posted here but I had a question I hope someone can answer. I had a huge problem at my Albs today. I had bought some stuff using my $10 cat from a promo--BBQ sauce, Head & Shoulders for $2.49 (then I used $1 off coupon) some ribs, etc.and paid 11 cents after my cat. When i got home I realized I had Head & Shoulder conditioner instead of shampoo. Today I went to take it back so I could get the cash and buy the right one and they said they could give me $1.49 back and I said what about the $1 from the coupon, since they were going to get reimbursed for the coupon. They said they could give me the coupon back and I asked how since it was a few days before. She went to get a manager and he came over and started accusing me of COUPON FRAUD! He said they could only give me the 11 cents I actually paid them and I asked how that was right since they were getting reimbursed for the coupons. They also told me that coupon redemption was governed by the feds and that they could lose their jobs over giving me my money back. (I tried to find this on the internet and could not--anyone else?) I have to say I was ok until that point. I didn't freak out (I always remember to be polite, so not to ruin the couponer name) but I asked them if they thought couponers were trying to steal products and if so how since it was like cash that they got back. I told them I could understand if I had brought in a bunch of stuff I bought with coupons and tried to get cash for them, but I made a mistake and now I was being accused of fraud. And really, if I was trying to rip them off, I wouldn't have brought in a receipt! Thankfully I'm not a new couponer or I would have been mortified! Strangely, instead of giving me $1.49 they exchanged the conditioner for the shampoo, which was $4.79! That made no sense, although I'm glad they did it. I still love shopping Albs, but this particular Albs has been doing some weird things to couponers lately. Any insights?

Sorry that happened to you and glad that it worked out in your favor and they exchanged your product for the conditioner you wanted. It sounds like you did everything right, being polite, not loosing your cool and explaining that you were not trying to scam the store out of anything that you just bought the wrong product and wanted to get the correct one.

There are actually very few actual LAWS on the books regarding coupons. There are policies, both put forth by manufactures and stores (and we are supposed to play by those rules, even when we don't know what they are because some stores refuse to post them). So the notion that this is all regulated by the feds is not really true. What happens, is that there are a few unscrupulous folks out there that ruin the name of honest couponers by purchasing items with coupons, taking them back to the store and getting cash back with the full intent of making money. It is wrong and a store should be able to learn how to tell if someone is doing this with the intent of making money of if they are doing a legitimate return. Scammers usually "loose" the receipt, so the store does not know they used coupons...

Because there are no actual laws on the books about this and just policies..managers can make up the "rules" as they go along. However it is my opinion that you are entitled to either a full cash refund, store credit, exchange or your coupon back. I have had this issue one time at Albertsons and it took me a while for the CSM to understand that they had my coupon and were going to send it in for redemption to the coupon clearing house and get the money for the coupon (plus handling fee) and that they would be getting money for a product that they did not sell. So I stood my ground and said that I wanted the full cash price OR my coupons back. Since they could not give me back my coupons they eventually gave me cash back. (I bought some bug repellent that gave me hives and got it for free after coupons...the CSM actually just wanted to take back my stuff and give me nothing in return...hey free money on their part right?)

You may want to try to contact Albertsons Corp and see what their policy is on returning an item bought with a coupon.

Again we are supposed to play by the rules, even when we don't know what they are....:shrug7:

[crabtree122202]

Thanks for addressing this Heidi!

Kalmey, please post here if you get a response from Albies to your issues/questions please!

[kalmey]

So I just got off the phone with customer service.
I told him I was aware of what their corporate coupon policy was and that this specific item was not addressed. He said the corporate coupon policy didn't specifically address the returning of an item bought with a coupon, so he put me on hold to find out the answer to the question and when he came back he said he was told "That if I were to bring back an item that I had purchased with a coupon I would only receive back the amount I actually paid." I asked him "How is that right when the item I purchased with the coupon was now going back on the shelf to be repurchased and they were still going to receive the full coupon amount back from the manufacturer?" Furthermore I asked him, "If this is the actual policy, why isn't it stated in the coupon policy so people can be aware of it?"
While I was on the phone I asked him if there was a specific policy regarding their Twice the Value coupons and a manufacturer's Do Not Double coupon. Of course there was not. I just wondered since it is not the manufacturer paying double the coupon amount, but Albertson's taking a cut in their profit to gain loyal buyers.
Lastly I asked if any government agency regulates coupon redemption and coupon fraud. He did not know the answer to these questions but said that he would have someone contact me with the answers.
So I guess we will see what happens. What do you all think?

[kalmey]

Well I got a phone call from the manager of my local Albs yesterday. Apparently they just decided to forward him my email for him to deal with. This gives me the impression that it is up to the store manager what the policy is and therefore will vary from store to store.

1. You will only get a refund of what you actually paid because he CLAIMS they do not put the item back on the shelf to be resold. Also, depending on the item they might give it away to the local food bank or homeless shelter. I'm sure that they will claim it out on their balance sheet at full price. Plus they will get the full face value of the coupon + 8 cents. He did say that they would gladly exchange it for the product I intended to get.
2. As far as coupon fraud and redemption being governed by any government agency--he said that was not so.

The manager was a really nice. I guess I will just need to be really careful what I buy :-)

[crabtree122202]

It depends on what the item is if it will be reshelved and sold. Food items are not supost to be. But they are not nearly as strict about this as Walmart is for example. But atleast you are being offered an exchange of products.