Memphis Krogers-coupon policy change

[attaroa]

Today I went to the Kroger on Houston Levee and used 2 4.00 coupons for the glade candles that were marked down to 4.50. They would not let me use the coupons and said that today they got a fax they would be posting on the cash registers. The fax states that Kroger will no longer be accepting any coupons that will make an item 75% off or more. They will also not adjust prices so I cant use a 2.00 coupon on an item that is 1.99.

The customer service lady I spoke with about this said they have been losing too much money on coupon fraud because people come in using too many coupons (not sure how using too many is coupon fraud but w/e).

I told her the new policy isn't a good way to keep customers and she just got huffy.

Granted 75% off is great, but a lot of stuff I get at kroger is more than that if not free. I put in a lot of time couponing, and if all Krogers now go by this policy, I am not sure stopping there is worth it. If anything, I will definetly slow down on shopping there. Costco has fresher produce anyhow :)

[kensdoll]

My understanding is that the 75% off only applies to internet coupons. Anyone else have a different take?

My experience is that for every associate you speak with, you will get a different understanding of the coupon policy. So,.....I always speak with a manager.

If our local stores got this fax also, I will be asking for a copy of it. I just want to understand the policy and follow it correctly. In turn, I want the employees to understand it and follow it correctly. Surely, some consistency isn't too much to ask for.

[pedspeech]

My understanding is that the 75% off only applies to internet coupons. Anyone else have a different take?

This was my understanding as well. I think asking for a copy is a reasonable request.

[julsclipper]

My understanding is that the 75% off only applies to internet coupons. Anyone else have a different take?

My experience is that for every associate you speak with, you will get a different understanding of the coupon policy. So,.....I always speak with a manager.

If our local stores got this fax also, I will be asking for a copy of it. I just want to understand the policy and follow it correctly. In turn, I want the employees to understand it and follow it correctly. Surely, some consistency isn't too much to ask for.

I had a run-in with a Kroger store I rarely shop at about 6 weeks ago. All my internet coupons were denied by 3 different employees. Manger, of course, wasn't available. I finally got the manager on the phone and he stated they have never accepted internet coupons. You can imagine what I said next. Anyway, the manager then back-pedals and says I should've brought the coupons to him for pre-approval before going to check out. Huh? Do you take IPs or not?!!! Anyway, I ended up telling him I would never shop there again. My Kroger closest to home welcomes ALL my coupons.

This business about not receiving savings of more than 75% and IPs makes sense then (based on my last IP experience). They were all claiming coupon fraud but none of them were able to explain what they defined as coupon fraud. I fired off an angry letter to corporate but forgot to mail it. (Turns out I had bigger fish to fry so this fell to the bottom of my priority list.)

[running2live]

I don't understand this policy! Don't they get the money plus .08 cents from the manufacturer?? What do they care if you get it at more than 75 % off!! I'm deeply disturbed by this. I'm in in the Mid-Atlantic division and hope this doesn't spread. That's ridiculous.

[attaroa]

Thanks for the suggestion on asking for a copy, I will do that next time. I'm just going to keep going to my regular Kroger, which that one was not. Hopefully my regular Kroger won't start giving me problems.

Some of their clearance items are marked down 75% off so what makes a difference if I use a coupon that makes an item 75% off?

*shrug*

[anbfraz]

I think the main issue is IP's. For whatever reason, my store has gotten pretty stinky about taking them over the past few weeks. All my other Q's are fine, but the IP's are somehow suspect.

[QuponQueen00]

Uh oh. I really hope this doesn't happen for all Krogers. I love my Kroger. They have taken every coupon I have put in front of them, and have doubled all that were eligible. I haven't gotten any of the lame-ness that some people have gotten. Also, there's a little coupon fairy at my Kroger. He or she goes around leaving extra coupons on products, and more than once I have gotten a GOOD deal with these. So nice of them. I really hope they won't do this. I got 8 boxes of pasta today for .08 a box.

[eyunka]

I will check and see if i can get a copy of the policy and post it here. I can understand why everyone is upset I shop with Kroger as well and work for them. We try to keep a happy medium for everyone where we have some savings and also make a profit as well. If we don't them eventually if affects the workers and prices.

My opinion does not reflect the thoughts of the Kroger Co, these are my opinions.

[eyunka]

I have a copy of the policy, if you want a copy PM me

[karenann33]

I just went to FOUR Krogers and got oatmeal to go bars for 88% off and I didn't have a problem at any one of them. Of course I was using manu coupons not IP. I'm near memphis.

[pedspeech]

Eyunka was gracious enough to send me the info on the policy and I will post it here for all. Please send her reps!

Internet Coupons



PAH (Print at Home) Coupons


Effective Immediately:

The Company has developed a new policy on accepting PAH coupons.
Kroger has recently partnered with Coupons Inc. The industry leader in PAH coupons to now offer PAH coupons on the recently re-launched Kroger.com. Please remove the old Internet Coupon Policy and discard.

On the following page are the Best Practices for accepting Internet (PAH) Coupons. Please cover these Best Practices with all Front-End Personnel and Management. Post on your Front End Communication Board for reference.

Visual Security Features of Kroger.Com coupons and most valid Internet coupons include:

A. Product Image-Picture of the item.
B. Watermark Image for the product or manufacturer.
C. Expiration Date and the Value Field are printed using a “Custom” font. Look for mismatched fonts in expiration date or value fields.
D. The expiration date will be printed over a pattern (it may be less visible on a gray scale, but is still there)
E. Each coupon printed has a “UNIQUE” serial number
F. The outer edge or trim of the coupon contains microprint with the product name, offer and expiration date of the coupon.
G. Barcodes are printed using the software that optimizes the print for a consumer’s printer making them easily scanned. Barcodes that are blurry or grainy in appearance and will not scan should not be accepted.





BEST PRACTICES FOR ACCEPTING



INTERNET COUPONS



1-21-08


http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o236/eyunka/coupon.jpg


SECURITY FEATURES OF KROGER.COM COUPONS (& most other valid internet coupons):
Alpha Characters below coincide with the sample coupon above

A: It has the product image
B: Most have a watermark image for the product/manufacturer
C: Expiration and Offer fields are printed using a custom font.
Look for mismatched letters in expiration date or value, or obvious use of standard fonts like Arial or Times
D: The expiration date is printed over a pattern (it may be less visible on grayscale prints,)
E: Coupon’s unique serial number may be verified at www.printcoupons.com (http://www.printcoupons.com/)
F: The outer edge of the coupon contains microprint with the same product, offer, and expiration date printed on the face of the coupon.
G: Coupon will scan

************************************************** *******************
WE NOW ACCEPT ALL INTERNET COUPONS UNLESS THE FOLLOWING APPLIES. DO NOT ACCEPT INTERNET COUPONS IF:

· Coupon does not scan



· Free Product Coupon

High dollar value (coupon value is 75% or more of the value of the product)
EX: Product retail is 10.00 Coupon is for 7.50 or higher, Do Not Accept
· Coupon Appears out of proportion, blurry, or are obvious duplicates
· Altered coupons in ANY way

Please note we will continue to do the following:
ü Double coupons up to 60 cents
ü Accept only one coupon on Identical or “Like” items (all other coupons will be redeemed at face value)

[hislilgemini]

At the end it states they will continue to double up to .60 and only one like coupon...i have never had a problem using more than one of the same coupon...has anyone else?

[dianeandruss]

At the end it states they will continue to double up to .60 and only one like coupon...i have never had a problem using more than one of the same coupon...has anyone else?


I've always been able to use as many as I wanted, but they would only double the first 8 "like" coupons. I hope that doesn't change. If so, I will be shopping somewhere else.

[Mikki 316]

I don't use many IPs at Kroger anyway. But, I use the heck outta MQs, especially during Mega Events! Hope the 8 like qs doesn't change.

[mamawhit322]

Hrm- interesting. I don't shop at Kroger much- just to get my free TP. But I'm so stocked up on that...

If the fax hadn't been posted, I would've asked a few men from my church about it. One is the district meat manager in the Memphis area (I *think* that's right) and the other is the store manager at the store on Riverdale and Shelby Drive.

[eyunka]

The policy i provided comes from the Corp Office. Which we get from the Cinnicinatti Office.

Hrm- interesting. I don't shop at Kroger much- just to get my free TP. But I'm so stocked up on that...

If the fax hadn't been posted, I would've asked a few men from my church about it. One is the district meat manager in the Memphis area (I *think* that's right) and the other is the store manager at the store on Riverdale and Shelby Drive.

[kimmeebee]

I think this may have been a company-wide policy that is sporadically enforced, rather than a new policy. I don't remember when, but a couple of years ago I called Kroger corporate to inquire about their coupon policy and was quoted the 75% rule.

Give it a month eyunka, your Kroger will forget all about it. :)

[eliza08]

I shop at the Kroger on Goodman Rd. in Southaven/Horn Lake. During the day there's never a time I don't see someone w/ an IP. I've never had any problem using my IP's, and if I ever experience a problem, they'll lose a lot of business. There's just no point of shopping without coupons.

[CoveredinGrace]

Something to note is the exact wording on that memo..."75% of the VALUE of the product"...so my personal take, being literal here would be this:
If the Hershey's Bliss is usually marked $3.99/bag, then $3.99 is its' value. Just because they put that bag on sale doesn't mean the actual value of the product changed, kwim? So if they marked it down to $2.99 and you have a valid $2.00/1 coupon, even though the product would only cost you .99, the value hasn't changed (the worth of the product)-its' value is still $3.99, so $2.00/1 is not more than 75% of the VALUE of the product. I'm quite sure some coupon haters may not agree, but I sincerely think that is an accurate take on the issue. I get the policy, it makes sense, b/c most 75% off coupons aren't valid when they are IP's, but they really need to remember that the MSRP is the value off which they should base that 75%, not whatever crazy sale price they have going at the time. I would really like to see corporate clarify that for those poor cashiers who are going to be turning coupons away falsely and losing business for the company, all because they don't spend hundreds of hours on sites like HCW to really understand legitimate couponing, ya know?