Which is the best method?

[CrisNW]

Which method do you find most helpful when presenting coupons to a cashier:

Have them ring up all your purchases and then present all the coupons? If you do so, should you hand in the manufacturer coupon first and then the store coupon (if using both for purchase of one item)? Or vise versa?

OR Should you give the coupon(s) for the item purchased to the cashier as she rings them up? Again, should you hand in the manufacturer coupon first and then the store coupon (if using both for purchase of one item)?

Granted the second method may be hard to keep up with since you'll never know which item the cashier will ring up next, but would this method be easier on them (because I know some cashiers are the brightest bulb in the store :rolleyes24:)?

What methods have you found useful when checking out hassle-free?

Cris

[carisal]

I always give my coupons altogether at the end after everything is rung up, with manufacturer coupons on top and store coupons on the bottom(then competitor coupons on the very bottom, if applicable).

UNLESS I am at Kmart for doubles then I lay the coupon on top of the respective item. I would recommend that method at kmart doubles, hands down, just because of their "system"

I know at walgreens it is recommended to give manu coupons first then store coupons if you are getting overage because it will avoid beeps, but not too familiar with other stores....ETA- if you have a "free" or "bogo" coupon requiring a purchase amount to be written on the coupon, I always put those items at the very end of the transaction and give the coupon with the item, so the cashier doesnt have to look up a price...

[tmsmalley]

There are people that stand there and hand over each coupon with each item, but I don't have the patience for that myself (and if I was the checker it would make me insane). I had them all over at the end, along with my store club card, any $ off your next order catalinas, soda can refund slips, etc.

I do recommend however, that if you have any FREE coupons, you put those items aside and have them rung last. Then give the coupons for the FREE's first because if they need to go back and check what the cost of the free item was to ring it up or write it on the coupon, they'll be able to find the item easily. They can scroll back on the screen in most cases, but only so far so if you have a big order, it is a real pain. I learned this from a friendly checker the second time me, the bagger and the checker had to dig through 2 carts of groceries to find the price on a bag of dog biscuits. :)

I pull my coupons from my binder as I go through the store, set them in a special slot in my binder so they're all together and ready to roll. I put the FREEs aside and put the free items in the seat part of the cart so I don't have to dig them out of the basket part either.

Hope this makes some sense and helps a bit!
Tess

[Cin42382]

I present mine at the end mainly because while the items are being scanned I am helping to bag the items, so I cant concentrate on teh cashier ringing up coupons. When he/she rings them at the end I can watch to ake sure they are all scanned/scanned correctly.

[mybabysmomma]

I don't have a real system yet. I just stick the coupons in my pocket as I go through the store and pull the items. Then when I check out, I always make sure to hand my club card first, just because at Kroger the coupons wont double or triple if you don't have them scan the card before the q's. Im not sure if this is the case with all stores, but I mainly go to Kroger.

[Cin42382]

I don't have a real system yet. I just stick the coupons in my pocket as I go through the store and pull the items. Then when I check out, I always make sure to hand my club card first, just because at Kroger the coupons wont double or triple if you don't have them scan the card before the q's. Im not sure if this is the case with all stores, but I mainly go to Kroger.


I put them in my pocket too LOL. Although I make sure its a pocket with a zipper so they dont fall out HAHAHA. Or carry an extra envelope with you.

[t42180w]

Just as a courtsey to the cashier I always put the BOGO items together with the coupons. I also wait until the end of the transaction to turn over my club card & coupons...just because I like to see the original total before all my discounts. Just a personal gratification for me to see what the number was & then what it is afterwards! LOL

[CrisNW]

Oh, you all have great advice. I've been giving them all at the end too and so far no complaints. I too use a binder that has a special slot for the coupons I'm using for the transaction. Thanks so much for the feedback!