For crying out loud....I guess I'm done.

[aurorahorse]

So I try to get 4 Wacky Mac today...$1.49 each. I use 4 .75 off coupons, figuring the first 3 would double completely, and the last would double only .71 to equal total price.

The cashier, who is some sort of CS manager, is swiping his card. I ask him why. He says that he can't let it double since it exceeds the price. I ask if it doesn't double up to the price. He says yes. I ask where is it showing that. He says "Oh, it won't do it."

Do you think I'm stupid?!!

I tell him HT does it. He says they don't. I tell him to forget it...I'd just go to HT.

I explain that it's done that in the past (the guy isn't new there or anything) and ask if it's just changed. He says it has. Whatever. I don't argue with him because I've tried in the past, and he doesn't give an inch.

I come home and call CS for Lowes. They say that it should have been done, apologize etc. Send me an email saying it should have happened.

Just now, I get this email:

Good morning Ms. xxxxxx,

Thank you for your patience while we researched the coupon issue that you encountered at our xxxxx store.

We have found that the copy of the coupon policy that we went you is an outdated copy. The policy is if the coupon exceeds the cost of the item, the coupon is not doubled.

We have emailed the issue to our store management team and also our marketing department. The store will contact you within in 24 hours.

We apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for shopping with Lowes Foods.

I ask them to confirm that they literally will not double it at all. I have said over and over that I don't want overage...just up to the price. I let her know that if they won't double even up to the price of the item, I won't shop there anymore, or at least very rarely.

[oscamaya]

YIKES! They have changed their coupon policy AGAIN this year. I just went to their website to check and they have added this:

A doubled coupon will not be honored if the doubled amount exceeds the retail or sale price of the coupon item. No cash back will be awarded.

[nccouponqueen]

Geez! That is ridiculous.

[aurorahorse]

YIKES! They have changed their coupon policy AGAIN this year. I just went to their website to check and they have added this:

A doubled coupon will not be honored if the doubled amount exceeds the retail or sale price of the coupon item. No cash back will be awarded.

So that is different? I thought it said that before, but I don't remember. That is just insane! Makes more work for the cashiers, because the computer was still trying to add up and fix it at the end. And it scares away potential customers, too.

[joshmamabear]

This situation is very frustrating for us couponers. Freds has done this for a long time now that I don't go there for doubles on Saturdays. If an item is .99 and there is .50 coupon for it, it will not double to .99 to make it free but will just take the coupon at face value. Not worth a trip, would rather go to WM :)

I'm pretty sure they do the odd numbers pricing of their items like 1.49, 1.99 so that coupons with face value .50 or $1 will not double to amounts over their sale price and that is how they can get out of doubling our coupons :sad:

[aurorahorse]

This situation is very frustrating for us couponers. Freds has done this for a long time now that I don't go there for doubles on Saturdays. If an item is .99 and there is .50 coupon for it, it will not double to .99 to make it free but will just take the coupon at face value. Not worth a trip, would rather go to WM :)

I'm pretty sure they do the odd numbers pricing of their items like 1.49, 1.99 so that coupons with face value .50 or $1 will not double to amounts over their sale price and that is how they can get out of doubling our coupons :sad:

Well, if they want to play dirty, fine. I just posted a notice on my Facebook account letting people know about their new policy. Whatever. It's not like they even care. That is ridiculous! I agree on why they do the prices that way.

[oscamaya]

Yeah, that part is new. It is not in the coupon policy that is posted at the top of this forum....which was just updated not too long ago.

Yeah, it is definitely not worth it to go to LF. I don't go there that much anyway, but I do go there for this kind of stuff.

[aurorahorse]

Yeah, that part is new. It is not in the coupon policy that is posted at the top of this forum....which was just updated not too long ago.

Yeah, it is definitely not worth it to go to LF. I don't go there that much anyway, but I do go there for this kind of stuff.

Ah...I just figured the guy didn't like me. lol (He's not been the easiest to deal with.) Sorry to be the bearer of bad news....I didn't realize it really was their policy...I thought it was being misinterpreted and though someone would tell me it was such. Of all the trips I've made the past few months, I can only remember the body wash being one that wasn't for something that was just under the price. UGH.

[aurorahorse]

Geez! That is ridiculous.

I agree!

[oscamaya]

They are going to miss out on a lot of sales with this new policy. I mean really if I can't pick up this free stuff while I am at Lowes then it is not worth my time to go there to get the one good item they have on sale KWIM. I am better off paying a little bit more for it somewhere else and save my self the gas and time from making a separate trip. I only really went every other week as it is. It might just be once a month now.

[clippyclippy]

Wow. They are making it easy for HT... crossing my fingers that HT doesn't get any ideas...

[aurorahorse]

Wow. They are making it easy for HT... crossing my fingers that HT doesn't get any ideas...

I don't think they will. I figure I'll do my usual email thanking them for triples this week and let them know about what happens at Lowes. I've told them before that I much prefer their policies over Lowes (did it with the expiration of rainchecks)....they seem to like hearing it. :)

[aurorahorse]

They are going to miss out on a lot of sales with this new policy. I mean really if I can't pick up this free stuff while I am at Lowes then it is not worth my time to go there to get the one good item they have on sale KWIM. I am better off paying a little bit more for it somewhere else and save my self the gas and time from making a separate trip. I only really went every other week as it is. It might just be once a month now.

I agree totally. I have a raincheck for the 1.50 Softsoap bwash. I'm not going to spend a buck in gas just to get that if I can't get some other stuff, too. I'll hold onto it in case something else comes up, but they're going to have to try pretty darn hard to get my business now.

[uummm]

Funny, the last time I was in there I made the comment "I only come here for the free stuff." The reason I made said comment was because the cashier was being one of those "Well mam I am sorry your coupon didn't double (it was the cabots that started with a 9 but did NOT say DND) Here is a copy of our coupon Policy."
My reply to her was "I know your coupon policy and this coupon should double." And then I made my comment "This is the reason I ONLY come here for the free stuff. I don't like Lowes Foods anymore."

I guess they loose enough money on these few items that double up to the value of the item that it makes it not worth it to double? BULL! They have an ax to grind and we are the ones that pay! Maybe next time they will change it too, We no longer double coupons....really, what else could they do?
They don't have my business anymore. I now have no reason to go there. I have to pass a HT to get there, HT wants my coupons heck they are having triples or super doubles ONCE A MONTH and sometimes BOTH!

[aurorahorse]

Funny, the last time I was in there I made the comment "I only come here for the free stuff." The reason I made said comment was because the cashier was being one of those "Well mam I am sorry your coupon didn't double (it was the cabots that started with a 9 but did NOT say DND) Here is a copy of our coupon Policy."
My reply to her was "I know your coupon policy and this coupon should double." And then I made my comment "This is the reason I ONLY come here for the free stuff. I don't like Lowes Foods anymore."

I guess they loose enough money on these few items that double up to the value of the item that it makes it not worth it to double? BULL! They have an ax to grind and we are the ones that pay! Maybe next time they will change it too, We no longer double coupons....really, what else could they do?
They don't have my business anymore. I now have no reason to go there. I have to pass a HT to get there, HT wants my coupons heck they are having triples or super doubles ONCE A MONTH and sometimes BOTH!

lol You'd think they would get a clue and get tired of hearing how much better HT is. ;) I'm debating whether I'm dreading or looking fwd to the supposed phone call from the manager. I'm afraid I'm going to go off the deep end on him. I don't want to burn bridges, but the bridge is shaky already.

Wonder if enough of us email and complain, if it would do any good?

[uummm]

Honestly I don't think they care what us COUPONERS think. We are the ones they don't want shopping at their stores, atleast that is how it looks to me.

[aurorahorse]

I'm so confused!


Good afternoon Ms. xxxx,

The copy of the New Coupon Policy that I sent the first time is correct.

We are now instructing the store manager to the issue and he will contact you.

Again, I apologize for the mix up and we are going to resolve this issue today.

Thank you for shopping with us!

I asked if that means the one online is incorrect?

I'm going to call my mom to go over HT's coupons....I need to stay away from this and just get on with HT.

[aurorahorse]

FINALLY got a phone call today from the manager. He was nice (seemed a little scared) and said he didn't have the same policy I had. Apparently, the CS I was talking to at corporate hadn't copied him on the final emails stating they WILL double up to the price, so he had to call her and talk to her. He called me back and said yes, it should have been done. He did apologize and said he'd address it at the store today. I explained to him about how the computer totals them up together and doesn't double the last one--he didn't seem to be aware of that (nor was CS, sounds like). I told him I was very hesitant about going back and that this has made me rethink the distance and time I'm taking to go there, but I appreciated him addressing it. I guess at least it may save me some gas money in the long run, if I'm not going 10 miles out of my away a few times a month. I could use the extra time, too. I pass 3 HT as it is on my way home from dd's school twice a day. :)

[katncaed]

I love LF...you guys just make me happy to live where I do. :biggrin:

[uummm]

Cory, I do think you are the exception! But I personally am glad your LF is great to you. I wish mine was HALF as nice to me!

[loveitmom]

Honestly I don't think they care what us COUPONERS think. We are the ones they don't want shopping at their stores, atleast that is how it looks to me.
I completely agree! Thankful and I were just discussing this yesterday! They do not want couponers, really!

Wow. They are making it easy for HT... crossing my fingers that HT doesn't get any ideas...
Now these people obviously love couponer! Too bad I don't have one local. Oh well, off to triples!

[AWise]

I love my LF too! My cashiers always want to see how much I save. On a lighter note, LF and Ingles are my only grocery stores, locally. I do not do good at Ingles, so I primarily stick to LF. I have on occasion drove the 20 miles to HT, but they are not a well stocked store and I find many things on my list are not on the shelves.

[uummm]

Don't get me wrong, if my only choices were Ingles, Food Lion and LF, I would make LF work. BUT, for me I have a choice of THREE stores that double to $.99 plus a Food Lion, Aldi's and Super Walmart (HT,FL, Aldi and SW are 2 miles from my home), and now I have an Ingles that is about 20 miles away (and I never see myself making that trip). Around Charlotte HT kicks LF butt (plus all the other stores including SW)...I guess they own enough market share in thier other cities that they can make up these insane rules and still get the business because the only choice is a crappier one.

[LynnHaller]

Hmmm. Interesting, you would think these stores would be doing everything they can to get business. Everytime I go to LF, which is VERY convient to my house, I am about the only car in the parking lot. The store is always empty, probably because HT is running so many events and LF sales have been pretty lame lately. It seems within a week or so one of the other area stores will run the same sale, if they aren't doing it at the same time anyway. I have always prefered HT because I never have any issues there. I will say, however, my issues at my LF location are pretty minimal, but they just don't have the deals! I have the choice of HT, LF, Food Lion, Kroger, Walmart supercenter and Super Target all within 2 miles of my house. You would think they would really try to compete for some business.

[aurorahorse]

Yeah....LF is just not as good. I was going here and there, but will cut this way back. Really, I can save 10 miles in gas each time + 15-30 minutes and just hit the HT even more often. At least, this whole thing made me realize it. My LF has been good in the past, but this one guy has been a bit of a pain.

He harassed me one time because I used my number for the rewards card, and it came up as my husband's name--he was trying to say that he couldn't let me use it. Even the cashier was telling him that was nuts! I offered my driver's license as proof that I lived at the same house and had the same last name. He still kept saying he shouldn't let me use it. I finally told him I could just go to the car and get my own if it was that big of a deal. The cashier basically let him know he was making a big of a big deal out of it (he's apparently some type of low-level manager). He griped and groaned and moaned ("I'm not supposed to do this...") but let me do it. :rolleyes24: He's the same one that wouldn't credit me for the E-offer on the pens.

The others are nice, but the sales there at Lowes just aren't as good. I guess I'm an HT snob. :)

[katncaed]

Well, truthfully, stores don't want customers like us...well, customers like me that is. I can't really speak for you guys. We spend no more than $20 a week on groceries, but usually around $10. So far this week, beginning with Sunday, we have spent $11...all at Food Lion. I am planning on going to LF sometime this week to get some more cereal and some of the e-offer items. My spread sheet says I'll spend about $2. I may hit HT for triples, but it's always the same things that are free or cheap...or either they don't have what you want. I never have that problem at LF...never. Plus, like my wife said, it's just no fun to shop at HT. My local store is soooo mean. They make you feel like you're stealing stuff when you have a low OOP. It's not worth the hassel most of the time. Our main stores are Food Lion and Lowes Foods. Food Lion gets our meat, bread, milk, and eggs while LF gets most of the rest. We shop HT ONLY during triples or super doubles.

[kidsrn]

Haven't shopped at Lowe's in months due to HT doing triples and Super Doubles all the time. Today I decided to run in and stock up on the boneless chicken that is on sale. It was NOT a good trip. When I went to check out it was a nightmare. The cashier was surly and very non-comunicative. Then she questioned EVERY SINGLE ONE of my coupons. I had done nothing wrong and explained it to the cashier but she acted like I wasn't even there. Manager was just as bad----so, no more Lowe's for me. :-( They don't want my business, fine, I will go to HT. I wonder if they will be surprised when a bunch of them are laid off due to decreased sales.

[thankful28]

I used to love my LF too. I felt like I got such great deals there and the people were so friendly that when I was actually going to spend money, I would go out of my way to spend it there. In a word, I was loyal. Then, I was told of the "new policy change" that limited coupon usage on a particular item to 4. This is 4 no matter if it doesn't need to double, is not on sale, is a free item, no matter. So if I wanted to buy 5 of a particular item with a coupon, I could not. If a customer wanted to buy 5 of that same item without a coupon they could. The DM stated that their intention was to keep product on the shelf. I disagree, if they wanted product on the shelf, then there would be a purchase limit for everyone, not just those with a coupon. So I see this as they would rather not sell an item than sell it with a coupon. If I have free item coupons to use now I use them elsewhere. And I no longer feel that loyalty that kept me shopping there.

[katncaed]

Loyal to a grocery store? I'm only loyal to my bank account, however, LF seems to be the nicest to my bank account here recently. As long as they keep adding that $5/$25 to my LF card each week, I'll keep going. :biggrin:

[aurorahorse]

lol on the loyalty thing....that's what keeps me at HT. Hopefully, they'll never do anything to change it. :) Sorry you have so many problems there yourself.

Sorry to hear of more problems with Lowes! I have been back a few times, albeit reluctantly. I couldn't turn down the free vegetables! The meat sales were good, too. I think I'm done for a little bit, though. I will say they were VERY nice when I went back. I didn't see that same guy, either, so he must be on vacation. <whew>

[ImNotReallyHere]

Well, if they want to play dirty, fine. I just posted a notice on my Facebook account letting people know about their new policy. Whatever. It's not like they even care. That is ridiculous! I agree on why they do the prices that way.

Yeah :rolleyes24: The store are out to get you.... last I noticed our registers still split it up, and most of the cashiers at my store are trained to look for a reason as to why the coupon didn't double and manually fix it.

[Jillibean]

Sorry all of this happened to you. I have 2 LF's within 15 minutes of my house. The one in Clayton is awesome!! The one in Knightdale - well I feel liked I've just been slimed (using a nice word here) all over when I walk out of there. Like they have done me a favor accepting my coupons and I should be thanking everyone all the way out the door. I haven't been to that store in a VERY long time.

[katncaed]

Yeah :rolleyes24: The store are out to get you.... last I noticed our registers still split it up, and most of the cashiers at my store are trained to look for a reason as to why the coupon didn't double and manually fix it.

Not really sure who you are, and if you really are a Lowes Foods employee, but...coming on this board and belittling someone's experience is not the way to help.

If you had read the entire thread, you'd realize that LF admitted the mistake, and took steps to correct the problem. The biggest issue of this whole thing is that a CS manager did not understand the official policy, and it took 2 attempts from corporate to correct the problem.

So...if you are going to continue to post on this board, coming off as sarcastic and belittling us all does not bode well for Lowes Foods.

This is a friendly forum of hard working individuals who do not need any back-sass as they try their best to feed their family without going broke. You are welcome to continue to contribute, but belitting our problems will only make it worse for LF in the long run. :biggrin:

[aurorahorse]

Not really sure who you are, and if you really are a Lowes Foods employee, but...coming on this board and belittling someone's experience is not the way to help.

If you had read the entire thread, you'd realize that LF admitted the mistake, and took steps to correct the problem. The biggest issue of this whole thing is that a CS manager did not understand the official policy, and it took 2 attempts from corporate to correct the problem.

So...if you are going to continue to post on this board, coming off as sarcastic and belittling us all does not bode well for Lowes Foods.

This is a friendly forum of hard working individuals who do not need any back-sass as they try their best to feed their family without going broke. You are welcome to continue to contribute, but belitting our problems will only make it worse for LF in the long run. :biggrin:

awww Thanks for taking up for me! :smile::BigHand:

I haven't been back too much...not in a week or two. I will say, though, when I went back once or twice, they were SUPER friendly, so I think they have talked. I am still a little irked it even happened, but I think corporate does play the biggest role in putting thing in confusingly. However, the apology from the manager did seem heartfelt, and it's the distance and inconvenience keeping me away more than anything. If they'd build another one closer, I'm sure I'd be in more. :wink7:

[katncaed]

awww Thanks for taking up for me!

I was taking up for us all. We've all had problems with LF, and we don't need no back-sass...just answers. I've been in retail for over 10 years, and that is no way for a business to treat customers...but like I said, I have no idea if that's actually a Lowes Food employee or not.