New "rule" from Walgreens???

[kidsrn]

So today I was checking out and had 7 different transactions. Not unusual for me---I average b/w 5-10 transactions each time I go to Wags.

Anyways, I am checking out my 2nd transaction and the cashier scans my 2 items---a Vaseline Sheer Infusion and a 9 cent (on clearance) plastic dessert cup. After she scans them both she says to me "Let me see your coupons" I show them to her (2 qs---a man. q for the Vaseline and a RR). She then says You can't use this coupon on this item (indicating a RR on the 9 cent dessert cup). I ask her why? She says you will need to speak with a manager. WHY???? She then calls the manager and says (and I quote) : "There's a lady up here who says she has a question about her coupons". I then said to her (while she is on the phone with the manager) "I did not ask to speak with the manager---you are the one refusing to check me out and you are the one who insisted on calling the manager". She ignores me, I move to the side and wait for almost 10 minutes. manager comes, he scrutinizes the items, then the coupons, then the items, then the coupons and says to me "what is the problem?" I tell him I didn't have any problem---the cashier did. I had the same number of items as coupons, my $6 P & G RR was not being used to purchase any P & G products---I was following all of the RR rules. He agreed with me, rang me up, coupons go thru no problem and I asked him to please tell the employees what he told me----that RR are a coupon off a total amount---not a certain amount and so they can be applied to anything provided the store does not end up in the negative. After the manager leaves, the cashier tells me that the manager tells the cashiers not to allow this (filler of super cheap to use a RR) but then he tells the customer a diff. thing. I felt bad then----I don;t want to get anyone in trouble.

Irishlass-----do you know if this is true? That the cashier is not to check out someone who is buying an ultra cheap filler just to use a RR?

Sorry for the length of this. :hectic1:

[manders13]

well i dont think its true, because i used 9 cent pencils tonight no problem..

but i do want to mention, flying under the radar is crucial.. and doing a ton of transactions at once might not be a good idea

[kidsrn]

yes,I agree that flying low is best but I know all of these employess and they see me in there 2 or 3 times a week. I am no longer under the radar! :-) But I have always been courteous and kind---will always go to the back of the line after doing one transaction, give the cashiers and managers coupons, etc. This one cashier I have always felt does not like me and so I try to avoid her. Today when I told her that the RR are man. qs that Wags DOES get reimbursed for, she was surprised. The manager then chimed in and said that was indeed true. I find it wierd that she did not know that and honestly, I think sometimes the cashiers get jealous or resentful of the great deals I get. But I always make it a point to tell them how long it takes me to get ready and how much I appreciate their patience with me. Except for this one gal, EVERY cashier at the 2 Wags I go to greets me with a smile and always is helpful.

BTW, there have been no Halloween pencils at either of my stores for the past 2 weeks---- I asked the cashier where they were and she said they were all gone---she said people use them for fillers for coupons. So I am obviously not the only one here doing the cheap filler thing.

[cbgo]

I have never had a problem with this. As long as I have at least as many items as coupons, everything is okay. I have done similar transactions with the store manager checking me out and he never said anything but, "Wow, you got some great deals."


I do agree with manders13, though. I have stores that have happily done 20+ transactions for me. (Last day of the sale and didn't even clear the shelves.) I have other stores that I do one transaction and move on. It really helps to get to know your store managers and BAs to see what level of comfort they have with coupons and multiple transactions. I know that I never break any rules, but I also know that they have the right to limit my purchases per Wags policies. I try to make sure that they are as happy as I am with my transactions, so that I can keep doing them. :giggle2:

[Mom2Natalya]

Not true at all. Yet another, what rule can I make up today.



but i do want to mention, flying under the radar is crucial.. and doing a ton of transactions at once might not be a good idea

I 100% disagree with this! I am on first-name basis with the Store Manager, asst managers and cashiers at my store. They know me, know my kids and know how I operate. They never question my q's an help me find good deals, special order items, etc.

Maybe I'm lucky, but I think by getting to know your store, that's the way to go. Then they know me, know I'm honest, and know I won't shelf clear anything the first day of a sale. I regularly do between 10-30 transactions each visit (because my kids are in tow and I can't go every day). I love the staff at my store and they take good care of me.

:smile:

(two of the cashiers are my friends on facebook- LOL! and one of the asst mangagers asked me to email her the good deals last week so she can get in on the action! :hysterical: )

[carisal]

I had the same type problem the first (and only) time I went to a brand new Wags (probably about 3-4 weeks ago?) anyways... a girl at photo checked me out to begin with but my RR didnt print. so she called the mgr who took me to another register, voided and re-rang... etc.

well, he was very careful that I had no more coupons than items ((INCLUDING wags qs)) AND that no q (including RR) was over the price of the corresponding item.(matched each coupon to an individual item) ... I hope that makes sense LOL

very annoying, considering all the other wags I;ve been to have been great and I was greatly anticipating that store opening since it is now the 2nd closest to home. I don't think I'll be going back to that store :(

[manders13]

:shrug7: Ok your right i'm totally wrong,

But anyone who has been couponing for a long time will tell you that it's a good idea to fly under the radar...

That's great your on a name basis with your store, but thats not always the case. Actually i'd say 80% with any store, there is always some problem some where.

If your store is ok with it then fine. But on the newbie stand point, staying under the radar is a good idea.

Alot of stores LIMITS transactions, limit products, limit this that or the other. We want to keep all information availble and at hand for a new couponer.


I don't want someone thinking they can just run into a store and do 20+ transactions w/ no problem. I have a store that YES i can do this, do i? no. i spread it out for the same reason of leaving a comfert level.


So just want to make it clear that when it comes to a newbie level, or even vets, this isn't always the case of being able to do back to back to back to back to back to back to back to back to back to back to back transactions.



:smile:

Not true at all. Yet another, what rule can I make up today.



I 100% disagree with this! I am on first-name basis with the Store Manager, asst managers and cashiers at my store. They know me, know my kids and know how I operate. They never question my q's an help me find good deals, special order items, etc.

Maybe I'm lucky, but I think by getting to know your store, that's the way to go. Then they know me, know I'm honest, and know I won't shelf clear anything the first day of a sale. I regularly do between 10-30 transactions each visit (because my kids are in tow and I can't go every day). I love the staff at my store and they take good care of me.

:smile:

(two of the cashiers are my friends on facebook- LOL! and one of the asst mangagers asked me to email her the good deals last week so she can get in on the action! :hysterical: )

[mommycia]

I have never had that problem...in fact, my cosmetics gal will inform me if there is a better item to be using as a filler! I LOVE my wags, but one of my girls transferred, so now I have to go to another one that is further away...

[hcwhcw]

Along with kidsrn and carisal... "me three," I guess. I had this same problem recently. I was told that the store manager had told all the staff that RRs could only be used on a corresponding item of the same price or more. :( So I'm planning to start shopping more at Rite Aid and CVS instead of Walgreens, but first I have to hurry and use up my RRs...

[AllisonL]

I've had the same issue--at some WAGs I can use a filler, no problem. At some, cashiers and managers have said that RRs can only apply to the total of non-Q items. For example, last week, I bought 8 Dove conditioner w/ Qs, plus super-poligrip (FARR) as a filler. My $4RR beeped and wouldn't go through because--according to the manager--the RR can only apply to any items that don't have corresponding Qs (in this case, the super poligrip, which was $2). But I had done the exact same transaction earlier that day at a different WAGs using a $9 RR. No problem that time. :shrug7:

[manders13]

That isn't true

Your item count/coupon count must equal, but the RR can go to apply to any SUBTOTAL that's left. But the RR won't go towards tax.

Your subtotal might be lower then the $4, and the rest can't go towards the tax

[AllisonL]

That isn't true

Your item count/coupon count must equal, but the RR can go to apply to any SUBTOTAL that's left. But the RR won't go towards tax.

Your subtotal might be lower then the $4, and the rest can't go towards the tax

My subtotal was definitely over $4. In fact, it was about $10. So I have no idea what the problem was. But that was my 5th WAGs of the day, so I was too tired to worry about it.

[motherofmolly]

i am with manders....flying under the radar is the best way. it is waaay different if you know the manager and he says "yeah come and do as many as you want and ill preorder for you".....some of my cashiers know me because i shop at the same time all the time...but i do no more than 2 transactions (depending on the store i might only do one) at a store and then continue on.

if you are new, and press the issue at a store, you might get the "one per customer" and be limited from there on out.

i still fly under the radar when going to kroger and schnucks

[boilerfan35]

At some, cashiers and managers have said that RRs can only apply to the total of non-Q items. For example, last week, I bought 8 Dove conditioner w/ Qs, plus super-poligrip (FARR) as a filler. My $4RR beeped and wouldn't go through because--according to the manager--the RR can only apply to any items that don't have corresponding Qs (in this case, the super poligrip, which was $2). But I had done the exact same transaction earlier that day at a different WAGs using a $9 RR. No problem that time. :shrug7:

This is exactly what happened to me this week (except for different item). The register beeped as she tried to scan my RR and my cashier said that same thing! I am so very new to this whole thing I just said, "Ok," and paid cash for that part (over $5 and the RR was for $4).

[Theresat]

I cannot even fathom doing 10 - much less 30 - transactions at one time. The most I have done was 2 and even then it takes time. Even cashiers are your friends, I can only imagine 10-30 transactions would take forever and annoy even your best friend. Plus I can only imagine it creates a lot of negative feelings towards a customer who they may perceive as taking advantage of the specials/rr promo items. That is just my two cents and what is my two cents worth anyway lol. I just don't have the guts!

[hcwhcw]

It seems as though there are at least two or three issues being discussed in this thread.

One is stores interpreting and enforcing RR's as coupons that only apply to a corresponding item of the same price or more, as opposed to coupons that may be used on the subtotal of the entire transaction. This interpretation makes it much harder to use the higher value RRs, since they can only be used on items of that value or higher.

Another closely-related issue is that of stores allowing or not allowing use of cheap fillers that are less than the RR value. This ties in with them insisting that the RR can only be spent on an item of that same value or higher.

A third issue is that of doing multiple transactions in one visit and flying under the radar. The OP spoke of doing 5-10 transactions per visit on average. I am not sure where the figure 10-30 transactions came from, in the above post.

I've had a problem with the first issue. And it sounds like OP and one other poster also had that issue. I think the first and the second issues are the greater issue of concern here, especially if the number of stores and managers who interpret and enforce it that way increases. It makes RRs a lot harder to use.

[TerryTerrific]

...

This one cashier I have always felt does not like me and so I try to avoid her.

Today when I told her that the RR are man. qs that Wags DOES get reimbursed for, she was surprised.

The manager then chimed in and said that was indeed true.

I find it wierd that she did not know that and honestly, I think sometimes the cashiers get jealous or resentful of the great deals I get.

...Oh, I can believe that a cashier was not aware that a RR is a form of a manufacturer's coupon.

+

With the advent of checkout scanners, there is a major 'dumbing down' at the checkout.

Heaven help us if a cashier had to manually compute 10% of a one dollar item.

Q) Ah, what is 'a percent'???

+

I had one cashier have trouble scanning a gift card that was being purchased by a customer.

They thought is was just a baaaad gift card so they went and got another one.

Same problem.

It turns out that they were not removing the rubber cement that held the gift card to the paper backing!!!

+

Terence in Brook Park, oHIo

[Mom2Natalya]

I cannot even fathom doing 10 - much less 30 - transactions at one time. The most I have done was 2 and even then it takes time. Even cashiers are your friends, I can only imagine 10-30 transactions would take forever and annoy even your best friend. Plus I can only imagine it creates a lot of negative feelings towards a customer who they may perceive as taking advantage of the specials/rr promo items. That is just my two cents and what is my two cents worth anyway lol. I just don't have the guts!

*sorry to hijack*

I have been shopping at my Wags for a year or so and I can assure you that my store does not feel negatively toward me at all. They ask me for deal ideas and I help them put together good deals. And I never shelf-clear anything. (unless there's only one left when I get there to begin with) :smile:
When I started, I was doing two to four transactions, and steadily increased it. Now they love seeing my deals and get so excited to see what I saved. They always figure out with me at the end how much I saved. I always get out of line and let other people check out, and I always check out at cosmetics so I am not in the way.

For ME, as I have started couponing, I have made it my mission to find a coupon friendly store of each store I shop at and make friends with all the staff. It has been the best thing I ever did. I recommend to anyone doing the couponing that we do to take that route- then, when you have a problem, they are happy to help you correct it b/c they know you are honest.
(For example, at my store, the Robitussin that was supposed to be producing rr's in place of the togos, was not doing so. The Store Manager asked me how many I bought and he gave me cash for all the ones I bought to reimburse the missing rr's. I can't imagine walking into a store where they don't know me and that happening. I can see them saying "oh, it's because you used a coupon" or some such. But because they know me, and know that I know the deals, so they take my word for them. :BigHand:)

Anyway, that's my opinion, fwiw.

[moneysaver3]

I don't know about the others here talking about multiple transactions, but when I do them it's NOT to get the same item multiple times. Typically, I'll do 5-10 transactions, but it's because I'm buying the Halls & rolling that RR onto the Chapstick & rolling that RR onto the EmergenC You get my drift.

Still, I am always VERY respectful. If there is someone behind me in line, I do ONE transaction and go to the back of the line for my next transaction. I will do this repeatedly until all of my transactions are completed. I also seek out my cosmetic's girls at THEIR request. They get credit or a bonus of some sort if THEY check out your HBA items so not only do they want your purchase, but they want your MULTIPLE purchases!

If I AM getting multiples of the same item, I get no more than 3 unless it is the last day of the sale &/or RR promo. Still, I'll not do more than 10 transactions in a visit; friendly cashiers or not.

Amy

[ccenr]

Not true at all. Yet another, what rule can I make up today.



I 100% disagree with this! I am on first-name basis with the Store Manager, asst managers and cashiers at my store. They know me, know my kids and know how I operate. They never question my q's an help me find good deals, special order items, etc.

Maybe I'm lucky, but I think by getting to know your store, that's the way to go. Then they know me, know I'm honest, and know I won't shelf clear anything the first day of a sale. I regularly do between 10-30 transactions each visit (because my kids are in tow and I can't go every day). I love the staff at my store and they take good care of me.

:smile:

(two of the cashiers are my friends on facebook- LOL! and one of the asst mangagers asked me to email her the good deals last week so she can get in on the action! :hysterical: )

Must be nice. On the other side of things, Sometimes it is best to "fly under the radar" if you want to be able to keep doing any deals at all. 10-30 transactions! that's a good way to get all managers and employees to hate you around here.(not to mention they won't do it), most don't do well with three. as to knowing the staff this is a great idea and it usually helps things along. however, sad to say that a few have ruined it for many, because some are only aware of those that abuse the concepts that we share(getting the best deals we can). You are lucky and I wish your experiences were mine, but please realize that your world is not the same as everywhere, this is major ymmv.

[wealthybarney]

Very helpful thread, OP-Thank You.

[cowgirl cashier]

"But anyone who has been couponing for a long time will tell you that it's a good idea to fly under the radar..."

Yes, I totally agree.
It's great your on a first name basis w/ the store employees but it probably isn't really a good idea.
it won't really matter anyway...if they believe you are somehow 'cheating' the system or begin to track what your buying and how much your paying etc.. then your about to be shut down.

I have been asked not to shop at 2 different grocery stores because "you save too much money" and both corporate offices backed the managers up. I never once did anything wrong...or even 'gray'. I just shopped at an odd time so it was really obvious that I was saving alot and had big orders. ...
I know it isn't right but it is the way it is...
I do believe that couponing is something that you kind of have to keep on the quiet side...at least how much you save if your really good at it, have a good source of coupons etc....
The more attention you draw the shorter time you have at that store before your completely banned.
I promise you I'm telling the truth.