How do you keep from getting confused at the register?

[Mrs.Christie]

Ugh. I went to Kmart today to take advantage of the double coupons and somehow I think I was overcharged a dollar or two. It's not that big of a deal, but it kind of defeats all the work I put into planning a shopping trip. :shrug7:

So, how do you keep this from happening? Do you write down everything, like reg price/ sale price/ coupons/ expected total? Maybe that's what I need to do. I watched the register screen like a hawk, but still it all happens so fast. Then afterwards looking at the receipt I can't remember how much each specific coupon was for since there is no way to determine which coupon is for what. And it's not like I can head over to customer service and ask for a refund since they can't tell the coupons apart on the receipt either.

Any advice?

[aswaney]

I would write everything down. Before you go into the store write down your coupon item and the amount of money that will be deducted and that way when you did get your receipt you will know if she charged you like she/he was suppose to. Good Luck!

[bugg]

The only good way I've found to deal with this is to always have another person with me, even if it's a 6yo - and then I can watch the register from the very start, rather than deal with unloading the cart. Failing that, I do make an effort to unload the 'easy' things first, and keep the clearance, b1g1, etc stuff until the end, when I know I'll be there to watch it all go through.

This is especially helpful when I have more coupons than I can keep track of - but on a quick trip in and out of the grocery or walgreens, I can go over the recipet afterwards and have a mental list of exactly what and how many coupons I used.

[Luckymama]

I write down all coupons w/ their values next to the items on my grocery list.

I try to do only smallish orders. This is easy for me because most grocery stores are on my regular daily driving route, plus I don't have to shop with small ones anymore!

I use the self-scan checkouts as much as possible so I can go at my own pace. I can also call someone over to help me DURING the transaction should a problem occur.

[Cin42382]

I agree - Write it down! :)

[heyYou]

I always take a list along, but I know what you mean. It is hard to keep track when you're unloading the cart, trying to watch the screen, putting filled bags back into the cart........self check works pretty well for me too. That way I can separate my transactions if I need to, and use any catalinas I earn for the next tran.if I can.

[anastaciaknits]

I always keep a list - how many, item, sale price & size info, if I have a MQ, IP, SC, whatever, and then the price after sale & Qs. Then at the end, I do the total price. I know with tax it'll be higher than that, but you'll know right away if there is a problem. This saved me last week when I was supposed to get $4 eggs for free - I would've never bought $4 eggs if they weren't free, thank you very much! When my total was supposed to be right around $5, and it was $9, I knew something was wrong. It took forever to get it figured out, but they did. Of course this being shaws, I never got an apology that they goofed on the q.

[drusilla]

This is a really good question because normally when i go to any store the cashier passes the item then i give the coupon for that item, so i can watch before i let the cashier pass anything else.

However that being said the last time i went to my iga (which i go to all the time) the new cashier wanted all the coupons at the end.
So when i got home i was so confused and messed up. I was supposed to get my coke for free but they charged me. In the end it worked out cause they took off something at 3.99 when they were not supossed to so really i got my coke free and then some.

But yeah from now on i pass one thing then the coupon.
if they want stuff at the end then i will hold back and explain the b1g1 coupons and the fpc to them.

I feel a little bad for the people behind me but not to much.

[carisal]

I honestly get confused all the time at the register. But, I know in my head how much everything should cost and what coupon I used on each item. I always check my receipt before I leave, either near where the buggies are inside the door or once I get to my truck. that way if there was a mistake I can decide if its worth getting fixed or not... I usually let small problems slide, but if its more than a couple bucks, I go right back, with the questioned items(or the whole cartful if I catch it before unloading) and the reciept, and get it fixed. If something is obviously wrong I check right away, if the total is in the right ballpark area, I will take everything to the truck and unload then sit and look at the receipt.

If my mind is in the right place (usually not) I watch the screen as items are rung up to make sure they sscan the correct price, then count my coupons as they are scanned and watch to see that they double/triple(if applicable...) I always have my little girl with me though so I am usually distracted.

[cpnmaniac44]

Ugh. I went to Kmart today to take advantage of the double coupons and somehow I think I was overcharged a dollar or two. It's not that big of a deal, but it kind of defeats all the work I put into planning a shopping trip. :shrug7:

So, how do you keep this from happening? Do you write down everything, like reg price/ sale price/ coupons/ expected total? Maybe that's what I need to do. I watched the register screen like a hawk, but still it all happens so fast. Then afterwards looking at the receipt I can't remember how much each specific coupon was for since there is no way to determine which coupon is for what. And it's not like I can head over to customer service and ask for a refund since they can't tell the coupons apart on the receipt either.

Any advice?

another matter is the clerk failing to scan all your coupons. This has happened to me many times. Always know how many coupons you have and count them as they are scanned and the register goes click, click or whatever noise. If you count 15 clicks and you had 17 coupons, some may have stuck together, or as I have "witnessed", a clerk "skipping" one intentionally.
K-mart is a different animal, but if I'm in Bi-Lo and I have 10 coupons for 10 of the same item, I know what each item should cost after the coupon once I get it off the shelf and see the price on the tag, free or 50 cents or whatever. I do the math and know what my bill should be. With a limit of 20 coupons at Bi-Lo and other stores, it is not that hard, now if you have 20 different coupons for 20 different products, well, you may need a calculator or know the prices before you go.

AFTER you leave the checkout line, you can count the discounts that were taken off, if the number is wrong (you had 16 coupons but only 15 discounts) or the discount the scanner gave you is wrong, go to customer service. I've never had any problem with CS at any store. They are glad to adjust your change, total, etc. if YOU are correct.