Understanding Rain Checks

[Cin42382]

Do you wait for your local sales announcements, and rush to the store to cash in on the too-good-to-be-true pricing? If so, you have probably experienced the “empty shelf” syndrome. Hot sales prices on one or two advertised items can drive customers in quickly, depleting the stock on hand. Late comers must choose between purchasing alternate higher priced items or checking back regularly in hopes of finding the item restocked.


A third choice is available, providing a blessing in disguise for smart shoppers. This choice is the “rain check”.

In 1971, the Federal Trade Commission issued the Retail Food Store Advertising and Marketing Practices rule; also know as the “Unavailability Rule”. Amended in 1989, the Unavailability Rule protects consumers against grocery stores that advertise bargains to attract customers but fail to have adequate stock available. Unless an advertised sale states clearly and adequately that “quantities are limited” or “not available at all locations”, the store must offer customers a comparable offer, either:

• A "rain check" that allows customers to buy the item later at the advertised price
• A substitute item of comparable value to the sale item
• Some kind of compensation that is at least equal in value to the advertised item

Most stores offer customers a “rain check”. These paper vouchers are a valuable “I.O.U.” guaranteeing consumers receive the same sale price at a later date of the customers choosing. Consumers are not required to check back during the advertised sales period. Rain check vouchers are available immediately at any time during an advertised sale, whether or not the store receives, or plans to receive, an additional supply. And to ensure the product is available in the future, rain checks are typically valid for up to one year from date of issuance.

This provides some key advantages to obtaining rock bottoms prices:


Rain checks are sales, not coupons, and can be combined with other manufacturer offers. New coupons or additional special offers and rebates may be issued during the rain check period, providing an even lower overall cost.


Rain checks are not required to be redeemed. They can be used during another promotion on the same item; if the “current sale” price is higher, use the rain check to receive the lower sale price. If the “current sale” prices are lower, save the rain check and purchase at the current sale price. Or, if the store is out of stock once again, pick up another rain check for the better price.


If storage, refrigerator, or freezer space is an issue, “capture the savings” on the rain check, and wait until space is available before purchasing the items.


If items are not needed immediately, or a stockpile has already been purchased, save the rain check until it’s needed. Purchasing items later generally provides fresher product with a later expiration date.


If you know income or finances will be limited in an upcoming month, stockpile rain check sale prices along with your coupons to stretch your grocery dollars during that period.

There are several techniques to augment the value of rain checks. Some consumers check back to see if the items have been restocked during the sale, and receive an additional rain check with every inquiry. hey may also check with different store locations within the same grocery chain: rain checks can be received at each store where the product is unavailable. Also, if a store is out of only one specific product or flavor, e.g., the store is out of Kraft Fat Free Ranch salad dressing, but other flavors are in stock, a rain check can be received for the Kraft salad dressing sale price.

So, next time you find the perfect sale, you might not need to rush out to the store. Just remember to walk up to the customer service desk and get a rain check.

[too-old-now]

This is an excellent summary.

I thought I'd add a couple of comments.

And to ensure the product is available in the future, rain checks are typically valid for up to one year from date of issuance.

This varies tremendously by store. Some stores may offer the raincheck for as little as 30 days, others will honor them forever (like CVS).

hey may also check with different store locations within the same grocery chain: rain checks can be received at each store where the product is unavailable.

Some stores will only honor the rain checks issued at their own particular location or store number, others will gladly honor a RC issued by another store in the same chain.

Also, if a store is out of only one specific product or flavor, e.g., the store is out of Kraft Fat Free Ranch salad dressing, but other flavors are in stock, a rain check can be received for the Kraft salad dressing sale price.

Some stores will accept a raincheck as valid only on the variety they were out of. So, if your raincheck is for Fat Free Ranch, you can only get Fat Free Ranch and not 2 cal French.

If items are not needed immediately, or a stockpile has already been purchased, save the rain check until it’s needed. Purchasing items later generally provides fresher product with a later expiration date.

This is especially helpful on perishable items like produce, eggs, yogurt, or bread. Often it is difficult to use 4 loaves of bread, or more than 2 dozen eggs in a week when they are BOGO free, but if you can manage to get a RC you really can stretch the sale and use it the following week when it is not on sale. I have picked up RC's on lots of produce items, so instead of getting "green" grapes that are yellow, the following week the grapes are much better quality and I get the better sale price.

[pennywatcher]

Flash has been very busy writing it seems. :-)

One thing I'd add is always save the flier. I recently used a raincheck the week after it was issued, and the cashier actually said to me, "I don't think that's how much they were". I had the flier with me so I showed her she was mistaken.

[maree_strawberry]

Flash is an Excellent Teacher!!

[robtaraautumn]

Question........if a rain check states a certain quantity is that all you can get?

[hotcouponmama]

Question........if a rain check states a certain quantity is that all you can get?

This is a HUGE YMMV thing because if there was no limit to begin with, I would argue that it shouldn't have a limit, however, the RCs nearly always say that the store has a right to limit quantities, which is their out. I try to overshoot the amount I need on a RC in case I really can get the amount of coupons that I would need to make the deal work. And if it does have a limit and they put it on arbitrarily, I would ask the store manager to honor an adjustment. If it was a pure loss leader item when it was on sale, they might not do it, but most times, they want the sale and the future business, so they will.

[skw6559]

Wow! Thanks for the great information. I usually just check back later. I will be sure and ask for these in the future.

[Mexi]

Question........if a rain check states a certain quantity is that all you can get?

It definitely is a YMMV type of thing. My Krogers will allow me to get as many as I want. CVS and Walgreens will only allow me to get what is on the raincheck. I haven't used a raincheck at Meijers yet.

I really love rainchecks though. That's how I get a lot of my good deals.

[Lurkergirl]

What about the coupons that you were going to use for the item you got the rain check for ?Like I have a rain check for the Dawn hand soap ,I have the coupons for the item but the coupon is only good till the end of the month .I went to CVS just today to buy something and checked to see if the item was in .It was not so what happens if they do not get the stuff in before the coupon expires ?

[Cin42382]

What about the coupons that you were going to use for the item you got the rain check for ?Like I have a rain check for the Dawn hand soap ,I have the coupons for the item but the coupon is only good till the end of the month .I went to CVS just today to buy something and checked to see if the item was in .It was not so what happens if they do not get the stuff in before the coupon expires ?

It really depends on the store. You can ask the manager if he/she is willing to accept the coupon past the exp date since they did not have the item or see if you can "pay" for them now while the coupon is still valid and pick them up when they come in.