Using traded checks- any problems?

[PrestS]

I've never had probs with using them...I got to walmart.

[amylynne01]

Disclaimer: What I wrote above is for kids with no issues. My DD2 HAD to be on Alimentum, but DD1 could care less what was in the bottle. So assuming no sensitivities, try store brands!

[CW&M Mom]

As soon as we could ditch the $25 bucks of gold can's...and knew he could handle anything..we gave him any brand we had around including generic!

When you swap around all the time, they don't get used to any certain flavor. If all you give is one kind..they will only let you give them that one kind. That way we could use all the sample's we got as well.

[joshmamabear]

No, I have never been hassled @ any of the grocery stores. At WM, I've encountered problems with the checks that says Customer use as coupons. There are cashiers that won't accept a formula mfr coupon for that formula so I just ask to take it off my trxn and I go to CS. They take the checks with coupons @ CS, no questions asked.

[Mermanity27]

I have had problems in the past...can be frustrating

[cheap-o]

When they make you sign them they are trying to put them in as a regular check. Like one you would write personaly. That is wrong. They should not be doing that. They need to put it in as a "Vendor check". This is different and does not require a signature. So if they are doing it wrong remind them it is a vendor check. Not a coupon or a personal check.

I had to teach the girl at safeway how to put it in. She wanted my ID. No freaking way your getting my ID for a formula check. So now I tell them it is a slash 4, vendor check, if they try to put it in wrong. All the cashiers know me and know my name is not Jane Doe. But they still put the checks through just fine. As long as it goes through who cares what the name is on the check.

[gatosqueak]

I don't think I want to deal with the hassle, LOL. But thanks for the FB.. sheesh, similac just send me another 4 checks. That was nice! Looking forward to using them.

[anothershopper2]

Usually no problems at the supermarket and Target... but drug stores and anywhere else - I avoided them like crazy. I used formula checks with DD but not really with DS seeing as I didn't get any from them or if I did, they were very low in value. I relied heavily on insert coupons :) DS is 13 months and I still have about 1 month of formula left... overstocked slightly but he's little so it's ok.

[hillaryef]

While I know it can be a pain at times...it can. I will say this. DD had to be on RTF similac. Tried to switch her onto other stuff (powder, concentrate...and it was a disaster). Since we were dealing with other GI issues and had her on previcid as such an early, early age...we just sucked it up.

With LOTS of good friends from here , lots of trading and thankfully the similac recall which put LOTS of similac coupons out into the market...we actually only put about $150 of our own OOP towards formula for our DDs entire year she was on it.

I learned very quickly...as long as I just avoided Walmart, I had no problems at all. Kroger and Meijer didn't even bat an eyelash. And my CVS was wonderful. I'd walk in with my similac coupons and my similac checks and I'd walk out with my formula and everyone was a happy camper. I'd use 10 checks at a time (this was before I had to deal with all of that darn verbiage about one per transaction/per day stuff) with 10 different names. I was able to combine coupons and everything...and it was great. I had no problems at BRU or TRU. My only issue was ever at WalMart.

All I did at WalMart was make sure I used formula checks that all had the same name. And I never handed over my ID for a formula check. I, also, very calmly would remind the cashier it was a vender check not a personal check. And usually that would solve things. Every once in a random while I'd get someone who wouldn't understand. And she'd ask me to "sign" them. So I would draw a scribble line on the back of all the checks. Whatever...they are vendor checks...no need for a signature.

Really though...I would usually make sure I saw the same cashiers at my stores and I never had an issue. In my special case, I would have spent more OOP buying generic formula since I really just lucked out with the whole recall coupon thing. And like I said I had some AMAZING friends here who would send me checks/coupons when they found them without even asking for a trade back. I love HCW!!!

But...I wouldn't just throw the towel in on trading for checks. It is worth it if you have to buy a specific brand. At least that's my opinion. And sometimes with a check and coupon...it is cheaper than buying the generic.

But if you are able to give the little guy whatever, then I say go for what's ever the cheapest! That's what we would have done if our little ones were so darn specific in the formula they had to have...grrrrr