Food 4 Less ~ Weekly Ad: Food 4 Less Ad 6.24-6.30.09

[Betsy33]

Hi Harold,

Sorry to hear you had a negative experience at Food 4 Less! It really seems like across the boards, people are talking about stores tightening up their rules about qs. It's kind of a Catch 22, you know--just at the time when people most need to use qs, the stores start freaking out about their profitability, etc...that's my guess. :sad:

I'm glad to hear you got some good deals in, though!

Hope your next shopping experience (wherever it may be) goes well!
Betsy

[ocean_brez]

Originally Posted by harolds8 I went to F4L for the first time today to use the boy scout coupons that my local ralphs won't let me use...picked up 30 powerade...had get 5 wyb 10 as well as 75/2 plus i picked up all the free's and used my 5/25...the french bread q wouldn't work, manger is called, says I can only get 1 bread...so whatever i didn't have time to "argue"...after everything i ended up spending only .25... so i go back later to do another transaction...and they would only let me use 1 free coupon they gave me a hard time about using more than one man q per transaction (because they say 1 per purchase) and they tell me the cashier earlier got yelled at for letting me use the coupons...after much deliberation the cashier reluctantly allowed me to use more than 1 man q...but he was mumbling about it the entire time...did i do something wrong...:shrug7:i know the man q thing is just ignorance on their part...but i thought we could use more than 1 boy scout book per transaction...i feel really stupid and don't ever want to shop f4l again...sorry for the long vent...:sad:

Harold - sorry to hear that you had such a bad experience. I really do think that a lot of the coupon problems that we seem to experience is due to improper cashier training as well as other factors. If your 1st transaction went fairly well and your 2nd one didn't, I am thinking that the 2nd cashier was probably the "real" one in the wrong. IDK. :shrug7:

FWIW, I used ALL of the F4L coupons in my last Boy Scout Booklet yesterday and 3 of them beeped. The ones that beeped were the bread, the Rocket Juice and the Cool Classics Bars. Since the Manager was the one checking me out, he confirmed that I had bought the right products and only questioned the Rocket Juice (I think that's the right name). Since the Rocket Juice had a Kroger label on it, I told him to feel free to send someone back and check the shelf tag because it cleary stated Kroger Rocket Juice on it to whereas the actual container doesn't. After some thought, he pushed the Rocket Juice coupon thru and that was that.

The only real bummer in this visit was to find out that their advertised "Smart Water" is not yet carried by that particular location and so the Manager would not issue me a raincheck for them. Win some, lose some.

[Betsy33]

Hi everyone,

I just went to Food 4 Less and had a TERRIBLE experience...but then I went to another one nearby and had a better experience. At the first one, the cashier called the manager. The manager said I could not combine a sale with a coupon at ALL for the Smart Water, not even ONE coupon! He said that it was forbidden in company policy to get anything free. I asked him (kindly, in a calm voice) if I could please see the company policy.

He said, get this, "No, I'm the manager, it's my job to know the company policy, you don't need to see it. I'm telling you it."

Anyway, long story short, I left and went to another Food 4 Less, where they were nice and let me use the coupons. Because of that, I'll now be doing my other Food 4 Less shopping there as well. Yikes, that first guy was so mean, he said some really mean things to me! I had even gently told him that the reason I was getting the Smart Water was because of a serious, debilitating illness that left me out of work and out of income. He was so nasty to me!

Ah, life. Luckily the second place was nicer. And thanks one more time to GrandmaJoanne and VCasares who made the inexpensive purchase possible for me. Thank you ladies. You made a difference.

Betsy

[ocean_brez]

Originally Posted by Betsy33 Hi everyone, I just went to Food 4 Less and had a TERRIBLE experience...but then I went to another one nearby and had a better experience. At the first one, the cashier called the manager. The manager said I could not combine a sale with a coupon at ALL for the Smart Water, not even ONE coupon! He said that it was forbidden in company policy to get anything free. I asked him (kindly, in a calm voice) if I could please see the company policy. He said, get this, "No, I'm the manager, it's my job to know the company policy, you don't need to see it. I'm telling you it." Anyway, long story short, I left and went to another Food 4 Less, where they were nice and let me use the coupons. Because of that, I'll now be doing my other Food 4 Less shopping there as well. Yikes, that first guy was so mean, he said some really mean things to me! I had even gently told him that the reason I was getting the Smart Water was because of a serious, debilitating illness that left me out of work and out of income. He was so nasty to me! Ah, life. Luckily the second place was nicer. And thanks one more time to GrandmaJoanne and VCasares who made the inexpensive purchase possible for me. Thank you ladies. You made a difference. Betsy

I rarely suggest contacting corporate, but in this case it might be worth a call to ask them what their coupon policy is in relation to sales. And, while you are on the phone with them, it wouldn't hurt to commend the 2nd store, while also reporting the 1st stores manager for treating you so poorly. Just a thought and entirely up to you.

BTW, I'm glad your experience at the 2nd store was much more pleasant for you.

[grandmajoanne]

Originally Posted by ocean_brez I rarely suggest contacting corporate, but in this case it might be worth a call to ask them what their coupon policy is in relation to sales. And, while you are on the phone with them, it wouldn't hurt to commend the 2nd store, while also reporting the 1st stores manager for treating you so poorly. Just a thought and entirely up to you. BTW, I'm glad your experience at the 2nd store was much more pleasant for you.

Betsy33;
you handle that situation with mgr GREat ! I really hate to hear when r people ! have a hard time at the stores !
I think Ocean_brez has it take those steps..also there is a comment card at the cashier or you can ask for one ? your very gd about putting your thought dwn..
the food 4 lss were i go ! i keep going to the same girls ! she know her stuff..& me


joanne

joanne
o.c

[Betsy33]

Originally Posted by ocean_brez I rarely suggest contacting corporate, but in this case it might be worth a call to ask them what their coupon policy is in relation to sales. And, while you are on the phone with them, it wouldn't hurt to commend the 2nd store, while also reporting the 1st stores manager for treating you so poorly. Just a thought and entirely up to you. BTW, I'm glad your experience at the 2nd store was much more pleasant for you.

Thank you SO much for your good thoughts and ideas. My energy is really low because of my illnesses, but if I am up to it tomorrow, I'll call. I am definitely going to "speak with my dollars" by shopping at the 2nd store from now on! It's a little further from me and not as big, but the people there were so nice and helpful.

I, too, am glad and fortunate that my experience at the second store was better. V and J had spent time and energy getting me those coupons, and the electrolytes, as I said, are a medical necessity for me, so I am very thankful that the second manager on duty was so kind.

Tonight will take care of me for over a month.

Have a good day!
Betsy

[Betsy33]

Originally Posted by grandmajoanne Betsy33; you handle that situation with mgr GREat ! I really hate to hear when r people ! have a hard time at the stores ! I think Ocean_brez has it take those steps..also there is a comment card at the cashier or you can ask for one ? your very gd about putting your thought dwn.. the food 4 lss were i go ! i keep going to the same girls ! she know her stuff..& me joanne joanne o.c

These are great ideas, Joanne. Thank you so much for your help.

Heehee, I have never seen the tongue-sticking-out icon. That one's really something.

I hope you have a great day today!
Betsy