How does everyone know corporate vs independant stores?

[beetrothed]

One of my stores recently had a special anniversary sale at it and one other and the flier said they were both owned by the same family -- so I assume they're independant? Does everyone just ask cs? Does it really matter that much? Just curious.....

[jen276here]

I just ask, especially if I see a policy posted that is not the published corporate policy.

[AshleyEileen]

From personal experience, the independently owned stores aren't as clean, accommodating, or as big. An independent store near me (The Kennywood Plaza store) only accepts 3 like coupons per transaction. If your CATs don't print or if an e-offer doesn't come off, they won't help you. They also aren't as good with rainchecks.

I much prefer shopping at corporate stores such as The Waterfront or Settler's Ridge location. They have much better selections and are always clean. I hate walking into a dingy and grimey store. Plus, they follow all the corporate policies.

[jen276here]

From personal experience, the independently owned stores aren't as clean, accommodating, or as big. An independent store near me (The Kennywood Plaza store) only accepts 3 like coupons per transaction. If your CATs don't print or if an e-offer doesn't come off, they won't help you. They also aren't as good with rainchecks.

I much prefer shopping at corporate stores such as The Waterfront or Settler's Ridge location. They have much better selections and are always clean. I hate walking into a dingy and grimey store. Plus, they follow all the corporate policies.

I shop the Kennywood (Hoffmann Blvd) store. I don’t think it is that terrible. Yes, they don’t really dig heavy couponers, but as long as you stay w/in their policies, they are nice as pie. The managers are pretty nice too -one time i had too much in my basket and they went out of the way to get me a cart… I have had problems w/ cats printing and they have fixed it for me, but they do not understand shelf/sale so they will not help you if it is a shelf/sale issue - they will tell you to buy more (corp stores have told me the same). I’ve had no issues w/ RC’s either. I don’t think it is a dirty store either - just old fixtures/flooring.

I too prefer the Waterfront simply b/c they accept up to 12 coupons, but they are always waaaay to busy and I don’t like standing in line for an hour.

[AshleyEileen]

I shop the Kennywood (Hoffmann Blvd) store. I don’t think it is that terrible. Yes, they don’t really dig heavy couponers, but as long as you stay w/in their policies, they are nice as pie. The managers are pretty nice too -one time i had too much in my basket and they went out of the way to get me a cart… I have had problems w/ cats printing and they have fixed it for me, but they do not understand shelf/sale so they will not help you if it is a shelf/sale issue - they will tell you to buy more (corp stores have told me the same). I’ve had no issues w/ RC’s either. I don’t think it is a dirty store either - just old fixtures/flooring.

I too prefer the Waterfront simply b/c they accept up to 12 coupons, but they are always waaaay to busy and I don’t like standing in line for an hour.

It's nice to have finally found a local couponer!

If you got to the Waterfront during a Steelers game, it's pretty slow. I work in the shopping plaza, so I just stop by on my way home from work. The only way I go to the Kennywood store is if it's a quick in and out type purchase since I only live minutes from it.

Have you had problems with e-offers not working at independent stores? I've never had them come off my bill at the Kennywood store or the one on 51.

[jen276here]

It's nice to have finally found a local couponer!

If you got to the Waterfront during a Steelers game, it's pretty slow. I work in the shopping plaza, so I just stop by on my way home from work. The only way I go to the Kennywood store is if it's a quick in and out type purchase since I only live minutes from it.

Have you had problems with e-offers not working at independent stores? I've never had them come off my bill at the Kennywood store or the one on 51.

Oh I’m not the only one - there are quite a few in our neck of the woods! Sunday nights are pretty slow too - but I don’t always get to go at night :( (Its like Walmart - sooo prefer to go at 3am! lol) That’s why I shop the Kennywood store - I can almost walk to it (It would be a hilly walk, but I could do it!). They also carry my Gibbles chips/puffs! I haven’t had problem w/ e-offers yet - at any store. The rt51 store, the one by kohls? That’s a corp store - pretty nice but once again waaaay to busy for me. I need to get in and out, I don’t like to dawdle! lol

[micheller126]

I'm mostly at the Century III store and for the most part, the e coupons work there.

[AshleyEileen]

Yes, the one on 51 near C3. The last time I was there, my cats didn't print and my e-offers didn't come off. The customer service rep at the counter told me they had nothing to do with those and that she couldn't help me. I was beyond irritated after that. She told me e-offers take 48 hours to load on the card. I've never seen anything posted on the site for that. I've loaded my card, gone to the Waterfront store an hour later, and gotten my discount.

[micheller126]

It is more like a few hrs for it to be posted on your card. Just to be safe I wait at least 2 or 3. For the most part they are good with the CATS. Most of the time it was something I did or the cashier forgot to scan something. With the Wishbone dressing CAT a few weeks ago, one of the flavors wasn't producing the cat...they just gave me the cash for it.

[TerryTerrific]

I 'discovered' that a Giant Eagle by me was independent when I ask for a raincheck, quantity 10.

The clerk said they could only write the raincheck for quantity four.

I was about to point out what it says on Giant Eagle's coupon policy when the clerk said that they were an independent store.

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The store is located at:

Giant Eagle
1825 Snow Rd #1
Parma, OH 44134
(216) 398-2980

I now avoid that thar store like the plague.

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Terence in Brook Park, oHIo