HEB ~ Vent: HEB NOT taking Freebie coupons? Seriously?

[Nicole]

Today I was checking out at HEB Mission Bend. One of the coupons I gave them was for a free 4-pack of Dole Fruit Bowl. I handed it to the checker when she was done... she looked at me funny and said "UHHHH I don't think I can take this?" I looked at her like she lost her mind... she called a manager over who said "UHHHHHH let me call someone" He called God or someone who agreed to go ahead and take it. I asked him why this was even a question considering it was sent to me from Dole. I got 10 of them from Dole for being an influential blogger or something like that.

The guy told me they have been getting counterfeit freebie coupons and they were not going to take them anymore. Seriously if you think I made that coupon then I guess I should thank you for giving me such great credit because I am good, but I am not that good, and to be honest I could never afford the printer much less the paper it took to make that coupon. He proceeded to tell me they refused one from a lady today that had been cut out of a magazine. He told me to him it looked like it was truly cut out of a magazine, but they still wouldn't take it. So apparently that's the new story at HEB Mission Bend... I don't know about other HEB's

[magaritas]

I used to love shopping at HEB but last time I tried to use coupons, the cashier called the manager, who proceeded to tell me that if it was on sale, then I couldn't use my coupon....So, I have switched grocery stores.

[JANE4girls]

I had the same problem today at Target...so mad

[jaws1]

heck, if the OP is THAT good, how 'bout sending me that million ya owe me? who needs the lottery?

[mlle_amanda]

What??? Man what is this world coming to?

[savewildlife]

I don't shop at HEB unless it is for something that only they have or produce and I am already going there as they never want to honor the coupons and I can get out cheaper at kroger because they honor the coupons that are out there. I live in Katy and I have had problems with coupons at all of them.

[liveteachcreate]

That's odd because my HEB (Anderson Mill) just took a freebie coupon yesterday for the free chocolate that has been going all summer.

[jaws1]

I saw this thread, and wrote a comment/question on the HEB website. Here is the response & my original question/comment. Hope this helps!


fromCustomer,Relations <customer.relations@heb.com>
to (deleted my email address)
dateMon, Sep 14, 2009 at 10:06 AM
subjectResponse from HEB
mailed-byheb.com
hide details Sep 14 (2 days ago)

Hello, and thank you for contacting us at our H E B Web Site. We always
appreciate hearing from our friends and Customers.
It was disappointing to learn of the difficulties you have experienced
using coupons at one of our stores. If a free-item coupon does not
appear to be an internet or home-printed coupon, it should be accepted
at our stores. We do not have a policy against using a coupon on a sale
item, in fact we often run a sale on an item along with an in-store
manufacturer's coupons. We do, however, have a policy that a customer
cannot receive cash back from a coupon. As long as the coupon does not
result in a negative charge to the customer, it should be accepted.
We value you as our Customer and genuinely appreciate your comments and
your business. Thank you again for writing, and for shopping at H-E-B.
We will look forward to all future opportunities we may have to serve
you.
Sincerely,
Wendie
Senior Customer Relations Specialist
H-E-B Customer Relations

-----Original Message-----
From: Customer Comment [mailto:heb-survey@rackspace.com]
Sent: Thursday, September 10, 2009 2:15 AM
To: Customer,Relations
Subject: Customer Comment

Title :
First Name : J
Last Name : S
Address :
City :
State : TX
Zip Code :
Phone Number :
E-mail Address: (deleted my email addy)
Date of visit (mm/dd/yyyy) :
Time of visit : Not Specified
Store ID : -16384
Comments:
A friend of mine was in one of your stores with a Free coupon for an
item -- the manufacturer had sent it to her, it was NOT an internet
printed coupon. She had a lot of difficulty getting them to take it, as
they had refused another customer's Free coupon that came out of a
magazine.
Another friend said an HEB store told her she couldn't use a coupon for
items that were on sale.
Exactly what IS HEB's coupon policy????? Every other store will accept
Free coupons that are NOT internet printed, AND will accept coupons on
sale items ... ask any couponer that has a Kroger nearby!!

[biscottilover]

Thanks for sending the email and letting us see the response. I have had problems with the same thing in Austin a couple months ago. I tried to use a regular free coupon (non-internet printable, non-printable homemailer) and they rejected it. I asked if it was a new policy, and the manager said that an email had been sent around to the stores, stating not to take coupons for "FREE" items. Later, I called the same store to ask if this new policy existed. Like the previous CS email, the manager on the phone said that they do take FREE coupons, but not if they are printed like an internet coupon.

A couple weeks later, I went to a different Austin HEB, where a cashier refused to take my internet coupon for Mr. Bubbles. This was not a free coupon, it was simply a bricks coupon for 50 cents off. He refused to scan it, and called over a manager who confirmed they did not take internet coupons per a new email that had been sent out and that they had all read. HUH? Again, I went home and called the store, where another manager said that it was a mistake, and they do take internet coupons as long as they scan in the computer. I went back to the store, and it did scan.

I understand that HEB has had problems with counterfeit FREE coupons, so this was put in place. It is frustrating, though, when the policy is interpreted wrong, time and time again. The cashiers are so scared that they won't even try to scan the coupon. They'll deny free coupons that are from home mailers.

Also, at Austin HEBs, Smart Source coupons do not scan at all. I've never had a HEB accept them, only bricks. I don't understand this problem because at Randalls, the same SmartSource coupon will automatically scan in their system.

[uthorns1976]

I have a scenario that is related to this thread. I live in Central Texas. In the September 2009 My H-E-B TexasLife magazine, there's an in-ad coupon for Chinet All Occasion Napkins, 90 ct. Buy one, get 2nd FREE. It's good thru 10/06/09. Also, I just printed two Chinet coupons off the internet. They are good for $1.00 off any one (1) Chinet product. If I do this deal, shouldn't I be able to use the In-Ad Coupon to get the free package of napkins and also use the $1 off IP coupon as well?? The way I see it, the In-Ad Coupon is applied to the second package and the $1 Mfg. Q would apply to the other package. What do you guys think?? I know that H-E-B never lets you use a mfg. Q with an H-E-B Q but I don't see why this deal wouldn't work.