Kroger TX/LA--Can you use Qs with cards?

[jaws1]

I was talking about couponing to someone the other day, and they asked (for me) a very interesting question:

If a person is on food-stamps (her words) and/or WIC, can they use Qs along with those cards to lower the cost spent and stretch the dollar? (I'm guessing it would take less off the card, after Qs ...??)

Me ... I would think yes, but a couple years ago, a lady using one of those cards was trying to buy store brand milk (cheaper) and cashier said she had to buy Borden's for the card to pay for it .. go figure! So, I'm at a loss for an answer!

As you can tell, I'm ignorant about either of these programs but figured someone here would either have, or know someone, with experience and could educate me!

While I'm asking, if a person uses one of these programs, can they "work" the mega deals too? or do they get charged a different price?

This person is really interested in couponing, but doesn't want to go "gung-ho" into it if it's going to be a waste of time on groceries. So, if anyone can tell me the "rules" about all this, I sure would appreciate it!

(If you'd rather pm than post, that's fine with me! I just need the information!)

[tlchidester]

Yes to both of those! I only have a minute, but I remember at one of my WIC appointments, they said if you have coupons to use them because that money saved can mean even one more person can get WIC that year. Also, it is smart shopping. You have an allotted amount, but if you can stretch that as far as possible then go for. I am currently on foodstamps and I just participated in the MEGA DEAL. Nothing is charged differently. I bought 23 items. Paid $1.17 on my food stamps card and $2.05 with my debit card. These agencies support you trying to figure out how to make it on your own and couponing is a fantastic start.

Hopefully that answers your questions. An EBT card is just like a debit card. The cashiers don't know what you are paying for your groceries with until the end and it doesn't matter. Times are tough. Tell your friend she can stretch that money FAR!!!

[Amniculus]

A one dollar coupon is really worth 1.06. If they buy nothing but food and use coupons they will have a negative tax balance. We all know what happens if you have a zero balance (heads explode etc) imagine a NEGATIVE balance! The cashier can fix the balance to zero, but that's money down the drain.

My tips don't go for super low totals when using food stamps. You always want to pay something. Don't bring attention to negative tax! It's a good thing for all of us.

Not all cashiers know how to prevent negative tax. We should keep it that way!

WIC will take off the cost of the item, so if you use a 1/1 milk and pick up one milk negative again. Don't waste it. Purchase something else in your order too.

[jaws1]

Originally Posted by Amniculus A one dollar coupon is really worth 1.06. If they buy nothing but food and use coupons they will have a negative tax balance. We all know what happens if you have a zero balance (heads explode etc) imagine a NEGATIVE balance! The cashier can fix the balance to zero, but that's money down the drain. My tips don't go for super low totals when using food stamps. You always want to pay something. Don't bring attention to negative tax! It's a good thing for all of us. Not all cashiers know how to prevent negative tax. We should keep it that way! WIC will take off the cost of the item, so if you use a 1/1 milk and pick up one milk negative again. Don't waste it. Purchase something else in your order too.

okay ... I get all but the last sentences ... let me use numbers!
If Borden's milk is $2.49(?) and she has a $1.00/1 Bordens ...

you are saying the WIC card will take off $2.49 + the register will deduct $1.00 (okay, $1.06), even though she used the Q ...
BUT the advantage of using Qs with these cards is that you can use that $1.06 and buy a loaf of bread $1.29(?), and pay only 23¢

Right? Am I understanding it? ....


If so, that kinda stinks because the full amount was deducted instead of after Q, when register recognizes what items are purchased ... but at least she gets to (HAS to) buy something else RIGHT THEN ... .(instead of being able to apply it to something else later).


Well, guess the good news is that it's okay to use the Qs and the cards together ... just gotta be careful on the math! I'll tell her to try to get total at least $2-3 after Qs. ... maybe $5 to be safe. [and/or, tell her to multiply her number of Qs by $0.06 and get something that costs at least $1 more than that amount.]

Agreed about the negative totals! I, too, encourage folks to give 'em a few dollars before ya walk out with all those freebies!! ... buy a soda, bread, anything!

[jaws1]

Thank you both for responding!

I feel like I am at least a little more informed about the programs!! I'm not 100% which one she's on (maybe both?) as she also has a young child, but this will help her!

She may have to do her own "testing" and make sure she understands the "fine-tuning" she needs to do!

Thanks!!

[alliestallie]

That's how I got started couponing 6.5 years ago. Our first child was born w/ a genetic condition and SEVERE health problems, leaving no choice but for one of us to quit working. Our income was cut in half (a bit over) but the one w/ the health insurance cont'd to work. We received FS and I was determined to make it stretch b/c it wasn't much. (I am NOT complaining about what we received, we were very grateful to have food.) We qualified for six months, but I was able to stockpile boxed/canned goods and freeze meat w/ what we got and it lasted us almost double. :)

[jaws1]

Allie, thanks for sharing that! Yea, apparently it's like unemployment ... maybe enough to keep you almost afloat, not enough to live on (which is what I remember Mom telling me the system was put in place to do, years ago)!
The time we could've used some assistance, we didn't qualify b/c was on prior year's salary ... didn't count no work in that current year for several months. Oh well ...

[Amniculus]

Originally Posted by jaws1 okay ... I get all but the last sentences ... let me use numbers! If Borden's milk is $2.49(?) and she has a $1.00/1 Bordens ... you are saying the WIC card will take off $2.49 + the register will deduct $1.00 (okay, $1.06), even though she used the Q ... BUT the advantage of using Qs with these cards is that you can use that $1.06 and buy a loaf of bread $1.29(?), and pay only 23¢ Right? Am I understanding it? .... If so, that kinda stinks because the full amount was deducted instead of after Q, when register recognizes what items are purchased ... but at least she gets to (HAS to) buy something else RIGHT THEN ... .(instead of being able to apply it to something else later). Well, guess the good news is that it's okay to use the Qs and the cards together ... just gotta be careful on the math! I'll tell her to try to get total at least $2-3 after Qs. ... maybe $5 to be safe. [and/or, tell her to multiply her number of Qs by $0.06 and get something that costs at least $1 more than that amount.] Agreed about the negative totals! I, too, encourage folks to give 'em a few dollars before ya walk out with all those freebies!! ... buy a soda, bread, anything!

If there is negative tax and only food items are purchased, she will get cash back. The negative tax balance does not get absorbed by the other food items. She is paying for food only. She can pay 20.00 dollars for food and still get money back from the negative tax. She should buy at least a non food item.

WIC items are lowest priced items and rarely are there coupons for these items. Second, the total is not calculated like paying with a other methods of payments. Your example would work if she paid cash after WIC. If she used food stamps after WIC she would pay .29 and get .06 back from the negative tax.

You don't want to do that. You want to have a non food item to absorb that -.06. If you don't then pretty soon every cashier will know how to fix negative tax. We do not want that!

[patts]

How interesting...about the negative tax. Could someone please explain how this happens. I'm not on either FS or WIC. I buy both food and non food on most of my transactions. Looking back over the last 6 receipts, I see that I had negative tax on all of them. I don't know how this happens, and I've never had a cashier question it. The other day I did overhear a floor manager say something about needing to call again (who, I don't know) because the system had the negative tax showing up again. She was saying she's called several times about it. She was not speaking to me, I don't think she was talking about my transaction...as she was one register over and was facing the next register. Can the system be adjusted or is it supposed to be adjusted at the register? If so, why? My fave cashier could care less...mind is usually else where. hee...

So, now my interest is peaked. Can someone go into more detail how it works and about why we need to avoid getting the tax money taken off the total? I'd rather not ruin anyone's good shop, but need to understand more to handle it correctly. Thanks for any help!!

[Amniculus]

Originally Posted by patts How interesting...about the negative tax. Could someone please explain how this happens. I'm not on either FS or WIC. I buy both food and non food on most of my transactions. Looking back over the last 6 receipts, I see that I had negative tax on all of them. I don't know how this happens, and I've never had a cashier question it. The other day I did overhear a floor manager say something about needing to call again (who, I don't know) because the system had the negative tax showing up again. She was saying she's called several times about it. She was not speaking to me, I don't think she was talking about my transaction...as she was one register over and was facing the next register. Can the system be adjusted or is it supposed to be adjusted at the register? If so, why? My fave cashier could care less...mind is usually else where. hee... So, now my interest is peaked. Can someone go into more detail how it works and about why we need to avoid getting the tax money taken off the total? I'd rather not ruin anyone's good shop, but need to understand more to handle it correctly. Thanks for any help!!

You only need to avoid when paying with food stamps, wic and if you get super low totals often. If you can make your total super low, then you all ready know about it. We are talking 1.06 for thirty or more items.

Every coupon takes off tax. Since we pay no tax on food that's how we get negative tax. When paying cash, debit, credit or check the negative tax is absorbed by other items. So you don't worry about it. Unless your total order is 2.00 and you have 2.00 in coupons you will have a negative .12 tax balance. That will turn into a negative amount owed.

If they fix this issue, it will suck for us. Big time. Some cashiers all ready know how to. Cens0 has a story about that.

If you see a negative tax balance greater then the amount you owe, and they still have coupons to scan you need to add items quick.

I usually just add .06 for every dollar in coupon. 1/1 = 1.06, 50/1= .53 even with the double. The double amount is counted as .50 cause it doesn't add or take off tax.

Your tax rate will be different then mine. I suggest you forget to hand over a coupon, make it 1/1. Take it to customer service and watch the negative total, if it's 1.06 or 1.08 or 1.10 you will know how much to add to your 1.00 coupons.