My strange Publix shopping adventure

[hholder]

I was at Publix to take advantage of the $5 off WYB 10 JM Smuckers. Well, I picked up 30 MW muffin mixes, 6 Pillsbury frostings, 2 Hungry Jack instant potatoes, and 2 Crisco sprays. I also picked up 15 cans of Hunts tomato paste, 3 Olivio margarine since I had free q's and 4 frozen chicken breasts ( they were 2 for $10). When It was my turn to get checked out, and the cashier saw I had q's, she turned to the lady who was bagging groceries and whispered something to her. Now the manager is checking me out and tried to tell me I could only use 1 $5 off per transaction. Now,mind you, nowhere on the q does it even mention that. Then she tried to tell me I could not use a MC with a Store q. I told her to get the manager, and she told me she was a manager. I told her yes, we can use MC with stoer q, I had already spoken to their corporate office about that. Well, all my q's scanned perfectly, and she did run the 4 $5 off, plus I had a Winn Dixie $10/50. I ended up paying $27.16, and saved $83.86.
I called corporate when I got home because the whole thing was very uncomfortable. Why do they always think we are doing something wrong or trying to rip them off!

[Crsybear05]

Good morning.. I am not sure where you are located, but I am in Smyrna TN, and that has happened to me on more than one occassion, 2 times by the same person from the Customer Service Desk. They will see the coupons and immediately come over. I dont do anything I am not suppose to do, so that's not an issue. But.. the other people in the store do not know that, so it makes me feel like they are looking at me like COUPON FRAUD!
I try to over look it because I know I am in the right and saving money for my family is the greatest feeling, but I think they try to take that away from you for whatever their reason is.. lack of knowledge, had issues with someone ELSE before.. whatever the case may be.

I am so sorry that happened to you, and I know EXACTLY how you feel. I called the store mngr the last time and told him everything! He said it will not happen again... I had to talk to her once since then to get my Upromise card, and she had that look on her face like maybe he really did talk to her LOL

Hope you feel better and do not let this discourage you. Theres tons of coupons for you to use.. USE EM UP! Big HUGS!

[hholder]

Thanks Crsybear05,
Yes, I do feel better, and I plan to go back today. I'm in Palatka Florida, near Ocala. I'm sorry it happened to you also, and yes, I think we should not let it get us down, because we are doing it for our family. It's just sad when the customer knows more about coupon policies than managment

[luvmykitten]

I am sorry you had to deal with that! I ordered less q that usual becuase I was not sure how Publix would do with q but they did great so far.
There is a WAG that makes me feel like that, I hate going in there.

[hholder]

There is a distinct difference between per purchase and per transaction. The $5 off means per 10 items, not per transaction. This is precisely what we couponers encounter.

[Crsybear05]

Originally Posted by luvmykitten I am sorry you had to deal with that! I ordered less q that usual becuase I was not sure how Publix would do with q but they did great so far. There is a WAG that makes me feel like that, I hate going in there.

OH WOW! That is so funny that you say that.. I hate going to my Wags even to get the papers because of how I feel when I walk in that door. There's one girl in there that knows what to do and it's because she coupons herself.. very young girl too. There's one lady in mine that when I see her, I want to run the other way. She has NO CLUE what to do and messes up EVERY time I have went to her.. How can you scan the ESVR booklet and it still NOT show up on the transaction??? The girl I do like said that the lady I dont like messes up so bad that she hates to work the morning after she closes because of the mess she has stuff in.. So I know it's not just me, but I do not go in there.. It will have to be free or absolutely worth it. I havent seen anything in about 2 months that was worth it.. other than the paper of course :-)

[morihuel]

I dont know where to start...but I can empathize with the feeling. I have had both, positive and negative, experiences at Publix (same store). I typically buy at the stame Miami store and I have been able to use coupons with no problem until one day I ran into a cashier who was even judging why I was buying chicken nuggets being so unhealthy!! Anyhow, they were b1g1 free items and wanted to use two cupons, but she didn’t want to take both, only one. She even called the customer service manager who in a very unpleasant manner confirmed what the cashier told me. I was very mad and frustrated because they had taken two coupons for the same deal just a few days ago. Anyways, after a few days I run into the assistant customer service manager and chatted a little bit with her and explained/asked their coupon policy. She said that the store was supposed to have taken ALL my coupons. Since then I have had to play psychologist and detective. I have to guess what days the nicest staff is working and by nicest I mean the ones who don’t give you any hardships when they see you using coupons. My sister who is also a frequent user of coupons has also had the same experience. One of her many experiences have been that OTHER CASHIERS! Are watching the “nice ones” that are assisting her …can you believe this???

All this time I am questioning myself why?? Are some people just jealous of how much we save? I really don’t think that they are thinking we are doing something fraudulent. I can bet that it is jealousy of how much money WE can save with coupons and deals we come up. What do you think??

PS I have finally gotten an email from the store manager confirming that I can use 2 coupons on the B1G1 deals. I have a print out in my purse, just in case..