Publix: McCalla/Bessemer- Competitor Q's?

thomascaldwell1 · 07-13-2009, 02:52:48 PM

Okay, VERY confused on this one... I remember hearing that managers at this store (and perhaps some other local stores) had a pow-wow and decided that they would still accept competitor Q's as long as they were in a reasonable proximity to the store. If you're familiar with this store, you know that right down in the same strip center, there is a Target (NOT a SuperTarget, darnit-all!). You may also be very well aware of the fact that many times the coupons on Target's website reference SuperTarget, but are accepted at the regular Targets.

This past Saturday, I purchased 2 items in particular that this is related to- Driscoll's Strawberries on sale $2.50 each, and Edy's Ice Cream, $3.00. As I was gathering my coupons before cashing out, I remembered I had printed Target Q's for both of these items and had them handy in my binder. I passed them over to the cashier with my mfg. coupons. He did all of the MFG and Publix Q's first, then had to call a manager over. The first person he spoke with (maybe just a supervisor?) said no, but that he should confirm with a manager. The manager came over, reviewed those coupons like there's no tomorrow (yeah, I'm trying to 'get over on you' for $2.00 total... Uh-huh...), and then told me that this one time, they will do it, but they are for use at a SuperTarget, and they will not accept them anymore. I explained that I had just used the Edy's Q at Target the week before, even though it says 'SuperTarget'- she didn't care. They took the money off my bill and I was done.

So, can someone PLEASE explain to me what exactly the policy is? If they're not going to accept competitor's coupons at all, they need to clearly state that. If there are only certain ones they will accept, they need to spell them out. Target is a competitor of theirs, in my book, even if the coupon says SuperTarget... Someone please help!! Thanks!

mommyto6 · 07-13-2009, 03:01:30 PM

I talked to the store manager about this and he stated that they would only take competitor's coupons from traditional grocery stores like Winn Dixie, Food World, ETC.. No target, walmart, cvs, etc... It really makes no sense because I think Target is their biggest competitor due to proximity. Sometimes you can get a cashier that doesn't know the new "rule" and will take them anyway. That's only at that store though, Hueytown takes them all day long.

frugalfreak · 07-13-2009, 08:32:23 PM

I can't believe they took the target q's even just once-they have been so adamant about refusing them. I asked about Target q's at the 150 Hoover store and they said they will begin accepting them when the new Target opens over there so I'm just completely confused also as to what constitutes whether or not a store is a competitor!

thomascaldwell1 · 07-14-2009, 05:25:14 AM

I'm thinking that when the new Super Target opens on exit 10 (any guesses when this will happen?), that's where I'll be day in and day out unless Publix has a sale so tremendous it's not possible to pass it up- but I haven't run into one there yet, in my 3 months... Maybe I'm just missing it because I don't have the appropriate coupons, or enough of them to make it worthwhile... Thanks for the input, folks!

trus4me · 07-14-2009, 06:01:52 AM

I tried to use the Target Driscoll strawberry coupons last week at the Montclair store. Cashier told me they couldn't accept Target Qs anymore. She made it sound as though it was a corporate policy. I'm still confused about it, though. I think I'm going to try at Deerfoot today and see what they say.

Lilysmom0220 · 07-14-2009, 07:53:44 AM

I shop at the McCalla store and they told me no Target coupons on FoodWorld and Winn-Dixie. When the new Target opens I will be using that one and that Publix right down the road if I need to use a Target q at Publix.

frugalfreak · 07-14-2009, 08:17:21 AM

Me too-I actually like the 150 Publix a little better:)

Originally Posted by Lilysmom0220

I shop at the McCalla store and they told me no Target coupons on FoodWorld and Winn-Dixie. When the new Target opens I will be using that one and that Publix right down the road if I need to use a Target q at Publix.

thickbluebug · 07-14-2009, 09:04:02 AM

Don't know about you guys, but I am finding the policies are drawn by district lines or rather the dm that has the stores.
I expect for the stores greensprings to mccalla/tannehill to start accepting target once the new store opens on 150.

These are the last rules I have been told. I have spoken with 2 dm's about their store policies. Then I went to most of these stores and spoke with cs workers.

Funny thing about policy - district stores compete with each other for their business....hence one store taking an ra ip and one taking a wd when one down the road is taking nothing.

greensprings .....takes ra ip (I kid you not), takes wd, takes target, takes fw/brunos
- per the co manager - gives overage on man q's says they get reimbursed!
vestavia.......any groc store(wd), no ra, no on target
mtn brook......any grocery store (wd) and ra, sometimes target
hoover across from golden rule bbq...takes all grocery store...target if you insist (per a cs guy) some cashiers will adjust the manq
hoover 150....... no on target, no on wd, no on overage on q's
McCalla ......no on target, no wd, yes on other groc stores
Htown, ......no on wd, yes on target (depends on cashier) yes on other groc stores
pelham/helena ........yes on piggly fw and brunos...no on target, ra, wd
edit: pelham (31/valleydale) gave overage on A-1 said they have to put the key in after every overage q per management......?????
Deerfoot/trussville/clay chalkville.....specifically no on any store that is not a local gro store...so no on fresh market, no on target, no on wd, dm actually said he will not compete with any store that is on 280 - that is not close enough to compete with
edit: per blessedmama06
Clay/Chalkville know that they do accept Target Q's
&
they will accept any grocery store as long as they are located in AL.

edit: per kbsparks
I've used Target Q's at the deerfoot location on Sunday

Now for the kicker,
the store manager can deviate if you are persistent enough.
The "just this one time" comes into effect when you ask for a manager. Hence the hoover store across (from golden rule bbq) taking target

Now for the rub,
once we all hit some of these stores the policy will change again!

blessedmama06 · 07-14-2009, 11:46:12 AM

I shop at the Clay/Chalkville store and know that they do accept Target Q's. I use them almost everytime I'm in there and have never had a problem. They don't take drugstore q's but I was told they will accept any grocery store as long as they are located in AL.