Newbie Questions for Publix Shoppers

[MadMom]

Just got my Publix Baby coupons and there is a $5 off huggies...I want to use it with the $5 IP huggies coupon and a $5/10 coupon, but I am not sure if I should have 1 or 2 fillers? Any suggustions on fillers too...already done all my Publix shopping but thought this may be a good deal while boxed diapers are 19.99 right now. Thanks!

[pennywatcher]

Originally Posted by MadMom Just got my Publix Baby coupons and there is a $5 off huggies...I want to use it with the $5 IP huggies coupon and a $5/10 coupon, but I am not sure if I should have 1 or 2 fillers? Any suggustions on fillers too...already done all my Publix shopping but thought this may be a good deal while boxed diapers are 19.99 right now. Thanks!

You'll need three items because the Publix registers count all the store, competitor, and manufacturer coupons together then compares to the item count. There are a lot of ideas for filler items in this thread: What makes good filler at Publix?

[pennywatcher]

Originally Posted by Mom2Natalya I started scanning this thread, but it's soooo long. Could someone tell me about overage... Publix has always given me overage, but today the cashier and manager (both new ones, at least ones I hadn’t seen before) both gave only item amounts on Knox and Pace coupons (ones i won). Now, here’s my problem. I love a free item, don’t get me wrong, and I am certainly NOT trying to cheat anyone out of anything, BUT… if I purchase a Knox item for $1.39 and have a coupon (not ip, an actual coupon) that states “$4 off any Knox product”, and the store gives me $1.39 off the item- GREAT! Free item! BUT, when they turn those coupons into their coupon clearing house or whoever reimburses the store, how do they know that I purchased the $1.39 Knox item and not an $8.99 Knox item. Because if they really don’t know, and the reimbursement to the store is $4, then the store has made $2.61 off of MY coupon! If anyone is making money off of my coupon, shouldn’t it be me, since it was issued to me as the purchaser of the newspaper I received it in??? erg. I’m irritable today.

There are more opinions on this topic in this thread: http://www.hotcouponworld.com/forums...tore-does.html

I've contacted a few manufacturers myself to ask what they expect to happen to the overage ($1 coupon on a $0.99 item was my example). The answer I got back, when I got an answer, was that it's up to the store to set their policy on overage. What I find interesting is that the Military Commissary is required to give overage (DeCA Directive 40-6).

[AshleyDillo]

Don't forget the 8c handling they get for each coupon, too!

It's an even bigger kick in the gut if you have to pay tax on all the free items!

[Mom2Natalya]

Originally Posted by AshleyDillo Don't forget the 8c handling they get for each coupon, too! It's an even bigger kick in the gut if you have to pay tax on all the free items!

especially since I live in Tennessee (a.k.a. one of the highest sales taxes in the country!!)

I am going to take back the Knox since I don't need it, and I had to pay tax. I want my tax$ back! LOL

[pennywatcher]

There are more opinions on this topic in this thread: http://www.hotcouponworld.com/forums...tore-does.html

I've contacted a few manufacturers myself to ask what they expect to happen to the overage ($1 coupon on a $0.99 item was my example). The answer I got back, when I got an answer, was that it's up to the store to set their policy on overage. What I find interesting is that the Military Commissary is required to give overage (DeCA Directive 40-6).

[pilesoflaundry]

Originally Posted by pennywatcher There are more opinions on this topic in this thread: http://www.hotcouponworld.com/forums...tore-does.html I've contacted a few manufacturers myself to ask what they expect to happen to the overage ($1 coupon on a $0.99 item was my example). The answer I got back, when I got an answer, was that it's up to the store to set their policy on overage. What I find interesting is that the Military Commissary is required to give overage (DeCA Directive 40-6).

The commissary being required could be because it's government and can't make money at all. They sell the items at cost and they don't pay baggers and don't collect tax. They charge a surcharge to pay the electric bill, repairs and cashier salary because they basically don't make money. If they charge $2 for something usually sold for say $4 at kmart and you give them a $3 coupon, they make $2 off every coupon redeemed on that item whereas using it at another store you pay $1 for it. I'm not certain of course but that makes a lot of sense as to why. I love some overage!

If those are the knox coupons I think they are, I don't think you are supposed to use them on the small gelatin items that are $1-2 but it's really difficult to figure out.

As for publix, it's iffy getting overage. I have but not always. Policy is hard to figure out, it's not supposed to happen on publix coupons because they exclude that. Manufacturer ones I can't find a clear answer.

[plmahler]

I do not have a Publix in my town but there is one 30 minutes from me. I've shopped there only once (it was for a cake, which was REALLY good!) but I see the deals you can get there versus Walmart. Does Publix routinely double coupons (under 50 cents, I hear) or is it only on a certain day/during a certain promotion period?

Also, do you think it would be worth the drive? Our Walmart's prices are actually 2 or 3 cents higher than the posted regular prices on this website. I know, it stinks! However, we only have 8.5% sales tax. And the Publix out of town has 9% tax.

[pennywatcher]

Originally Posted by plmahler I do not have a Publix in my town but there is one 30 minutes from me. I've shopped there only once (it was for a cake, which was REALLY good!) but I see the deals you can get there versus Walmart. Does Publix routinely double coupons (under 50 cents, I hear) or is it only on a certain day/during a certain promotion period?

If your Publix doubles coupons (those in FL and near the border don't), then they do so all the time, and it'll be manufacturer coupons $0.50 and below.

Originally Posted by plmahler Also, do you think it would be worth the drive? Our Walmart's prices are actually 2 or 3 cents higher than the posted regular prices on this website. I know, it stinks! However, we only have 8.5% sales tax. And the Publix out of town has 9% tax.

I would recommend that you check the online ad for your specific area for prices since they can vary a bit. Is there anything near the Publix that you could visit when you go to Publix or would it be a 30 min drive just for groceries? Do you buy a lot on each trip to the store?

[plmahler]

Well, I went today to just try it out and I bought $70 worth for $28. I was proud of myself. All the prices were pretty much the same as posted on the web. I noticed there were a lot of couponers in the store, but things weren't too bad picked over. (Since it was the third day of the ad, I was worried about this.)
It was a bit confusing to remember that the lower amount coupons were a better deal at Publix than a higher Q. Say, a 75 cent Q was not better than the doubled 50 cent one. Also, I found lots of blinkies and scored some in store deals. Their prices were lower than our local walmart without the B1G1 and Qs. I guess if I just went once a week or so I could make up for the gas. Also, there are lots of other stores to shop at that had good deals too...Aldi, Kroger, and of course drugs stores. I loved getting the Kraft salad dressing this week. I don't know how long it will take us to go through all that salad dressing but the deal was too good to pass up. My husband still cannot fathom that the store paid me $0.13 for each bottle I purchased. I love it!
Thanks for the info!