Newbie Questions for Publix Shoppers

[johnfdeluca]

I would NEVER include competitor/Publix coupons though in your math, thats just wrong.

I've asked this exact question of my Publix manager and he said that with $x off $yy coupons....the $yy total is before any coupons....no stipulations on the type of coupons. So "wrong" is only wrong when it goes against a store policy and Publix has a very decentralized coupon policy. So this is not wrong at my Publix.

[chrisk8]

Originally Posted by elanning Depends on your store. Most stores will allow customers to use a $x/$xx if the total includes the manufacturer coupons but not Publix/Comp coupons because we get reimbursed for vendor coupons. Some stores require you to actually be PAYING the /$xx value before using those types of coupons which is fair. Be careful trying to manipulate the system by using different coupons in different order. If you have to do that, you are doing something wrong. I would speak to the CSM their first so you know you are doing something they allow. I would NEVER include competitor/Publix coupons though in your math, thats just wrong.

You are incorrect. It is NOT manipulating the system. If your order is above the $$ requirement on the $/$$ coupon, then you qualify to use the coupon. How you pay for the rest of the order (coupons, cash, competitor coupons) is of no matter. You met the requirement to use the first coupon. No Publix store that I shop at has ever balked at my using the $/$$ first. In fact, as stated above, it makes it easier for them because they don't have to go back and see if I spent $50 or $75 or whatever the amount is on the coupon.

Oh, and Publix coupons are seen as an in-store DISCOUNT (which is why they can be stacked with manuf. coupons), so not counting them into your total would just be silly It's Publix's choice to give that discount even if they're not being "reimbursed" for giving it.

[nrpeace17]

Originally Posted by elanning Depends on your store. Most stores will allow customers to use a $x/$xx if the total includes the manufacturer coupons but not Publix/Comp coupons because we get reimbursed for vendor coupons. Some stores require you to actually be PAYING the /$xx value before using those types of coupons which is fair. Be careful trying to manipulate the system by using different coupons in different order. If you have to do that, you are doing something wrong. I would speak to the CSM their first so you know you are doing something they allow. I would NEVER include competitor/Publix coupons though in your math, thats just wrong.

Your response is based on the assumption that people are using coupons in a certain order for the purpose of manipulation. The original question referenced a problem at the register where the cashier was getting overwhelmed. An order in which handing over the coupons makes it easier for the cashier was discussed, your response is way off base.

As far as requiring a certain amount out of pocket in cash in order to use a $'s off Publix store coupon after coupons, that is just ridiculous. Coupons are a form of tender. There is no verbiage on Publix coupons that states the discount is to be applied after coupons. There is nothing wrong with a person using a Publix $'s off the order coupon, and free dog food or other types of manufacturer's coupon for each one of the items purchased as long as the total order meets to minimum required before coupons.

[mommalana]

If I have a little down time after unloadind my cart I make a quick scan of the products the customers around me have and often hand the a coupon or 2 if I have extras for something that I know I won't need. It always promotes good will toward the extra time I take to check out. Other customers get all excited about saving even 50 cents or a dollar.

[johnfdeluca]

Originally Posted by mommalana If I have a little down time after unloadind my cart I make a quick scan of the products the customers around me have and often hand the a coupon or 2 if I have extras for something that I know I won't need. It always promotes good will toward the extra time I take to check out. Other customers get all excited about saving even 50 cents or a dollar.

I did this with the Family is it's own Reward Q the other week. When Bertolli were BOGO, I had decided not to take advantage of them because (a) they are too high in sodium and (b) my freezer was already at capacity. So I handed over a few $2/1 MQs for them to a couple folks I saw buying them and they were overjoyed. Giving them out made me almost as happy as when I find a great deal myself!

[CouponQueen2609]

How many Q's can you use on one product? What if a product is BOGO, can you use Q's on each product, if so how many? I just feel like I'm leaving money at the store still!

Also, can you use Food Lion and Albertsons at Publix?

[jaydensmomga]

At my Publix, BOGO items ring half price so 1 Q per item works. It depends on the wording on the Q, but sometimes you can use 1 Publix Q and 1 Manu Q per item. I do know that you cannot stack manu qs at Publix. My Publix is awesome when dealing with qs. The only time I have had any problems is when an IP won't scan, they won't take it!

We don't have a Food Lion or Albertsons where I live so I don't know about using them at Publix, but you should be able to because they do accept competitor qs. I have used Winn Dixie qs before at Publix.

I hope this helps.

[pennywatcher]

Originally Posted by CouponQueen2609 How many Q's can you use on one product? What if a product is BOGO, can you use Q's on each product, if so how many? I just feel like I'm leaving money at the store still! Also, can you use Food Lion and Albertsons at Publix?

Publix stores take competitor coupons but each store defines their own competitors so you'll have to ask at customer service if they accept Food Lion or Albertsons. There are definitely some Publix stores out there that consider those competitors. A competitor coupon is considered a store coupon so you can not use both a Publix coupon and a competitor coupon on the same item.

When a product is BOGO, you are purchasing the second product, even if it rings up as $0 so you can use any appropriate coupons on it. There's a letter from Publix in this thread that confirms that.

Each item can have a store and a manufacturer coupon associated with it, unless the coupon verbiage prohibits it. If you had, for example, a $1/2 store coupon and two $0.40/1 manufacturer coupons, you could use all three coupons on the purchase of two items.

The Publix registers do a count of total Publix, competitor, and manufacturer coupons and compare it to the total number of items in your order. The register will complain if the number of coupons exceeds the number of items. In the example above, if all you bought was those two items, the last of your three coupons would beep even though it is legitimate coupon usage. The manager can override it easily, but if you are in a hurry, you may want to add one couponless item (aka "filler") to the transaction so the register does not complain.

Many Publix coupons state "may not be used in conjunction with any other coupon". Some stores interpret that to mean any other store coupon, but other stores interpret it to mean any store or manufacturer coupon.

[lmajesky]

I just started couponing at Publix in the past couple of months. I have a little one and hubby works out of town so only home on sat. & sun., so it's hard for me to get there ore than once a week. I had gotten a few rainchecks and usually ask for 6 items on them, no problems. Then all of a sudden the cashier tells me I can't get more than 4 on a rain check. Is there a guideline on this, I get her often and I feel like she is a coupon ****! Then last night I went and had a raincheck for 4 Klondike bars BOGO. Well they still didn't have any of the regular ones left so I got 1 Oreo & 1 peanut butter, and asked her to just change the number on my raincheck to 2. She said they have never done this and she would have to take my raincheck. I told her I had other cashiers do this for me-sometimes they don't have enough to get the number on my raincheck or another time I only had 2 coupons so only wanted 2. She asked the manager and she said OK. I know CVS does this all the time no problems. Is there a guideline for this also, or is she just trying to make it difficul for me? She wasn't happy when my total was $5 for over $45 worth of items last night! TIA! just want to make sure I'm doing it correctly!

[luckydogsidkitty]

Well, at my publix we also seem to have very difficult cashiers. I spoke with a manager and they told me that you are allowed the amount of products stated on your raincheck. So in your case you requested 6 on your rain check you would be entitled to 6 items there is no rule that you can only buy 4. Unless the original sales specified a quantity like "no more than 2 per household" or whatever. Why would they ask you how many items you want on your rain check if your only allowed four? lol

I'm really amazed that cashiers get so obnoxious, its not their money, they should be happy for you that you saved so much mulah!

GOOD LUCK!