Newbie Questions for Publix Shoppers

[jkmur827]

I too have stood up for myself. Publix has a great meal deal from their deli area - and once it was on sale ($0.50 off) and it rang up incorrectly. I complained to the cashier who said that's what it rang up as and she even called the deli department to confirm. I said "FINE" - took my groceries and went to the deli area, removed their sign stating the price and took it to the customer service desk. I got the meal for free and it only took a few extra minutes to bring to their attention.

I'm not a big mouth, but if you advertise it, and I buy it then by-gum it better be that price. And as far as coupons go, if I put in the effort to cut, sort, and shop that way, then I'm entitle to my savings. It's hard earned from my husband and well earned by the effort to save.

One thing I've done is see if the person behind me has a few items I let them go in front of me or I tell the person behind me that I'm a coupon queen. Some decide to go another line, some stay and watch the show.

So, go get-em girl (GGG).

[backyrat]

Originally Posted by nrpeace17 There are three reasons that I can think of that an override would be required: 2. Your item to coupon ratio was more than 1:1 The cashier will also need an override if you have more coupons than items, which can happen if you are combining store coupons with manufacturer coupons. You can avoid this by either throwing in fillers, such as Ramen noodles, mini cereals, or other inexpensive items. Or just make sure the number of items and coupons is equal.

I am assuming this is what happened to me today but not sure. Here's what I got:

Kraft LiveActiv Cheese 3.89
Kraft LiveActiv Cheese 3.89
Gort Crunchy Tend 3.99
Gort Crunchy Tend 3.99
JD Sausage Mild 2.00
JD Sausage Mild 2.00
JD Sausage Mild 2.00
JD Sausage Mild 2.00
Publix Milk 3.39
Scott Tissue White 2.50
Scott Tissue White 2.50
Scott Tissue White 2.50
Scott Tissue White 2.50

Coupons Instead of putting vendor coupon like reciept reads, I put what it was for. This is exactly how my reciept reads:

JD Sausage -1.00
Scott Tissue -2.00
Gorton Publix Q -1.00 (read $1/1 on Q, said save $1 on 2 on the register)
Scott Tissue -2.00
Scott Tissue -2.00
Scott Tissue -2.00
KR LiveActiv -4.50
KR LiveActiv -4.50
Gorton Publix Q -1.00 (read $1/1 on Q, said save $1 on 2 on the register)
JD Sausage -1.00
JD Sausage -1.00
Gorton's Mfg -0.75
COUPON CANCELED
Gorton's Mfg 0.75 (so it added the previous 0.75 back on)
Milk Publix Q -0.50

Subtotal 13.65
sales tax 0.60
food tax 0.80
order total 15.05

The only thing I am wondering about is that it looks like she entered the gorton's coupon, took it off, then entered the milk coupon. Cashier told me she couldn't take both gorton's coupons and handed me the two .75 mfg ones back. I told her I thought you could use both a mfg and publix on one item. She said you can but with their new system it wouldn't allow her to do it. I was going to get her to call a manager over, but every line in the store was really long and I didn't want the other customers to have to wait. (lots of college football home game day shoppers= ANNOYING) I asked if I could go to CS to get the 1.50 for the coupons, and she said yes.

CS told me I could only use a publix and mfg if the mfg wouldn't double, which I have never heard before, but since mine were .75 it didn't matter this time. CS gave me my 1.50 for the 2 coupons.

All input welcome. I got my money back so I am satisfied, but thought it might help others if something similar happens to them.

And you might have guessed this was the Clemson Blvd. store in Anderson.

[clark6122]

Seems someone is making up rules as they go along......wonder if that policy change is posted along side the policy change for who the $/$ "applies to".

LoL

Lynn

[kmimbela]

I am considering trying some new grocery stores and thought I would give Publix a try. I have read the info about Publix, but still have some questions for someone who shops there a lot. I read that they double Q's, but not up to what amount. .50 or .99? I got a $5/35 Q in the mail. Can I use this Q before I give them any of my manufacturer Q's? Also, when looking at their ad at the BOGO items, it doesn't give a price for the items, just says "save up to $". Does that mean that amount is the price for one? Anyway, any tips would be appreciated as I am planning on trying this store this week. Thanks!

[pennywatcher]

Originally Posted by kmimbela I am considering trying some new grocery stores and thought I would give Publix a try. I have read the info about Publix, but still have some questions for someone who shops there a lot. I read that they double Q's, but not up to what amount. .50 or .99? I got a $5/35 Q in the mail. Can I use this Q before I give them any of my manufacturer Q's? Also, when looking at their ad at the BOGO items, it doesn't give a price for the items, just says "save up to $". Does that mean that amount is the price for one? Anyway, any tips would be appreciated as I am planning on trying this store this week. Thanks!

I believe that in all the states where Publix doubles coupons (not Florida), they double coupons $0.50 and below. $0.51 and above are taken at face value.

Yes, you can/should use your $5/$35 before all your other coupons.

Yes, when the BOGO says "save up to $2", that means you'll get two items for $2 instead of $4. I know that in Georgia, each item would ring up as $1 so I could buy an odd amount. I do not know for sure if they ring the same way in Tennessee.

I think my main piece of advice for you is to look for coupons while you're there. Publix puts out a lot of coupon booklets with both Publix and manufacturer's coupons in them. If you can find this booklet, the mouthwash is an easy way to build up to that $35 floor you need to get to.

Make sure you check what your Publix ad cycle is. Where I am all the other stores start on Sunday, but Publix starts on Thursday. Nothing worse than missing the sale because you mixed up the days.

I'm assuming you've read the FAQ so I'll skip talking about competitor's coupons or combining store+manufacturer's coupons.

[SigourneyBeaver]

I did the coupon thing at Publix twice today. First when it wasn't particularly busy and I put together a care package of things for my niece to take back to her dorm. Smooth sailing, no questions asked and a cashier that was amused.
The later trip was when the store was moderately busy with Thanksgiving shoppers and I had to fuss every step of the way with the cashier. Not the manager, just the cashier. She kept trying to tell me she could only use 1 coupon on the BOGOs and I kept telling her she was wrong and might as well get the manager if she was going to fight me every step of the way.

For me, Publix is WAAAY more stressful to shop at than supertarget or winn dixie. That self-checkout at WD makes me real happy. lol

The game of "b*tchslap the cashier" isn't as fun as it sounds.

[tracylynn01]

So, yesterday I was shocked to be told Publix no longer accepts printed coupons for over $2.00. Anyone else have a store doing this?

[silly_momma]

OK, I'm still confused about the penny item. I read here that it was spaghetti sauce, yesterday. I read in the FAQs that there should have been a coupon in the Sunday paper, but I didn't find one. So, is the item a penny, only after the coupon? Does it say that somewhere in the Sunday ad, in the newspaper?

[pennywatcher]

Originally Posted by silly_momma OK, I'm still confused about the penny item. I read here that it was spaghetti sauce, yesterday. I read in the FAQs that there should have been a coupon in the Sunday paper, but I didn't find one. So, is the item a penny, only after the coupon? Does it say that somewhere in the Sunday ad, in the newspaper?

Yes, you need the coupon. The item rings up at regular price and then the coupon takes off all but $0.01 of the price. I've heard reports of some stores that will give you the discount on the penny item if you just ask. That is definitely a store by store thing so you'd have to ask at the customer service desk.

The coupon this week (at least here in Atlanta) was on the front of the Publix flyer in the paper. Sometimes what they do is put the coupon on a full page ad somewhere in the paper. Sometimes it is in the insert flyer. The flyer in the newspaper is not identical to the one in the store. Sometimes the only difference is that one of the items of the in-store flyer has been replaced by the penny item coupon. Sometimes the newspaper flyer has an additional page on it.

The coupon reads:

See what 1c gets!
Bring this Mystery Coupon to your neighborhood Publix on December 16 & 17, 1007 and find out what one penny gets you!
Good with coupon and purchases of $10 or more (excluding alcohol products, money orders, postage stamps, gift cards, and prescriptions) at participating Publix stores in GA, AL, SC, and TN on December 16 & 17, 2007 only. Limit one deal per coupon per customer. Customer is responsible for all applicable taxes. This coupon is non-transferable.

[silly_momma]

Thanks, pennywatcher!

I'm in TN, and I looked through my paper, page by page, and didn't see an ad. :( Maybe it's because they just opened, though. I'll look again, this Sunday.

Thanks, again!