Random Coupons Not Doubling: Is this why?

[EshuBarakeno]

Here is what I think is happening, based on my shopping runs at Ralphs with the doubles:

Yesterday, I did two back-to-back transactions. I bought 4 Friskies ($1.99 each) and 1 Zone Bar ($1.49) in one transaction. I used one MQ for each item. I watched the $1/1 Friskies MQ all double EXCEPT for the last one. The $1/1 Zone MQ did not double at all. The cashier didn't change or adjust anything manually. So I asked her to VOID the last Friskies MQ and the item itself (that did not change the coupons that had already been scanned, so I still got 3 packs of cat treats for free with a penny overage on EACH). I kept the Zone Bar and paid my balance, even though it did not double.

For the next transaction, I only had 4 packs of cat treats. The cashier asked, since the 4th MQ for Friskies did not double, if I wanted to buy ONLY 3 packs. I said fine, then handed her 3 MQ coupons for $1/1. This time, I watched TWO coupons double (got overage of a penny on each), except for the 3rd coupon, which DID NOT double at all, scanned at face value.

So, the logic appears to be this: IF an item is priced at $2, ALL 4 coupons that are $1/1 MQ will double. If the item is priced at $1.99 however, and you purchase up to 4 in a single transaction, ALL but the last will double (MY RECOMMENDATIONS IS: get a 5th item of the same, hand the cashier 4 MQs (if they are $1/1) and ask her to VOID the 5th item once she scanned all 4 coupons, alleging you only had one coupon for each item, but not enough for a 5th product. THAT WILL MOST LIKELY GIVE YOU THE OVERAGE ON ALL 4 ITEMS, IF THE ITEM WAS PRICED UNDER $2 - I admit, this is a hassle, and some cashiers may not be too happy to keep voiding a 5th item for each set of whatever you are buying, so be mindful).

You can also test this theory with the Nabisco items that are $1.99 each; the LAST coupon will likely scan only at face value. LIKEWISE, if for example, you are only getting ONE item that costs less than the the "full doubling potential of the coupon" (e.g., only one Nabisco for $1.99 and only one $1/1 MQ, or only one Zone Bar at $1.49 and only one $1/1 MQ, I can almost guarantee you THESE WILL NOT DOUBLE.

That's my $0.02. Good luck in your runs.

Ok, so basically the price of the individual items doesn't matter, but only the combined total of each of the same items? So I guess all my Ronzoni coupons would have doubled then.

I'm not brave enough to do your suggestion. I think the cashiers would get pissed off.

[EshuBarakeno]

It took off 4 dollars. Just like how the mega took off 5 dollars.

Wow, that's realy odd then. I would have thought it would still double in that case, since the register should have seen it as costing $2.49.

Does that mean they're programming the registers to recognize those promotions now? If so, that really sucks.

[SkippieB]

I had one coupon the other day that did not double so when I went day before yesterday I made sure I watched as the cashier scanned in my coups and sure enough the $1 off wheat thins (and I only purchased one item) did not double. The cashier couldn't figure out why and since he knows that I've been a customer for 12 years he over-rode the system and gave me the other $1. There was no leading 9 or 5 and it does not say not to double and as I said I only bought one box your guess is good as mine as to why that coupon doesn't seem to double. It was a smartsource internet coup and I have problems at Vons all the time with smartsource internet coups. At Vons they won't even scan at all. I have to get the manager to over-ride every time. Vons cashiers say they can't accept any coup that doesn't scan but the manager always over-rides them.

Carol-Lynn