Stockpiling - Nervousness at the registers

[LovesDivine]

I still say be confident and open and honest. I am the type of person that picks up very quickly on nervousness and suspicious behavior. If I were the manager and saw you leave and come back 2 more times, I'd watch you. On the other hand, in my experience, I don't exhibit nervousness or try to use different cashiers multiple times in one day.

Management greets me personally by name and will make sure they are available at the check out for me should their key be needed.

I would urge all couponers to be upfront and confident. It might help cashiers and managers to ease up on the vigilance if they didn't feel like we are all out to cheat the system.

But thats just my humble opinion.

[mxmom99]

If I were the manager and saw you leave and come back 2 more times, I'd watch you. On the other hand, in my experience, I don't exhibit nervousness or try to use different cashiers multiple times in one day.

well said. i worked in a grocery store for about 6 years and those were the people that were watched....those that came in and out and looked/acted nervous. i agree, to be open and upfront and talk to the manager!

[cantstopshopping]

well said. i worked in a grocery store for about 6 years and those were the people that were watched....those that came in and out and looked/acted nervous. i agree, to be open and upfront and talk to the manager!

I have a friend that will do that....in/out, in/out, in/out....she has no problem doing that, but I cannot do that (not saying that those who do it is wrong, but I just cannot do it myself, as my own thoughts are that it will hurt us couponers in the long run). If I have multiple coupons to use (our store limits 3 like) or there is a sale limit, I will go to different stores, or go several times throughout the week on different days...not all in one store, all at once.

[ishamarie]

I agree with a lot of the other posters.. I have a rather large stockpile :) and I don't have any problem getting huge multiples of an item.

My advice is:

Get to know your managers. Like others have said be confident, your not doing anything wrong... I always introduce myself to the managers if I don't know them, or if I know I'm doing a huge order I'll tell them when I get there so they can help the cashier if necessary...

Get to know your cashiers... I like to suck up to mine hehe... If I've had the same one several times and they are consistently nice, I'll buy them a soda or a candy bar. I also like to send compliments to their CS.

I also give out super hot coupons... When the free sara lee bread came out, I got about 20 loaves for myself and gave my fav manager 50 ish coupons to give out to the employees... Talk about brownie points lol!

Bottom line, what works for me, is being upfront, friendly and honest.

[LovesDivine]

Being a coupon fairy to the managers and cashiers is another great idea. Get them excited about the savings!!

But back to the original question, don't be nervous about getting a ton of one item. Heck, if it makes you feel better, do what I did yesterday. I asked a stock person to check on the smart taste in the stock room. Told him I wanted about 15 to 20 of each "flavor" and didn't want to clear the shelves. He brought me out boxed cases of each kind and we took out what I didn't want from each and replenished the shelves. For me, it is much easier to store too!! And the shelves are nicely stocked for the next person.

That won't work for all situations, sometimes, you do have to take from the shelf and might even clear it. But don't feel guilty. That is what rainchecks are for.

[loveebella]

wow very nice thread and love the replies.
I also get super nervous but like someone said I think it is the ..oh man are they gonna give me a hard time..I don't want to have to get crazy (jk) My hubby even said he couldn't use the q for me cause he thinks the cops are going to arrest him...? What I was like why..? He is crazy!! I think it is helping me though. I am the type of person who is like it was just 20 cents or 1.00. I read someone elses post and they said ..hey it is your $ and heck yea it is ...my hubby works hard for that money and that is my 20 cents lol.
Good post about acting suspisious..I think I do that...not because I am stealing...but I feel like I am getting stuff for so cheap it makes me feel like I am doing somthing wrong. I guess just act natural and hold my head up high:):):)

[sewnmom]

I make a few trips so as to not push the limits of what they are willing to allow. When anyone makes a comment I just say "I have four teenagers, one of whom is going off to a private college in the fall..." and then usually they get it as to why I coupon.

[Theresat]

When I bring my 2 boys, no one says anything..they hurriedly scan the coupons to make the screaming kids stop and go away lol.

I do try to fly under the radar..if a store has an amazing catalina deal I will do 2 transactions a day and come at different shifts. I try to mix in things I need instead of 1 trip with 30 cans of x paid for with 30 cans of coupons. I still get embarassed and nervous when there is a line behind me..if it's just me and the cashier not so much. I do befriend the cashiers..have given my favorite Walgreens girl lots of free stuff..if they are rude, I think it is due to jealousy I am getting stuff free or cheap or maybe they are uneducated about coupoing who knows. The "high" of getting stuff for free far outweighs the stress of others being "coupon haters". :)

It is also fun to find a couponing friend. For me that is my cousin. She and I talk about our deals, share coupons and woes of sold out merchandise, share frees, trade stockpiles, etc. It makes the hunt a lot more fun!

[goldielocks]

I used to get kind of nervous, but now I figure that the cashier doesn't really care anyway. And if they do, so what? People do plenty of things to irritate me at my job, but that doesn't give me the right to roll my eyes at them or make them feel like they're doing something illegal.

The most important thing to remember: a coupon is a form of payment. So if you wanna buy 15 BBQ sauces (like I did the other day), then you're just using a different form of payment. No different than cash, check, or credit card. That's what I always tell myself when I feel a little uneasy from the impatient sighs of the people who are waiting behind me, or if I get a cashier who isn't very friendly.

Don't be nervous! ;)

[lovelace]

I said JUST hey,and just pile my stuff on the belt or just tell them how many I have and be done with it.
They are know me nOw so they know I have a lot of stuff
I buy stuff by the case and save them the trouble of taking ITEMS off the shelf LOLOLOL

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