Coupon Stacking--What's The Problem?

[curvygreek]

Old Spice bodywash on sale for $3.79
Old Spice deodorant was $4.xx

Used man. Q for free body wash WYB Old Spice deodorant.
Tried to use Target Q for $2 off Old Spice deodorant wyb Old Spice body wash.
Was denied. Was told "You're not buying the body wash, you're getting it free. So you can't take $2 off the deodorant since you're not buying the body wash."

Now--what if I hand the TQ first? I'm still paying for the deodorant....am I THEN entitled to the free body wash per the MQ?

Was not denied last week when the body wash was not on sale. Shelf price was $4.74, and the coupon was good up to $3.99....so I paid a small amount for the BW. But since it's on sale, I can't use both coupons now? Oy vey.

I emailed corporate and all I got was a canned response.

[LisaLou]

My experience with the Target stores in my area is that they make up their own rules - depending on the MOD and the cashier you get.

I've been told that they are not allowed to use 2 Q's on the same item (1 MQ/1 Target Q), that they are only allowed to accept one coupon per like item per transaction (when the wording on the coupons says no such thing), that you are not allowed to get items "free" after coupons, etc, etc, etc...Just yesterday, a cashier told me that he couldn't accept the coupons I was using (printed directly from the target website) because I was getting "such a good deal!" - WHAT?!

I always joke that I know the coupon policy there better than all the employees! Usually a friendly smile and a request to have the manager comes over clears things up - but not always! I had one manager tell me a few weeks ago that I was not allowed to use a Q on a 20 count bottle of Motrin because the Q I was using said "Excludes Trial Sizes". I don't consider 20 of something "trial sized" but maybe that's just me...

I typically only shop at target for things that I can't use Q's on anyway (clothes, home furnishings, etc) or items that are deeply discounted after Q's, so I keep putting up with it, but it is obnoxious. I never have this many issues at ANY other store but I don't know if there's really anything you can do.

I think the corporate policy is that the manager has final say - so you probably won't get much of a response from them. Since I'm playing by the rules & not trying to do anything wrong, if they still tell me no, I just go back the next day (or even a few hours later) and do the deal with no problems. I've never had that not work - so that just goes to show you how inconsistent they really are!

[chitownmelli]

Your scenario is fine. I have to say that "stacking" is always YMMV at Target, some cashiers just dont understand and might really think it is wrong - however it is not. No matter what the price was on the body wash, you were still entitled to it for free - think of it this way - a coupon is a form of payment. P&G gave the payment for the body wash in the first place. Therefore it WAS paid for - the coupon says UP TO 3.99 - all they have to do is type in the value - then on the deodorant, the target q $2 off of deo when you buy body wash - as I just said, you sure did buy body wash, all they need to do is scan the coupon and let you pay your balance. This does not sound at all to me like you had too many q's or anything.

I would actually CALL Target corporate and let them know, rather than emailing, if you really did want to talk to someone, because whenever you write a letter with the word coupon in it, they send you the coupon policy lol.

So what made the cashier decide you couldn't use the q? Did it beep or did they just decide not to scan it? Just wondering. Keep going, some Target q's are harder than others at times, I have a handful of favorite cashiers spread out around town who really understand how the coupons are used and I will wait until I see them working to do my orders because they are so nice to the customers :)

[curvygreek]

Your scenario is fine. I have to say that "stacking" is always YMMV at Target, some cashiers just dont understand and might really think it is wrong - however it is not. No matter what the price was on the body wash, you were still entitled to it for free - think of it this way - a coupon is a form of payment. P&G gave the payment for the body wash in the first place. Therefore it WAS paid for - the coupon says UP TO 3.99 - all they have to do is type in the value - then on the deodorant, the target q $2 off of deo when you buy body wash - as I just said, you sure did buy body wash, all they need to do is scan the coupon and let you pay your balance. This does not sound at all to me like you had too many q's or anything.

I would actually CALL Target corporate and let them know, rather than emailing, if you really did want to talk to someone, because whenever you write a letter with the word coupon in it, they send you the coupon policy lol.

So what made the cashier decide you couldn't use the q? Did it beep or did they just decide not to scan it? Just wondering. Keep going, some Target q's are harder than others at times, I have a handful of favorite cashiers spread out around town who really understand how the coupons are used and I will wait until I see them working to do my orders because they are so nice to the customers :)

Thank you for the encouraging words...I am definitely going to try again--even if I have to go to another store.

I said the same thing to the MOD--that I was using a coupon to pay for the body wash. She wouldn't budge.

What triggered the chain of events was... I gave the MQs first, which were all deducted correctly. Then I handed the cashier the TQs, and she hesitated and said, "I'm not sure if you can use these...let me ask." That was fine with me since I was positive a MOD would say, "Yes, you can use a MQ and TQ together, that is our policy."

(Ironically? The cashier's name badge said "trainer" on it.....and she mentioned to me that she was going to ask if she could use both Qs because she isn't on the register very much.)

She asked another cashier, who didn't have an answer....so they got the MOD who firmly said no. She told me the TQs would not scan since I didn't "buy" the body wash. I said, "You didn't even try to scan one." She said, "It won't scan because you didn't buy the body wash, and I can't make it scan, I can't make it go through."

Liesssssssss....but whatever. This isn't the first coupon issue I've had at Target, nor will it be the last, I'm sure. It was just extra frustrating that day because I was short on time to begin with, and we are low on deo and BW for my husband. Frustrating because I wasn't out getting a good deal for the sake of a good deal...but because I need to replenish my husband's man-stuff. LOL

We shall see how today goes... :)

[chitownmelli]

They should have just scanned it because there was a body wash sitting right there on the computer screen - and then the deo. still had money that had to be paid on it, which the q could have deducted from that. Phew, I hope that this deal goes better for you at your next store. Especially if hubby is out of deodorant lol!

[Elle13]

Oh. gotta love it when issues happen w/ coupons. :)
If you don't have a copy of their policy printed out, do so and show them next tome the refuse to let you stack.
Target Stores Coupon Policy : Store + Merchandise Information : Our Stores + Company : Help : Target
I did that for Walmart and Hubby got to use it when they said they didn't give overage back, he said the MOD did not look happy about it all. Take that employees not aware! LOL.

[justmom4x]

Just a tip...always hand the cashier your Target qs first. They should not be adjusting down a manufacturer's q, but they can adjust a store q if there is an overage. Doesn't apply to this situation, but one of the other posts made me think of it.

[MaMaHaHa]

I love Target! Hang in there with them! Please look carefully at your Target coupons...I have seen some that are really coded as manufacturer's coupons, and that will cause the computer to "fuss." I stack coupons all the time and seldom have had a problem... The few times I did, the mngr came over and we had a "tutoring" session...and then he hit the magic button and all was well. Try again...I have found great deals, and the folks at my store are really nice and I can check out with no frowny faces and eye-rolling.

[clogs1228]

Just a tip...always hand the cashier your Target qs first. Hey should not be adjusting doen a manufacturer's q, bug they can adjust a store q if there is an overage. Doesn't apply to this situation, but one of the othrr posts made me think of it.

Not true. The policy says ANY coupon that is over the price of the item will be adjusted not just Target coupons.

[1DuckyMama]

I'm totally stumped reading off my Target receipt. I'm new to couponing in general and this was the first time I tried to really "work it" at Target, I'm thinking it's not worth it. Here's what I had:

I bought one tube of Colgate Total toothpaste using the $1.50 off MQ from I think last week (4/10) and a $1 off Target coupon (either a Web Coupon or one I received in the freebie cosmetic bag giveaway they did recently. I can't recall which.) On the receipt it says

Colgate TTL $2.59
MFR Coupon $1.50-
Coupon $1.00 off $3.59

At the end of the receipt, there's a $1.00 MQ which could only be the $1.00 off Target coupon I was trying to stack on this one.

So, it looks to me like they limited my $1.50 coupon to $1.00, then called what was clearly labeled as a Target Coupon as an MQ?

The Trident gum has me really scratching my head. I cannot figure out how my final price when using a BOGOF coupon could be more than the cost of a single pack. I had a MQ for BOGOF, and a Target Web coupon for $1.00 off two. Here's what the receipt says:

Trident $1.27
Refund value $0.77 FT
Trident $1.27
MFR Coupon $1.27-
Refund value $0.77 FT
----------------------
Package subtotal $2.54
Target Coupon $1.00-
----------------------
----------------------
Package total $1.54

Shouldn't it have been $.27?

TIA