Another hassle at target

[cancersucks]

I had an assistant manager at Target tell me I was "stealing" by getting things for free with coupons. Last time I checked that isn't stealing but she was so loud and I was so embarassed that I haven't shopped there since. This was last year! Yes I called the number and spoke to customer service who was very apologetic but it didn't make it any better just because they told me that in my situation as I explained it, I was in the right. I'm trying to work the nerve up to try and coupon there again but sounds as though it is still as frustrating for many of you as it used to be for me!

I had a very similar thing happen to me at a different store. I was very embarassed (which made me ticked off, as I didn't do anything wrong.) so I left long enough to cool off, then went back in the store and calmly yet firmly explained to her that I did not appreciate being told I am stealing, especially within earshot of others: a coupon is a LEGAL form of tender. She would not hassle me if I payed by check, debit/credit, or cash. Just because I was not giving her paper money, that store WAS getting payed the amount of the q for the items. Free items for me make me a happy customer. The store is not giving them to me to me for free though- they are getting reimbursed.

Still don't know if she got it...some people are just set on being grumps... I have also decided not to shop there again for awhile.

[couponminister]

I think with couponing you must get to know your stores and cashiers.....then you will know who will be over dramatic and act crazy and avoid their lines.

[PeachySteph]

Next time someone tells you that you cannot "get it for free", ask them "what is a coupon?". It's a legal form of tender, so technically you're not getting it for free. I see a coupon as a tiny giftcard from the manufacturer. There's really no difference, except for the material in which it was created. They get reimbursed for the item (as long as it's being used properly), I don't understand why some put up a fuss... jealousy?

Luckily, my target doesn't cause problems (though many cashiers look like a deer in headlights when they look at a coupon). I'm sorry you had to go through this. I would make a mental note of which cashier it was and just not bother with them again. There's one at my publix that I avoid because she reads every single word on every single coupon, yet never finds a problem.

[Mandafish]

I've been reading this forum for months now to get tips, but this thread is the first post that ever got me enthused enough to register and post.

I started couponing because I was unemployed and bored.. Long story short, I had a bit of retail experience and easily got a seasonal job at target so I had the unique experience of being both a cashier and a couponer!

When a coupon doesn't work, it comes up with a prompt that says "item not found, accept anyway?" and you just hit okay most of the time, as long as you remember seeing it. The cashiers that fight are just being absolutely silly. There are no repercussions for scanning a coupon as long as there is something that falls bellow the wording on the coupon.

However, if your coupon does not scan and when the cashier types in the long numbers and it says coupon not found, that coupon we are never allowed to take.

My first day of cashier training they told me that they never take more than 5 coupons for the same item. I of course asked why not... saying, you do realize that the store gets that money back from the manufacturer? They replied with, they don't want their shelves selling out. I did a little more digging and found out that policy stemmed from the assistant manager who was, quoting here, not agreeing, "sick of putting away full carts when the coupons didn't work."

Like another poster mentioned, the register training you get is horrible. They show you how to scan things and take a form of payment or two and that's about it. They don't even have coupons as part of the training module. You're basically left there floating to make your own decisions to try and stay above the line. Also, if you ever notice how the screen says GGGRGGGGRRGG, that means the cashier is being timed. If you do a transaction fast enough you get a G, and if you dont you get a R. They are rushed and forced to try and get a good score with threats of job loss if you don't say mostly green.. And unfortunately not everyone is as prepared with their coupons, so I think most of the before mentioned "deer in headlghts look" comes from... oh crap, I'm not going to get green this time.

So, like another poster mentioned in this thread, just look for a cashier that knows what they're doing. I'd be happy to scan your coupons. Because honestly I don't care... I'm not going to lose my minimum wage 7.25 an hour job just because I took a coupon for axe body wash when you presented an axe bodywash with a free deodorant. The wording says any that are so many ounces or larger, and that counts!

And although the company is pretty awesome and most of the hourly workers are alright, it seems to be the managers that are the problem. I'm personally boycotting target at the moment because they won't let me use my employee discount. It's not corporate that's doing it, not even the store manager, just two of the shift managers... So I guess when you get a confused cashier and you get the one or two managers who hate their job, they're the ones who end up ruining everything for everyone.. (also I found out these two managers are the ones who only allow 5 coupons per same item.)

[thickie]

I've been reading this forum for months now to get tips, but this thread is the first post that ever got me enthused enough to register and post.

I started couponing because I was unemployed and bored.. Long story short, I had a bit of retail experience and easily got a seasonal job at target so I had the unique experience of being both a cashier and a couponer!

When a coupon doesn't work, it comes up with a prompt that says "item not found, accept anyway?" and you just hit okay most of the time, as long as you remember seeing it. The cashiers that fight are just being absolutely silly. There are no repercussions for scanning a coupon as long as there is something that falls bellow the wording on the coupon.

However, if your coupon does not scan and when the cashier types in the long numbers and it says coupon not found, that coupon we are never allowed to take.

My first day of cashier training they told me that they never take more than 5 coupons for the same item. I of course asked why not... saying, you do realize that the store gets that money back from the manufacturer? They replied with, they don't want their shelves selling out. I did a little more digging and found out that policy stemmed from the assistant manager who was, quoting here, not agreeing, "sick of putting away full carts when the coupons didn't work."

Like another poster mentioned, the register training you get is horrible. They show you how to scan things and take a form of payment or two and that's about it. They don't even have coupons as part of the training module. You're basically left there floating to make your own decisions to try and stay above the line. Also, if you ever notice how the screen says GGGRGGGGRRGG, that means the cashier is being timed. If you do a transaction fast enough you get a G, and if you dont you get a R. They are rushed and forced to try and get a good score with threats of job loss if you don't say mostly green.. And unfortunately not everyone is as prepared with their coupons, so I think most of the before mentioned "deer in headlghts look" comes from... oh crap, I'm not going to get green this time.

So, like another poster mentioned in this thread, just look for a cashier that knows what they're doing. I'd be happy to scan your coupons. Because honestly I don't care... I'm not going to lose my minimum wage 7.25 an hour job just because I took a coupon for axe body wash when you presented an axe bodywash with a free deodorant. The wording says any that are so many ounces or larger, and that counts!

And although the company is pretty awesome and most of the hourly workers are alright, it seems to be the managers that are the problem. I'm personally boycotting target at the moment because they won't let me use my employee discount. It's not corporate that's doing it, not even the store manager, just two of the shift managers... So I guess when you get a confused cashier and you get the one or two managers who hate their job, they're the ones who end up ruining everything for everyone.. (also I found out these two managers are the ones who only allow 5 coupons per same item.)

One of the perks of working at a store like Target is the employee discont. I can't even believe they're not allowing you to use it, particularly at this time of year!

[frithar]

Debating whether or not to get involved and answer the above post... *sigh*

If the following answers sound abrupt or rude or anything, please know that I don't mean them to do that. It's been a long 40 hour week and it's Christmas, and people's tempers at the checklanes have just been abominable. I'm just trying to shed a little light on the policies of a company I probably can't officially admit to working for, for legal reasons...
whatever...

<snip>
When a coupon doesn't work, it comes up with a prompt that says "item not found, accept anyway?" and you just hit okay most of the time, as long as you remember seeing it. The cashiers that fight are just being absolutely silly. There are no repercussions for scanning a coupon as long as there is something that falls bellow the wording on the coupon.

<Answer>
Not true. You're supposed to look back through the items and confirm the proper item was purchased. There are cameras above the registers. They're not there for watching the guests necessarily. You can't just accept a coupon because you "remember" seeing it-- could have been rejected for the wrong size, could be the wrong product entirely. To use --or as an employee, to push through-- a coupon for an item that wasn't intended by the manufacturer lacks integrity, and may qualify as coupon fraud.

<snip>
My first day of cashier training they told me that they never take more than 5 coupons for the same item. I of course asked why not... saying, you do realize that the store gets that money back from the manufacturer? They replied with, they don't want their shelves selling out. I did a little more digging and found out that policy stemmed from the assistant manager who was, quoting here, not agreeing, "sick of putting away full carts when the coupons didn't work."

<Answer> Every store has the right to limit quantities. I know of cases where couponers show up and clean out shelves, to be followed by --yes, they do exist-- little old ladies who'd like a good deal but there's nothing left. The difference between paying money for a product and using a coupon is that the coupons cost nothing on ebay. You could sweep entire shelves for a grand cost to you of 99c, but then there's no product left for anyone else in the area. A store needs to be responsible to all members of the community by limiting quantities to a reasonable amount. I've seen what can happen otherwise.

<snip>
Also, if you ever notice how the screen says GGGRGGGGRRGG, that means the cashier is being timed. If you do a transaction fast enough you get a G, and if you dont you get a R.

<answer> Yes, cashiers are timed. There's a way to stop the timer, though, and they all know what it is. It should have zero affect on how a couponer is treated.

<snip>
I'm not going to lose my minimum wage 7.25 an hour job just because I took a coupon for axe body wash when you presented an axe bodywash with a free deodorant. The wording says any that are so many ounces or larger, and that counts!
<answer> Probably not a typical situation. If the Q said "bodywash" and you had a bodywash+something else, I find it hard to believe they wouldn't override. But that's their prerogative to make that call.

<snip>
And although the company is pretty awesome and most of the hourly workers are alright, it seems to be the managers that are the problem. I'm personally boycotting target at the moment because they won't let me use my employee discount.
<answer> Ok, this part makes no sense to me-- Is it "no employee discount with coupons"? Were you already at zero-balance because of the coupons?

**** I'd love to tell you all some of the terrible things I've seen fellow couponers do. It shames me, and I want to say to them, "Do you all SERIOUSLY not get that you're creating a terrible reputation for couponing?"

We get more obnoxious couponers in my workplace than decent ones. I cannot believe the things I've seen. For the most part, I've suspended my own couponing because of it. It's embarrassing to be lumped in with those people. Oh, the stories I could tell!! :D

[YouPdWhat]

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