3 Identical Q rule?

[rlwerner]

Today I went to Vons to do the great cereal deal (with the Kellogg's 1 dollar Q's). I was going to buy (5) boxes of Special K and use (5) $1.00 Special K Q's, no problem right? WRONG and one Vons told me that that they can only accept 3 like coupons, the other told me they can only accept 4 like coupons as well. Never have I heard this before from Vons, have you? At the first store, I tried to get a raincheck for the Corn Flakes, and in order to get the cereal for 1.29, you must buy 5.. so I tried to explain that to the cashier, "I'll take 5 boxes, because in order to get the price of 1.29, you must buy 5". She kept replying no its 2.29, I tried a different approach with saying "yes its 2.29, but when you purchase 5, an additional 5 dollars is taken off"... then I gave up and decided to go to store #2, now this woman was just awful. She saw me reach into my purse to get my coupons and she said "You should have shown those to me first before I scanned your items". At that point I knew I was going have issues. She begins to tell me the "3" like coupon rule and then points me to the new coupon policy thats posted. I said "Can you please show me where it says this 3 like coupon rule? I don't see it" Then she tells me, Ma'am, this is my register and I have the right to choose how many coupons to I will accept".

Never in my life have I been treated so rude. Am I being sensitive, or is there some information I'm just not aware of?

Thanks ladies!

[deeann7]

That is like saying you can only use 3-$1 bills per order and the rest need to be $5's or $10's. That is crazy! Did you call Vons CS and ask for a copy of the current policy?
I did have a cashier try to tell me this a while back, but I went straight to the store manager and asked him. He told me the only rule he was aware of was only 1 like coupon would double. He told me he would talk to her. I think on the back of the ad at the bottom you will find Vons coupon policy(in very tiny print). Check it and see if it states only 3 if not then they are making up rules as they go.
At the bottom of my ad it reads "limit one coupon per purchased item
" so if you buy 4 of the same things and give them 4 of the same coupons you have given them 1 coupon per purchased item.
It does state some items may be limited and subject to availability but that is usually printed next to the ad item.
Come back and post the out come please!

[ocean_brez]

I don't think you are being sensitive at all. I would be upset and frustrated too! The last time I was at Vons the cashier had to the nerve to ask me if I was using less coupons since their coupon policy had changed. To this I replied, "no, I now use more than ever because of the high prices." The time before that, a different cashier tried to tell me the same thing as you in that I could only use "3 like coupons" per transaction. When I heard that, I told her that was crazy and to take off the 4th item if that was the case. I never did check into whether she was right or not and tomorrow will be my first time shopping at Vons in over a month. Wonder what they will say to me because I plan on doing the cereal deal as well with multiple "like" coupons.

Maybe try giving both stores a call and ask to speak to a manager to see what they have to say? If their policies are different, then the District Manager needs to get the stores on the same page and also be made aware of the rude treatment that you received today as well. JMO.

[rlwerner]

I'm going to call CS, Given todays weather I just wanted to get home ASAP. I knew about their "only doubling one coupon" policy. At the 2nd store, she even made a comment "Everyone is coming in with these trying to do what your trying do. What am I doing woman? Trying to save money? Sue me. Really. I'll let you know what happens

[ritzeeINtx]

Welcome to the new world. Actually you have it good. The N. Texas division of Safeway known as Tom Thumb in Dallas / Ft. Worth has always only taken ONE coupon for the Double or Triple and everything else is at face value. Then they limit you to three like items ONLY. If we want more we have to go thru the line again. They will not ring two orders for you at a time. That is why I shop Kroger or Albertson's. They take three like items at Kroger and four like items at Albertson’s. With the "Economy" the way it is right now, I see this changing too. Kroger has already instituted no IP's :frown: in the Dallas stores you can use the online coupons that download on to you card, and paper ones from the Sunday inserts but not IP's any longer. Hope things look up for you because it is getting crazy here in Big D.

[IsaveUsave]

Well, it used to be in the policy that it was 3 like coupons per household per day, then it was changed to 2. I usually would only do 2 or 3 anyways, and didn't have a problem too often. Then when the new doubling policy went into effect, that part was taken out of the posted rules on the registers. Then I get the "We can limit you to a normal household quantity." My household has 7 people. I usually win in situations as this promo where they want you to buy 5 of an item to get an additional discount, so obviously, 5 is within a household limit and I should be able to use 5 coupons. That usually shuts them up. I have a few Vons that I frequent and they have gotten better with the multiples, but I had one store not to long ago, try to say the wording for only 1 of each like coupon meant I could only use 1 of any like coupon. One problem with shopping after work at 11pm is no store managers work this late, and I am dealing with a supervisor that doesn't have a clue. I would call and talk to the Store Manager to get a concrete decision on his policy for his store. CS for my area says the stores can make up their own limits so that didn't do me any good. Good luck.. I have really slowed down my shopping at Vons since the coupon policy change, but I actually went in there tonight and spent $18.03 for $65 in product. I warned the cashier that she might get a twenty out of me and she was shocked.. but the cashier at the closest Vons are great.. and I do miss them..

[rlwerner]

I'm not here to get anyone in trouble, or break any rules. When Ralphs switched its coupon policy, people were not happy, but from my experience all Ralphs have been consistant with their policy. The IP thing is an unfortunate situation.. it's too bad that there are people out there who dont realize that they ruin it for all of us with coupon fraud. If Vons has a store specific coupon policy, I believe it should be advertised for their sake and ours. It's sad, I haven't been doing this for too long (since June) and I have noticed the value on coupons have gone down, and the expiration dates come sooner than before.

[phinphana]

I think it depends on the cashier as well . I was lucky I use 5 like coupons for Kelloggs and they went through find. Their coupon policy is to take 2 like coupons which was written on a panel where you can sign when you checked out.

[janarie8]

Hi: I've been doing couponing for years and I've been treated in every conceivable way that have been mentioned plus some that are not printable.

It seems that there are certain cashiers that must be avoided at all cost.

I'm sure that most of this too will pass and that you all will find other cashiers that will be more co operative.

I've weathered so many changes and so many storms in the past few years that now I just say, oh well it will be better tomorrow and it always is.

I sincerely hope you all will be able to get clarification concerning these coupon policies.


Hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and wonderful holidays,

[vodreaux]

Get use to it! Vons/Pavilions have cashier constantly distorting the coupon rules with double 1 to be consistent. Also, they will give you a negative attitude for coupon users.

There are some Vons/Pavilions stores with self-checkout without coupon n.azis.

Remember Vons/Pavilions are trying to deter coupon users to other markets.
They want those more profitable customers like one shopping at Gelsons and Bristol Farms.