Walgreens ~ Vent: I hate Walgreens! =please let me vent=

[michiganer]

Ok, so I went to my locat Walgreen's here in Central FL tonight to get the Dr. Scholls deal. Long story short, they would not take my IP and said they don't take them anymore. It is not the first time I have been hassled by them and I am over it! I can't shop there anymore or I am going to tear my hair out. Here is the email I sent to their corporate office:
================================================== ===
I have been having a problem with one of your Walgreen's stores at 4501 13th st in St Cloud FL 34769. I shopped there tonight and when I went to check out I gave the cashier a Dr. Scholls manufacturer coupon that was printed directly from the Dr. Scholls site. I printed it in color. The cashier, Virginia called a woman over for her to look at it. I did not get this woman’s name as her name tag was flipped over. She was an Asian woman possibly in her late 30's to early 40's. She told me that they no longer take any coupons that have been printed. She said that there is a sign in their back room that says they cannot take them. This is not the first time I have had a problem using coupons at this store so I asked who the manager was. The Asian woman advised me she was the manager. Because she wasn't helping me, I asked for the corporate number. The woman left to the back room and came back with a business card with the real manager’s name, ‘Shawn Duhame’. I again asked for the corporate number. The cashier and the other woman looked at a list under the phone and then the Asian woman said the manager would know it so to talk to him, he will be in tomorrow. I don’t understand how any associate could not provide a customer with the corporate number when asked. Neither person was rude but it was extremely frustrating to waste my time. Also, why did the Asian woman say she was the manager? She should have clarified that she may have been the ‘manager on duty’ but she was not the store manager. If this in fact a new policy, Walgreen’s should put this in all their advertisements as well as a clear sign at the register. How are customers supposed to know about a policy that is hidden in their back room? I want a call or email from the Regional manager or above. I am done dealing with associates that don’t even know the corporate number. Please give me the regional manager’s name, phone number and email address. I would also like a response from corporate on this matter. I need something I can print out saying if you can or cannot use manufactures coupons. I’m sure all of the companies putting their coupons out would like to know that customer’s cannot use them at Walgreen’s. Please clarify the actual policy for me and for others who are having trouble with Walgreens. Especially at the St. Cloud location. Thank You.
================================================== =

I wish to god they would come out with an official coupon policy! Until they do, I am not wasting my time there!! Why is it that alot of people have success there but others have problems? Sorry but I have to get this off my chest!

[CouponQueen23]

Well written letter keep us posted when yoou hear back from them. I have 3 Walgreens in my area. I have to drive a long distant to get to them to and I was hassled a few times and I said look I didn't drive almost 30 miles to deal with this crap I came to shop and I will be doing multiple trips til I am done. I don't clean shelves I do the deals I go for, and roll the rewards I have.

But for them to be so, change the rules in the middle of the game and not tell anyone what BS!!

Glad you called the on it.
I hope you get the answers you need :)

[$Saving!]

I am so sorry you had such a rough time getting straight answers today! And yes, I think each store or regional mgr is setting policy, there is no other reason for the vast differences area to area.

Here in Raleigh, I've run into some strange policies in one store and not another 4 miles away! Very odd.

But I have the good fortune of having two stores that go out of their way to make sure you get the deals and some even pull coupons that THEY clip from papers to give to customers should they need them!!

I wish I could clone those associates and send them to all the Walgreens - they are so wonderful to check out with!!

Hope you get a satisfactory answer, I know many of us would love to know what they say!!

[cbms]

Hmmm... considering THIS:

Coupons

I doubt they were telling the truth.

[$Saving!]

Originally Posted by cbms Hmmm... considering THIS: Coupons I doubt they were telling the truth.

True! They offer IP's on their own website every week, MQ's, not Wag Q's so it doesn't make much sense does it now?

Then again, corporate could give broad leeway to regional managers to 'adjust' policy but you would think that would create unhappy customers like we see it clearly does and for good cause!

There seems to be a disconnect with all drug/grocery stores around the country with coupon policy being different or open to broad interpretation by local store managers and regional managers

[434Teresa]

About two months or so ago mine would not take them due to many fake ones, they told me that they were trying to get it work out and about 2 weeks later they were takin them again.
It dose make you a little upset to go in there with a plain only for it to be messed up.

[michiganer]

So true. Thank you all for the sympathy and agreeing with me! I just needed some support! It really is frustrating to hear of other people getting great deals and I can't. I think I will just stop shopping at Walgreens. I will definitely post the reply from Walgreen's as soon as I hear from them. Thank you to cbms for your link. If I actually get to speak to the regional manager, I will bring this up. I will keeo you all posted!

[tinkinpink84]

that would make me angry! A very well written letter though. I do know or i should say i did not know our district managers number. But usually when you call cvs 1800 number you can get through to where you need to be. If it is indeed a change in policy it would be placed near the front registers. at least any normal store would. ya know the place where they ring people up and scan these coupons. Only coupon policy i know about printed ones are the ones that say free product. A while back there was that fraud tide one. Didnt even have that lil barcode in the corner. I dnt shop at wags though and the cvs i go to they know i worked at the other one so they know that i wouldnt try and pull one over on them.
In the end i hope that email helps them to figure ut how to get everyne on the same page and how to go about letting people know if there is apolicy change in their store! I swear some people with that manager power just like to make people miserable. i worked with one of those. i couldnt stand her. she felt like she could say whatever and we had to go with it cuz she was in charge.

[cbgo]

Originally Posted by 434Teresa About two months or so ago mine would not take them due to many fake ones, they told me that they were trying to get it work out and about 2 weeks later they were takin them again. It dose make you a little upset to go in there with a plain only for it to be messed up.

Thanks for posting that. A similar thing happened in my area. I think that it can be a district wide policy or sometimes store by store simply based on the amount of fraud in a particular area.

OP, I am sorry that you had problems at your store. It can be very frustrating when things don't work out and you have your scenarios all planned out. I hope that your store manager can give you the answers that you need.

At Walgreens the area manager is called the District Manager and they should be in the phone book. If your store manager cannot give you a clear answer about the policies at his store then that would be a good next step.

[michiganer]

Ok- So after my email I actually got a call from the store manager today. He was very nice and he apologized for the problem I had. He said they DO take they color coupons, just not the black and white due to coupon fraud. He said their loss prevention manager has told them that color is ok becuase it is harder to copy. He mentioned they had some doritos coupons that were bad and it caused loss in their store. He also said he thought he made it clear to the assistant and the other assosciates that color were ok. He had a meeting with everyone and made sure everyone knows about it. He also said he had been noticing that some people were getting like 10 of each item on some deals and he and loss prevention were wondering why people did that. I told him I had one item and my roommate had one item (the dr. scholls). I told him my goal is to use one manuf Q and one wags Q to get the best price. Other people are inconsiderate and they clear shelves. I told him to prevent that, sometimes there should be a limit on items. Because I don't clear shelves, I don't mind a limit because alot of times, there isn't anything left for everyone else. Anyway, I feel alot better that I can use coupons there. He also asked his assistant why she didn't give me 1-800-walgreens when I asked for the corporate number. I guess she didn't have an answer for him. Overall, I feel better and I will shop there again. I am glad I got it straightened out becuase other people shop there that use Q's and I know how crappy it is to shop awhile only to be turned away at the last minute. Thanks to all for your support! I was so upset yesterday but feel better now!