"Today at Wal-Mart I went to purchase 3 Crisco Oils and wanted to use 3 manufacturer coupons that said "Save $1.00 off any Crisco Oil" and was told I could only use one of the coupons because the coupons stated "Limit one coupon per purchase". Was the cashier correct in refusing my other two coupons?"
The wording on coupons varies and continues to change. The cashier was wrong in refusing to accept all three coupons. All of your items together are one transaction, but each individual item is a purchase. You have three purchases of Crisco so you could use the three coupons. The limit one per purchase excludes using two of the same manufacturer coupons on one item.
Alot of manufacturers realize that vendors view the definition of purchase different and they have started to word their coupons as "One coupon valid for item(s) indicated". Kraft Foods being one of them, as well as Kellogg's wording of "Offer is limited to one coupon per package purchased".
Manufacturers will use wording such as "Limit one coupon per family", "One coupon per household", "One coupon per purchase/household" or "Limit one per customer" when they want us to only be able to use one of their coupons per transaction or visit.
CVS and Wal-Mart cashiers both have tried the same tactic with me. As a consumer you have a choice, you can either let the cashier dictate to you how you will use your coupons and accept what they tell you, or you can make the decision to refuse to purchase the items they have refused a coupon for that is legit. I always explain to them a purchase means the item, my whole order is a transaction. If they do not comply and accept the other coupons, then I ask for the items that will not be bought with the coupons to be removed from my transaction. Most cashiers will comply.
There have been two occasions when the cashier and service manager have been totally out of line refusing my coupons for one reason or another and I have told them to void my ENTIRE transaction and return my coupons to me, I would be contacting their corporate office. Both times the manager has put the coupons through.
I had this happen to me a few weeks back at CVS when Lifesavers were B1G1 and wanted to use multiple B1G1 coupons and was limited to one per "purchase." I sat and pondered over the situation later that night when I finally realized that on the back of the Lifesaver bag, it says "Proof of Purchase." That is what I use now to prove my point.
ReplyDeleteI have had that same exact comment made to me.. and giving the cashier "coupon 101" no matter how you word it sounds really snotty so I just had to tell him like it was. I did call corporate and they basically gave me the brush off (it was for a local grocery store) so I have been rarely going to that store for any reason.
ReplyDeleteI think you are correct. You need to have one item for each coupon you are trying to use. But they should be able to all be in the same transaction.
ReplyDeleteI hate it when this happens. Sometimes I fall in line with so many items which I hope will be discounted with my coupons, and then the clerk tells me I can only use one.
ReplyDeleteNow I do most of my shopping -even groceries- online.
heather that is a WONDERFUL tip! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeletemelissa I like walking out of the store, being in control of my money and not them. It is true, no matter how you word it, it sounds snotty, but we have to stand up for ourselves.
annie I really screwed up yesterday at cvs. One of my coupons that I had 3 of, stated one per family and I didnt see it. Boy did that cashier jump all over me, flipping the coupons back my way. It was a victory for her! One that I gladly gave in to.
michael thanks for stopping by and commenting. When you shop online, are you able to use coupons?
anissa you have email.
This is one of the sore issues between coupon users and cashiers. For some reason cashier take it personaly if we save money and some start trying to find a way to reject them on purpose. Not sure why they act that way. I always use one coupon for each item but sometimes have to put them away after I hear "too many coupons" song. Thanks for bringing it up.
ReplyDeleteI have had this happen to me but usually if I explain what it means they seem to understand. If not I ask for a manager and he explains it to the cashier.
ReplyDeleteJenny I dont understand why cashiers think it's coming out of their pocket either. You would think the managers would train their staff better, I wonder how many sales have been lost due to these types of cashiers.
ReplyDeletePrecious Yes some cashiers are "trainable" and will listen when it is explained to them, but there are a few who are not.