Alright, I have received various emails and comments on this topic and though it would be best to have a *nice* discussion about this issue. The key word is *nice*!
Can you use two manufacturer (money off) coupons on a buy one get one free sale?
In my opinion YES! Now this is just my opinion and you don 't have to agree with it.
The reason I feel this way is because a stores sale has nothing to do with a manufacturer coupon. These are 2 separate ways to get a discount and when combined you can save quite a bit. As couponers, that's what we do. We wait for a store sale and combine it with a manufacturers coupon to snag a sweet deal! With that being said using 2 coupons on a buy one get one free sale (in my opinion) is the same as using coupons with any other in-store sale.
Some stores will also try to stop you from using a coupon on each item when their offering a buy one get one free sale. Most store coupon policies state that you CAN use a coupon on each item, so in my opinion them not allowing you to use both coupons is ridiculous. What some cashiers don't realize is that either way you pay for the 2 products (cash or coupons) they'll be getting the same amount back. They will be getting the cash right then or the coupons once they mail them in for redemption, plus by sending in the 2 coupons they will also be making an .08 handling fee on each one...hmmm... I think I'd rather choose the manufacturer coupons!
When a store is having a buy one get one free sale it's really more of a great advertsing tool. People think wow, I am getting something free. Really, though, a buy one get one free sale is a 50% off sale, but actually it's not as great. With a 50% off sale you ONLY have to purchase one product, with a bogo sale, though, you're forced to purchase two. This brings me to my next point. If two items were 50% you would be able to use a manufacturer coupon on each of them, so why is there such an issue with doing this on a buy one get one free sale?
A manufacturer coupon states one item per purchase. If you purchase two items you CAN use two coupons and you are purchasing two items in a buy one get one free sale. You are purchasing two at 50% off the retail price. No matter how they show up on your receipt that is exactly what you're doing.
When a manufacturer puts out a high value coupon and there are lots of stores having sales on this product, then that means one thing: The manufacturer wants you to GO buy their product. Even if you snag the product for FREE- they still want you to try it. If you like it, then that means cash in their pockets, since you'll probably be purchasing this item again, again and again. That's the whole point of these coupon type promotions-To get you to try products you never would have otherwise.
Well, I could probably make a few more points, but I think I'll stop there. I'd love to hear your opinion on this topic? Do you agree or disagree?
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30 comments:
I agree with you BIG time! I'm so glad you posted this.
I agree, but then when the checker won't let you use two coupons, what can you do? I just let it go.
I agree with this, but sadly, the register doesn't always agree. I was able to use two manufacturers coupons for Glade products but not on Coffee Mate. The register just kept beeping saying "no item found", the cashier said it was due to the 2nd Coffee Mate being free already.
I am so sick of people saying this is coupon fraud! Thanks for making some excellent points on this topic. I couldn't agree with you more.
Now if ONLY we could get all the cashiers to understand this.
Publix in South Florida is great about letting you use 2 coupons on their VERY FREQUENT B1G1's.
I agree. and Publix here in Florida where I live is great. (I have my favorite store location with the best cashiers.)
I agree I think this is a great way to stock pile. When cashiers give you a hard time have them call a manager, because most time management understands that they are spending millions of dollars on advertising to get you into their store that they don't want to lose a sale or possibly a customer over $.50 or $1.00!!
I definitely agree in terms of what makes sense from a consumer perspective. I did have a conversation with a Walgreens and also a target once regarding the back end of couponing. They both stated that in order for them to get reimbursed, they have to have an equal to or greater than amount showing as the customer's purchase price (i'd imagine that's why stores are getting stingier about price modifying coupons). I was told that if the product is 3.99 and the coupon is for 4 dollars... the manufacturer will not reimburse them for that coupon. So I would assume in the case of a buy one get one free promotion, they are showing one item at 3.99 and one for 0.00. If this is the case, they may not be reimbursed for the second item. Just my take based on the information I've gathered. In the case of using a BOGO coupon on a BOGO promotion, it may be the same. Just my two cents--hopefully someone has more understanding of the manufacturer end of accepting coupons.
I would love to take this in and show the store. They wouldn't let me use two coupons because one item came up as 0 and they can't take a coupon for an item I am not being charged for. Thanks for the insight.
CouponKimmy,
What they told you is NOT true. The store does not have to submit any information about what you purchased with the coupon, so the manufacturer will not know any of that. You may want to read this great post by Souther Savers on the coupon redemption process-
http://www.southernsavers.com/2009/01/extreme-couponer-101-coupon-redemption/
very good and accurate point. You are NOT getting anything for free, just 50% off. Mathematically speaking it's not free :)
This is why I love Kroger - they never argue about coupons...they know they'll get reimbursed!
Thanks for the good article to reference, Hip2Save. I hadn't seen that before. Working in the fraud prevention industry though, I have to question what prevents a company from submitting random coupons off their shelf for reimbursement "to make some extra money." Thanks for the good info though! I know I can always count on you to keep me coupon smart ;)
I totally agree. I've found it's only certain cashiers who give you grief. I've never even had a register beep! At my CVS with the grumpy cashier, I just told her that the other CVS allowed me to use two coupons. I started to take back my coupons and go to the other location instead. She miraculously was able to get them to go through. Hmm.... She's been much nicer to me since then too.
I agree with you but have come across some difficulty when doing this. Especially at a certain drug store. I find that arguing with an un-informed employee is a waste of time and not good for my attitude towards them. I have gone so far as to take in a printed off version of the company's coupon policy with me, but this doesn't always work. I find that when I try to putchase the bogo item only and the cashier see that I am getting the product for "free" that's when the flag goes up in their minds. I usually just make sure that I combine these items with other things I am buying so it doesn't stand out.
I have actually been stopped from buying products in a store before because they know my face. Imagine that...being approached by a manager while standing in line with the product in hand and being told by the manager "Don't even try that here."
It's really not worth it. I will usually just go down the road to the store with the nice cashiers and they will let me do the deal. Some cashiers have said "It doesn't matter to me, as long as the computer scans it in and accepts, I don't care." I love these cashiers.
Wow...Coupon Katie...I would go to corporate about something like that.
I agree with the fact that a store does NOT submit any additional information to the manufacturers. I was in retail for 10 years, this simply is not true.
I commend all of you that are able to keep your cool in situations like these. I am trying hard to find that perfect cashier! I had 2 horrible trips to CVS and Walgreens a few weeks ago, and if I had had those when I first started "couponing" (just a month or so ago) I would probably have quit!
Kudos to all that stick with it, though! We will be the ones able to help out others in time of need!
I completely agree. I have had this problem at Walgreens. I contacted Corporate about it and they sent me an email saying it was OK to use 2 coupons on B1G1 free. I have also confirmed this now with my Store Managers and District Managers. I carry their emails with me when I shop so that I can show the AM on duty and I haven't had any problems since. I think it's confusing for cashier's because they think they are somehow loosing money when you use a coupon on the "Free Item" they don't understand that the store get's that money back.
Thanks, Heather! I think I may have to do that for in the future!!
Agreed! That's always been my theory, it's not a BOGO deal it's a 50% off deal that just makes you purchase 2 of the item to get them 50% off.
I agree but Walgreens would not let me use my two coupons that were $1.50 off on the Coffeemates that were B1G1. They told me I couldn't use the coupon because it was B1G1. I could only use 1 of the coupons...so I told them nevermind!
I agree and I am pretty bummed that the cashier at Walgreen's wouldn't let me use 2 coupons on the B1G1 creamers that were on sale :(
Well said!
Tip: Get to know which cashiers do not hassle you about couponing, and regularly use their lines to check out.
I will wait longer in line when I know I have a helpful, friendly cashier. =)
AMEN!!! Wonderful post! Honestly, I've given up with walgreens on this issue since I'm sick of fighting with them. However, I love CVS-have never had trouble! This issue seems to really make some people mad-they were erasing people's comments on Hot Coupon World last week regarding using a B1G1 coupon...
I couldn't agree with you more and the thing is that retailers have so much mark up, they are making money, and they are making money off people using coupons, too! Thanks for putting this post together!
I agree with your conclusions, Hip 2 Save! Using two coupons when buying two products (even during a bogo sale) should not be an issue. I have actually given up CVS altogether because my store is extremely unfriendly toward couponers. On the other hand, my Walgreens and Publix are both great. Last week, my Walgreens cashier even let my use two of the Coffee-mate coupons even though the register beeped. Unfortunately, there will be a lot of variation among different stores. These variations are due to district managers, store managers, and the cashiers themselves. You may have to endure some amount of frustration to locate the stores that will be most coupon friendly.
I went to my local Walgreens this week to purchase the B1G1 Coffeemate. Took 4 to checkout with 2 $1.50 online & 2 $1.00 online coupons (BTW, this Walgreens only started accepting online coupons 4 mos. ago after I e-mailed corporate...another story, another time...) Long story short, assistant mgr was called, told me I couldn't use 4 coupons since I was only purchasing 2 items & getting 2 free. I asked, "Is that a written Walgreens policy"...got no direct answer. Line behind me was getting longer. Even with the great deals, I'm getting tired of being THAT person at Walgreens. Guess it's time to e-mail corporate again. PS...I really was very nice both times, NEVER pays to get grumpy with people(even if I feel that way!)
I totally agree with you.
Thanks for putting this out there!
In reference to the Coffee Mate comment. I noticed the coding on the bottom of that coupons 1.50 off 1 is the exact coding at their 1.50 off 2 coding.
Maybe that's why we had a problem. I had the same problem too.
Let me just say an "AMEN!" to everything you wrote. Luckily, I usually don't have any trouble here using two coupons with the BOGO free deals.
I agree completely and I use 2 coupons with BOGO's.
I can't use two coupons either. But, the price for buy one get one free actually is 50% off. I think if we get the correct coupons,so we should get the free products. However, there are so many good deals overage in the bill. It's good to save more money, but we can get the products free. We should not get extra money or those business will not make money. It's a very bad economics now, so I think it's better to pay something still.
I have been reading at other coupon sites that there is a memo out for walgreens regarding using 2 coupons for BOGO. While they used to accept 2 coupons, the memo said they are no longer allowing a second coupon to be used on BOGO items and the register will probably beep if you try it. so that is probably why registers have been beeping lately. if your wags doesn't do that yet, it probably will soon. sad... but i haven't talked to walgreens corporate myself.
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