Step 3: Know your store policies!
I highly recommend printing out the coupon policies of the stores where you will try to coupon and keeping them on you or in your coupon binder/organizer. They can usually be found on the store's website. Please note that many Shoprites are individually owned so policies can range from one store to another.
All stores have different coupon policies. I would recommend starting off with picking one supermarket and one drugstore to start with so you can practice and familiarize yourself with their policies. I started off with Shoprite and CVS. Their policies are easy and they're great for couponers.
The reason why you want to have the printout is because you will come to find that many cashiers and store managers don't know their own policies! They will make things up or quote things incorrectly. Always stand firm and don't let them bully you. Be sweet, ask for the manager and show them the policy printout. It will usually go your way.
# of Like coupons:
So you have a coupon for $1.00 off Crayola Markers. Some stores will limit you to only use 4 like coupons per transaction. Walmart has no limits. Know your policies.
Doubling:
Many supermarkets will double their coupons up to a certain amount. My local Shoprites will double up to .99 cents. This means that if you have a .50 coupon, it will double to a dollar unless the coupon expressly says DO NOT DOUBLE on it. This applies to printed coupons as well. So if you have a coupon that is .75 off, it will double to -$1.50. Etc; However, you will rarely find coupons that are .99 cents nowadays, most will be for $1.00 off. CVS, Target, Walmart, Walgreens and Rite Aid do not double. Most Shoprites, Stop & Shops and Pathmarks do double.
Overage:
Some stores will allow overage. Others will not. An example of overage is if you have a coupon for 1 dollar and the item is .99. This will garner you an overage of .01. Some stores will let you have that penny and other stores will manually enter that coupon in so that it is input as just .99. Some cashiers will not notice and you may luckily get that overage even if it's not policy since the full amount of the coupon will ring up. Your results may vary. As far as I know, Walmart is the only store in our local area that allows complete overage.
Rolling:
Target frequently has promotions that will garner you a giftcard if you spend or purchase a certain amount. They will also let you do multiple transactions. Recently, I did 4 transactions back to back (I could have gone on indefinitely!) by rolling the giftcard from each transaction I did, into the next transaction. I also used coupons with each transaction to lower the total amount. For example, there were several brands of shampoo/conditioners/styling products involved in the promotion of purchase 3 and get a $5.00 giftcard. So I bought 3 Tresemme shampoos. They were $3.99 each. I had manufacturer coupons for $2.00 off and I also had Target store coupons that I printed from their website for $1.00 off any haircare product. I ended up paying $2.97 plus tax for all the shampoos on my first transaction and then they gave ME a $5.00 giftcard. I then did the same transaction again, gave them the same coupons again and I paid for it with the $5.00 giftcard... and they gave me another giftcard... THAT is rolling!
Order of Coupon redemption:
At certain stores you will want to use Manufacturer coupons first and then store coupons last. Some stores like CVS, it's usually better to use their store coupons first (from their red coupon machine!) and then to use manufacturer coupons afterwards. For example, they have coupons like $3.00 off a purchase of $15.00. Say I bought $16.00 worth of stuff and then used my manufacturer coupons first. I then would not be able to redeem the store coupon because my total would be under $15.00. So hand them their coupon first! Always think as to how it would work out best for you.
Fillers:
At some stores, the number of coupons used may not exceed the number of items purchased. So say you're trying to stack coupons at Walgreens or Rite Aid. You can stack them, that's not a problem. However, you may need to purchase a small filler item so that the computer can attach the coupon to something. For example. You're trying to use a manufacturer's coupon AND a store coupon on a nailpolish. Their computers will not let you do this. Purchase a small piece of candy or something else cheap that you may need so that the 2 coupons can 'find' 2 items to attach themselves to.
Rainchecks:
If the item you wanted to purchase is out of stock, don't fret! Go to customer service and ask for a raincheck. Most stores will give you rainchecks for items which will allow you to purchase the item at the sale price at a later date. Just make sure that your coupon doesn't expire by the time it does come in stock. Rainchecks don't expire for a long time usually but coupons expire pretty quickly.
Price-matching:
Some stores will allow you to price-match as long as you bring in the ad. This comes in handy when the item you want at one store is out of stock but your other store price matches it. It also comes in handy if the store that is price matching happens to ALSO have a store coupon or something similar that makes it a better deal at that store. This also applies to typos or misprints. For example, the other day Shoprite advertised mascara for .77 and it was a misprint. They are not liable for the misprint and they put a sign in the store that said it was a misprint and that they would not honor that price. However, I took that ad to Walmart, who price matched it and used a coupon and got it for free. Maybe not the most ethical thing but they do say they honor their competitor's ads.
Competitor Coupons:
Some coupons will state that it's only to be used at one specific store. However, some stores will still honor that coupon. Know your store policy!
This is just a general primer of different terms and tips to get you started. In the future, we will go even more in depth with each topic. :) Otherwise, I'll run out of stop to u
I highly recommend printing out the coupon policies of the stores where you will try to coupon and keeping them on you or in your coupon binder/organizer. They can usually be found on the store's website. Please note that many Shoprites are individually owned so policies can range from one store to another.
All stores have different coupon policies. I would recommend starting off with picking one supermarket and one drugstore to start with so you can practice and familiarize yourself with their policies. I started off with Shoprite and CVS. Their policies are easy and they're great for couponers.
The reason why you want to have the printout is because you will come to find that many cashiers and store managers don't know their own policies! They will make things up or quote things incorrectly. Always stand firm and don't let them bully you. Be sweet, ask for the manager and show them the policy printout. It will usually go your way.
# of Like coupons:
So you have a coupon for $1.00 off Crayola Markers. Some stores will limit you to only use 4 like coupons per transaction. Walmart has no limits. Know your policies.
Doubling:
Many supermarkets will double their coupons up to a certain amount. My local Shoprites will double up to .99 cents. This means that if you have a .50 coupon, it will double to a dollar unless the coupon expressly says DO NOT DOUBLE on it. This applies to printed coupons as well. So if you have a coupon that is .75 off, it will double to -$1.50. Etc; However, you will rarely find coupons that are .99 cents nowadays, most will be for $1.00 off. CVS, Target, Walmart, Walgreens and Rite Aid do not double. Most Shoprites, Stop & Shops and Pathmarks do double.
Overage:
Some stores will allow overage. Others will not. An example of overage is if you have a coupon for 1 dollar and the item is .99. This will garner you an overage of .01. Some stores will let you have that penny and other stores will manually enter that coupon in so that it is input as just .99. Some cashiers will not notice and you may luckily get that overage even if it's not policy since the full amount of the coupon will ring up. Your results may vary. As far as I know, Walmart is the only store in our local area that allows complete overage.
Rolling:
Target frequently has promotions that will garner you a giftcard if you spend or purchase a certain amount. They will also let you do multiple transactions. Recently, I did 4 transactions back to back (I could have gone on indefinitely!) by rolling the giftcard from each transaction I did, into the next transaction. I also used coupons with each transaction to lower the total amount. For example, there were several brands of shampoo/conditioners/styling products involved in the promotion of purchase 3 and get a $5.00 giftcard. So I bought 3 Tresemme shampoos. They were $3.99 each. I had manufacturer coupons for $2.00 off and I also had Target store coupons that I printed from their website for $1.00 off any haircare product. I ended up paying $2.97 plus tax for all the shampoos on my first transaction and then they gave ME a $5.00 giftcard. I then did the same transaction again, gave them the same coupons again and I paid for it with the $5.00 giftcard... and they gave me another giftcard... THAT is rolling!
Order of Coupon redemption:
At certain stores you will want to use Manufacturer coupons first and then store coupons last. Some stores like CVS, it's usually better to use their store coupons first (from their red coupon machine!) and then to use manufacturer coupons afterwards. For example, they have coupons like $3.00 off a purchase of $15.00. Say I bought $16.00 worth of stuff and then used my manufacturer coupons first. I then would not be able to redeem the store coupon because my total would be under $15.00. So hand them their coupon first! Always think as to how it would work out best for you.
Fillers:
At some stores, the number of coupons used may not exceed the number of items purchased. So say you're trying to stack coupons at Walgreens or Rite Aid. You can stack them, that's not a problem. However, you may need to purchase a small filler item so that the computer can attach the coupon to something. For example. You're trying to use a manufacturer's coupon AND a store coupon on a nailpolish. Their computers will not let you do this. Purchase a small piece of candy or something else cheap that you may need so that the 2 coupons can 'find' 2 items to attach themselves to.
Rainchecks:
If the item you wanted to purchase is out of stock, don't fret! Go to customer service and ask for a raincheck. Most stores will give you rainchecks for items which will allow you to purchase the item at the sale price at a later date. Just make sure that your coupon doesn't expire by the time it does come in stock. Rainchecks don't expire for a long time usually but coupons expire pretty quickly.
Price-matching:
Some stores will allow you to price-match as long as you bring in the ad. This comes in handy when the item you want at one store is out of stock but your other store price matches it. It also comes in handy if the store that is price matching happens to ALSO have a store coupon or something similar that makes it a better deal at that store. This also applies to typos or misprints. For example, the other day Shoprite advertised mascara for .77 and it was a misprint. They are not liable for the misprint and they put a sign in the store that said it was a misprint and that they would not honor that price. However, I took that ad to Walmart, who price matched it and used a coupon and got it for free. Maybe not the most ethical thing but they do say they honor their competitor's ads.
Competitor Coupons:
Some coupons will state that it's only to be used at one specific store. However, some stores will still honor that coupon. Know your store policy!
This is just a general primer of different terms and tips to get you started. In the future, we will go even more in depth with each topic. :) Otherwise, I'll run out of stop to u