I did end up going over budget today... partly my own "fault" (more like lack of knowledge) and partly the two witch's faults... Oops, did I say that out loud? I meant to say cashiers.
Here are the goods I collected today! All from Kroger.
To take advantage of the $5 off 10 Items Mix'n'Match sale:2 Miracle Whip Light, 32oz. - $1.74ea. AQ
(2) $.75 coupons
(2) $.50 for Mix'n'Match Sale
2 cans Rotel Tomatoes - $.07ea. AQ
*(1) $.30 coupon that doubled to $.60
(2) $.50 for Mix'n'Match Sale
2 French's Mustard - $.49ea. AQ
*(1) $.50 coupon that doubled to $1.00
(2) $.50 for Mix'n'Match Sale
1 Frank's Red Hot Sauce - FREE AQ
(1) $.50 coupon that doubled to $1.00
(1) $.50 for Mix'n'Match Sale
2 Daisy Sour Cream, 16oz. - $.49ea. AQ
(2) $1.00 coupons
(2) $.50 for Mix'n'Match Sale
(3) Kraft Cheese, 8oz. - $1.49ea. AQ
(3) $.50 for Mix'n'Match Sale
*(8) Green Giant Steamers - $.17ea. AQ
(6) $.50 coupons that doubled to $1.00ea.
(1) $.50 Shortcuts coupons (surprise! didn't know I had it)
(8) $.50 for Mix'n'Match Sale
And the rest of the stuff I got:
Kroger Cream of Mushroom Soup - $.79
Kroger Cornmeal - $1.29
5lb. Kroger AP Flour - $1.97
4pk. Cottonelle - FREE AQ
(1) $.50 Internet Printable Coupon that doubles to $1.00
1/2 gal. Kroger Milk - $.75 (Manager's Special)
2 Kroger Chips - $1.89ea.
2 Gillette Razors - $4.92 AQ
(1) BOGO coupon - they goofed it up so I got an extra $1.08 off.
Total OOP: $27.56
Total coupon & store card savings: $50.30 or 65%
* - Read explanation below:
Ahhh, it's nice to have saved so much :) BUT it really should've been $25.56 OOP. Or, if I'd known that you could only use 1 Rotel coupon per transaction, I would've done 2 transactions and it would've been $24.96.
Unfortunately, the really nice gal that has been running the Self Checkout lanes all the other times I've been there wasn't there. I asked the lady running it if "lots of coupons" were ok. I should've picked up on her comment (I forget what it was, but it wasn't "Sure, Ok!!:)") and just gone through a regular line.
I scanned and bagged all my stuff and she watched me like a hawk it seemed. Then I started to hand her my coupons one at a time. The other lady always scans them right there with her little hand held thingy-ma-bobber. This lady wanted to take them all down to her little station. Ok, that was fine... I would check the receipt to make sure they all came off, though! I had a good idea of what my total was supposed to be. So she's scanning away, muttering about the Green Giant coupons not scanning very well. I apologized, though it's not my doing. Then somehow I'd missed that 2 of them were expired. She didn't like that. Again, I apologized. She gets it all done, and up pops the final check-out screen. A total of $37-something. I asked if that was correct, because I thought it should be closer to $25. She called another lady over. They checked the Green Giant coupons against what was on THEIR screen, and ended up rescanning a few. It came down to $33 something. Still something's not right, so they count my paper coupons - 17 of them.... and I noticed that the BOGO coupon on the razors wasn't on the list of scanned coupons. There was some rigamarole over that until they could verify that it hadn't scanned and got it scanned and whatnot. Then lady #2 counted the coupons scanned on the little hand-held thingy, and said that all 17 were on there. The total was a little more than I thought it should be, but I did take back the 2 expired coupons and so on and so forth. Plus I could tell these ladies weren't happy that I wasn't happy, so I just paid for the stuff and left. After getting in the car I start going over my receipt with a fine-toothed comb like I always do.
A-hem, only 14 coupons were on the receipt!! I knew one was the Rotel coupon since it was for $.30, but the other 2 missing coupons were for $.50 and could've been any of the several $.50 coupons. One of two things needed to happen: Either they needed to credit me for the 3 coupons, or give me the coupons back. Girding up my loins, I went back into the store and to the Customer Service Desk.
I wanted to hug that guy. He was so nice and friendly (and probably 55 yrs. old, so no huggy feelings because of his age or looks, folks!). I explained that my receipt was missing 3 coupons, that I'd given the lady 17 and only 14 were scanned. He asked if I knew which ones hadn't scanned, and I told him the only one I knew for sure was the Rotel. He then very kindly explained that the Rotel coupon wouldn't scan more than 1 coupon in a transaction, that he had tried it with another customer right there at his own desk and it still wouldn't work. I asked how it could be straightened out since I was out of those coupons and they hadn't been scanned. He said that I could have my 3 coupons back and he had another lady go tell the 2 ladies that 3 of my coupons hadn't scanned.
Oh my, immediately their porcupine barbs shot up. My previously girded up loins started losing their girding and started quaking. I walked over to their stand thingy, and they pulled out a pile of coupons. Right away they told me that everything was even because they'd credited me an extra dollar on the razor by their mistake. "So that makes the $2.60 that I was shorted ok??" I thought to myself. Instead I told them
"You didn't tell me that, and that's not my mistake. I would like my 3 coupons back."
"Well, who told you you can have them back?!"
"The gentleman at the desk did."
*insert huffing and puffing from them as they toss the coupons around*
"Well, how do we know which ones you're supposed to get back, you already got an extra $1.08 on the razor. I don't know what your problem is."
I told them that I knew one of the coupons was for the Rotel... and had to dig that out of the pile myself. Then they slapped down ONE $.50 coupon (for mustard) and said "Since we gave you and extra $1, and a $50 coupon doubles to $1, we're even now". Uhh, don't think so, guys! I told them that one UNSCANNED $.50 coupon was only $.50 and I still needed 1 more $.50 coupon. I picked one out of the pile, apologized for the trouble (though they were the ones needing to apologize!), thanked them and walked away. As I was passing back by the CS desk, the nice guy asked if everything had gone ok. I guess I must've looked a little freaked out as I said "Ok. I got my 3 coupons back." He motioned me over and at the same time one of the "ladies" huffed up with the razor coupon and informed him that I still owed the store $1 because they had "given" me an extra $1 off on the razor for "all the trouble". Again I told the CS guy that they hadn't told me about this... then she switched up her story and said "We should've only given you $6.08 (and I haven't figured out where the $.08 comes from, they were 2/$12) and instead I punched in $7.08 and I didn't know I'd messed up until after you left." Hmm, lady, nice way to keep switching your stories, I think you just don't like me. She huffed off again, and the CS dude said "wait a minute" then came back with a $5 gift card. He apologized very much for all the trouble. He motioned for a lady to come over and told her that there was alot of bad attitude towards customers from those two. I didn't know if I was done or not, so I just stood there. I think she was the "cashier boss" or something... anyway, she apologized to me for what happened, and said that I could go. I asked if she was sure, if I owed the store $1 I would be happy to give it back because I wanted everything to be right. She told me that I was fine, don't worry about it, and it was ok to go. I wanted to hug her and the CS man! Not because I felt like Super-Woman for getting the coupons back, but because they stood up for me against those two nasty women. Seriously, I didn't know whether to cry or pee my pants, they were that intimidating.
Morals of the story: If you have 2 Rotel coupons, use them in separate transactions. Um... avoid the pointy-hat-wearing, broom-riding cashiers next time. If they're even there. And hope that the other nice lady is back.
Hey nice lady, PLEASE be there next Wed. morning when I come, ok? I missed you very much today, and my morning was miserable. Your always smiling face and friendly customer service always makes me happy to see you and visit your Self Checkout lanes!!
And the few things on my list that I really, really should've gotten today but couldn't were butter and Dr. Pepper. We'll just make what we have stretch until next week. I wanted to get some more "Free" stuff with the Mix'n'Match sale, but I didn't have enough coupons for the stuff that we use. I had more Hot Sauce coupons, but 1 bottle will last us a long time.
10 comments:
I know what it is like to get cashiers with attitudes. You handled it well you go girl! I enjoy your blog !!!
I went grocery shopping today too because the only store that doubles coupons does it on Wednesdays. You handled the situation well and glad you went back to get your coupons and straighten it out. I get paranoid sometimes that they are going to give me a hard time about using coupons. Then I get free stuff and the icky feeling goes away.
Good for you for going back in there for your coupons. I don't think I would have had the guts when I was your age. Now I do, but my kids are SOOO embarrassed that I finally grew a backbone! haha.
I really enjoy your blog. I tell you what those ladies need to act better than that if they want to keep their jobs. I have been a grocery store cashier and it is much nicer to smile and do your job well than it is to wear a pointy hat. You were in the right and I am proud of you for standing up for yourself and your budget.
Take care,
Kristal in Virginia
Miriam,
Way to go! It sounds like you kept your cool. I have been noticing that there's a lot of huffing and puffing over coupons these days. I use coupons, but not a huge amount. If I even have, say 7, then it's just soooooo much trouble for them. I'm speaking of Wal-Mart here. I've made up my mind that they need to learn to play nice. As a believer, I really try to walk the walk, even with the folks wearing the pointy hats. LOL! Although, one more huff and this grit eating, sweet tea drinking mama might have to give em' a good talkin to. :)
Blessings,
Carol
Way to go! You are on the right track! I wish I had your backbone. There are times when I swallow someone else's mistake and lose money, and Andrew thinks I should go back, talk to someone, etc., but I just don't do it. Usually I'm tired, my kids are hungry, etc. You are super! Those cashier's need to wake up. Without customers, they wouldn't have a job. And if they make customers miserable, they won't come back and it will hurt their store more than coupons combined with sales will! I hope your next trip goes much better. I think you got some really good deals (and if you count that $5 gift card from the CS guy, you didn't REALLY go over budget).
Way to stand up to those ladies! And awesome about the $5 gift card. I still have so much to learn about the art of using coupons!
-Bethany
Way to go for getting your coupons back. I'll remember your story for future reference for sure. I usually use the self check out lanes too, and it's usually because the cashiers are so nasty that I just don't want to "deal" with them. If I get a cashier that is really friendly though, I make sure and let the customer service desk know about it.
you have such interesting experiences with your couponing. Keep those loins girded! (interesting picture thought when you said that they were becoming "ungirded and quaking"!) :)
Miriam - I also had a bad couponing experience recently. I love Target and had several coupons that I was trying to use there. I always try to be a good couponer, if I have items that are BOGO Free I try to put them together and at the end of my order so they don't have to look back at the recent to enter the amount. I had several BOGO coupons on this visit and was trying to watch the cashier as she was scanning my coupons and noticed that in between her scanning my coupons she was busy texting on her sidekick!!! (That just infuriated me.) I scanned my receipt on the way out the door and noticed immediately that 3 of my bogo coupons didn't get taken off the receipt. So, I had been debating about whether I should even stop at CS and mention that the cashier was texting while helping me and realized I had to - I was out almost $13. I went to over and showed them my receipt and knew which items didn't come off with coupons (I make a list and mark by my list what items have coupons and how much the coupon is for) they ended up going back over to the cashier and grabbing a handful of coupons (they didn't get all of them, but the BOGO's that I told them about and gace me cash for the difference. I was happy about that, but it was frustrating having to explain what I didn't get credited for correctly, the codes are hard to match-up, and of course it was late and I was shopping with just the 8 month old who was tired and getting fussy while the CS lady was patiently working with me trying to figure out how much they needed to refund me. I never want to leave the store feeling like I wasn't honest with them, I just don't want to leave the store knowing that they didn't credit me everything I was suppose to get.
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