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Aldi

Coming soon…

CVS

• Does not have their coupon policy available on their web site and they reserve the right to change their policy at any time.
• Does not double coupons. They are redeemed at face value only.
• Accept competitor coupons only for prescriptions in the pharmacy department (example: $5 Rite Aid gift card for new or transferred prescription).
• Accepts coupons printed from the Internet if they have a barcode that scans at the register.
• If the coupon does not scan at the register, the cashier should  inform you that they are unable to accept your coupon. They do not allow manual overrides at the register for coupons printed from the Internet.  They can override clipped coupons and coupons that were mailed to you from the manufacturer.
• They allow 1 CVS coupon + 1 manufacturer coupon per item. They should allow you to use ECB (Extra Care Bucks) in combination with other CVS coupons since these are coupons you have “earned.” In addition, they should allow the use of “offer at the register” coupons which would be an open offer of $5 off of $20 or a certain dollar amount off of a specific item (ex. $2 off any Pampers product). Since their registers are programmed to only accept 2 coupons (1 CVS & 1 manufacturer) per item if the number of coupons exceed the items purchased, a manager will need to override the coupon.
• You can use coupons towards a clearance item but the coupon will be adjusted if it is more than the price of the item.
• The BOGO coupon allows you to purchase 2 items and get them both for free. With the manufacturer’s coupons you can combine one with one CVS coupon. You will be responsible for any tax due.
• Rain checks can be issued for items out of stock. They can also issue ECB on a rain check item. These never expire. Many stores will accept manufacturer’s coupons with the rain check, even if the coupon is expired.

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Dollar General

• Has their Coupon Policy available online.
• Does not double coupons. They are redeemed at face value only.
• Accepts coupons printed from the Internet if they have a barcode that scans at the register.
• If the coupon does not scan at the register, the cashier should inform you that we are unable to accept your coupon. They do not allow manual overrides at the register for coupons printed from the Internet.
• They allow 1 Dollar General coupon + 1 manufacturer coupon per item.
• You can use coupons towards a clearance item but the coupon will be adjusted if it is more than the price of the item.

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Harris Teeter

• Has their Coupon Policy available online.
• Doubles manufacturer’s coupons up to face value of $.99 every day.
• Accept 20 double coupons per customer/household per DAY; all others redeemed at face value. Orders may not be separated to  allow the 20 coupon limit to be exceeded.
• Double up to 3 like items with manufacturer coupon; additional coupons for like item will be honored at face value.
• Triple manufacturer’s coupons up to $.99 or double coupons $.99-$1.98 periodically. The same rules apply when doubling. Anything beyond those limits will be redeemed at face value.
• Only accept 1 coupon for BOGO Free items. If an item is B2G3 free, you may use 2 coupons. You may only use a coupon on the item you’re buying, not the “free” item.
• Accepts coupons printed from the Internet if they have a barcode that scans at the register.
• If the coupon does not scan at the register, they will not accept your coupon. They do not allow manual overrides at the register for coupons printed from the Internet.
• No internet printable coupons for “free” items. Mailed manufacturer “free” coupons are acceptable.
• With the purchase of 2 like products, they accept 2 internet manufacturer’s coupons, per store, per day.
• Accept local competitors’ ads or direct-mail coupons for money off total order (ex. Krogers $5 off $25 total purchase).
• Do not accept competitor’s coupons for money off specific items.
• Rain checks issued for up to 3 items out of stock. They do not expire.

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K-Mart

• Does not have an “official” coupon policy.
• Does not allow “stacking” of coupons. You can either use 1 K-Mart or 1 Manufacturer coupon per item.
• Doubles manufacturer’s coupons up to & including $2 value periodically.
• Doubled coupon amount can not exceed retail price of item (no overage).
• Limit of 10 coupons per customer/household, per DAY. Anything beyond that will be redeemed at face value only.
• You may only purchase 4 of the same item using double coupons.
• Buy One, Get One offers, Kmart Savings coupons and Kmart Store coupons are excluded from doubling.
• Accepts coupons printed from the Internet if they have a barcode that scans at the register.
• If the coupon does not scan at the register, they will not accept your coupon. They do not allow manual overrides at the register for coupons printed from the Internet.
• Will not accept coupons for more than about 75% of a product’s value. For example, a $4 off coupon for a product that retails for $4.50 is not likely to be legitimate.
• Will not accept “Free” product (no purchase required) internet coupons. Buy-one-get-one-free coupons and other values that have a purchase requirement are acceptable.
• Rain checks can be issued.  Limitations vary by location so check with your particular store for any limitations.

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Kroger

• Does not have an “official” policy.
• Doubles manufacturer’s coupons up to face value of $.50 every day with your Kroger Plus Card. Some regions will double up to $.55 or more.
• Does not accept any competitor coupons for grocery items.
• Accept competitor coupons only for prescriptions in the pharmacy department (ex: $5 Rite Aid gift card for new or transferred prescription).
• Corporate Policy does not limit the number of coupons you can use per transaction. However, the store manager does have the right to limit the quantity of coupons/items used/purchased in a single transaction, by a single customer, or in a single day.
• You may use 1 manufacturer coupon for every 1 item you purchase, unless the coupon says otherwise (example: Save $1 on 2 items, etc.)
• Accepts 2 manufacturer coupons for BOGO items.
• You can use a BOGO coupon on a BOGO sale. (The items will ring up at 50% off. The cashier will enter the coupon amount for the 50% off price).
• Allows e-coupons in addition to manufacturer coupons (Cellfire, Shortcuts etc.)
• Corporate Policy accepts coupons printed from the Internet if they have a barcode that scans at the register. However, some stores are not accepting any internet printable coupons. It is up to each  Store Manager’s discretion.
• No internet printable coupons for “free” items.
• With the purchase of 2 like products, they accept 2 internet manufacturer’s coupons.
• Store Manager has the right to accept, decline or limit use of ANY coupon upon view.
• Recently it’s been reported to me that many Kroger’s store managers are changing their policies without notifying customers.  It may be a good idea to check with them periodically to make sure of their policy.

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Publix

NOTE: This is a general “guideline” for the majority of Publix stores. Since each store varies in their acceptance, you should check with your store customer service or manager for their specific store policy on competitor coupons. I’ve heard that the policy is different in Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina and Tennessee than in  Florida and coastal Georgia.  Here is what you, my readers, have told me:

Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina and Tennessee:

• Does not have an “official” policy.
• Doubles manufacturer’s coupons up to face value of $.50 every day.
• Does not double Publix store coupons or competitor coupons.
• Does not limit the number of like/same coupons that you can double. The register is programmed to require a manager’s approval when the coupons total over $50 or when you have more coupons (store and manufacturer together) than items.
• Accepts coupons printed from the Internet if they have a barcode that scans at the register.
• Does not accept printable “free” item coupons if the value is over $5.
• You may use one Publix store coupon and one manufacturer’s coupon per item, unless either coupon explicitly prohibits it.
• Accepts competitor coupons from traditional grocery stores within a 5 mile radius. The individual store managers decides which stores to accept as competitor.
• Some stores will accept a competitor + Publix + manufacturer coupon for the same item, however most stores do not.
• Few stores accept drug store coupons as competitor while most do not.
• You may use 2 coupons for BOGO sale items if you buy 2 items. You may also use a store and manufacturer coupon for each item as well.
• With BOGO sale items you do not have to purchase 2 items, each will ring up as half price.

Florida and Coastal Georgia:
Most of the above applies in Florida and coastal Georgia. However, here are some differences:

• They do not double any coupons.
• You must buy 2 of the BOGO items to get the sale price. You must buy 2 items, one is full price and the second is free.
• Many stores will not let you use coupons for both items that are B1G1. You can still use one store and one manufacturer, but not 2 of both.

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Rite Aid

• Does not double coupons. They are redeemed at face value only.
• They do not accept competitor coupons.
• Accepts coupons printed from the Internet that are $5 in value or less. They must have a barcode that scans at the register. They do not allow manual overrides at the register for coupons printed from the Internet.
• They allow 1 Rite Aid coupon + 1 manufacturer coupon per item.
• They allow you to use “total purchase” coupons (ex. $5 off your $25 purchase). You may use more than one total purchase coupon per visit but they need to be separate transactions & each transaction must meet the minimum purchase requirement.
• Since their registers are programmed to only accept 2 coupons (1 Rite Aid & 1 manufacturer) per item if the number of coupons exceed the items purchased, a manager will need to override the coupon.
• You can use coupons towards a clearance item but the coupon will be adjusted if it is more than the price of the item.
• The BOGO coupon allows you to purchase 2 items and get them both for free. You can combine the sale price with manufacturer’s coupons . You will be responsible for any tax due.

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Target

• Has their coupon policy available online. I recommend printing a copy to take with you on your shopping trips.
• Does not double coupons. They are redeemed at face value only.
• Does not accept competitor coupons.
• Can combine Target and manufacturer coupons.
• You may use one Target and one manufacturer coupon per  item (unless either coupon prohibits).
• Super Target coupons can be used in any Target store if the store carries the item.
• Accepts valid Internet coupons if the bar code is able to scan at the register.
• Coupon amount may be reduced if it exceeds the value of the item after other discounts or coupons are applied.  Some stores allow overage to be applied to the rest of your order and some do not.

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Trader Joe’s

Coming soon…

Walgreens

• Has their coupon policy available online.  I recommend printing a copy to take with you on your shopping trips.
• Does not double coupons. They are redeemed at face value only.
• You can combine manufacturer’s coupons and store coupons (store coupons include those found in the weekly ad, online, or in various coupon booklets throughout the store).
• Walgreens issues Register Rewards with certain items as a promotion (ex. $3 RR back for a $10 Huggies purchase).  They are like cash, but are a manufacturer’s coupon.  Generally they expire 1.5-2 weeks after issued.  These may not be combined with another manufacturer’s coupon.
• Total number of Register Rewards and manufacturer’s coupons cannot exceed the number of items.  Walgreens’ store coupons are sometimes not considered part of your coupon total, but this varies.  For example: if you buy 1 bottle of shampoo with an in-ad, store coupon, and a manufacturer coupon, the register might beep and not let you continue.  You need to have a second “filler” item in your order to keep the items vs. coupons number the same.  It can be anything at all but lower priced items equal greater savings.  For example you could add a piece of candy or a ten-cent pencil.
• Store coupons may be valid for multiple items.  Example: a coupon that states “Dish Liquid 99¢, Limit 3″ will adjust the price for up to three bottles of Dish Liquid to 99¢ with one coupon.
• You can usually use two coupons on a BOGO Free sale.
• Walgreens does not handle the issuing of Register Rewards.  Any questions or issues you have, you can call the Catalina company at 1.888.8COUPON and give them the numbers on the Register Reward. (They have a great Customer Service dept.)
• Register Rewards cannot be used to pay sales tax.

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Walmart

• Has their coupon policy available online & their ad match policy online.  Last updated March, 2011.  I recommend printing a copy of each to take with you on your shopping trips.
• Does not double coupons. They are redeemed at face value only.
• Does not accept competitor coupons that offer dollars, cents or percentage off, B1G1 free, and double or triple value.
• Walmart does accept competitor’s coupons that have a specific price listed.
• Accepts internet printable coupons that read “Manufacturer Coupon,” with valid remit address for the manufacturer, an expiration date, and a scannable bar code.
• One coupon, per item.
• Walmart will offer change back or overage on your transaction when a coupon exceeds the price of a product.
• Walmart will accept Catalina coupons that are clearly marked as manufacturer’s coupons.
• Use of 40 or more coupons per transaction will require approval by Customer Service Manager.
• $50 or more in coupons per transaction or a coupon value over $20 will require approval from a manager.

Whole Foods

• The Whole Foods coupon policy is not available online to print or view. Whole Food’s coupon policy varies by region, so please ask your local store about their policy.
• Does not double coupons.  They are redeemed at face value only.
• Whole Foods policies vary by location, so always ask your store about their policies.
• Whole Foods prices may vary slightly by location, but are typically comparable.
• Most Whole Foods allow coupon stacking, but a few may not.   It varies by location, so ask your store about their policy.
• Deals at Whole Foods may last longer than 1 week, so some deals may look familiar each week.
• Bring a reusable bag for $0.10 your bill for every bag you use.
• Purchasing items in bulk or “by the case” will get you 10% of your purchase of that product.   Make sure to mention to the cashier that you purchased a case to get your discount.
• Whole Foods fliers and e-Newsletters often include additional coupons.
• “The Whole Deal” booklet is an in-store booklet filled with store coupons and is released monthly.
• Watch in-store for clearance and mark-down items.
• Get a wallet card at the bakery to get your 6th loaf of bread free!
• Talk to customer service for free healthy snacks for the kids while you shop.
• Whole Foods sales start on Wednesday and end on the following Thursday, which means there are always double the sale items if you shop on Wednesday!

I heard yesterday that because Walmart has been struggling financially and are ready to “ready to roll up its sleeves to win the lowest-price battle with its rivals.”  I’m assuming Target is one of it’s bigger competitors with their lower prices, price-matching, and great coupons.

Two of the big changes Walmart plans to make is to give even lower prices and a better ad-matching policy:

Wal-Mart said store managers will check competitors’ prices more frequently. The company will press suppliers to lower their costs and will simplify its “ad match” policy.

From now on, if customers find a lower advertised price, Wal-Mart promises to match that price at the register in all stores without requiring shoppers to bring in a competitor’s ad as proof.

Personally I’m a little skeptical on how this will work out (at least at first) since many Walmart cashiers I’ve came across seem to have lacked training on the corporate Walmart policies regarding price-matching and coupons.   However, I am excited to hear they are at least trying to simplify ad-matching experience!