Why is using a coupon so difficult?

I have had many experiences since starting couponing. Mostly good, a few ok....some that make me wanna smack somebody & now one that I could consider "bad" but in reality more of I can't believe my cashier is so stupid. 

Let me tell you what coupons I was using.

5 Free Suave Professionals products

1 Free Glade Spring Collection product

Got 5 Suave Professional products & Glade Spring Collection air spray.

Cashier rang up my items. I handed her my coupons. Her response..."I don't know if I can take all these". Me: "Um, why?" Her: "I don't know if there is a limit on coupons" Me: "Walmart does not have a limit on free product coupons. Scan them and see."

She then proceeds to ask 8 DIFFERENT EMPLOYEES (2 BEING MANAGERS) if she could take these. She scans one, then asks, scans one then asks. Stops calls management. A manager happens to walk by she stops and asks him. He looks at her and said "Yes." The phone rings, she then asks another manager and tells the manager to come to her.

At this time, my hubby is pretty mad. He starts being smart with her. "How many d*** people you have to ask if you can take them all? How many times do you have to be told yes!"

"I don't want to get into trouble"

Well! If 8 different people have told you YES THEN YOU WILL NOT GET INTO TROUBLE!!

Finally, another manager comes there. He grabs the coupons and looks at them and says "It says one per purchase" I was about to flip out because I thought he was going to be an idiot.

I say, "Yes and I have 5 purchases. see..." He then looks at her and says "The customer is right. Per purchase means PER ITEM. Take them"

The look on her face was great.

She finished scanning the rest of the coupons. I paid and left.

Really, why does using a simple plain English coupon have to be so darn difficult?! Why are some cashiers trained to use coupons and some not?! I just do not understand this.

 

So, in the end a 5-6 minute checkout turned into a 25 minute checkout. Really? REALLY?!

Extreme Couponing Tonight on TLC: Yay or Nay?

Extreme Couponing Show on TLC will be on tonight at 9 pm and 9:30 pm EST (2 different episodes).

I am not a huge fan of this show. I think it is a good program to watch to get an ideal on how to use coupons. But this show is not realistic. Real couponers usually do not use thousand coupons at a time. In my opinion, these people featured on this show has deeper issues. Having so much stock pile is hoarding. Actually, couponers usually have major problems trying to use coupons at different stores. I am an avid couponer and I love it. But I know that it is not easy. This shows makes it seem like you can do this without any problems and cashier, managers and so forth are so kind towards coupons. I have had many encounters where the complete opposite has happened. I have heard some really bad horror stories about some of the stores that are being shopped at during this program. Wal-Mart, Target, Kmart, Kroger and so forth.  Please if you start couponing because of this show remember these rules:

1. Do not clear the shelf. There are many other people who would love to snag the deal as well. There have been so many times that I have wanted to do a deal and I get to the store and the shelf has been cleaned. I understand stockpiling, but cleaning the shelf? Not cool.


2. Have your store polices with you. There have been so many times a manager has tried to get snippy about a coupon and insist that there store policy does not exist. I always get an awesome feeling when I can swipe out their coupon policy and show them! Their faces are always priceless.


3. Do not try to cheat by using coupons. Do not buy items that the coupon does not pertain to. I have heard stories about people figuring out certain coupons will not beep for different items. This is considered coupon fraud and can really cost couponers. This type of behavior is what causes cashiers and managers to hate coupons! BE HONEST!


4. Do the deals that YOU and YOUR family will use. Really what is the point in stockpiling items you will never use?