[foulte]

Today I went to Rite Aid to get Tylenol and the Colgate total. Both had rebates and I had a coupon for both. When I went to checkout, the coupons would not scan and the cashier said that I could not use a coupon because there was a rebate on the item. I showed him their ad for Tylenol where it included the fact to look in the Sunday paper for a coupon. He called over the manager because he did not want to get in trouble. She proceeded to tell me that they could not take the coupon because the item would then be free (I wonder why they offer the Colgate for free after SCR this week). I also showed her the flyer where it advertised the insert coupon and told her I would be happy to purchase the items with my coupons elsewhere. She did ok the use off the coupons. I know that RA has been changing their coupon rules but have never heard of this new one.

Gretchen

[dd1157]

I have had similar problems at my Rite Aid. I sympathise.

there are two main problems:

1. Many cashiers do not want to "get into trouble" because they are unfamiliar with the coupon rules. Their managers have not informed them properly as to the rules, and when they are called they don't check on the correct procedure.

2. Many managers take it upon themselves to come up with some sort of on the spot rules just to get you out of her face and out of the store.

3. Once this happens, the employees have a new set of wrong marching orders, are trained improperly, and you have been branded as a "trouble customer".

This sounds difficult but in order to get the deals that are advertised you have to get someone that the managers will listen to (since they have stopped listening to you). I emailed customer service with my problem, waited for a reply, printed out the reply (customer service will reply with a copy of the coupon policy) and took it with me back to the store along with all the coupons necessary for the original deal.

The manager at my Rite Aid allowed the coupons after I politely showed her my corporate email reply. I think that they get a copy of the original complaint so they will be expecting you. My manager wasn't happy to see me, but if she had had her facts straight I wouldn't have had to do all of this...

The only problem remains is the "trouble customer" label, which isn't really going away anyway. the bottom line is not to win an arguement but to get good cheap pharmacy stuff. I can deal with a dirty look or two if I can get what I want. My Rite Aid just wasn't all that friendly in the first place...

[lovethecold]

How frustrating!

I would stand in line and call 1-800-Rite-Aid right then and there. Clearly the ad is telling us to USE coupons. I'm think it is just a misunderstanding by the managers.

[bewitched88]

My Tylenol coupon would not scan either. Maybe there is something with the coupon. My store is great though and they manually entered it since I bought the right stuff.

[sdugas164]

My some of my cashiers don't even know what the rebate program is... trying to use a scr check there usually needs a manager and it still gets done wrong half the time. I also don't think some know what are on sale because they are always amazed at what i do.

[Tizzle]

Mine didn't scan but they read it carefully to make sure it was the right item and entered it without a question.

You can diffinitely use them on SCR. They just make up whatever they want when they don't have an answer.

[Slegos]

I went to RA today and my Tylenol and Colgate coupons both scanned fine. The cashier gave me grief over my gum coupons. I'm sorry but I had to laugh. I had 10 packs of mentos gum on sale for 99 cents and had .55 cent coupons for all ten. She told me that I could only buy 8 and I would have to wait until next sunday when they were not on sale to purchase more. She then told me that would be the fair thing to do! I laughed because she didn't say anything about the 5 bottles of zyrtec I had with double coupons on them. Maybe those who suffer from allergies do not need to be treated fairly! She didn't want to use my $5 off $25 coupon, but I told her that they emailed it to me so she had better honor it. Before I left I couldn't help myself so I asked her if she wanted to take my picture to make sure I didn't sneak back in to buy more gum. My husband said I should have pitched a fit, but I had to laugh. I have enough stress this week that all I could do was laugh. Funny how we are given these coupons to use, not only by the manufacturers but by the stores themselves. We take the time to research stores both online and in ads before we decide what and where to spend our money. After all of this the cashier still tries to treat me as if I were trying to commit a crime. It was so stupid I just had to laugh and then tell all of you about it of course! Sorry it got a bit off topic. Thanks ladies, have a great night!

[CountryFan]

Last night I bought Tylenol (hubby did too) using a coupon and the .50¢ peelie on the box with NO issues at all.

[glowbuoy]

I went in today and they accepted my Rite Aid coupon and the manufacturer's coupon for the Colgate. I bought two, one I'll use for the rebate and the other 2 coupons went for the other toothpaste.
Why do coupons even exist if people are given a hard time using them?

[foulte]

My coupons were for the correct items with qualifying sizes. I don't know how it works at Rite Aid, but the cashier at Kroger told me that with the coupons, some times the computer doesn't know if the items qualifies (i.e. different sizes possible for the coupon) and he said there was a soft override in that case which they could override without a manager. There was also another type of beep with a hard override required which meant the computer didn't find any possible matches and a manager was needed to override that.

I don't shop at Rite Aid too often and the last time I went was to a different location and the manager there did not want to accept the 5 off of 25 with other coupons (no matter what the order).

I thought today would be a simple trip with just two items and very straight forward. Apparently when they don't know why a coupon isn't working it's time to make up a new rule. If they're going to make it that frustrating at time consuming, I'll stick to CVS and Walgreens I suppose.

Gretchen

[ajot]

my coupons scanned fine, that's nuts...

[dd1157]

At first I was angry and frustrated about being treated rudely.

Then I realized that it is just that WE know more about it than THEY do.

I have found that aggressive ignorance stems from overconfidence in believing that you are in the right without really having found out the facts.

At first it seems like they wanted to burn me for practicing witchcraft, but lately they are just amazed at the results.

And once you find a cashier that is down with the coupon sickness, find out when she works and only go when she is on. (By the way, it helps if you offer one or two of your better coupons to the cashier once in a while, people are less likely to be strict with you when they are glad to see you come in the store).

[viopacific]

Originally Posted by dd1157

(By the way, it helps if you offer one or two of your better coupons to the cashier once in a while, people are less likely to be strict with you when they are glad to see you come in the store).

like pavlov's dogs-- they never know when they're going to get the treat (i.e. more coupons)!!! LOL

[FlyLadyFan]

Originally Posted by viopacific

like pavlov's dogs-- they never know when they're going to get the treat (i.e. more coupons)!!! LOL

dd1157's post and yours are some of the funniest and TRUEST things I've ever read about couponing. Ya know you're dealing with an expert couponer when they've achieved the ability to change a clerk's disposition. I stand in awe.

There's a RA two miles from my house where they don't mark the shelves properly, are always out of stock, and the clerk's go over your coupons with an eagle eye (which is just irritating and not a problem since I'm careful to match Q with exact item).

There's another RA 8 miles from my house which make none of the above errors. Guess which one I shop at?

I'm willing to pay in gas $$ to not have my rare good moods spoiled!

FLF

.

[Learning to truly live]

ugh, Rite Aid makes me grumpy lately.

[Slegos]

I have to add a kudo's for Rite Aid, the pharmacy is terrific. We recently had to start buying some med's monthly for my DH and the pharmacist helped us with a discount card from our county, and one from the manufacturer. They even price matched another pharmacy on the generic. Then he went on to give me another manufacturer discount for my son's inhaler. Our insurance does not cover the pharmacy, so I am very grateful for the savings each month, that alone totals around $75.00. I wish the pharmacist was always my cashier!

[michellzey]

What a great pharmacist - truly looking out for their patients!

[FlyLadyFan]

Originally Posted by Slegos

I have to add a kudo's for Rite Aid, the pharmacy is terrific. We recently had to start buying some med's monthly for my DH and the pharmacist helped us with a discount card from our county, and one from the manufacturer. They even price matched another pharmacy on the generic. Then he went on to give me another manufacturer discount for my son's inhaler. Our insurance does not cover the pharmacy, so I am very grateful for the savings each month, that alone totals around $75.00. I wish the pharmacist was always my cashier!

Wow. That IS amazing -- and I'm glad you are so blessed. I've had the exact opposite experience at the local RA so I finally moved all our scrips to the CVS several miles down the road. Occasionally I'll transfer something back in order to get a $25 gift card, but I'm not always willing to even do that!

But it is good to hear something positive about any RiteAid.

I am happy that you saved on scrips -- the prices manufacturer's charge are just outrageous.

FLF

.