[Pnut362]

Trip #1 - Make a quick trip to my normal Wags tonight to do the Almay deal. Went inside and got my stuff and asked the girl at the cosmetics counter to check me out. She is always really nice to me and excited when I save $$$.

She rang up my foundation and eyeshadow and when the $10 and $5 RR printed out she was like "OMG what did you get the $10 RR for??" I explained to her the deal and she got sooooo excited! She was like "what do you do with all this stuff?" I told her I had 2 sisters that I was making gift baskets for to give to them for Christmas. She was like "Can I adopt you as my big sister?" LOL She did my 2nd transaction and another $10 and $5 RR came out and she got super excited. She was going through all my RRs to see what would save me the most $$$. She had me go over to the makeup section and show her which was on sale and what worked.

I told her thanks for helping me check out and she yelled "You made my whole day!" I told her I would be back for sure to have a great night.
I left that Wags and can't wait to go back!

Trip 2 -
I called my mom to see if she wanted any makeup and she doesn't know how Wags works and she doesn't coupon anymore so I met her by the Wags by her house to show her how to do the deals. We once again had the lady at the cosmetic counter check us out. She was super friendly. We got talking about q's when she saw my binder. She was telling me that corporate is going to be cutting back here really soon. That she had over $300 in q's alone yesterday when she cashed out her till.

She said that she has a few coupon ladies that when she sees them come in the door she runs for her break. That they just wear her out. She told me to be careful what kind of deals I do because there are people who come in and "work the system" and get out with 0.20 OOP or around that (insert shout out to AFCers here LOL).. She said corporate was catching on and was getting a new system in place where this won't happen anymore. They are calling it - and yes she used the term "coupon fraud"..

I did not want to argue with her. I said I did not do but maybe a few transactions a week at Wags (I'm not hardcore like that LOL) and really the only thing that kind of bothered me is when people come in and just clear the shelves. She said the new registers they are getting at the first of the year will be smarter than all of us. She said "right now these coupon people have found loopholes and are smarter than me and the register but when we get these new registers it will all stop".

Now I know we have all heard this before and I will believe it when I see it for myself. She just kept telling me "be careful honey".. I was like "ummm well I am not doing anything wrong but whatever".. I did not argue with her.. I just let her vent. She was very helpful and very nice- I guess she has some real doozies she deals with.

I just found it interesting how different stores can give you a whole different vibe. I guess we will see at the first of the year what happens!

[dealsleuth]

Originally Posted by Pnut362

Trip #1 - Make a quick trip to my normal Wags tonight to do the Almay deal. Went inside and got my stuff and asked the girl at the cosmetics counter to check me out. She is always really nice to me and excited when I save $$$.

She rang up my foundation and eyeshadow and when the $10 and $5 RR printed out she was like "OMG what did you get the $10 RR for??" I explained to her the deal and she got sooooo excited! She was like "what do you do with all this stuff?" I told her I had 2 sisters that I was making gift baskets for to give to them for Christmas. She was like "Can I adopt you as my big sister?" LOL She did my 2nd transaction and another $10 and $5 RR came out and she got super excited. She was going through all my RRs to see what would save me the most $$$. She had me go over to the makeup section and show her which was on sale and what worked.

I told her thanks for helping me check out and she yelled "You made my whole day!" I told her I would be back for sure to have a great night.
I left that Wags and can't wait to go back!

Trip 2 -
I called my mom to see if she wanted any makeup and she doesn't know how Wags works and she doesn't coupon anymore so I met her by the Wags by her house to show her how to do the deals. We once again had the lady at the cosmetic counter check us out. She was super friendly. We got talking about q's when she saw my binder. She was telling me that corporate is going to be cutting back here really soon. That she had over $300 in q's alone yesterday when she cashed out her till.

She said that she has a few coupon ladies that when she sees them come in the door she runs for her break. That they just wear her out. She told me to be careful what kind of deals I do because there are people who come in and "work the system" and get out with 0.20 OOP or around that (insert shout out to AFCers here LOL).. She said corporate was catching on and was getting a new system in place where this won't happen anymore. They are calling it - and yes she used the term "coupon fraud"..

I did not want to argue with her. I said I did not do but maybe a few transactions a week at Wags (I'm not hardcore like that LOL) and really the only thing that kind of bothered me is when people come in and just clear the shelves. She said the new registers they are getting at the first of the year will be smarter than all of us. She said "right now these coupon people have found loopholes and are smarter than me and the register but when we get these new registers it will all stop".

Now I know we have all heard this before and I will believe it when I see it for myself. She just kept telling me "be careful honey".. I was like "ummm well I am not doing anything wrong but whatever".. I did not argue with her.. I just let her vent. She was very helpful and very nice- I guess she has some real doozies she deals with.

I just found it interesting how different stores can give you a whole different vibe. I guess we will see at the first of the year what happens!

I am in Tennessee as well and I believe what you say. You may have read my post from the week end; it has been moved to gripes and groans or whatever. I went back today to see if there was any Almay and there was not. I got two mascaras and that's all. The BA told me that beginning yesterday they were not allowing "fillers". She wasn't clear how it is being done but she said you "couldn't add a pencil to be able to use another RR".

"Coupon fraud" was also being thrown out Saturday. Apparently in this part of the state Walgreens does not want us to use the RR we have received legitimately. She asked me if I had a lot and told me I should "use them quick" because they were "getting ready to get rid of them".

The new registers at the first of the year seems to be a given. Personally I don't care if they get an android to work the counter, I don't do anything wrong. There is definitely a problem and Walgreens here is getting more and more coupon and RR unfriendly

[frugalbee]

I have a favorite store with my favorite clerk in cosmetics. She is super and loves to help me 'get it right'. Her store hadn't posted the Almay RR notices and she didn't know about it. She was excited and was buying makeup after her shift. Then, I move on to another store to do a couple more transactions and that cosmo clerk was getting a little frustrated and I'm very glad that they were small and worked out as I'd planned. I couldn't get out of there fast enough.

I agree that I'm not doing anything wrong. Coupon Fraud?? These are legitimate coupons for which they get reimbursed. They even advertise the use of additional coupons with RRs (Use your P&G coupons with these WG offers) in the print ads! How do they 'know' that I'm buying fillers and don't need the pencil?!?! Ridiculous. Are they going to refuse to sell me something? I always have this figured out though, so that I'm not looking for something at the time of checkout. Guess we'll wait and see.

[momof3k2c]

This is all just nuts! I had a conversation with my fav mags mgr, i was telling her about another store that I had never been to where the mgr told me I could only use (1) rr per transaction cuz wags was loosing $$ on so many rr's & she was like WHAT?, she said that was just crazy on his part cuz he was basically turning down sales for his store. She said wags is actually making money now with this program vs the previous program & that with all these rr deals it is guaranteed money for the store reagardless of wether it is green cash or rr's it is money being spent in the store & told me I should contact corp & let them know because HE is not following the program. She then told me she loves seeing me walk thru the door cuz she knows I spend alot of $$ in her store ! I personally dont understand why they feel rr's are different than other manu q's cuz they are a form of cash that is why (here) we have to pay taxes on pre-coupon total. Maybe they need to quit looking at rr's as a q & look at it as company XXX has given us xx amt of $$ to spend in their store. Sorry so long these ppl just get under my skin when they dont really know whats going on & make things up as they go along.

[joshmamabear]

with all these rr deals it is guaranteed money for the store reagardless of wether it is green cash or rr's it is money being spent in the store

TRUE. that is IF WAG will put an exclusive clause to their RRs that they can be redeemed at their stores ONLY. although they cannot prevent other stores from taking them, unless they make it exclusive for their stores, these RRs will be sold to others and used at grocery stores. For stores that treat them as competitor coupons and do not worry about getting reimbursed for them, there should be no problem.

I know many AMs, EXAs and SMs are reading coupon boards so they are well aware of this and may have been brought up in their meetings. I believe OPs post has truth to it but am not sure of the way it is going to be executed. I was already told of this "smart register coming soon". UNTIL I see changes implemented in 75% of branches nationwide, I'll consider it as YMMV per district level.

For me, I'll collect RRs that I can conviniently manage on a weekly basis. I'd rather not be caught with hundreds worth of useless paper when they pull the plug all of a sudden

[Pnut362]

I totally agree! The lady at the second store was making me feel like a crook even though I know I don't do anything wrong! I was like - if it wasn't for these RR programs how many less customers would you have? I know I personally NEVER shopped at CVS, Wags or Rite Aid before!

[tokidoki]

I just want to say that I hope all their stores get new registers because those old ones are horrible... they take forever to load and then when something is scanned it takes a few seconds to come on the screen and of course those freebies that come of at the end....wonder how old those registers are???

[momofthree3]

Now I think coupon fraud is completely out of line. Isn't that supposed to be used when you are using the coupon in an illegal manner (like for the wrong product or after it's expired). They have been puttting in their ad's lately "Look for additional coupon savings in your sunday paper" so they shouldn't be shocked that more people are using coupons in combination with the RR deals.

But I also don't collect a ton of RR either. I have never had more then $25 sitting in my purse at any one time because like a PP mentioned I don't want to get stuck holding a whole bunch if they decide to change the rules all of a sudden.
Now my Wags is only a little over a year old so I wonder if the brand new stores will be getting this new system too.

[cal618]

I wish they'd put price scanners in their stores while their at it!

[HunneyLove]

Did the cashier think by 'warning' you.. "Just be careful".. she was protecting you from the coupon police?? LOL!!! Are they going to implement coupon security staff at their stores to enforce proper coupon usage.. and kick ya out and ban you from their store if you used coupons in a 'fraudulent' way? My gosh that cashier really tried to ruffle your feathers!! HA HA. There is nothing wrong with saving money,.. and manufacturers and retailers know this. Climp up the ladder aways and I bet ya there are haunchos who are well aware of the coupon spending/dealing and they are grinning as we spend!! These 'pee-on' employees don't know what they are talking about. Maybe they will put more restrictions on coupons, etc... but they aren't going to lock it down to the point where they can tell you what you can and can't add to your order!! Sheesh!

[karren tipton]

If coupons were "fraud" every freaking one of them would beep and nobody could use them. I hope they do get the registers, they sure don't beep like this a CVS (mine have the new registers, touch screen, etc..) I just hate that misinformed employees act like we are crooks, when we are not. Ladies and gentlemen, we could fill up a lot of jails if it were illegal!!!