I am so sick and tired of one particular cashier at my local Pavilions!! This is at the Pavilions that's closest to my house and everytime I shop there and have to go through her line (she's usually the only one there on the early shift) she is the one who is always scrutinizing EVERY coupon that I have, making out like I'm doing something illegal!! Well because of that, I usually avoid shopping at that particular store altogether, or if I have to go shop there, I make sure that I don't go at the time when I know she will be the only lane open.

Well this morning, I stopped there to get a few items and there were 2 lanes open, hers and another cashier, so I purposely go to the other cashier because I just did not want to deal with her. Amongst my purchases, I had 3 Lunchables and 1 Capri Sun because I was using up a "$5 for the team" catalina that you get if you purchase 4 participating team snack items (offer valid 4/30/08-5/13/08). I also had a $1/3 Lunchables manufacturer's Q. Well because it was not busy first thing in the morning, she comes over after her lane empties and pretends to be all helpful and loading my (2 measly) bags into my cart. My cashier questions her as to what the $5 snacks catalina can be used for and I quickly tell her that I've purchased Lunchables and Capri Sun which total over $5 to qualify to use that catalina. She accepts that, and the register has no problems with it, accepting both the catalina as well as my $1/3 Lunchables Q.

Well then, the cashier who always gives me a hard time, notices this and comes over rummaging in my 2 bags and asking, "so what 'snacks' did she buy?" Then she proceeds to tell me that I can't be using the $5 cat AND the $1/3 Lunchables Q because they're both manufacturer's Qs and that would be "piggy-backing" 2 Qs on the same products. I kinda see her logic (though I hate to admit it!) because the cat does actually say "manufacter's coupon" on it, but I'm sure that no stores other than Safeway stores would accept these cats because they are the only ones running this promotion!! Does anyone else see a problem with using the $5 cat and the Lunchables Q?? I'm sure that many of us have done this previously.

In any case, the register took them both without any problems, so she didn't argue her point too loudly, but it was just the way that she had to come over and stick her nose into my business and give me a lecture again like I'm doing something illegal I'm so tired of her attitude that I have a good mind to write to corporate about her and how she is taking my business to another store because I just don't want to deal with her negativity, and I know that she influences the other cashiers because she talks to them about my couponing ~ you sense this when they also take a closer look at each coupon before they scan them, but at least they don't give me the 3rd degree like she does!!

Do you think this warrants contact with corporate?? And if so, should I send an email or a letter? I've just had enough and she's overstepped the mark once too often!

To top it off, even though I bought 4 participating items during this transaction, the cat machine did not spit out another $5 cat for my next purchase. They did not have the previous weeks ad, so they could not verify that the promotion ran through 5/13, but luckily, I kept my last week's ad (just for such an occasion), so I will need to go back later today to show them and get credit for it for next time.

So sorry that this has been so long, but I'm steamed and it takes a lot to get me this upset, so I just needed to get it off my chest! Thanks for any advice you guys can offer me to handle this situation!

I think the lady is out to get you. I have used the $5 team snack Q for whatever I bought the next time and never had a problem with it. I am sorry you had to deal with that. Maybe there is another Pavilion's nearby? There is one cashier I am learning to avoid at my Safeway also- she does not understand coupons and thinks all my IPs are fake or something- ugh.
I hope they help out with the credit on the promo- I didn't know it went to the 13th- cool!

I really would just call the store and talk to the Store Manager. That way you can find out what exactly the policy is on this and also address the fact that this particular cashier seems to think she is the coupon police and you are tired of it. Let him/her know that you will be taking your business elsewhere if this person isn't dealt with.

I usually like to go to the store manager first before corporate and at least let them try to solve the problem. Then if they don't solve it to your liking, you can escalate it if need be.

Just my 2 cents. So sorry this happened to you. It's no fun to be scrutinized and I don't tend to handle it very well when it happens to me.

Hopefully the store manager will take care of it.

Linz

I agree with Linz, talk with the store manager first and explain your loyalty, etc and the frustrations you have. Especially emphasize that you aren't trying to pull a fast one, you are just trying to use your coupons legitmately to save money.

I had a coupon police cashier do a similar thing to me several months ago and it's very annoying. And the rummaging through your bags thing is flat rude.

I don't have safeways,but read your post.I like you can see her point in "piggybcking", but at the same time look at special promotion catalinas from stores differently also.
It's the same at kroger here when I get a catalina for $$$ off and turn around and use them along with mfg. coupons.
She doesn't really know any better and is doing what she thinks is right.The funny thing about it is the register just takes those catalinas and doesn't really attach themselves to any particular item because they are our reward to use them as we choose just like cash.
That 5.00 off coupon you have been using isn't any different then a $$$ off your next order except you do have to use it on specific items,but no different.You should be able to use mfg. coupons like you did with no problems.

sorry,you have to get hassled by her.


yeah, I think you should talk to the store manager first,then go form there.

I would say something. No one should be rummaging through your stuff.

Thanks to all for the terrific advice! I've had a chance to calm down now, so hopefully I will sound a little more rational when I do go to see the manager

Being from the UK (British upper lip an' all ), I am not good with confrontations, or for that matter, face-to-face exchanges. I do much better with expressing myself in a written format (where I can make edits ). Trying to get things straight in my head now as to how I want to approach the manager when I head back there later.

Will let you know how it goes!

So here's an update on how my meeting with the manager went when I returned to talk to him before picking the kids up from school:

We first talked about the $5 cat that didn't print out, and I showed him the weekly ad from last week stating that the promo ran thru 5/13. He tried to tell me that it was 'one per household' when the ad clearly states 'limit one (1) $5 coupon per transaction!' I tried telling him that the last time that they had the Snack Deal, I did the deal more than once and each time it printed out the $5 cat, though he insisted that this time around it had changed and the ad should have said 'one per household.' Eventually, he agreed that for this one time he would give me the $5 cash for the cat that "should" have printed out So, I guess I got a successful resolution on this issue, although I was thinking to get another $5 cat with another purchase tomorrow before the promo expired ~ guess I won't be trying that now!

Then I asked him about the $5 cat and how it could be used legitimately. I gave him my earlier scenario of purchasing 3 Lunchables and 1 Capri Sun and my using the cat, along with the $1/3 Lunchables Q even though both had stated "manufacturers coupon" ~ he said that as long as the store wasn't paying me to purchase those items (ie. the purchase price after both Qs were applied did not result in overage) then he had no problems with my using both under those conditions (and my purchase price for those snack items certainly did not result in overage!). So that cleared up that issue.

Lastly, I moved on to my issue with his early shift checker. I told him that she was the one that had initially questioned my coupon usage and continuously scrutinizes and questions all of my coupon usage whenever I go through her line. I told him how she made me feel uncomfortable, as though I was doing something illegal and how I no longer shopped at that particular store as often as I use to (even though it was < 1 mile from my house) because of her attitude and the environment that it created. I said that I didn't know how many other customers she may have treated this way and perhaps had pushed away from that store, but it was not good that it was happening at all. He was obviously somewhat defensive towards his staff's actions (as he should be without hearing her side of things) and said that there are people out there who use coupons to their advantage and not always in the most legitimate way, and because of this 1% of users, it is unfortunate that they do sometimes have to take a closer look at the coupons to make sure that they match up with the products the consumer is purchasing. I explained that I fully understood that, and that I have had other checkers that are equally vigilant, though they don't give me the "3rd degree" and make me feel like I'm doing something wrong each and every time I check out. He agreed on that point and we parted with a hand-shake and with him stating that he would speak to that particular checker about her attitude.

I don't know if I made a difference, but it felt good to speak up and stand up for my rights for once I guess time will tell if they have regained my patronage!

I have used the $5 snack catalina several times each day and every time a new one prints up. My only question is the capri suns, some of them were not a part of the deal, so maybe that was why it didn't print up.

Good for you for speaking up! Glad you feel better!

Good Job!! You kept your cool and stood up for yourself!

What Pavilions do you go to ? I am in So ORange County so wondering if it is the same one I go to?

N. OC ~ Anaheim Hills

I am in So Orange County in Rancho Santa Margarita. I have a fav cashier there that I always go to. Yesterday I checked out with a 'supervisor', what ever that means. She said cause the register didn't prompt her I didn't earn the movie tickets, plus I used coupons, so it wouldn't work! Can you believe that! Anyway I was on my way to a funeral, so couldn't argue then, but I did come back!

My fav cashier told her if anyone knew the rules it was me, and that I probably knew more that management! I got my tickets!

I am going back today to do it again.

Hope you have better luck!

Toodles,

Laura

I wanted to post an update to my OP ~

Today I went back to the Pavilions where I'd previously had problems with this one cashier. When I went to checkout, I was surprised to find her on duty (it being Memorial Day an' all), but with her line being the shortest, I decided to go through her lane and see if things had changed since my last visit and my chat with the store manager.

She gave her customary "hi, how are you doing?" greeting and proceeded to scan my items. Once done, she asked if I had any coupons, which she knew I always did On this occasion, I had a Q for a free item and surprisingly, she actually took my word on the price I also had an item for which I had 1 manu Q and 1 store Q which I pointed out to her the difference, and once again she agreed and had no argument. Also, for some reason, my Silk $2.25 manu Q wouldn't scan and she even hand entered it AND let it double (I thought that she would stop it from doing so)

In the end, my total came out exactly as I had calculated it to and without any dramas or being given the 3rd degree Seems like my standing up for myself last time made a difference after all