Lori’s curious about price matching and competitor’s coupons…
Which stores price match? I’m particularly interested in King Soopers and Safeway. Do they match each other’s prices if I take the flier in there?
Walmart price matches and has for years. It’s usually a pretty simple process – just take in the ad and show it to the cashier at checkout before they scan the item. I’ve had experiences where they already knew what I was going to price match before I even showed them!
Related:
See the store coupon policies page for more info.
Target started price matching perhaps 6-12 months ago, but the process involves going to the customer service desk and in general, it’s a hassle. They don’t match prices that require a store card (which basically takes out King Soopers or Safeway’s deals), and have a complicated way of determining whether or not you can use a store coupon when price matching. Here’s their official policy.
As far as King Soopers and Safeway, they don’t price match – except on a very rare occasion! Awhile back a reader was able to price match another store’s ad at King Soopers by asking nicely, but that seems to be the very rare exception rather than the rule.
Also, which stores take manufacturer’s coupons that have another store’s logo on it?
This can vary widely by chain, location, and cashier, but in general, if it’s a manufacturer’s coupon, many stores will accept it as long as it scans. Safeway’s official policy actually states this: “Safeway will accept valid manufacturer coupon that displays another retailer’s logo or name only if such coupon is for a specific item.”
I’ve used catalina coupons for specific products several times at both King Soopers and Safeway, and usually ask before handing it to them, just to make sure there’s not a problem. Generally, the cashier says “if it scans, we can take it”. I usually try to have another coupon ready just in case it won’t scan or they aren’t willing to accept it.
One more note: coupons with a Target logo are *usually* store coupons, which won’t scan at other stores and it’s highly unlikely they’ll manually enter it since it’s not a manufacturer’s coupon.
What are your experiences with price matching at competitor’s coupons? Can you offer more tips and insight?
When printing coupons from Target’s coupon printing site, I’ve found three different types of coupons that print out:
1) Target Web Coupons which can be used at target only
2) Manufacturer coupons which can be used anywhere
3) Manufacturer coupons with the Target logo, which probably can be used anywhere as long as the cashier will try scanning it.
Unfortunately, the coupon web site doesn’t tell you which type of coupon you are printing, so its like rolling the dice until you see what actually comes out of the printer.
Also, many of the General Mills (Pillsbury, Betty Crocker, Green Giant, etc) coupons that you can print from the Target coupon site are plain manufacturer coupons (number 2 above). It seems like the Target coupon site has a slightly different coupon schedule than other General Mills coupon sites, so sometimes I can find General Mills coupons at Target.com when I can’t find them anywhere else.
I always shy away from the Register Rewards at Walgreens. They are such a hassle. I bought the Kelloggs cereal for this week and in my second transaction I bought 2 Mitchell deodorants on sale and with a coupon. The price was $2.52 and I wanted to use my RR of $2 but it didn’t scan and the guy said “The tax makes the actual value be less then $2 and then they won’t accept the RR. :( Bummer
BTW, I *just* updated the Walgreens coupon policy page with their OFFICIAL policy!!! http://springsbargains.com/store-coupon-policies/walgreens-coupon-policy-register-rewards/
Working on updating the others as well and then I’ll post an update, but thought I’d mention Walgreens has been updated.
Here is what I have found out. The Walmart’s on Academy and Chapel Hill and the one on Powers this is there policy. As I spoke with the manager on Powers this morning I had an issues with a manufacture coupon. This is there policy and according to her each store can basically do what they want as far as coupons.
Manufacture – they all take them
Target, Walgreens, KS, Albies, all of those store coupons they will take but what they do it just take that amount off of the product like a price match. But only those two Walmart’s do that you will have to check the others but she said most are doing that to keep your bussiness.
They do not do the bogo’s or percentage off at all.
So that is what I learned today.
Christina
I pricematch at Walmart on Powers/Constitution every week and like Carrie said, alot of the time the cashier already knows what I am going to price match before I even show her! I have never ran into any problems matching there. The cashiers seems to just take your word and don’t even glance up at the ad.
For what it’s worth for Military shoppers:
The Commissary – (run by DeCA)
1) Does NOT price match.
2) They will take a manufacturer’s coupon with another store logo on it, including Mfg. q’s with Target logo, Wag’s RR’s and other catalina’s from Kings, Safeway, etc. As long as they do not *specifically* say, “redeem ONLY at…” they will take them. If they simply say, “redeem at….” or “redeemable at…” they are valid. Personally, I have successfully used a Target-logo Mfg Q, Wag’s RR’s and a King Soopers Catalina for $5 OYNO at the Commissary.
3) Will not allow coupon stacking with a Military Store coupon.
EXCHANGES (PX/BX) – (run by AAFES)
1) The Exchange DOES price match with local competitors (e.g. Walmart, Target, Kmart). This can be a great benefit since there is no tax at the Exchange.
2) Their coupon policy is VERY vague so it is unclear if they would take a Mfg. Q with another store’s logo on it. I’m quite certain that they would NOT take Wag’s RR’s or anything similar, but there is no clear policy, so you may be fortunate if you try.
3) Their policy DOES state that they will accept a Military Store coupon along with a Mfg. Coupon if neither coupon prohibits that practice. I just confirmed this myself via email correspondence with a Store Operations/Policy Sales Director from AAFES.com, so coupon “stacking” is okay in some instances. However, I have not successfully been able to do this…the associates don’t seem to know the policy very well…IMHO. :)
HTH someone!!
For anyone interested, Home Depot price matches and has excellent customer service!
Home Depot use to price match and give you 10% off if you found a lower price. Do you know if they still do this?
My husband went to the Chapel Hills Wal-mart this weekend and price matched for the first time. He just told the cashier what he wanted to price match (eggs and milk from the weekend Safeway ad), showed her the ad, and it was as simple as that. I just found these Wal-mart guidelines at http://walmartstores.com/7659.aspx
Price matching
Our goal is always to be the low price leader in every community where we operate. Our customers trust us to have every day low prices … there’s no need for “special sales.”
Our unbeatable promise:
Store managers make the final decision in always taking care of our customers, but we do have guidelines for matching our competition.
-We do honor “Preferred Shopping Card” advertised prices. Must be like items, be advertised and require a competitor’s shopping card, for the discount to apply.
-We do not honor advertisements that require a purchase in order to receive the advertised price or free product.
-We do not honor “Buy One / Get One Free” advertisements.
-We do not honor double or triple coupons or percent off advertisements.
-We do not honor other retailers’ “Misprinted” advertised prices.
-We do not honor Internet Pricing.
-We do not honor competitor advertisements from outside of the store’s or Club’s local trade territory.
Sharon there price matching is great it is the problem that each store can make there own coupon policy. That is very frustrating. The Walmart on Powers will take a competitors coupon and just do a price match but the one on Chapel Hills will not. I talked to the store mngr at both stores and they said they try and have the same policy since they are so close to each other but they really don’t have to. The Walmart on Space Center Drive will not take coupons for Free items with out getting a mngr (not worth it) I have coupons I received for Pop Tart rewards you buy 5 boxes get 2 free but they said no they look fake even though it was attached to the letter still just in case I had issues. The head store mngr said it was no problem they have just had some issues with fraudulent coupons for free items. ie The yahoo cashier who accepted a coupon for a free ipod that was $120.00 that is like a duh to me but oh well. Sorry I know this was long.
I have found when I have went to price match Walmart has sometimes lowered the price so you don’t have to price match.
Christina