Playing Their Sales Game

[JanieD]

January was a month full of little slip ups at the store. It seems like some sort of game that I just can't win. Its start by scanning the ads & planning my shopping trip or just a quick trip to pick up a few items. When I get in the store, the item is sold out, the ad was misleading or the item I thought I was buying on sale (in ad or tag on counter) ISN'T when I checkout.

Its hard to watch every item ring up & some discounts aren't given until the end of the sale. I try to look over my receipt & "return" the items that I thought were on sale, but rang up regular price. Sometimes, I'm not 100% focused, pick up the wrong item & forget to check the receipt before I leave the store. Am I the only one this happens to?

Then there's coupons. I love them, but use them very little. I even forgot to use an extra buck coupon before it expired & went right by the store the day before. I can't tell you how many times I forget to use coupons or leave them in the car. To help me at the store, I've writing coupon next to the item in the ad. However, I end up throwing so many expired coupons away each month.

Maybe I'm having such a problem because I really dislike grocery shopping. However, I think one of the big reasons I dislike it so much is due to wrong price, wrong item issues. Any tips or stories you'd like to share?

[frugalwarrior2]

Janie. Takes a little practice but once it clicks it really will.
1-study the couponers on u-tube.
2.-Don't expect perfection. It's a new skill and w/ practice you will get better and better.
3. An excellent tutorial is Saving w/ Scissors. Laura Webber just finished 31 tips in January.
4. Plan the night before and go early or late when the store is quiet. You can't think if someone's kid is yelling in your ear. Leave yours at home too.
5. Use the internet to download as many coupons as you will use or can trade. Good Luck.

[dcompton]

I think this is easy to do. I also have a hard time really watching things ring up, especially if I have a large shopping. I also dislike some discounts only being shown at the end. It can make it hard looking over the receipt before you leave the store to see what some items really did cost. Sometimes I'm not sure until I get home and work it all out.

The ones that especially irritate me are the Walgreens BOGO. Sometimes the second rings up as 0.00, sometimes it rings up the price and is taken off at the end. At least there I always have only a few things and I watch for that and ask if it doesn't come up as free when scanned.

I used to always get rain checks for the sold out items, but now when I'm specifically shopping a sale, it's usually a big shopping. At our Kroger now, where I usually do these, I have to go to customer service to get it, and I'm generally hurting so much by then from my arthritis, I just want to get to the car and sit down to ease my hips, not stand in another line, so I just skip it.

I used to enjoy grocery shopping, but now it's a horrible chore, both because of the physical issues and because it so so complicated. To do it well feels like planning a campaign to invade another country.

But, as you say, that's the game now.

[Contrary Housewife]

No 'quick trips' to the store, this is a budget buster. Find a way to manage without it for the rest of the week.

If the item is sold out, ask for a raincheck.

If the sale is misleading, walk away. Find a substitute that fits your meal plan, or do without.

If you are not sure which item is on sale, or something should be but there is no shelf tag, grab an employee and ask. If they don't know, ask them to find someone who does.

I hold back the items I have coupons for so that I can watch them being rung up. Likewise you can separate sale items so you can monitor how they ring up if this is a problem for your store.

Go when the store is quiet, not the busiest part of Saturday morning. Don't be afraid to take your time putting items on the conveyor and watching them ring up correctly. It's YOUR money and they are obligated to honor their sales. Mistakes happen, they should not have a problem fixing things.

Try to stay cheerful. If you are polite and pleasant the employees will be happier to work with you and get you the information or sale mark-downs you want.

[Palooka]

No 'quick trips' to the store, this is a budget buster. Find a way to manage without it for the rest of the week.

Amen to that!! Made that mistake many times.

[NewLeaf]

Everyone has given you great advice. It takes time to get the hang of grocery shopping this way. If you are like most of us, we made a list of what we WANTED to cook for the week and then bought the ingrediants. Now you meal plan from the SALES and match coupons. It takes some getting used to.

When I make my list for the store I write Q by anything I have a coupon for. If something is advertised on sale and I can't find it I ask an employee. I get rainchecks now too.

I find it really hard to follow sales on more than two grocery stores at a time. I always follow Ingles and then I look at the fliers to see who's sale looks best for my needs and I use that store.

Some people do very well just sticking w/one store and faithfully following their sales.

You tube does have some great videos on couponing and shopping. Thanks frugalwarrior2. I spent some time watching those after you posted this suggestion somewhere else.

[Josephhgoins]

as usual I go against the grain.

I cut coupons for items that I like or think I might like. about 99% of the coupons I cut are for food, all of which is perishable. I see a coupon as not an incentive to buy that now, but rather a bonus "IF" I need to buy the item. I view sales the same way.

I menu plan with what I have on hand and then buy what I need on sale. I.E. If I have a pork roast in the freezer and potatoes on sale, there is a good match.

If I don't use a coupon before it expires, I don't view it as money lost, but rather more money saved. True I didn't save that .55 on a pound of cheese, but on the reverse of that I didn't spend the rest of the $2.50 on the cheese to get to use the coupon either.

Whenever I am clipping or printing coupons I remind myself of what I learned in Marketing class. A coupon was not designed as a handy tool to save the shopper money, but rather a handy tool to convince the shopper to either purchase something that don't need or try a brand they don't normally purchase.

I wouldn't get upset at all for not using all of your coupons. You and your family ate their fill, you just spent less of your budget money to do it.

[my4littlebuffaloes]

There is a huge learning curve and until you get really good at it, make sure you are taking enough time at the store to get it right. That being said, I feel your pain, because I have had weeks like that - where no matter how hard I try nothing goes right.

But if you find that one particular store is really bad about the price and product mix ups then it might be better to just stop shopping there. It is frustrating and in the end you aren't saving the money you thought you were. I have stores that make it so difficult that I rarely shop there anymore. You will figure it out, but don't give up yet.

Jennifer
Getting Ahead
Our Suburban Homestead

[frugalfranny]

If the item is sold out, ask for a raincheck.

If the sale is misleading, walk away. Find a substitute that fits your meal plan, or do without.

If the store is NOTORIOUS for having nothing and always doing the raincheck....(here it would be Fred Meyer and Safeway).....I always ask them what they are willing to substitute for it? Many times (almost always get 'something') have gotten a 'name brand' item at same price.

The other 'raincheck' trick that is done here----the raincheck is only good for a couple weeks......when they go to date it I tell them to make it a MINIMUM of a month!! And I have turned them in AFTER that and gotten them honored.......this is one thing that just GRIPES me!!! I let them know that it WASN'T MY PROBLEM that they didn't have the item when I FIRST came in to get it!!!

If the sale is misleading - depending on what you meant by that - I let them know it!!! Just 'casually' say "sounds like FALSE ADVERTISING to me!"

[mamamia]

Hang in there sweetie! If there's anything I've learned after all these years of being known as the "coupon lady" around here , is that you're gonna make mistakes. And EVERYBODY throws out some coupons. As far as your Extra Bucks go, you can call the phone # on the back of your card, and as long as the buck that expired is still in the same quarter, they'll re-instate it for you to print out on your next purchase.

Now you mentioned using a list for your shopping/coupons? Wonderful! I use the "only shop from list" system also. Now I almost always shop ONLY sales w/matched coupons, because of my stock-pile, so what I'm about to tell you you, is why this at least works great for me....

OK, double check your list and coups before you go. I use paper clips to hold my groups of multiples together, and those multiples and everything (list, pen, and coupons) are placed in a zip-loc baggie. I've lost many coupons too many times, and this helps me

As I go thru the store, I cross off each item.

When I get to the register, I place my item down, and I lay down each coupon next to each of the item I'm buying. If I'm buying 10 boxes of cereal, I place one coupon by each box. It sounds like alot of work, but it's so worth the peace of mind, and because I'm organized this way, I can then watch that register. Here in Publix, they have a promise that if something rings up wrong, you get it for free Only had to use it twice, but I was thrilled because one item was child's outdoor chair

The other thing for me is to stick to my list and not get side-tracked. This also means that I spend less time and less money. Win-Win there..lol!

I didn't read thru all the other posts, so my advice could very well be a repeat, but try not to get to upset. I used to feel just like you...it takes time and practice. Also learned if I missed a sale/coupon. it rolls back around again in a few weeks or so.

Another thing is to keep one designated area in your house for coupons ONLY. I have one of those 3 drawer carts on wheels that I use. I make positive sure that I keep the habit of putting them in there. The drawers are a humongous help with organizing. So worth the $15 I spent on it.

Believe me, it WILL get better!!

Theresa


one more thing...get to know the cashiers. some are much nicer and more knowledgable than others

[JanieD]

I appreciate all the tips & advise! The grocery store just seems so complicated & I keep slipping up. The checkout process seems rushed at most stores. How can I get them to slow down? All I can think of is to check my receipt everytime before leaving the store to find errors. Maybe more time planning my grocery trips would help.

I'd like to mention that quick trips for me are picking up a few basics & 3-4 sale items to avoid grocery shopping every week or 15 minutes in CVS for those extra buck deals. Honestly, I don't want to spend an hour or more grocery shopping each week. Maybe I can work up to it, but I seem to spend more $$ the longer I'm there. Not sure if I loose focus after awhile or what happens. Am I trying to justify a bad habit? Are quick trips really that bad?

Mamamia, I called the CVS 800 number & she was so helpful. The coupon was associated w/an item & normally aren't reissued like the quarterly ones, but she gave me an one time courtesy coupon. CVS has a great program & is one of my favorite places to shop! Thanks for the help!

I am open to trying different things to save money & make grocery shopping more pleasant. Thanks for let me vent before & for all the help!

[Contrary Housewife]

The checkout process seems rushed at most stores. How can I get them to slow down? All I can think of is to check my receipt everytime before leaving the store to find errors. Maybe more time planning my grocery trips would help.

I keep a list on the fridge and add to it the items we use up, and the items I need for my next week's menus. Then I write down sale items, sizes and prices. I try to stick to my list.

When you get to the checkout, don't be afraid to ask if something rang up right, if you missed it. Generally it is easier for you to get it corrected at the register than have to go wait in customer service for a refund after.

If you go at a time when they are not busy with many customers it will be easier on you and the cashier. Ask them what their slow days are. The cashier won't feel so rushed, and if there is no-one behind you then you won't feel bad asking if your order was rung correctly.

Are quick trips really that bad?

If the trip is on top of what you already spent, because you forgot something, then it is bad because you go over budget when you pick up extra stuff that always falls into the basket.

If you are making very short grocery trips once or twice a week, then it is not so bad, because it is your normal budget. Right?

For me, I would rather make one 1-hour grocery trip once a week than 2-3 short ones.

[HandyMom]

I load the food on the belt slower so I can see what it rings up for. I catch a lot of errors this way. This week, they advertised cat litter 20# at 2/$6 but when I took my 20# containers to the register, they said it was for the bags only and not the containers. I only use scoopable litter so I had to get a refund on it. The one store has these broken screens that won't show you what the stuff is ringing up for and that really makes me angry. No telling how many people aren't looking at their receipts until it's too late and being overcharged. Never have I been undercharged!

[lilyrose]

Before I even go, I use the Excel spreadsheet program on my computer. I put what I'm buying, how many and the total it will cost (total less coupons). I even make a note if the item qualifies to give me a coupon afterwards for my next shopping trip. This may seem like alot, but it's easy. AND! I really stick to my list. It is a rare occasion that I buy something not on my list.
I try to remember to bring the ad with me. Then I have a reference. Also, many stores have price check machines throughout the store. I take advantage of those for everything I'm buying. I am not about to be surprised at the register. Some stores even have self-checkouts. They are great! I can take my time and look at everything that scans. When a cashier/attendant scans my coupons at the end, I look at every scan and even ask if I'm not sure if one scanned.

[pita1213]

i keep my coupons in a binder as it's just easier for me to see them. When i go through them each week or every other week, it's not unusual for there to be a big stack of coupons that have expired. most of the time there is a new coupon to replace that expired coupon. a lot of manufacturers time new coupons to come out when old ones are expiring. sometimes there is an overlap and sometimes there are a couple of weeks in between an expired one and a new one coming out.
the only thing that stack of expired coupons means is that i didn't need to buy those items this month. it's not lost money because i didn't buy something i didn't need at the time.
i keep my binder in the van except on days i am filing coupons or making my shopping list. since it's always in the van, i can't forget it. the first thing i do when i walk in the store is put the binder in the child seat of the shopping cart so i know right away if i left it in the van. if i left it in the van, i go back out to the van and get it. the worst thing that could happen is someone thinks i'm nuts or forgetful. i could care less about either. i usually go first thing in the morning when no one is around so the few people i do see are usually the workers and most of them know me by sight anyway.
now i have been doing this for 10 years now and it wasn't something i knew instantly how to do. it takes time to learn what works for you and there will be successes and hiccups along the way. keep trying.
take your time with your list and with your shopping. i have found it helpful to write a little c next to the items on my list that have coupons so i remember to pull them from the binder and put them in the envelope i have at the front as i put the items in my cart. bring the ad in with you with your items circled. if there is a particular size on sale, write that info on your list. if the item is sold out, you can check to see if there is no rain check in the fine print. if it's not, ask for a rain check. you'll get into a groove that works for you as you go along.