Rainchecks

[nuisance26]

~I think we all know about rainchecks, ie, a coupon issued by a store for an advertised sale priced item. In the past I've only picked these up when they were out of the product. Not now! The good sales are getting pretty scarce. I kinda figured out that I can extend my stockpile of a certain item by 60 days if I use a raincheck. Just say you only have room to stockpile 6 lbs of that sale priced cheese. Get a raincheck and use it to replenish your stash within the next 60 days(assuming they had what you wanted on your first visit!). Essentially you're making 2 sale days for yourself within a 2 month period.~

[IntlMom]

This is really good advice, and a great reminder. I myself have really gotten lazy in this area, so thanks for the heads up.

[cottageliving]

A dumb question: do you mean that if I buy those 6 lbs of sale cheese, I can ALSO get a raincheck even if the store still has more cheese in stock at that time? (Or can I only get a raincheck if I bought the last of the cheese?)

Let me know: Either way sounds like a good strategy.

[sdrjeolsen]

At our stores you can only get a rain check if they are out of the item. I've had them give me a hard time because I bought the last one and still want a rain check, I've had to explain that I would have bought more if they had it. I've never tries to get a rain check while it was still in stock...anyone else try that?

[qtkitty]

Rainchecks here atleast for foodlion are only for 2 weeks. Now, it should be if there is none back there, but i do not think they always check.

I guess if you get ahold of a lazy person and they just write one out for you to shut you up and get you out of the store instead of checking then you could do that easily.

[emily_hope]

Sometimes the cashiers at our store do not check to see if the item is in stock or not. You are truly only supposed to get the raincheck if the item is out of stock at the store where I shop. Majority of the time, with the items that I buy the sales rotate and that item will be on sale again before too long.

[C@rol]

Great idea.

[nuisance26]

~My stores never check if the item is in stock nor do they specify that that is the only was to get one. I figure that it's ethical because of limits the stores impose per person per day. If I'm allowed to go in every day of a sale and get 4lbs of sale cheese then I should be entitled to a raincheck to get 2 sale days. The store take so additional loss than if I had come in 2 days in a row. And of course there's always the 'per variety' argument. I did this with popcorn recently. They had loads of every flavor and only 3 of the kind we like best so I bought the 3 and got a rain check to get more later. They only have to be out of one variety to issue a raincheck if their policy is truly an out-of-stock one. I'm actually shocked that an employee would argue with a customer about this. I've never had a problem.~

[frugalfriend]

I think that is a great idea if they are willing to give you the raincheck. I've never been able to get one though, unless they are actually out of the item. The cashier usually sends someone to check the shelf, or get me the item from the backroom! My friend who works at a grocery store told me that management hates to write rainchecks because if they are redeemed the store somehow gets dinged for them.

[mmy2grls]

Great idea. I have never done this.

[pinetree]

Albertsons here will not give rain checks for the sale items anymore. we tried with the peanut butter a couple weeks ago, & with the cereal, they were complelety out , the said no, period.

[dcompton]

Occasionally there has been something on sale that I wanted but did not have freezer room for. I would wait until the last day of the sale and if they had it, well, to bad, not this time. But if they happened to be out, I could get the raincheck and pick it up later when I had room for it. I would not ask for a raincheck unless they were out of the item.

[Marie78]

There was a sale at a store recently and they were out of the buy one get one free brand of detergent I wanted. The sale goes until tomorrow, should I go back and ask for a rain check? I also have a coupon and I wonder if I can somehow use that with a rain check at a later date? I am new to rebates and rainchecks.

[frugalfriend]

Marie ~ I would go back and get a raincheck. Yes, you can definitely use a coupon with it at a later date.

[Marie78]

Thank you frugalfriend, I was actually just sitting here wondering if I should drive back to that store and ask for a raincheck .

There's also an item that has a rebate and I want to buy it, but they might be out of that product too now, and if it has a rebate, I don't know if I can get a raincheck and still get the rebate (the rebate was only good on the receipts printed through today).

I am just starting to stockpile and buy during really good sales and I seem to always be too late in getting to the deals .