Wednesday, January 20, 2016

How to read and understand a matchup.


We love the Bargainstobounty site and really appreciate all of their hard work on bringing us the store matchups. Figuring out how to fully understand what the matchup is telling you can sometimes be difficult for those just starting out. We created this picture tutorial to try to help explain what each part of the matchup up means. Hope this helps you. And please visit Bargainstobounty HERE

Tuesday, January 19, 2016

Acronyms and Definitions


Acronyms and Definitions


The following is a list of the most common acronyms and definitions that you will find while researching coupons on the internet or in the stores:

$1/2: $1 off of 2 items

B1G1 (or BOGO): Buy One, Get One Free.  Also seen as B2G1 (Buy Two, Get One Free) or any variation thereof

BOGO50%: Buy One, Get One at 50% off

Blinkie: Red SmartSource machines found in most stores, usually attached to the shelf in front of the product

CAT or Cat: Catalina

Catalina: Coupons that print out at the register after your sale is complete, usually for use on your next order

DF or DFP: Detroit Free Press

DND: Do Not Double

DND5: Coupon states Do Not Double, but UPC starts with a 5 indicating that it may double automatically

FJ: Flint Journal

GM: General Mills insert

IP: Internet Printable coupon

ISO: In Search Of

MFG: Manufacture coupon

MIR: Mail-in Rebate

MM: Moneymaker

MQ: Manufacture coupon

NLA: No Longer Available

NSR: No Size Restriction

OOP: Out of Pocket

OYNO: On Your Next Order

Peelie: Coupon attached to an actual item, sometimes for use on that product, but also can be for other products or a combination of products

PG or P&G: Procter & Gamble insert

PSA: Prices Start At

Q: Coupon

Roll: This means that you can use a catalina (see definition) as payment on another transaction of equal merchandise and another catalina will still print

·        Example, if you buy 5 “name brand items,” a $5 catalina will print. If you then buy another set of those same 5 “name brand items,” you can use the previous catalina you received as payment towards the order and another $5 catalina will print.

RP: RedPlum insert

RR: Register Rewards (WAGS)

SCR: Single Check Rebate (Rite-Aid)

SS: SmartSource insert

Tearpad: Coupon pads located in stores to promote products

UPC: Universal Product Code

WAGS: Walgreens

WYB: When You Buy
YMMV: Your Mileage (or Manager) May Vary

Monday, January 18, 2016

HELP! My Catalina didn't print.

At some point we all will deal with a Catalina machine that doesn't print anything out. Why? It could be turned off, check for the green light BEFORE you checkout. It could be out of paper or it could just be broken.

So what should you do? First go to customer service. Some stores will take care of it right there and issue you some type of store coupon or something equivalent to what you should have received.

However you may get an employee who doesn't know how to do that and now you are still without your CAT, but don't get discouraged yet because you still have another option. You can contact the Catalina Marketing Company by clicking HERE and filling out the online request form (make sure you have your receipt handy.) They will mail you your CAT but it can take a few weeks to receive it. If you don't want to do the online form you can call them at 1-888-826-8766.

Happy shopping!

Heather

Wednesday, January 13, 2016

Walgreen's Coupon Policy

Walgreens

Remember that you can stack a Walgreens coupon with a manufacturer’s coupon. However there is one difference at Walgreens: you have to have the same # of items as you have # of coupons. So if you are buying 3 items and you have 3 manufacturer’s coupons and 2 Walgreens coupons then you will need two filler items. Filler items are anything cheap that you can purchase to satisfy this requirement.

General 
·         All coupons are to be presented to the cashier at the time of checkout.
·         Walgreens does not accept expired coupons. Coupons expire at 11:59 p.m. on the expiration date at the point of sale, whether in store or online.
·         Walgreens will not accept fraudulent or counterfeit coupons as determined by Walgreens.
·         Coupons and their face value cannot be exchanged for cash or gift cards.
·         Competitor's coupons shall not be accepted by Walgreens.
·         The number of manufacturer coupons, including Register Rewards®/Savings Rewards manufacturer coupons, shall not exceed the number of items in the transaction. The total value of the coupons shall not exceed the value of the transaction. Sales tax must be paid, if required by state law.
·         Walgreens will not accept coupons that exceed the selling price of an item and no cash back is ever provided in exchange for any coupons.
·         Coupons that appear distorted, blurry or altered in any way shall not be accepted; all coupons must have a clear and scannable bar code.
·         For offers when multiple items are purchased and additional items are free (buy 1 get 1 free; buy 2 get 1 free, etc.), the number of coupons applied to that offer cannot exceed the number of items required in the "buy" portion of the offer.
·         Coupons may not be applied against any free item received in any offer (See 7 above).
·         Paper coupons will be processed before digital coupons.
·         Walgreens shall not accept coupons for items not carried in our stores.
·         Walgreens reserves the right to limit quantities to customers and employees.
·         Manufacturer coupons must include a valid redemption address.
·         Coupons may be subject to advertised offer limitations and all other limitations and restrictions on the applicable coupon or product.
·         Walgreens shall accept manufacturer coupons for items that are on sale.

 
The General Guidelines apply to the categories below and are to be referenced in addition to the specific coupon category guidelines.

Multiple Coupons 
The guidelines below are to be followed in addition to the General Guidelines listed above.

 ·         When purchasing a single item, Walgreens accepts one manufacturer coupon and applicable Walgreens coupon(s) for the purchase of a single item, unless prohibited by either coupon offer.
·         When purchasing multiple items, Walgreens accepts multiple coupons for multiple qualifying items, as long as there is sufficient stock to satisfy other customers, unless a limit is specified on the coupon.
 

Management reserves the right to limit the quantity of items purchased and/or prohibit the purchase of excessive quantities. An excessive quantity is any quantity above and beyond normal household usage.

Buy One, Get One Free Coupons 

The guidelines below are to be followed in addition to the General Guidelines listed above. 

·         When items are featured in a Buy 1 Get 1 Free promotion, at least one product needs to be purchased. A maximum of one BOGO coupon is permitted per two qualifying items in a BOGO offer.

 

Internet/Print at Home Coupons 
The guidelines below are to be followed in addition to the General Guidelines listed above.

·         Walgreens shall not accept "free product" internet printed coupons.
 

Walgreens also has what is called Register Rewards (RR) that print out when you purchase certain items. A RR prints from the Catalina machine and is $xx off your next purchase. Just remember that if you use a RR to pay for the same thing you will not get a second RR. Example: Last week there was a RR deal for $3.00 with the purchase of two packs of Cottonelle tissue. So if I wanted to purchase four packs of Cottonelle then I would need to do it in multiple transactions. This is called rolling your RR.

Scenario:
Transaction #1 - Purchase two packs Cottonelle tissue, receive a Cottonelle $3 RR.

Transaction #2 - Purchase two Colgate toothpastes, use RR from Transaction #1, and receive Colgate $4 RR.

Transaction #3 - Purchase two packs Cottonelle tissue, use RR from Transaction #2, and receive a Cottonelle $3 RR. Now save that RR for your next shopping trip.                                                                                                                                                        

Register RewardsTM/Savings Rewards coupons 
The guidelines below are to be followed in addition to the General Guidelines listed above. 

Earning Register Rewards®/Savings Rewards
·         Register Rewards/Savings Rewards will only print for in-stock merchandise during the promotional period.
·         Register Rewards/Savings Rewards can only be earned for eligible items. No substitutions are permitted.
·         There is a limit of one Register Rewards/Savings Rewards coupon per offer per customer per transaction.
·         Customers redeeming a Register Rewards/Savings Rewards against the same offer may not receive another Register Rewards/Savings Rewards coupon.
 

Redeeming Register Rewards®/Savings Rewards

·         Customers redeeming a Register Rewards/Savings Rewards against the same offer may not receive another Register Rewards/Savings Rewards coupon.
·         The number of manufacturer coupons, including Register Rewards/Savings Rewards manufacturer coupons, shall not exceed the number of items in the transaction.
·         Register Rewards/Savings Rewards shall be forfeited if the qualifying merchandise is returned.
·         Register Rewards/Savings Rewards can be redeemed for eligible items only. Ineligible items include but are not limited to:
o   Alcoholic beverages
o   Dairy products
o   Gift cards/phone cards/prepaid reloadable cards
o   Health care services, including immunizations
o   Lottery tickets
o   Money orders/transfers
o   Postage stamps
o   Prescription Savings Club membership fee
o   Prescriptions
o   Special event/entertainment tickets or passes
o   Tobacco products
o   Transportation passes
o   Any items prohibited by law

Digital/Paperless Coupons

The guidelines below are to be followed in addition to the General Guidelines listed above. 

·         Only digital coupons, attached to your Walgreens Balance® Rewards account, shall be honored. Digital reproductions of offers shall not be accepted (such as using a mobile application to reproduce an image of an offer/coupon).

Total Store Offer/Coupons
The guidelines below are to be followed in addition to the General Guidelines listed above. 

·         Total store offer/ coupons cannot be combined, i.e., 20% off your whole purchase (circular coupon), Seniors Day, Friends and Family, Veterans Day, employee discount, etc.

Rite Aid Coupon Policy


Rite-Aid


Rite Aid gladly accepts the following coupon types as detailed in the coupon acceptance guidelines listed below:

Manufacturer Coupons

·         Manufacturer coupons are found in newspapers, magazines and even affixed to products. The UPC on these coupons begins with a “5.”

Rite Aid Manufacturer Coupons

·         Rite Aid Manufacturer coupons generally appear in our weekly circular, on our website and are sent to customers via email. These coupons are labeled “manufacturer coupon” and have a UPC that begins with “49.”

Rite Aid Valuable Coupons

·         Rite Aid coupons are labeled “Valuable Coupon” and have a UPC that begins with “48.”

Internet/Print at Home coupons

·         Rite Aid will accept internet / print at home coupons.

+UP Reward Coupons

·         +UP Reward coupons are special coupons earned by a customer in a prior purchase that can be used for any non-prescription purchase with a small number of exclusions that are listed on the +UP coupon. Multiple +UP coupons can be used (subject to the printed exclusions) up to the amount of purchase before sales tax.

eCoupons

·         Rite Aid and it business partners make electronic coupons available that can be loaded directly on a wellness+ card. The register automatically “rings” the coupon when the qualifying item is scanned.

Buy One, Get One Free

·         Rite Aid accepts Buy One, Get One Free coupons, however only one coupon can be used for each pair of items purchased. A customer can use one “cents off” coupon (a coupon of fixed value such as $.50, $1.25, etc.) in conjunction with the item they are purchasing on a Buy One, Get One Free promotion (or with a Buy One, Get One Free coupon), although the value of the cents off coupon cannot exceed the selling price of the item. Customers can use up to two coupons with a Buy One, Get One at a % off promotion, provided the total value of the coupons does not exceed the selling price of the two items combined.

·         Buy One, Get One Free coupons cannot be used in conjunction with a Buy One, Get One Free or with a Buy One, Get One at a % off promotion.

 

Total Purchase Coupons

·         Rite Aid may feature total purchase coupons which discount the total purchase amount based upon meeting specific requirements. For example, $5 off a $25 purchase price threshold coupon.

·         These coupons are accepted under the following conditions:

o   The coupon is valid and in date; only one total purchase coupon per transaction.

o   Total purchase equals or exceeds $25 before tax (before any coupons are applied).

o   Coupons for individual items can also be used including another “48” coupon that is tied to an item in the transaction.

o   Provided the total of items purchased is equal to or greater than the purchase requirement, other coupons can be used in conjunction with the total purchase coupon.

ACCEPTANCE GUIDELINES:

General Guidelines:

·         Coupons must be valid and in date; Coupons cannot be exchanged for cash.

·         Register will validate coupon through scanning or keyed entry of the coupon UPC number.

·         In the event that any item’s selling price is less than the value of the coupon, Rite Aid will accept the coupon in exchange for the selling price of the item. Coupon redemption can never exceed the selling price of an item and no cash back is allowed.

·         When making a return for a product that had a coupon attached, Rite Aid cannot refund cash for the value of the coupon and cannot return the coupon that was used.

·         Rite Aid reserves the right to not accept any coupon where the validity or the coupon cannot be established.

Multiple Coupons

·         More than one coupon can be used on the purchase of a single item under the following conditions:

o   All coupons match the item being purchased.

o   The total of the coupons is equal to or less than the selling price of the item before sales tax.

o   No more than one “48” Rite Aid Valuable coupon, one “49” Rite Aid Manufacturer coupon, and one “5” Manufacturer coupon can be used on a single item. Rite Aid may accept up to 4 identical coupons for the same number of qualifying items as long as there is sufficient stock to satisfy other customers within the store manager’s sole discretion.

CVS Coupon Policy


CVS


General Coupon Policy

CVS/pharmacy coupons (ExtraBucks® Rewards and ExtraCare® Coupons) and Third Party Manufacturer Coupons are accepted in our retail stores in accordance with the following guidelines:

        CVS/pharmacy does not accept expired coupons.

        Coupons cannot be exchanged for cash or gift cards.

        Third Party Manufacturer coupons are issued by a third party and sales tax may be charged on pre-coupon price.

        CVS/pharmacy does not accept coupons for items not carried in our stores.

        CVS/pharmacy only accepts ExtraBucks Rewards applicable to the ExtraCare card offered at time of purchase.

        CVS/pharmacy does not currently accept coupon bar code images displayed on a Smartphone, iPhone, Droid etc.

        The total value of the coupons may not exceed the value of the transaction. Sales tax must be paid, if required by state law.

        Certain CVS/pharmacy coupons may be subject to state sales tax rules similar to Third Party Manufacturer Coupons and sales tax may be

        charged on pre-coupon price

        Language at the bottom of CVS/pharmacy coupons provides specific coupon acceptance rules.

        Any coupon offer not covered in these guidelines may be accepted at the discretion of CVS management.

 

Sale Items

        CVS/pharmacy will accept manufacturer coupons for an item that is on sale.

        CVS/pharmacy will not accept percent off coupons for an item that is on sale.

        In the event that any item's price is less than the value of the coupon, CVS/pharmacy will only accept the coupon only to the price of the item. CVS/pharmacy does not provide cash back in exchange for any coupons.

 

Multiple Coupons

        CVS/pharmacy accepts one manufacturer coupon and applicable CVS/pharmacy coupon(s) per item, unless prohibited by either coupon offer.

        There is no limit to the number of ExtraBucks Rewards that may be used in a transaction as long as it does not exceed the transaction total.

        The number of manufacturer coupons used in a transaction may not exceed the number of items in the transaction.

        The coupon amount will be reduced if it exceeds the value of the item after other discounts or coupons are applied. (For example, a $5.00 coupon for a $4.99 item will result in a $4.99 coupon value).

        CVS/pharmacy accepts multiple identical coupons for multiple qualifying items as long as there is sufficient stock to satisfy other customers, unless a limit is specified. Management reserves the right to limit the quantity of items purchased.

        CVS/pharmacy reserves the right to process coupons in any order.

        CVS/pharmacy accepts multiple Dollar off Transaction coupons (e.g. $3 off $15) in one transaction if they apply Ex. Customer may use two 3 off $15 coupons if they are purchasing over $30.00

 

Buy One, Get One Free Coupons

        Sales tax must be paid for any Buy One, Get One Free coupon offer, if required by applicable state laws.

        Two coupons may be used on a Buy One, Get One Free promotion as long as it does not exceed the item total Ex. Suave Shampoo is on sale for $2.00 Buy One, Get One Free and the customer is purchasing two shampoos; customer may use two coupons for $1.00 each and pay the applicable tax.

        Buy One, Get One Free promotions may be combined with Buy One, Get One Free Coupons. Customers are responsible for paying applicable tax Ex. Suave Shampoo is on sale for $2.00 BOGO and customer has a MFG coupon for Suave BOGO. Customer will receive both items for free but will need to pay any applicable tax.

 

Internet/Print at Home Coupons

        CVS/pharmacy accepts internet/print at home coupons that include a barcode.

        CVS/pharmacy will not accept reproductions or rebates

Walmart Coupon Policy - Price Match Policy - Savings Catcher


Walmart


We gladly accept the following types of coupons:

  • Print-at-home internet coupons
    • Must be legible
    • Must have "Manufacturer Coupon" printed on them
    • Must have a valid remit address for the manufacturer
    • Must have a valid expiration date
    • Must have a scannable bar code
    • Buy one, get one free (BOGO) coupons with a specified price
    • Are acceptable in black and white or color
    • May not be duplicated
  • Manufacturers' coupons
    • For dollar/cents off
    • We honor the manufacturer limitations 
    • For free items (except those printed off the Internet)
    • Buy one, get one free (BOGO) coupons
    • Must have "Manufacturer Coupon" printed on them
    • Must have a valid remit address for the manufacturer
    • Must have a valid expiration date
    • Must have a scannable bar code
    • May not be duplicated
  • Competitors' coupons
    • A specific item for a specified price, for example, $2.99
    • Buy one get one free (BOGO) coupons for items with a specified price
    • Have a valid expiration date
    • Are acceptable in black & white or color
    • May not be duplicated
  • Soft drink container caps
  • Checkout coupons ("Catalinas")
    • Printed at our competitors' registers for dollar/cents off on a specific item
    • Must have "Manufacturer Coupon" with specific item requirements printed on them
    • Must have a valid remit address for the manufacturer
    • Must have a valid expiration date
    • Must have a scannable bar code
    • Are acceptable in black & white or color
    • May not be duplicated

 

We do not accept the following coupons:

·         Checkout coupons

·         Dollars/cents or percentage off the entire basket purchase

·         Print-at-home Internet coupons that require no purchase

·         Competitors' coupons

·         Dollars/cents off at a specific retailer

·         Percentage off

·         Buy one, get one free (BOGO) coupons without a specified price

·         Double- or triple-value coupons

 

 

The following are guidelines and limitations:

·         We only accept coupons for merchandise that we sell.

·         Coupons must be presented at the time of purchase.

·         Only one coupon per item.

·         We have the ability to limit the number of identical coupons and the number of coupons for the same item per transaction.

·         Item purchased must be identical to the coupon (size, quantity, brand, flavor, color, etc).

·         Coupons must have an expiration date and be presented within the valid dates. 

·         If coupon value exceeds the price of the item, the excess may be given to the customer as cash or applied toward the basket purchase.

·         In all situations, we reserve the right to limit purchase quantities to typical retail purchase quantities or one-per-customer or household and to exclude dealers.

·         Store Managers have the final decision in taking care of the customer.

·         SNAP items purchased in a SNAP transaction are ineligible for cash back.

·         WIC items purchased in a WIC transaction are applied to the basket purchase and may not be eligible for cash back. Refer to state-specific WIC guidelines.

·         The system will prompt for supervisor verification for:

o   4 or more like coupons per transaction.

o   A coupon of $5 and over.

o   $50 or more in coupons in one transaction.

o   Coupons totaling a percentage (%) off of the total sale.

Ad Match Guarantee:


We gladly match the price in the following types of ads:

 

  • Buy one, get one free ads with a specified price.  Example: Buy one for $2.49, get one free (BOGO)
  • Competitors' ads that feature a specific item for a specified price
  • Preferred shopping card prices for specific items that are in a printed ad
  • For fresh produce and meat items when the price is offered in the same unit type (lb. for lb.; each for each)
  • Internet Pricing. See the Online Price Match Policy to find out what is honored in Walmart Stores

 

The following are guidelines and limitations:

  • We will match any local competitor's advertised price.
  • We do not require customers to have the ad with them to honor a competitor's ad.
  • Items purchased must be identical to the ad (size, quantity, brand, flavor, color, etc.). No substitutions
  • In all situations Walmart reserves the right to limit BOGO quantities to one per customer or household

 

We do not match the price in the following types of competitor ads:

  • Items that require a separate purchase to get the ad price.  Example: "Buy [item A] to get [item B] for $C"
  • Items with no actual price that require a purchase to get free product.  Example: "Buy both [items A & B] to get [item C] for free"
  • Items that require a purchase to get a competitors' gift card.  Example: "Buy [item A] to get a $B gift card
  • Buy one, get one free (BOGO) ads with no actual price given
  • Going out of business or closeout prices
  • Percentage off.  Example: "All mascara, 40% off"
  • Competitors' private label price promotions
  • A specific price that omits a specific characteristic of an item.  Example: $9.50 on "all sizes or quantities" of an assortment

 

We do not honor:

·         Ads when the actual price for items cannot be determined

·         Competitor pricing on One Hour Guarantee Items

·         Misprinted ad prices of other retailers

·         "Going out of business" sales or "closeout" prices

Online Ad Match Guarantee:


The following are guidelines and limitations:


 

·         The prices on Walmart.com and online retailers* will be matched


·         Our customers must provide the online price and retailer


·         The item must be currently in-stock at the online retailer’s website at the time the request for the price match is made


·         The item must be sold and fulfilled by online retailers listed below*


·         We reserve the right to verify the price of the identical, in-stock item at the online retailer’s website (i.e., size, model, quantity, brand, color)


·         We will limit quantities to one-per-customer, per item, per day**


 

How to match an in-store purchase to an online price:


 

·         Request the price match right at the register


·         The Store Management has the final decision for matching an online price


·         How to match a Walmart.com purchase to an online competitor:


·         Contact Walmart.com Customer Care at http://help.walmart.com prior to placing your order on Walmart.com


·         The Customer Care Agent has the final decision for matching an online price


 


We do not honor:


·         Prices from marketplace and third-party sellers.


·         Prices from auctions or requiring memberships


·         Prices that cannot be determined independent of other items, e.g., fees, shipping charges


·         Percent off or dollar off if the item's price cannot be determined independent of other items, fees or charges


·         Bundle offers, Instant Rebates, Mail-in Offers, Offers that include financing


·         Prices that require minimum quantity purchases


·         Clearance, Close out, Liquidation, Special Hour/Flash/Limited Quantity offers


·         Damaged, Used or Refurbished items


·         Misprinted or inaccurate prices


·         Online price match is not available in Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico for in store purchases


·         We will not offer rain-checks for items that are not currently in-stock in our store or Walmart.com


·         Online price match is not available for Walmart One Hour Guarantee Items


 

·         Walmart.com will not price match on behalf of Walmart Marketplace Retailers to other online competitors


·         Walmart.com will not price match items purchased on Walmart.com between Thanksgiving and Cyber-Monday


 


*Online retailers are limited to: Academy.com, Amazon.com, Autozone.com, Babiesrus.com, Basspro.com, Bedbathandbeyond.com, Bestbuy.com, Cabelas.com, Dickssportinggoods.com, Dollargeneral.com, Familydollar.com, Homedepot.com, Jcpenney.com, Kmart.com, Kohls.com, Lowes.com, Michaels.com, Newegg.com, Officedepot.com, Oreillyauto.com, Pepboys.com, Petco.com, Petsmart.com, Sears.com, SportsAuthority.com, Staples.com, Target.com, Tigerdirect.com, Toysrus.com, Walgreens.com, Walmart.com


 


**Quantities are not limited in New Mexico except when purchases are made for the purpose of reselling merchandise


 


Walmart reserves the right to update or modify the terms of this Policy at any time


Savings Catcher:


If a local competitor offers a lower advertised price on an item you purchased at Walmart, they have a new program called Savings Catcher that allows you to get back the difference on a Walmart Rewards eGift Card or a Bluebird by American Express Card. Amounts credited to these Cards can be used to make purchases exclusively in-store at Walmart or online at Walmart.com.

 

Here’s how it works:

  1. Submit your receipt to Savings Catcher in any one of three ways:
    • Enter the receipt number (the TC number) into Savings Catcher at savingscatcher.walmart.com You’ll find this number located near the bottom of your printed Walmart store receipt.
    • Or, scan the code at the bottom of your printed store receipt, using the scanner in the Savings Catcher section of the Walmart app.
    • Or, register your phone number using the Walmart app or debit card reader located at in-store checkout. Then each time you check out at a Walmart store, enter your phone number and we’ll submit your receipt to Savings Catcher for you.
  2. Savings Catcher compares the prices of the eligible items you bought at Walmart to the advertised prices found in the print and online versions of the weekly ads of top retailers in your area. The ads must be valid at the time you made your Walmart purchase.
  3. If Savings Catcher finds an advertised price that is lower than what you paid for the same exact item at Walmart, you’ll get back the difference in the form of Savings Catcher Reward Dollars, which can be redeemed for a Walmart Rewards eGift Card or Walmart Buck$ added to your Bluebird by American Express Card, which can be used to make purchases exclusively in-store at Walmart or online at Walmart.com.