Photograph Credit: Flickr (Dan4th Nicholas)
On my weekly shopping trip to Bi-Lo, I restocked on a number of items that were on sale buy one, get one free and paired the sales with coupons.
In addition to those items, I also purchased Huggies diapers that were on a $.20 fuelperks! bonus and a sale and paired with each package a Publix store coupon and manufacturer’s coupon.
Well, at least that was my plan.
Gathering my Savings at the Store
After shopping, I headed to checkout. With only one register open, that was not a self-scan or express lane, I unloaded my savings. Prior to scanning my items, I presented my coupons to the cashier. He placed them to the side and checked me out.
At the end of scanning, the cashier grabbed my coupons, and they dispersed. (Gasp!) All my coupons that were in perfect order were now on the register, conveyor belt, and floor. To make matters worse, the line behind me was lengthening.
After collecting the coupons, the cashier called a manager since the competitor’s coupons will not scan. The manager viewed the coupons, punched in his code, and left. Then another coupon needed his override. We went through this process three times before the transaction finished. Did I mention that this was the only line open?
With the confusing checkout process, I stood shocked at the total since I expected a lower price. Not wishing to hold up the line any longer, I paid, apologized to those behind me, and left.
Checking the Receipt at Home
Later at home, I reviewed my receipt. As I matched my items with the coupons indicated on my shopping list, I noticed that my 3 packages of Huggies diapers showed only the competitor’s coupons. The manufacturer coupons were not deducted. I checked the receipt again making sure that the $6 ( 3 – $2 off coupons) had not been deducted from another product. When I confirmed that those coupons were missing, I filled out the store survey.
Confronting and Resolving the Error
In the survey, I indicated the problem. Within 12 hours, I received an e-mail from a manager offering a $6 refund on my next visit. I printed the e-mail and placed it in my store envelope.
On my next visit to the store, I stopped by customer service, asked to speak to the manager, showed him the e-mail, and received $6 for the missing coupon discount and an apology. The problem was quickly addressed and solved. 🙂
By checking my receipt to verify that all the coupons got deducted, I saved $6. Otherwise, I would have overspent $6. As I keep track of my food budget this month (one of my goals for March), checking my receipt to catch $6 mistakes helps in stretching those dollars.
As you use coupons and stack savings, spending a few moments to check your receipt is using time wisely. Keep increasing your savings as you feed your family. Happy savings!
Question: How often do you find errors on your receipts?