Photograph Credit: Flickr (Steven Depolo)

With soccer season beginning, I know the rules of the game will be the same, but the regulations for choosing the sideline, seating for spectators, and distribution of snacks differ from league to league.

Knowing the game rules alone does not create confidence in a player in a new league. To gain confidence, the player participates and learns how to substitute, where to put his gear, and how to succeed on and off the field.

Shopping at your grocery store involves the same confidence. Just knowing the sales and the coupon match-ups alone does not create confidence in the shopper. To gain confidence, the shopper must practice and learn her store’s policies.

My Publix Shopping Trip – Unfamiliar Store

While out running errands with my girls on March 6, I stopped by a Publix near our insurance office. With Wednesday to Tuesday sales’ dates, I needed to gather my savings since the new sales began the next day.

The girls and I shopped and then headed to checkout. When the cashier took my coupons, she looked them over. Upon noticing that my Mueller’s pasta coupons expired on February 29 (the first day of the sale), the cashier refused to accept them. Confused, I asked for an explanation. She indicated that this Publix location does not accept expired coupons, even when the coupons expire within the sales’ week.

Since I was not familiar with this store’s policy, I asked the cashier kindly to remove the pasta boxes from my transaction. I paid for the remaining items, took my Mueller’s pasta coupons, and left the store.

My Publix Shopping Trip – Familiar Store

Later in the day, I stopped by my Publix store. I gathered the Mueller’s pasta and salad dressing on my way to the checkout station. Mr. Mike was working, so I chose his lane. After scanning my items, he took my coupons, noticed that the expiration date was within the sales’ week, accepted my coupons, and I paid the difference – $2.03 for 10 boxes of Mueller’s spaghetti and 1 bottle of Wish Bone dressing. Mission accomplished!

 5 Lessons Gained

1. Management dictates the store’s policies.

Though both stores carried the Publix name, the management policies differed. You may find one location with more meat specials while another expands the coupon policy. In this case, the first store has a narrow coupon policy where my favorite Publix offers a broad interpretation of the coupon rules.

2. Location matters.

Armed with your shopping list, store coupons, and manufacturer coupons, you can experience different results depending on where you shop. One store may allow a substitution for an out-of-stock product while another will just write a rain check.

3. Stay firm in your coupon knowledge.

If you know that another location will accept your coupon, then remove the item from your shopping cart. Don’t feel pressured to give-in to their store’s policy. I knew that my store would honor the coupons. Confident in my Publix’s store policy, I refused to pay $5 that I knew I could save at another location. If I had been unable to shop at my familiar store that day, I would have by-passed the sale. For me, I refuse to pay for what I know I can save.

4. Know your store’s policies.

When I enter my Publix store, I immediately head to customer service to get coupons. While waiting for the employee to retrieve them, I ask questions. From these interactions, I have learned that my store honors certain competitor’s coupons, double coupons up to $.60, offers a scholarship program, and accepts coupons that have expired during the current sales’ week.

5. Shop at your familiar store.

In using time wisely, I will plan my errands more carefully to include my Publix. By shopping in my store, I will save money (use my coupons), energy (quick trips after knowing the store’s layout), and time (one stop verses two locations in one day).

If you have a less-than-perfect experience using your coupons, don’t give up. Try another location of the same store. You may find that your favorite location is not the one closest to your home. Just because one store regulates the store policies differently does not mean you need to give up the coupon game. Keep using coupons, just find another league. Take heart; it happens to all of us. Happy savings!

Question: What store policy turned you off to a store or location?

Photograph Credit: Flickr (Kizzzbeth)

Do you have a grocery store that when you pass by your blood boils?  I do.

When Paul and I lived in Pennsylvania, I would get so worked up just driving past one of the grocery stores.

This store was easy for me to get to and had good prices. But after try, try, and try again, I cut my losses and drove across the street to another grocery store where I gathered my savings.

Try

The first weekend we moved into our apartment, I headed out to go grocery shopping. Finding this store, I stopped. After getting the items on my list, I proceeded to check out and wrote a check for the groceries.

When I handed the cashier my check, he handed it back saying he could not accept an out-of-state check. I explained that we just moved to town, and I did not have a local bank. With the store policy set, I had to pay by credit card. Though I am not opposed to credit, I had the money set aside for our move, and I really wanted to write the check.

Try

On my next visit, I made sure I brought my checks from the local bank. With apprehension, I proceeded to checkout after getting the items needed. At the time of payment, I wrote a check from our local bank. Once again, the cashier handed the check back refusing a starter check for payment.

By now I was getting irritated. I asked to speak to a manager. After I explained the situation, the manager suggested applying for a check writing card which would end the writing a check issue. So, once again I paid with credit. Then I filled out the card to get check writing privileges.

Try

During my third (and last) visit to this store, I ran in for a few items, and went to checkout. When I pulled out my checkbook, my heart began to race. After writing the check, I handed it to the cashier. Seeing that it was a local check, she asked if I had a check writing card on file. I indicated that I filled out the form on my previous visit. She called for verification before returning the check because the application had not been processed.

By this time, I was just tired of this store. Instead of paying with credit, I left my purchases. Yep! Right there in the checkout station, I walked out and never returned.

I got in my car, drove across the street to Giant (which was an affiliate of Bi-Lo) and became a loyal customer. They took my out-of-state check with no forms, questions, or comments. What a breath of fresh air!

Cut my Losses

After giving that store chance, after chance, after chance, I cut my losses. Companies that make shopping at their store difficult turn me off. As you can tell, this experience changed me. I feel like it just happened though the visits occurred over 14 years ago. Yeah! This experience frustrated me so much, I have yet to step inside that store (or any of its affiliates) since walking out and leaving my groceries behind at checkout.

In using time wisely, find a grocery store that fits your needs and become a loyal shopper. Knowing the staff, store policies, and store layout increases my productivity and shopping experience.

If you find a store that does not work with you, try, try, try, and then cut your losses. There are other grocery stores that would love your business, and welcome you as a loyal customer. Now to go calm back down . . . happy savings!

Question: Have you had a similar experience?