Question: If a $4 item is buy one get one free (BOGOF) at both a drugstore (i.e. CVS) and a grocery store (i.e. Publix) and you have a BOGOF coupon and a $1 off coupon, then where do you use the coupons to get the best deal?
A. The drugstore
B. The grocery store
C. Same deal at both the drugstore and the grocery store
What do you think? Are the deals the same? Because both stores have the same product on sale, does that mean that both deals are equal?
If you went to the drugstore and purchased 2 BOGOF items, the cashier scans both items. The first item rings up at $4, and the second rings up $0 (free). You could then use your BOGOF coupon on the $4 item and the $1 off coupon on the free item. You can use the second coupon because you purchased two items. Since you can use a manufacturer coupon on each item purchased, you can use both coupons for this transaction. You would need an additional item in this transaction to absorb the $1 overage since stores will not give you money back. The result of shopping at the drugstore would be gaining $1 in overage: $4 item – $4 BOGOF coupon + $0 item – $1 coupon.
If you went to the grocery store and purchased 2 BOGOF items, the cashier scans both items. The first item rings up at $2, and the second rings up $2. You could then use your BOGOF coupon on the $2 item and the $1 off coupon on the other $2 item. Since most grocery stores’ BOGOF deals do not require you to purchase both items, the stores charge half of the price for the first item and half of the price for the second item. The $4 items that are BOGOF rings up $2 for the first item and $2 for the second item. You can then use a manufacturer coupon for each item purchased. The result of shopping at the grocery store would be spending $1: $2 item -$2 BOGOF coupon + $2 item – $1 coupon.
As you can see from this sample scenario, the answer to the question is definitely A. The drugstore since the result is gaining $1 in overage. Though the deals look the same, the answer lies in how the store handles the sales. Knowing the stores’ coupon and sales policies will help you use your coupons wisely, maximize your savings, and stretch your dollars.