Corporate Internet Coupon Policies

Over the past months, a trickle has turned into a torrent of e-mails from people telling me that X store doesn't take printed coupons and Y store does but only if you use less than five and Z store has no limit and… you get the point. The thing is, in this example, Walmart was X, Y, and Z store!

So, I set out to see if there was a universal corporate coupon policy for any of the big name stores. I compiled the list below and began emailing corporate offices asking if they accept Internet coupons. Long story short: yes, most have an official policy and in the majority of stores, printed Internet coupons are okay.

But as I've hinted to, everybody seems to have a horror story of a cashier who refuses to accept the coupons and suddenly the total bill balloons. Nine times out of ten, that cashier is in the wrong and this is where a little education, planning, and hopefully this post will come in handy. If you shop regularly at any of the stores below, you might want to print out the policy and carry it around in your purse when you go shopping next!

There's no reason for anybody to be denied savings when they're rightfully entitled to them, especially in this economy!

A&P – Holy Mother of…A&P simply did not want to respond to my e-mails at all. But after a mere trillion messages by me, I received an e-mail with the following statement:

The internet is a powerful vehicle for getting information out to people and at the same time it is also a vehicle for false information. Unfortunately, internet coupons are not accepted in our A&P stores due to an abundance of fraudulent coupons circulating over the internet.

I know this is not the answer you and your readers want to hear at this time, but we are listening to you and other customers who are seeking alternate means of stretching their food dollars. Currently, we are working on a solution that would allow our customer's to download coupons from the internet directly to our loyalty cards electronically. We are exploring this idea and hope to put it into fruition in the near future. I apologize for the delay in my response, as I wanted to wait until we had more information of the new clipless electronic coupon service we will be offering. We are working with an external vendor and hope to have this service available starting August 7, 2009. [ed: so…it's released now?]

So that's kind of promising as it sounds like they'll be rolling out their own Cellfire version within a month in the past.

Acme Markets – Same as Albertsons below.

Albertsons – This is a clear yes, as long as the coupon is in good condition.

We accept internet printed coupons. The same manufacturer and store coupon rules above apply to all internet printed coupons. Internet printed coupons must be capable of scanning at checkout. Internet printed coupons must have serial numbers and must follow an industry-standard format. Manufacturer internet printed coupons must clearly indicate that they are a manufacturer coupon and must have a valid manufacture address on the printed coupon. We will not accept “free product” internet printed manufacturer coupons.

Aldi's – Aldi does not accept manufacturer's coupons.

ALDI-exclusive brands make up more than 90% of our product selection, and we guarantee the quality is as good as or better than name brands. However, we do carry some name-brand products. For these items, we always negotiate the best possible prices with our suppliers and because of this we are unable to accept manufacturer's coupons.

Costco – I kind of expected this response, but it's always good to double check.

Costco Wholesale does not accept general manufacturer coupons. We have our own coupons and promotional offers, which are distributed to members in the mail and at our locations at various times throughout the year.

We are able to offer consistently low prices because our buyers negotiate the best deals with our vendors. Manufacturers often will simply ‘load’ the cost of a coupon program into the original pricing of their product. We will not permit our vendors or buyers to do this since there is no advantage to the member.

CVS – They sent me an epic response, but a few months later posted their policy online:

Coupons must be presented during checkout, be legible and have a scannable barcode.

Food Lion – Upon emailing their customer service center, I received a short reply that included the following: “We will accept internet printed coupons in our stores, however, we reserve the right to decline acceptance if the coupons are deemed to be fraudulent. We will accept printed barcode internet coupons that appear to be the original, with the exception of “FREE” internet coupons.”

Fry's – See Kroger

Giant – Their website has this to say:

We do accept internet coupons, including those for a free item, with the following exceptions:

  1. Coupon value cannot exceed $5.
  2. If we are notified of fraudulent activity involving specific internet coupons.
  3. Expiration date must be clear and visible.
  4. Expired coupons are not accepted.
  5. Coupon must be printed legibly and be scannable.
  6. Coupon must have a valid remit address for the manufacturer.
  7. Photocopied, altered, duplicated or reproduced coupons are not accepted.
  8. Invalid coupons or coupons received after 30 days will not be accepted or returned.
  9. Internet coupons may be doubled provided they meet all doubling requirements and are not specifically prohibited by the manufacturer.

Harris Teeter“We gladly accept internet manufacturer’s coupons for product; however no “free” product internet coupons are accepted.”

Ingles – After a few e-mails, I finally got the following response:

We will NOT ACCEPT “FREE” internet coupons, only cents off. We will only accept 2 internet coupons per manufacturer product per visit per day. We reserve the right to reject any internet coupon that is altered or does not scan properly.

Jewel-Osco – See Albertsons

Kmart – They will accept Internet coupons as long as they aren't from an excluded list:

“Kmart does accept secure print-at-home coupons. Effective October 9, 2014, we do not accept the following coupons: expired coupons, photocopies or counterfeit coupons, coupons from other retailers or coupons for products or services not carried in our stores, and print-at-home coupons (non-newspaper or periodical clipped coupons) for razors, alkaline batteries, alcohol or tobacco.

Kroger“Effective November 2007, all Kroger divisions accept industry-standard, secure print-at-home coupons.” And for the record, Kroger is the parent company for many other supermarkets, like Ralphs, Fry's, and another dozen or so. Scroll down a bit on the previous page to see a collection of the logos of all their subsidiaries.

Martin's – Their website states the following:

Customers with a MARTIN'S BONUSCARD may redeem coupons that have been printed from the Internet. We do not accept internet coupons for free products, or those with a value greater than $5.00. We reserve the right to refuse any internet coupon that appears to be fraudulent.

Meijer – They recently put their coupon policy online, which states:

“We accept all valid internet coupons.”

Piggly Wiggly – Repeated emails went unanswered, however I was able to get in touch with their Carolina division, which operates many of the PW stores in the Southeast.

Yes, Piggly Wiggly accepts printed coupons from reputable websites, such as Coupons.com, Upromise and SmartSource.com. No “FREE item” or “CASH back” internet coupons are accepted. Limit one coupon per item per visit.

Publix – “Publix accepts manufacturers’ coupons (limit one per item), Publix coupons (originals only—no copies), valid Internet coupons, and coupons from nearby competitors identified by each Publix store.”

Ralphs – See Kroger

Rite Aid – After years of speculation, they finally issued this statement

Rite Aid will accept internet / print at home coupons up to the equivalent value of $5.00 off. A Rite Aid coupon (with the Rite Aid logo) is NOT considered an internet coupon (even if printed off the internet) and is therefore not subject to the $5.00 maximum.

Safeway“We can only accept Printable Coupons if they scan properly at the register.” It's worth pointing out that while they accept BOGO coupons, they do not accept straight up “free” coupons.

Save-A-Lot – Here's what their new about page states:

Because we operate more than 800 independently licensed stores, each store tends to have its own coupon policy. Across all corporate stores, we do not double coupons, but we do try to accept online and manufacturer’s coupons (one per household).

Schnucks – They have this to say:

Schnucks accepts Schnucks Digital Coupons, printed manufacturer’s coupons (with some exceptions) and printed internet coupons (with some exceptions). Please review the information below to learn more about our policies and exceptions.

Our printed internet coupon policy is:

  • As with all manufacturer’s coupons, only one coupon per item can be applied.
  • Internet/home-printed coupons for FREE products will not be accepted unless the coupon is issued specifically by Schnucks.
  • Internet/home-printed coupons with a value greater than $5 will not be accepted unless the coupon is issued specifically by Schnucks.
  • We reserve the right to decline acceptance of any coupon that does not appear to be an original and/or any coupon that does not scan properly.
  • Please contact the manager on duty if you have any questions about a specific coupon or offer.

ShopRite – I previously had to track down their policy via emailing corporate, but thankfully they've since placed it online! Here's the response I received, which includes a link to an amazingly helpful site in identifying counterfeit coupons:

Periodically, we receive notification from the Coupon Information Corporation, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the integrity of the coupon redemption process, that fraudulent coupons are being circulated via the Internet. Their guidance has helped us recognize the following restrictions:

  1. Coupons displaying signs of mass cutting or similar cuts and tears, and coupons bearing tape or sequential numbers may suggest coupon fraud and will not be accepted.
  2. Coupons that are copied, scanned, altered, sold, traded, distributed or transferred by their original recipient to any other person, firm or group are VOID.
  3. We cannot refund the value of a coupon or return the coupon if a purchased item is later returned to the store.
  4. Only one manufacturer coupon will be applied to each “Buy One, Get One Free” offer.

Stop & Shop – Their site reads: “We do accept internet coupons, including those for a free item, with the following exceptions:

  • Coupon value cannot exceed $10.
  • If we are notified of fraudulent activity involving specific internet coupons. Internet coupons may be doubled provided they meet all doubling requirements and are not specifically prohibited by the manufacturer.”

Target – Their new coupon page says “We gladly accept valid internet coupons with a scannable barcode. We do not accept internet coupons for free items with no purchase requirements..”

Trader Joe's – Looks like Trader Joe's is a no-go. Or are they?

At this time we do not offer any sort of coupons or discounts for products purchased in our stores. Our reasoning for this is that we, unlike many other larger grocery stores, already work really, really hard to keep our prices as low as possible without artificially high profit margins.

Okay, sounds clear enough. However, about two weeks later, I received this message:

Thank you for your inquiry. Trader Joe's can only accept coupons from manufacturer's only. We are unable to accept any coupons from 3rd party distributors.

So…wait, what? Internet coupons ARE manufacturer coupons. But since the manufacturers aren't the ones distributing them, Internet coupons don't count? That's kind of lame, but okay, good to know.

Walgreens – After years of leaving it up to “local manager's discretion,” Walgreens finally published an official coupon policy that states “Walgreens accepts valid internet/print at home coupons. Walgreens cannot accept “free product” internet printed coupons.”

Walmart – Ah, the store that started this all!

We gladly accept valid, internet manufacturer coupons for the manufacturer’s items with a scannable GS1 barcode and are not expired that validates to our master file. We do not accept internet coupons for free items with no purchase requirements.

So there we have it! As I pointed out above, all Coupons.com coupons have these three requirements, so your local Walmart better darn well accept printed coupons!

Wegmans – I've officially run out of ways to segue into a blockquote:

We take internet coupons with only two restrictions. FREE coupons are out, and the fine print, to minimize checker uncertainty, is that the word FREE can't appear on the coupon. This includes Buy One Get One Free offers. The other restriction is that the electronic coupon value (or the double value) may not exceed the value of the item being purchased; the same as for other coupons.

Whole Foods – I hope you like unhelpful corporate policies, because here we go!

We are a decentralized company divided into regions that function fairly autonomously. Coupon acceptance policies vary from region to region and in the case of internet coupons, from store to store. I would direct shoppers to contact their local Whole Foods Market store directly to inquire about the coupon policy of that location.

Winn-Dixie – When I first contacted Winn-Dixie, they sent me a garbled corporate-speak response that made absolutely no sense. They referenced a bankrupt, out of business company as their verification system and repeated emails for clarification kept being routed to an intern who hadn't worked for them in 3 years (I'm not making any of this up, I swear) All our correspondences did was send me on a one-way trip to Confusedville.

Lucky for us, I made so much fun of them that they simplified their policy and posted it online.

Thank you for contacting us. Winn Dixie does accept online coupons. Internet coupons must have a scan-able barcode.

Letter to Retailers – And finally, SmartSource, one of the main sources of on-line coupons, has a Letter to Retailers that you might want to print out if you use their coupons. It explains where the coupon came from, why it's legit, and how to ring it up. I think this is a phenomenal move in the right direction towards retailers and coupon sources finally recognizing the importance of each other in terms of mutual survival.

About the Author:

I'm a nationally renowned freebie finder & sample vetter, which I never imagined I'd be doing while getting my Bachelor's Degree in History almost 20 years ago. In my spare time, I enjoy launching my own space program and disproving the Coriolis effect.

79 comments on “Corporate Internet Coupon Policies”

  1. So funny when I read the “I hate Walmart” by Abby—People thought I was crazy for not shopping there…..never ever a good experience…

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  2. We went into Walmart the other day and they would not take the coupons. I HATE Walmart with all the hatred that is in my heart! After years of being treated like crap by this horrible horrible company I have decided to refuse to ever shop there ever again. I even pass up freebies and deals if I see that it can only be used at Walmart.

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  3. Thanks for this great resource! It always helps to being a store’s coupon policy, just in case they get weird about using too many or whatever. I actually had a cashier at Walmart (an older lady) tell me they didn’t take copies of coupons. But, it wasn’t a copy…it was printed out! So then she called the manager who told her the area behind the amount should be in color or it wasn’t valid. Um… I have a monochrome (black & white) printer?! HAHA! They did take the coupon, but acted like I was doing something wrong. Sheesh.

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  4. Yesterday I went to Publix to get some Silk soy milk. I had a .75 off coupon that I had printed from Silk.com. The cashier would not accept it. I told her they were accepted before, and she said not anymore and handed me a copy of their coupon policy. I wasn’t able to read it until I got home. The policy stated they accepted valid internet coupons. I wished I had read the policy before I left the store, so I could ask , what constituted a valid internet coupon? I still plan to ask with my now expired coupon. Your research stated Publix does not accept printed internet coupons and the policy I got yesterday says it does. My head is spinning. I would expect a coupon printed from a product’s website would be valid.

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  5. I would love to have one simple rule for coupons in all stores, nationwide, ahh. Oh well. I just have to worry about Raley’s, Safeway, Riteaid, and CVS at the moment, now can we use coupons (not just coupon codes) when ordering online from say CVS?

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  6. TRADER JOE’S does accept internet manufacturers coupons. I have bout there organic Country Choice Oatmeal and used $1 off coupon with no problem. I’m still looking for more coupons to use there! 🙂

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  7. Jenny, typically you shouldn’t be forced to print coupons in color. Black and white should work just fine at most retailers.

    Leta, looks like had their link broken. I tracked down a copy of the letter and uploaded it though!

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  8. when printing online coupons, do we have to print it in color or can we use just the black ink?
    i am new at coupons and would appreciate some help from you guys.

    thanks
    jenny

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  9. I carry coupon policies in my purse with me when I shop, as to not have any confusion. I got them directly from the stores websites. Walgreens does not have an actual printed policy altho I called corporate and now know what it is due to a refusal of a coupon I tried to use. After then talking to corporate, the actual store called me within a couple days. I reassured them, I wasn’t trying to get anyone into trouble, just making sure I knew the policy due to the fact That an employee refused a coupon and I wanted to know before I made too big of a deal out of it!

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  10. This is awesome! I can’t believe you did all this. It’s crazy! I don’t print online coupons because I worry about downloading the coupon things you need to print them out. Plus, ink is so expensive. I dont have any and haven’t for forever. I need a coupon for ink so I can print more coupons. i still appreciate what you did though. And what everyone does on here. I have gotten a ton of stuff from this site. A lot more than other sites. And I know I can always trust things off this site. This site is the best and I have referred a lot of people to this site. Actually I just referred two people here about an hour ago.

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  11. Yes, individual store coupon policies can be frustrating.

    However, I cracked the code for getting a free Elizabeth Haub Foundation (EHF) reusable shopping bag.

    Just log on to any of the A&P webpages, such as http://www.apfreshonline.com
    http://www.waldbaums.com
    http://www.superfreshfood.com

    Then click on the Redtag online savings Zaver’s link, register with Zavers, and then load up your Bonus Savings Club card by clicking on the free EHF bag image.

    This offer expires 10/15/09, so hurry!!

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  12. I have had some problems in the past with Walmart but evidently some people complained and now they will accept internet’s as long as they will scan. If they will not scan they will not key them in. And so far the only other place I have had problems with internet’s is RiteAid. They absolutely will not accept any. It has been a while since I have been in there to try so they might have changed now but really did not like the attitude of the cashier anyway. We have a Walgreens and CVS so it was not a big loss to not shop there. I have a target about 15 mins away and no problem, a Harris Teeter right down the road from there and no problem. CVS, Walgreens, Foodlion, Bilo here in town no problem. I am in Statesville, NC.

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  13. I work a cash office for a walmart, if your store refuses your printed out coupon. Call 1-800-WALMART and complain, get anyone else you know to complain to.
    It is AGAINST our cooperate policy to not take these coupons, as there are easy ways to tell real ones vs fakes ones.

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  14. Today I went to Ralphs in Glendale, CA and was told they no longer accept internet coupons at all and haven’t for over a month. (I’ve used them numerous times at Ralphs in the past month, mind you.) However, when I got home and checked their website it states unequivocally that they DO accept coupons, and on their home page is a list of coupons to print. I’m completely baffled. But from now will take a print out of their coupon policy from their website with me whenever I shop.

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  15. Thanks for all the comments, folks! I’d love to respond to each of them individually, but that would lead to the world’s biggest comment thread which would inevitably devour the Internet.

    As for all the suggestions for other store policies to hunt down, I’m all ears. My research for the next post will start tomorrow and should hopefully be ready shortly.

    @Ricka – No, unfortunately most of the printed coupons are going to say do not double or triple. It’s up to blind luck as to whether or not the cashier notices.

    @mrs turtle – I do the exact same thing (go to the lines with the young people who don’t pay attention). Even better is if you only have a few items and don’t mind checking yourself out at one of the individual registers. Looks like @Jennifer does this as well!

    @Sandy – With sites like Cellfire, it’s only a matter of time before the majority of coupons are available via cell phones. Personally, I can’t wait.

    @Joe – I lol’d 🙂

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  16. yep, there is cellfire…i got it on my phone
    t-moblile users…go to t-zones, downloads, applications, and it should be there. THere’s also ‘green perks’ both of these are free and download to your games folder. 🙂

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  17. My local KMART store accepts ALL coupons – free items, B1G1 free, any dollar amount, internet, etc. I’ve never had any problem so it may be like Walgreens and up to the store manager. I have had a couple problems at WalMart although not recently. I carry their coupon policy with me and if there’s a problem I will wait until they call corporate headquarters to get it settled. I do have that # but can’t seem to find it right now but will post when I find it. Also at Walgreens I’ve had the most succes after the order is rung up to give them my register rewards first, then the manf coupons, and finally their store coupons. Since I’ve been doing it this way the register has not beeped once:)

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  18. Goob
    Awesome job on this. One problem with your suggestion for printing all this out and carrying it in our purse — My wife stole all my purses!

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  19. I went to Harris Teeter with coupons for BOGO on candy bars, which they were offering that week at buy 2 get 3 free. I had a couple coupons and got MULTIPLE candy bars for free!!
    Mega savings!! Phyl

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  20. Lisa..
    Keep calling corporate. When you contact them again, ask them to mail you an official copy of their coupon policy.
    If you still don’t have any luck, then get nasty. Unless they have it stipuated in their policy that it is up to each store’s discretion as far as altering the policy then you are completely in the right here.
    I have done some “horrible” things to get retailers to honor their policies, and my coupons. I have called local papers, I have emailed and or called corporate offices as often as every single day until the issue was resolved.
    Good Luck! But don’t give up!! Eventually you will win, and coupon victory is soo sweet! lol

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  21. My biggest coupon problem is with my local Target store. They continue to refuse to take a manufacture and a store coupon for a single item. I even went home and printed out the store policy and showed the person at the customer service desk the company policy and she still still refused to refused to accept the coupons. I even called corparate on the store and the store still continues to not honor their policy. Does any one have any idea what I should do next.

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  22. Thanks so much Goob & whatever or whoever inspired you to do all this work.

    I live in central FL & haven’t yet had problems w/internet coupons, even tho I’m cheap & print them in B/W. I shop mostly at Publix, Albertson’s, CVS, KMart (on double coupone weeks) & BJ’s Club which will take mfg coupons but won’t let you piggyback with their own they issue regularly. I find at most stores, if it won’t scan, the cashier will just key it in.

    I hate WalMart on so many levels I haven’t tried any printables there as I avoid the place like the plague, so I can’t comment on them.

    Boy, I hope you’re getting perks for all your work.

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  23. This is awesome information Goob! I frequent 2 Giant Eagles; one of them NEVER questions any of my coupons and the other (just Wednesday this week) refused several of the printed coupons I legitimately presented!! She claimed they get “ripped off” if any are $4 and over. I am having a hard time believing that concept. With the prices so high anywhere you go, it’s annoying that they won’t take certain coupons.
    Also, Marc’s will not accept ANY printed coupons, unless they are from their personal website. They usually offer maybe one coupon once in a while, but never have any worth using…like $.50 off of salad dressing or something. They do take manufacturers coupons though.
    Anyway that was my two-cents worth. Have a good one!

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  24. Hey, here’s something cool! After writing the comment above, I decided to go to the Tyson website and tell them my problem. Lo and Behold they have an option on there to find stores in your area that carry specific items. With only a few clicks, I found out where to get the Tyson Skillet Creations (except it would be a 45 minute drive).

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  25. Wow! Lucky you that you could FIND Tyson Skillet Creations. I’ve been looking for months since I found the full rebate deal on it but cannot find it ANYWHERE! 😛

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  26. Great Post! This is timely – I had an internet coupon denied because there wasn’t a “manufacturer’s ” box/number….(Tyson – skillet creation).

    And I tried to fight it but they did not accept my coupon at Albertson’s in Pt St Lucie Florida – which makes me leary of printing other on-line coupon’s that don’t have manufacturer’s info….

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  27. At Trader Joe’s they DO accept printed, internet manufacturer coupons. I have never had a problem using them there, as I primarily buy Kashi products there (they are at least $1 cheaper per box of cereal there BTW!!) Maybe there are certain stores that have issues but I have used coupons in both California and Mass without a problem.

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  28. We had a problem with one of our local Walmarts one time. They said they wouldn’t take ANYTHING printed over the internet. And at the time we were just trying to buy stuff off the wedding registry! The cashier and the manager said they couldn’t use wedding registries or coupons printed over the internet. We now only go to Walmart when we can’t find the item we want anywhere else. My mom says some of her local grocery stores won’t take internet printed coupons. Our locals so far haven’t had a problem but I’m always wary. one time a manufacturer gave me a choice to print the coupon myself or have them send me one, After the walmart incident I chose to have them send it to me. When I got it in the mail it looked just like what I would have printed on my printer at home – inkjet ink and all! That’s sort of disappointing about all the places not taking the free coupons, since those are the ones I tend to use the most and the ones most likely to get me out shopping and trying new things.

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  29. My local Wal-Mart refuses printed coupons if they are redeemed through Del Toro, TX. The ones that go to El Paso, TX are accepted without comment. I asked why and was told that the Del Toro printed coupons were fake and that the store couldn’t get their money back.

    Curiously enough, I have printed out coupons from smartsource.com and noticed the two redemption centers on various coupons within the same print batch (for different brands). Also, I’ve noticed that the Del Toro coupons are usually for a higher amount or sometimes for free items. I think Wal-Mart is just yanking my chain!!!

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  30. Goob,
    Wow, what a lot of work on your part. Thank you so much for putting this much effort into the research of this, it really shows your commitment to us fellow hiffers. Keep up the great work!!

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  31. Goob,
    Your website has always been a great gift to all of us looking for a bargain or a free lunch (literally). You’ve outdone yourself with this list. Thank you, thank you, thank you, for the great effort you put into this, and indeed, all parts of this website!

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  32. Hey thanks for the research! One trick I’ve learned is if the store has a self checkout line- there is no cashier to necessarily check the coupons. If they are barcoded they usually scan! There have only been a few times that the cashier has had to check them, and I generally haven’t had problems. I mostly shop at TOPS which you haven’t listed, but I have been using internet coupons there for a while without problems.

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  33. Just a little note about CVS most of the time they will also take one of there own coupons for extra bucks or 4 off 20 even if it is expired they just take it as a store coupon also if you lose an extra buck coupon they will reissue if us call the 800 number and tell them.

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  34. My Bilo’s computer was not reading the coupons but the young guy cashier politely just overrode them and entered them. Why oh why in this day and age are companies having problems with printed coupons?? Most of us have cellphones and most of us have computers, the big wigs need to realize this and get with the program!! 🙂 oh, again, thanks Goob for introducing me to Swagbucks, cannot wait to get my fathead decals that I won from their site (not to mention, my hubby is totally excited too!).

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  35. Wow, double wow!!! great job & definately needed. I have had so many problems w/ my internet coupons I want to scream, it’s gotten to where my poor hubby will say, “theres a line open” & I’ll refuse it cuz I know that particular checker is a coupon nazi 🙂 I like to go through the lines with the young guys cuz they don’t care & will just manually punch in a coupon just to get me outta there! 🙂
    I live in Texas & our town only has a Walmart (joy killers) & an HEB, both places give me fits on my coupons, since HEB is only in the southeren states or maybe just in Texas, can you get any clarification from them? I know Texas is just ONE state but hey, it’s a darn BIG state 🙂

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  36. Every week I go on my “shopping trip”, coupons in hand. I hit at least half a dozen stores, each with their own envelope of coupons, list, gift cards, extra reward bucks, etc. I have had great luck with most of it. Some items are already sold out but I take that with a grain of salt as there are still many others. If any store gives me too much trouble, I will probably delete it from my list. My husband is amazed and very happy with me these days. I am amazed too! I am actually having stores PAYING ME to take their goods for free! I don’t take it for granted….these stores are giving us good deals, so if they are out of an item sometimes, I can accept that, but if it’s chronic then I am disgusted!! I quit going to Kmart 25 years ago because they never had their sale items in stock and even the rainchecks were bad. It’s taken me 25 years to go back there!! I couldn’t resist since they were having double coupons up to $2 lately (even though they jacked up the prices on most things, but I expected that). I still got some awesome deals. I hope someone got something out of my post, and that I didn’t bore everyone. heh.

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  37. Also you didn’t list Giant Eagle and I know some confuse them with just Giant they are two diffent stores so you might look up giant eagles policy. I have never had any problem using printed coupons there.

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  38. Holy Mother of… look what you did! I didn’t read all (any) of the comments, but what the hey! Very nice job. I think this will get picked up by somebody and be your most popular post OF. ALL. TIME>ime, ime, ime (echo effect enabled.)

    Nice job you!

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  39. Goob,

    Do you know of a website that has printable coupons that don’t all say do not double or triple. All of the printable coupons I have printed say do not double or triple? The safeway I shop at can’t double them anymore if they say not to double.

    Thanks,
    Ricka

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  40. Thanks for doing this Goob!

    I have had problems with Vons(Safeway) accepting them.
    Both Ralphs and Food4Less accepted them with no problem at all.

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  41. I’ve never had a problem at ShopRite with Internet coupons. Goob, I’m still amazed at how much effort you put into this, but then that’s why this site is so great.

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  42. Thanks for all the work. Our Walmart wouldn’t take the internet coupons so I told them I wouldn’t buy the products. So they took the coupons. I’m printing this out and giving it to the manager there. And keeping a copy with me! Kroger, HEB and Randalls have all taken my coupons without blinking an eye.
    Thanks again Goob!
    Tally HO!

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  43. Try to print your coupons in color if you can. And use a clean sheet of paper. I’ve had coupons refused for being in black & white or printed on the back of an old Google map. I guess they looked less “legit.”

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  44. @Claudia – QFC is part of the Kroger family.

    @Lori – It took a while 🙂

    @Jamie – Convenience stores is a good idea. I’ll include it in the update to this post.

    @everyone else – Thanks for the thanks! I do appreciate everybody who takes the time to simply chime in and share their experience or thoughts.

    If you shop regularly at any of these stores and even after this post they don’t take your coupons, then just like Kristine, complain! Call or e-mail the corporate offices and you’ll get a letter in the mail / e-mail with exactly the same info I provide here in this post. Print it out and there’s absolutely no excuse for them to deny your coupons the next time you shop.

    Reply
  45. I only had a problem once at Rite Aid, the cashier said they do not accept internet coupons, so she called the manager, and after reading the fine print and having a lengthy discussion about EACH coupon, they were all (eventually) accepted. I emailed customer service and got this:

    “Coupons, and their face value, cannot be exchanged for cash. Front-end
    competitor coupons will not be honored at Rite Aid. Coupons are to have a
    valid expiration date, those that are expired or ineligible will be returned
    to the customer.

    One internet coupon can be used per item; however, there is a $5.00 limit on
    each internet coupon. Similar to manufacturer’s coupons, only one internet
    coupon is accepted for each item, unless coupled with a manufacturer’s or
    valuable coupon found in a Rite Aid circular.

    When items are featured on a Buy One, Get One Free promotion, up to two
    coupons can be used against the items being purchased, as long as the net
    price does not go below zero for the item being purchased. The register will
    automatically calculate any sales tax due on a zero sales transaction based
    upon your state and local laws. ”

    Also, the manager of the store called me to apologize, and the next day the corporate office called as well.

    Reply
  46. My local wal-mart would in no way under any circumstance accept internet coupons. A manager even told me this. So if you all ever come to Uniontown with internet coupons, don’t take them to walmart! We have a Shop ‘n Save here and they will not accept any kind of coupon unless its one from the coupons in the Sunday paper.

    Reply
  47. I’ve had problems a few times @ Food4Less. I emailed customer service about one of their rude vindictive cashiers and they sent me their policy:

    “Thank you for contacting Food4Less. As a courtesy to our valued customers who use coupons, our store is accepting Internet coupons. All Internet coupons must have the following in order to be considered valid in our stores:
    · Must be a manufacturer’s coupon
    · Must have a scan bar
    · Must have an expiration date and be valid at time of use
    · Must have a dealer contract
    · Must have a Cash value. WE DO NOT HONOR “FREE” ITEM INTERNET COUPONS.
    We accept only original coupons for FREE products and do not accept free product coupons printed from home computers.

    Additionally, we reserve the right to reject any coupon that does not appear to be an original or does not scan properly.”

    Make sure your coupon says “manufacturer’s coupon” at the top. My Mountain High Yoghurt coupons only say “internet coupon” and got rejected. Ralph’s (the same parent company as Food4Less: Kroger) has been awesome and I’ve never had a problem with any coupon I throw at them.

    Reply
  48. I’ve used Internet coupons at Trader Joe’s with no problem. However, they don’t have many items that are not their own, so…

    Also, the only store I have really had a problem with Internet coupons at was Rite Aid. Target, Kmart, Walmart, Walgreens, CVS, and all major supermarkets (Ralph’s, Vons/Pavilions, Albertson’s) around me accept them with no questions asked. The Internet coupons have been great for the Kmart doubles that’s going on this week. I’ve gotten a lot of free stuff!

    Reply
  49. A lot of the buy one get one free energy drinks are only available at 7-11, Plaid Pantry, etc. I have problems using internet coupons there. If you continue your research, could you contact convenience stores?

    Thanks!
    Jamie

    Reply
  50. I just wanted to mention that a local grocery store (CashWise, not sure if there is a parent company) recently told me that they will only accept ONE coupon per item and denied me being able to use a manufacturer’s coupon WITH their store coupon.

    I am going to write a letter to them and, if that is their new policy, boycott this grocery store and affiliates.

    Has anyone else heard of this happening where they live? I sure hope it is not a trend!

    Reply
  51. Thanks! I have problems mostly at Pathmark, and I got fed up and emailed their customer service about it. I have gone to the manager of that one more than once, but his front enders still seem to think EVERYTHING coming through is suspicious. It really ticks me off that a few no-gooders people spoil it for the honest coupon users like us.

    Reply
  52. Wow, just getting through this post seemed like a lot of work–I can’t imagine trying to actually gather all of it together!

    Since Target’s website has printable Target coupons, I’m sure they accept internet coupons. And I think the Whole Foods policy is perfect! That’s sort of their policy for everything, that is, that they are different from store to store. I’ve had success with them taking coupons at my store no problem.

    Reply
  53. I am a new vistor to your site,which by the way I LOVE
    good work on all the research for coupons, I know that had to
    take some time. I also love your comments you add to every offer
    it keeps me entertained while I am at work.

    Reply
  54. This is fantastic!!!! I’ve had problems from pretty much every store accept for Food Lion. We tried Publix, Winn-Dixie & Wal-Mart (Booooo) and gave up, but with this information I will go armed and ready for shopping next time!

    Reply
  55. Ok, here’s my two cents on the subject. I have had to fight tooth and nail to get WalMart to take my internet coupons.
    This is how I did it!
    It is walmarts coorporate policy to accept Internet coupons..so dont back down..if they refuse your coupons…save the coupons..and call this number Customer Service 1-800-Wal-Mart
    (1-800-925-6278) Questions regarding a Wal-Mart Store issue
    This is their CORPORATE CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE and they will take care of the issue!
    They will contact your Walmart directly and if you have any luck I did the nice manager from your local store calls you within 24 hrs to sincerely apologise for the problem. They also gave me a 25 dollar gift card. Let’s hear it for the squeaky wheel huh?

    Reply
  56. Hi all: I’ve had hassles too. Very annoying. But, once, when I complained to Ben & Jerry’s online, they mailed me a coupon for a free pint of ice cream. Squeaky wheel and all that. Goob: we have a big grocery store chain here in Seattle called “QFC” which almost refused my printed coupons the other day but finally did take them. Do you have a response from them re: printed coupons, please?

    Reply
  57. Excellent research, Goob!

    This’ll make it a ton easier to use Internet coupons. I usually avoid them since they’re such a hassle, and I always get suspicious looks when I use them.

    Reply
  58. Thanx Goob for all of your hard work. I have given up and don’t use internet coupons. I live in Chicago and are constantly being turned away with internet coupons. I once had a coupon for a free item and had to go to 4 stores before I could use it……

    Reply
  59. i call my local walmart and they said that they accept any competers coupon as long as it is for the same item and hte same weight

    Reply

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