Target has updated their coupon policy to explain their acceptance of buy one, get one FREE coupons. You’ll now find the following statements on their online coupon policy:
- BOGO coupons cannot be combined (i.e. you cannot use two BOGO coupons on two items and get both for free). Unless stated otherwise on the coupon, the use of one Buy One Get One Free coupon requires that two of the valid items are presented at checkout of which one item will be charged to the guest and the 2nd item will be discounted by its full retail price.
- A second cents-off coupon of the same type (e.g. store or manufacturer) cannot be redeemed towards the purchase price of the first item (i.e. you can not use a cents-off manufacturer coupon with a BOGO manufacturer coupon).
- If a Target BOGO coupon is used, one additional manufacturer coupon maybe used on the first item.
- If a Manufacturer BOGO coupon is used, one additional Target coupon may be used on the first item.
However, this doesn’t address the use of a buy one, get one FREE coupon with a buy one, get one FREE sale, so we may still be able to get FREE Degree deodorant AND body mist this week!
Unfortunately, you’ll also find this:
- We do not accept internet coupons for free items with no purchase requirements.
That means you won’t be able to use those FREE Lipton Tea printable coupons at Target.
Don’t forget to check out this week’s Target Deals and the Ongoing Target Deals for more opportunities to save.
Beth from In Good Cents is the Deal Seeking Mom Store Expert for Target. At In Good Cents, she teaches her readers the skills they need to dramatically cut their own grocery budgets.
Tanya
I used the Lipton coupon.. I wasn’t aware of the policy..and she didn’t say anything, but I got two for free..
debbie lynne
My Target accepted the Lipton coupons without a problem. I got 4 bottles.
Carrie
I used the Lipton coupons as well. I think you can use them as long as you purchase something along with the free items.
Blakesmom
I would think that the cashiers are still scanning them, and accepting them as long as the register accepts them. It will probably just be some more time before the registers catch up with the new policy…. just my thought :/
lulusoup
I worked as a seasonal cashier at Target and even if the register tries to stop the use of the coupon, a simple key stroke overrides the system….most cashiers just override the register and keep on without paying attention.
Carla
You are exactly right! Also expired coupons at my local target now displays an “expired” message when scanning, as before they would scan.
Pooja
I went to target tonight and I had about $50 in coupons and they did not even look at the coupon and just kept pressing the override button and free items as well.
jen
This is why I didn’t waste my ink tp print them out..couponers in my area get all kinds of havoic just for using them…ok well the extreme couponers give couponers like me a bad rep…
Toni
everyone seems to be changing their coupon policies, you would think that they would be happy about the increase in sales…
Angela
I called Target after trying to use a BOGO manufactuer’s coupon + Target coupon on the first item. Store said I can’t combine any coupons with the BOGO coupon. Target corporate said they didn’t have a clear policy…looks like this is the new policy.
Jeni
I’m a little confused. It says a second cents off coupon can’t be used on the first item with a BOGO, but then it says a second one can be used? Or is it just too early in the morning for me?
Danica
Same here Jeni. I’m confused too!
Beth @ In Good Cents
Jeni & Danica,
What it’s saying is that you can’t use two coupons of the same type. Type, meaning, manufacturer coupon or store coupon. So, you can’t use 2 manufacturer coupons (e.g. one B1G1 and one $1/1) or two store. However, you can use a store and a manufacturer, as long as they are not both B1G1 coupons.
Carla
I picked up on that too!
Amy
Ok…so I’m confused on the Degree deodorant/body spray deal. How do they both end up being free?? Granted, I haven’t SEEN the coupon, so I’m sure if I could see it, maybe I could figure it out. Does the coupon say “buy one deodorant OR body mist get one deodorant OR body mist free”??
Amy B.
I spoke to corp about this..this is a manager decision at ur local Target…I spoke to mine and he said that as long as your coupon meets the requirements…and you get those items…you will get both free. Now I just got to hope that there are some left tomorrow. Oh and he also said dont expect to come in with more than one coupon for 2 free items, they wont allow shelf clearing. Hope this helps!!!
TargetEmployee85
I’m so glad they did this. I see a lot of couponers on other sites saying they’re confused and they didn’t realize they could have used to BOGO coupons before, but that isn’t the case. You could never do it, this just clarifies that fact. Ever since the extreme coupon show we have an influx of people having no idea how to coupon and coming in trying to clear the shelves.
A BOGO coupon is clear, so I don’t understand why people would think otherwise. You must BUY</b one in order to get a second one free. You can't use a coupon on a free item! That doesn;t even make sense. Now, stacking makes perfect sense. IF, one coupon is Target, and the other is Manufacturer. But only one can be a BOGO.
Also, this does address combining BOGO coupons with a sale, because it states:
Unless stated otherwise on the coupon, the use of one Buy One Get One Free coupon requires that two of the valid items are presented at checkout of which one item will be charged to the guest and the 2nd item will be discounted by its full retail price.
This wouldn’t be the case if you’re combining it with a BOGO sale.
Of course as with everything, things may vary store to store for several reasons.
But this is the official policy so I’m glad its been addressed. I took upon myself to have copies of the new coupon policy laminated and present at each register, all the cashiers are aware of the policy changes and what can and cannot be done.
Yes coupons do bring guests to the store and that’s wonderful. But we also need to have merchandise for other guests. Every Sunday a new ad starts, so an “extreme couponer” or even glorified hoarder in some cases can show up at 8am, buy up every single last deoderant that’s on sale, and be out. Now when a regular guest comes in and sees the shelf empty, they get angry and understandably so. The first day of a sale and we don’t have the product? That makes us look bad, and we may lose guests because of it. It’s been happening and I believe that’s why they’re taking steps to clarify are policy and set some limits. And no, it’s not as simple as just “get more product.”
Also, some people believe things like so what, they’ll get reimbursed by the manufacturer so they aren’t losing anything. Well, yes and no. We do get reimbursed for valid coupons. At anytime a manufacturer can audit the store. If they see coupons that were used incorrectly, or on products for which they were not intended, its within their contract to not pay target for that sale. So these shelf clearers, who got say $800 worth of stuff for free, Target just paid for your transaction because they aren’t getting reimbursed. That’s an $800 loss, which will lead to hours being cut, and higher prices for everyone in the long run. That’s just one scenario!
We also have a problem with people extreme couponing, buying $1200 worth of merchandise, paying only a couple hundred or less for their purchase, then proceeding to turn around and return it all to another store for the full $1200. Now not only have they cleared shelves in one store, but now you have a surplus of product in another store. Not only is it time consuming and counter productive to have to put back this surge of bodywash, but they will now have to be put on pricecut because that store has way too much of the same product and nowhere to put it! So again, Target loses money which is passed on to the employees and the consumer. And the above scenario constitutes fraud, and we’ll be cracking down on the crooks soon enough.
Anyway, after my long ramble, the point is that yes coupons bring us business, but it can definitely hurt us as well. And in the end the consequences are going to affect everyone. So, legitimate couponers, keep doing what you’re doing! But don’t be surprised by changes and/or more scrutiny, you can blame that stupid show and unscrupulous characters.