Every Thursday I’ll pose a question for you to share your experiences and tips. If you have a question that you’d like me to post, I’d love to hear from you!
If you’ve been couponing for very long, chances are you’ve come across a tough cashier — one who acts like you’re wasting their time or doing something illegal, who huffs and puffs as they scan your coupons or, worse, says that they can’t accept coupons that you know are valid and acceptable under the store’s policy. Running into too many of these types of cashiers can make couponing an awful experience instead of an enjoyable one, and more than one couponer has quit because they prefer to avoid confrontation.
So how do you deal with tough cashiers? Do you have tips to spot them and avoid them altogether? What do you do to try to “set the mood” before you check out? How do you handle their bad attitudes or refusal to accept coupons?
Join the discussion — add your two cents to previous Ask DSM Readers questions too!
Heather
I have had some horrible experiences at WalMart but my local grocery store (Food Lion) is awesome! Some weeks I do awesome with coupons and others I do ok. And when I am too busy to get coupons together but have to get some things from the store my cahsier (I try to use the same cashier because she is awesome everytime I come in with a stack of coupons) looks at me and says no coupons today. Its funny that they know me so well. But they never give me trouble and always have a smile and never seem to have a problem with it. I try to avoid places that have problems with me using coupons unless I have to go there. And if I go to WalMart I try to look for the few cashiers that are polite when I use them or do self check-out. They have tried not to take a few coupons before but I always put up a fight and cause a scene! Hehe! Rite Aid is another one that I have a problem with. One cashier looks at me like I am low class because I use coupons and has an attitude when she has to scan them. Now I am young and I have 2 children but that shouldn’t subject me to being low class or any less better than this person. I cannot stand people that think they are better than you because you use coupons. My husband makes plenty of money for us to live on, I just use the coupons to save money so we can one day build a house. And last I saw, statistics show that low class people are the least likely to use coupons.
Jeanne
Thanks, everyone, I am learning from all of you, as well as DSM. I don’t quite understand how ‘stacking’ coupons work, but appreciate all of your tips above and on prior posts.
Amanda B
I have a sheet of notebook paper in my binder… When I encounter a bad cashier at a store I normally shop at I write down the name AND their description. I do the same if I have a great cashier who knows the ‘real’ rules. When I return to the store I look at that stores list of cashiers to refresh my memory and look for a certain cashiers. I avoid Wal Mart like the plague if I am couponing but like other posters said If I cannot avoid it (or there is a REALLY great deal) I looks for a younger male cashier because they could care less. I also have noticed that those cashier who are SUPER SUPER fast usually HATE coupons because they think it slows them down (as well as the super super slow cashiers because they are usually somewhat new and don’t know how to handle them) . I look for a middle of the road cashier speed wise.
Noemy
If a cashier is giving me a hard time I ask him/her to cancel the transaction and I go straight to customer service (if none is available then I kindly ask to speak with a manager).
I always address them by their first name as it appears on their nametag. If the cashier is nice I’ll say something like “hey thanks Megan, enjoy the rest of the afternoon” with a huge smile. If the cashier is not being nice I’ll say “Sarah why don’t you cancel the transaction and ask your manager to come over please.” This usually fixes their additude. Once the manager comes over I’ll say “Hey George, Sarah and I don’t seem to agree on your coupon policy. Can you please clarify it for us so we understand.” and so on and so on
Becky Jensen
At my local grocery store I try to go in the evening when all the teens are working, they’re much more easy going. By now they pretty much all know me. (In fact, if I got in without coupons they ask where they are!) They’re so much easier to work with and they’ll even say how great coupons are. It’s the older ladies that work during the day that give me fits!
susan
I do not have to shop with young children and the only store I ever have a problem with is Target…so I do SMALL transactions. If I have a lot to get I bring a purchase out to the car and go back in. I too always check size restrictions on Q’s as well as expiration dates. I never hand a stack of Q’s over at once. I had them over one at a time, they do not get the next one till I see the amount come off. I agree with checking out with a male cashier, even if they question the Q they are not usually mean about it so that does not bother me. These tips usually make shopping Target more enjoyable for me compared to when I first started.
Jennifer
Ha ha! Great topic! My husband left me for a Wags and Wal-Mart checkout girl! (at different times) So I do not go to either of those stores! Which just makes since, because those are the ones everyone complains about! I did give Wags a go, but prob after prob, week after week, I said * it! I don’t need this crap when I have CVS!
Jennifer
Opps…I meant EX HUSBAND!
Brenda
He’d better be your EX with that kind of behavior! :)
Jennifer
Guys are nice because we have boobs! Yes I go to the guys too! LOL
Melody
I will never go to Target again. I’ve had my fair share of grumpy, uncooperative cashiers, but my last trip to Target trumped all of them. I had a new employee and someone who was training her. As the trainer instructed the new hire on how to enter coupons that won’t scan she huffed and puffed and gave me dirty looks. Then as I was leaving (and in the back of my mind trying to absorb the situation and figure out why she was so offended by my transaction) I heard her tell the cashier “that’s what you call a con artist right there” I called the manager the next day. He apologized and didn’t seem surprised when I told him the cashiers name and what happened. A con artist for USING TARGET COUPONS with manufacturer coupons??? It’s just beyond ridiculous.
jill
First off, (and this is going to sound sexist, so I will apologize in advance!) I shoot for getting male cashiers, preferably younger. I’ve had many grouchy females but only had trouble with one man, ever. Second, I make sure I am so ready that it’s ridiculous: coupons in order, children contained, items on the belt in a timely matter, etc. Third, I am friendly. I think this one makes a huge difference. I will also apologize to anyone in line behind me who has to wait longer because of my coupons and thank both the cashier and other customers for their patience. I usually know going in which stores I will have trouble with… Everyone at my CVS knows me and goes out of their way to be helpful and kind! They know me by name there :) I even took some homemade buckeyes to the employees of my CVS at Thanksgiving, since I felt awful to be shopping there on a day when they should have been with their families! I’ve had the same experience with Meijer, extremely helpful and friendly – if sometimes a little confused, but if there’s been a problem I’ve just gone to their customer service desk and they’ve taken care of me right away (with a smile)! Target is hit or miss: either super great or terrible. My worst experiences have been with Kroger, including a manager calling me in response to them refusing a legitimate coupon to tell me that their coupon policy is, “we don’t accept a coupon if it makes the item too cheap.” (YES, that is a direct quote! Ha!) She also admitted that they should have accepted the coupon in question but did not offer to do anything to correct their error. I avoid Walmart altogether because I can’t stand that place without coupons, can’t imagine what it’d be like with coupons!
Michelle
Walgreen–the one by my house has the nicest lady who even gives me some extra coupons that she keeps under the register & she loves how I know how to save so much money. Now the Walgreen by my work~ a whole different story–I actually caught her taking my coupons 2 at a time and only scanning the top one!! When I asked her about it, she said–well I don’t even care–I told her perhaps if she clipped more coupons she wouldn’t have to work so much and wouldn’t be so grumpy to people like me who are shopping in the store and paying her salary. I actually had to turn her in to the manager which I would not usually do. But she was soooo rude. Now I get all the coupons I can just so I can go to her reigster!!!!
Jennifer
OMG Jill! You said it all…”I avoid Walmart altogether because I can’t stand that place without coupons, can’t imagine what it’d be like with coupons!” That is the coolest thing I’ve heard all week! And I feel 1000% the same way!!! LOL!!!
Deb
I am a Christian so I try to live by Phillipians 2:3-4. Most cashiers are nice people who either a) don’t know the store policy or b) don’t know how to make the cash register do what they want it to do. I have found that a humble quiet approach works best. Sometimes they have to think it through and figure it out. Nobody wants to be yelled at or humiliated in front of their boss. I worked retail in high school and their suspicion is not unwarranted, there are plenty of people out there attempting to defraud major retailers.
I am thankful that I can stay home with my children and don’t have to work as a cashier to support my family so I try to extend graciousness to them. I mean if I am having a bad day, don’t I expect my husband, kids, friends, etc. to do that to me?
LindaB
I have a certain cashier that I have called the Walgreens Corporate office three times over. She seemed friendly enough but when I handed her an IP coupon she says “we don’t take ‘copied’ coupons.” I corrected her and told her that this was an internet printable coupon and I would never copy any coupon because it isn’t legal. She calls over a manager who tells me the same thing…what?!*&! Walgreens managers aren’t even properly trained on coupons. They don’t know the difference between and IP and a copied Q…!?*&! I called and emailed their corporate office. The store manager calls me the next day to apologize but insisted that they no longer take home printed coupons….what?!*&! We discussed this matter over 30 minutes nicely at first but then it grew more intense with him finally agreeing to post their ‘new’ policy as you walk into the store…it never happened. I went back this time with a Q from an insert. Same cashier took the Q but when I handed her my $20.00 bill to pay she held it up to the light and studied it for over 30 seconds…like I had printed it off too. (Guess they now considered this 55 year old-grandma a counterfeiter!) I called and emailed again, again the store manager calls me to apologize. I cancelled all my prescriptions after this call. I went again to the same cashier who smiled smuggly at me when I got to her register. She then scanned each of my insert coupons for dates, checked the items to see if I had the right items etc…then I used my debit card to avoid her checking my cash over like it wasn’t real. She was trying to make me mad…didn’t bother me. I called Walgreen’s Corporate office again, but this time wrote a letter telling about her rude behavior. I also told them how much I now appreciate CVS and their skilled employees and how much they appreciate my business. A stark contrast to their own customer service and under-trained employees. Got another call from the store manager…we’re not friends but he sure knows me now! I’ll keep going in and I’ll keep complaining if I get bad service just to let them know I can. I’m not going to let their rude and unskilled behavior ruin my hard work and dedication to getting good deals there. I am going to get the best deals I can find with my hard earned dollars but most of my money is spent elsewhere now.
c
who cares if they check your bills. its their policy. get over it. they have to do it to everyone, not just the black guys.
Patricia
I always always be extra nice from the beginning. Asking a simple “How are you today” can really change the mood of a cashier. Even from the way I arrange my groceries as I put them on the counter. I made sure everything is organized so that it’ll be easy for them to bag. Then I will always tell the cashier that I will have a few coupons with me. When I do have the BOGO coupons, I usually will put the coupon on top of the item so that it will be easy for them to enter the price. My greatest “weapon”, my 19 mo old daughter in her pigtails! She would say hi and bye to everyone. I think when people see I have a toddler to feed it kinda justify the fact that I took a longer when checking out because of my coupons.
Erin
I’m so glad you brought this up! I’ve had a few cashiers get mad at me because I was getting the product for free. Hello Target cashier, this doesn’t come out of your check so why the grief?!? And I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been to CVS to do the same exact transaction but depending on the cashier, came out with different outcomes.
As a big couponer, I always do my homework. I make sure I have the right product for the coupon and for $ off purchases, I usually calculate the amount in advance. If the cashier questions me I calmly explain to her my process so that she can understand. If need be, I will wait for a manager to help. I’ve found that often they realize I won’t give up so they “give in” even though I am doing everything correctly and legally. I used to feel embarassed for talking about a 50 cent difference or for holding up the line, but I’m doing everything right so I realized that I have nothing to feel guilty about.
Having the coupon policy with me as helped a few times but sometimes I just go to another location or try another day with a different cashier.
Jenna
I have only had a major prob with Meijer…but that was with management. Now the only things I buy there are free or great deals. I have a few cashiers there that love my son and put up with my coupons. I do my normal groceries (items I need ASAP and no sale) at Kroger where the same man works the U-scan throughout the week. He’s been there since I was prego and my son is now almost 19 months old. I try to hit CVS, Wag, and Rite Aid first thing Sunday morning if there are deals I’m like to get. The same cashiers work at all three stores and know my son and me. It was fun when my mom visited a few months back taking her with me to get some of my deals and introducing her to them ;)
I’ve come to find just smiling and be confident (b/c you made sure all was legit with your #, Q’s, policies).
Amy
i have usually never had a problem with targets until this past week… i have been denied coupons because they dont undersand how to read a coupon… when it says use 1 coupon per item purchased it doesnt mean “1 per transaction per person per day” like the supervisor told me… I called corporate and they said that the stores have the right to limit the number of items sold… he didnt limit the items sold… i could still buy 4 of 1 thing, but i was only able to use 1 coupon … this has all happened in the past week. i can understand limiting the printed coupons – but when someone goes and buys a sunday paper or two just for the coupons at 1.50 each, im sure they are not counterfiting or forging them… i was told my scrubbing bubbles coupons were bogus by a couple cashiers… i keep trying, just like corporates email said… and…go from there…
Lori L
HI everyone!
This is driving me crazy & I have to go to WalMart tomorrow to return a few items. Now, after reading all of this, I’m scared. I believe my returns (with receipt, of course) will actually come out to be more than what I paid OOP. I had a ton of food Qs that day & the items that I’m returning are health & beauty & automotive. There is a very grumpy mgr & lady at the svc desk.
DOES KNOW HOW THIS WORKS:
I have to return a few non-food items from last week. What is the policy of returning with a receipt, but a coupon may have been used on it? Walmart’s Qs are at the end of the receipt, not itemized like Target. Quite frankly, I don’t remember what had a Q & what didn’t. I just know that I had a lot of Qs that day with a hefty savings.
THANKS to everyone for sharing! It’s great to know I’m not alone on this couponing adventure!
rydergal
You’ll get back the full purchase price of the items. The store has turned in the coupons, and will still be reimbursed from the manufacturer for them, so they won’t factor into your return at all.
laine
If you think they will say something about getting more back than you spent…take part of it back and then the rest later.
Chancey
One place that I have quit going to is Walgreens. I have had nothing but problems with my coupons at that place. The straw that broke the camels back was when they had the Wet Ones on sale & we got the Q’s taht made them free after the RRs. The boy cashier didn’t ring them up as 1.50 he manually rang them up as .75 Q’s. I was in such a hurry that night to get home b/c my son was sick that I didn’t even notice until later on that night. I was like, hmmm I think I paid too much at Walgreens tonight. I was ticked when I looked at my receipt. That & I couldn’t get the Q’s back either! So I haven’t been there since. I try to avoid Walmart anymore, it’s such a hassel there too. If my coupon is more than what the item costs they give me a hard time. Last time I was there I asked a manager about them & she said they would adjust the Q, but I still have problems with the jerks that work there. I love shopping at Winn Dixie & Target. Target lets me have the overage!!! & When I got to Winn Dixie I never spend more than I save. Last week, I spent $58.00 (we have 10% tax which stinks) & I saved $80.00! & in that transaction I even bought a box of Huggies! :) I had a coupon for $10.00 off $30.00 in baby items, I had the $10.00 from the baby club, had some ocupons, & had a store Q & manufacture Q for the diapers. So really I spent $4.00 on the box of diapers :) The nearest Publix (I love shopping there with Qs) & Kroger are in Georgia :( We don’t have either one in Anniston which stinks :(
Chancey
Actually I forgot about the $10.00 baby club, so really the box of diapers was free hehe. They were on sale for 19.99!
lynn
This is why cashiers are tough to deal with a-holes like you!!!!!!!!!!
Ashlee
I HATE confrontation. However I will stick up for myself when I need to. Sometimes my CVS will accept a $ off coupon and a BOGO coupon, sometimes not. I never argue with those since I know that is a really gray area in coupons. Our grocery stores double coupons $.99 and below. They always double whether they say do not double or not. One time at Meijer I had a cashier manually prevent every coupon from doubling. I nicely asked about it and she was very rude and said she doesn’t want to lose her job just so I can rip them off. I again very nicely said I have been shopping here for years and have never had this happen. She offered to get the manager and the manager said she was wrong to prevent them from doubling. The manager told me their policy is if it doubles on its own they allow it, but if it doesn’t they cannot manually double it if it says do not double. I can accept that. I however will not go to that same cashier again.
Kirsten
Most of the coupons I use come from online. I can’t imagine being accused of fraud like some of you have. However , I have only been printing coupons for a month now so i’m sure the day will come when I am accused. Last time I went to my grocery store, (HEB) a couple of my printed coupons wouldn’t go through. I guess they wouldn’t scan . I’m not sure why since I wasn’t running low on ink or anything. And I uploaded the computer printer.But the manager came out and told me that if the coupons don’t scan , then they can’t accept them. I was kind of bummed cause I was hoping that since I did purchase the items on the coupons in the right sizes and quantities they would just enter them manually for me.Mind you 20 or more of my other coupons scanned just fine. so i’m not sure why some scan and some don’t. Now I worry when I go shopping if the coupons I print are going to scan or not. I also hate to waste my printer ink printing a coupon that won’t scan.
Michelle S
First, I avoid older women. They are the most difficult when it comes to coupons. Often, not always, they act like the money you’re saving comes out of their check! I try to look for younger, male cashiers – they don’t take it personally if you use coupons. Second, I always start talking to them right away about a fun topic or if they’re having a good hair day, or something to that effect. I do have a lot of trouble at walmart with coupons and price matching so I keep a copy of their corporate policy in my coupon box. Even if a manager is called over, they can’t argue with it. I try to go at the same time during the day so that I often use the same cashier and we start talking about our kids, how that garden is coming, etc.
Elena
i totally agree with you about young male cashiers… they always give me props about how much i saved and my oop
Kristen
I also prefer the young males if there isn’t a cashier available whom I already know will work with me and my coupons. Most of the time they are amazed at the savings.
Terri
Our Target and Walgreen stores in Grand Junction, CO is the worst! But I will always do the following, if showing them a copy of the policy fails to work: 1) ask to speak to the manager; 2) if the mgr is uncooperative (it happens a lot), let that manager know that you will be contacting their corporate office (get the names of the manager and cashier), and 3) contact their corporate or district office(s) and ask that they not only clarify store policy to their local store managers and cashiers but that they respond to you, or have someone respond to you, either in writing or on the phone, to let you know that the policies are understood and have been implemented. Contact info can usually be found online. You can also contact the Better Business Bureau and file your complaint with them. The stores are obligated to respond. I’ve done all of these things with various local stores. They hate confrontation just as much as we do, but they hate having their names and managerial skills brought into question even more. So the threat or actions of taking your complaints “higher up” generally yield favorable results. Not doing anything is tantamount to acceptance of bad behavior, which is unacceptable.
michelle
I hjave had several run-ins with the cashiers at my local Safeway here in Az. I was advised by quite a few people to go exactly the same route you go, that is through corporate, etc. I came really close a few times, but always held back. My question to you is this, after all the complaints you register, do the stores give you a harder time when you go back? I would rather get in an arguement with the manager than be an object of ridicule. I have tried 4 different Safeways here in Az, and they really take the cake at being rude, loud and obnoxious. They all seem to come up with new rules everytime you go there and invariably nothing works in your favor. The most ridiculous rule one of the cashiers threw at me was they no longer accept more than 3 coupons per transaction because the recession was forcing more people to use coupons! huh, whatwasthat?? My brains feel like a bowl of spaghetti trying to figure out that line of reasoning! So then, do you go back to the same stores you have complained about?
The other stores I go to, I normally walk up to the cashiers who especially give me a hard time, and I announce that their ‘favorite problem couponer is here’ This normally embarrasss the heck out of them and we end up having a ‘polite’ checkout. At Target, I always go for the young male cashiers….they are the coolest.
Shanon
This winter, on a night before a winter storm was supposed to hit, I spent about 2 hours matching my coupons to the Kroger sale items and didn’t get to the register until it was almost closing time. When I handed the cashier my coupons at the end of the transaction she gave me that look of disgust and told me that she could only accept 2 internet coupons total. I explained how long it took me too match these properly and that I had no probmlems in the past using internet coupons and could she show me that policy. As the line behind me grew, she argued that she learned this in training and wouldn’t even try my coupons. Luckliy a customer service employee came and looked up the policy which read that you could use 2 internet coupons per type of product. Finally she scanned the coupons and only 1 or 2 even beeped, which the CS employee took care of. The situation was embarassing for me and made the people behind me angry. I went online and checked Kroger’s Coupon policy and when there was no mention of the “2 only” rule, so I called the manager and explained what happened. He apologized, said he would speak to the cashier, and gave me a $5 gift card. It hasn’t happed since, but I carry around the policy now just in case!
Stella
I have to say that generally speaking I have found that it is true about a cashiers age/gender and whether they are easy going about coupons or not. Please note that I said generally. I have come across a few exceptions. If I am unfamiliar with the cashiers when I am ready to check out, I look for a male. Young or older, I’ve never encountered a cranky male cashier. If there are no male cashiers I look for a young female. And yes, generally speaking I get he most trouble from middle-aged female cashiers. I don’t like when I’ve been asked if I copied a coupon (I’m constantly asked that at WalMart), but when I respond “no” and they leave it at that, I understand that the cashiers are only asking the questions they were told to. My Shop Rite and Price Chopper won’t take any coupons that say free or Buy one Get one Free. The manager at Shop Rite told me that the manufacturer only reimburses the store very little and they cannot afford to accept them. I just use those coupons at Target. When I am done shopping, I find a quiet isle and go through my coupons and make sure I have the items and the correct quantity in my cart. I do not get in a line to check out before I am ready and knowing that I went through my items and coupons beforehand makes me feel more confident when it is my turn in line. For me the stress associated with checking out is worth it for the savings I receive.
Pam
I have the same experiences with young male cashiers. At my Krogers, I always go on the same night so I know “MY” cashier is working. He is as excited to see what deals I have each week as I am. Never go to middle aged women… and NEVER NEVER NEVER go to Walmart with coupons. Only go there if absolutely necessary. Walgreens cosmetic counters are great in my area too… When they see me in the store, they tell me to come get them when I am ready to check out.
Colleen
I have only had one bad experience so far. I was at Family Dollar. I had never used a coupon there and was unfamiliar with their policy. The manager told the cashier and me that they accepted coupons, but not those for free items, like the ones we get on facebook for free Vitamin Water, free sunchips, etc. When she rang me up, one of my items was $1 and I had a coupon for $1 off, making it free. I said I did not think this was the same situation and she asked the mgr who said it was ok. I again nicely told her that I was new to using coupons at their store and said I would have to look up their policy to learn it so I don’t hold up her line next time. Then she ripped a printout off the wall and slammed it on the counter…It was their coupon policy. I was not sure why she got so hostile, other than she clearly did not understand it herself and was maybe feeling embarrassed. I was nice the whole time, even after her slamming the paper on the counter, but I did write an email to the company but never got a response. Needless to say, I have not been back to that store.
CS
I am a cashier at a local dpt store like Target, and my store has never educated any of the cashiers about coupons. We had a double coupon week and half of the week the managers were arguing about what we could and could not double, and if we do or do not accept internet coupons. Two weeks later we had it advertised all over the store that we do accept internet coupons, when only weeks before I had been yelled at for accepting them. Because of this, when I coupon I assume that most cashiers do not understand coupons or have not been taught their coupon policy, so I am always patient when i explain why my purchase is correct.
As a cashier I will look through coupons to make sure that the exp dates are correct (lots of exp ones will still scan but I can get in trouble if i accept them), but beyond that I will usually force coupons through if i can see that their purchase is correct. Also, I am always nice to my cashiers, because I know that when I am working I am nicer to people who are nice to me. When my customers are nice I will tell them if their is a similar or same item on clearance, or if there are coupons in the store that will save them lots, or even if they would get a better deal if they purchased more or did separate transactions. When a customer is rude to me, especially about all of the questions that I am required to ask, then I will not go out of my way to help them save.