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!
Katherine
I have had some very rotten experiences in the 8 monthes that I have been couponing but the deals make it fun and worthwhile. What I try to bear in mind is that you might meet that quick-to-the-draw cashier at church or they might turn out to be a friend of a friend. So if they turn hostile, let it slide. Ignorant or hostile cashiers used to unnerve me and I would come home and vent. It does get easier, though. Yes, go to young male cashiers; they’re often so much nicer. And try to have a “you win some, you lose some” attitude even though your pocketbook could really use the break. The best thing that I have learned: THE DEALS KEEP COMING! At first I thought that if I missed out on something then I missed my one chance but no, no! There are more deals every day!! :)
Jan
Walmart has had the greatest amount of issues with everyone I know. Many of the folks I know have stopped shopping at Walmart for this very reason.
Target and Kroger never give any hassles or issues with coupons. I think that these stores realize if they take one extra coupon that is worth like .35 that they do not get paid for it is way better than loosing even one customer. Something Walmart has not learned. Walmart often marks things as roll back and low price and then the item scans way higher as well. The round carrossels also are an issue for me. The cashiers do not help you make certain you have all of your bags / when I left something behind last winter i called right away but then I got really sick and could not get back to the store and when i got well I went back to the store with my reciept and note regarding the phone call and they checked the book they saw where the bag was left but they stated that since x amount of time had passed it was my bad luck they would not allow me to go get the items. (this was about 18.00 worth of stuff) this got me extremely upset. Stores that do not care about their customers deserve to loose the customer. So if the store does not treat you right move on!
suzanne
I have had a couple of run-ins with one older female cashier and one rather young male assistant manager at the Walgreens closest to me. They act like I am stealing or something. And I don’t even do multiple transactions like some people talk about. The last run-in I had with this duo was when I was using one of the Walgreens internet coupons from their own website. Their coupon didn’t scan in the system and they acted like it was some how my fault. I went to the corporate website and filled out a complaint form about the two of them. Now they mostly avoid me when I am shopping, which frankly, suits me just fine. The others are always friendly and helpful. I pass those messages on too.
Rebecca
The worst example so far was an arrogant older woman at a CVS who took my internet coupons, lined them up on the counter very neatly and said, “I can’t take these.” I asked why and she said, “because you photocopied them all.” I was livid!!! I bit my tongue and said, no I most certainly did NOT photocopy them, that is coupon fraud and I do not commit fraud. There were a couple of people behind me and she was adamant that these coupons were fakes and she would not take them. She then pointed out that the bar code was the same, to which I responded that they were supposed to be since they are for exactly the same product. I then pointed out that there was a unique ID code to each coupon and if she doubted me, to take my credit card information and driver’s license information because I had absolutely nothing to hide or be ashamed of, afterall, I was shopping with my 5 year old daughter and I needed to be clear that I was doing nothing wrong! She then picked up the coupons and started going through the fine print and said well they say one coupon per purchase. I informed her that I was only use one per purchase but that I was using five per transaction which was totally fine. She still insisted I was passing fraudulent coupons and called the manager … who took them as she grumbled that he could do it but she certainly wasn’t going to lose her job over it. I really should have called corporate because I didn’t do one darned thing wrong but I brushed it off as the price we pay for paying a low price. Most of the time I don’t say anything but that time was just too much.
Normally, I just try to get younger cashiers, male preferably. I hate saying this because it is total discrimination but I avoid heavy set female cashiers, no matter their age. I myself am quite heavy so I hate saying that a heavy person isn’t always nice but I have found too many that seem angrier then they should be, no matter their age.
My daughter is quite the distraction as well and usually makes most cashiers friendly right off the bat. She’s a little chatter box and loves people … and people generally love her right back. I love when she trades silly bands with the younger cashiers! Lol. :D
dana
I agree with michelle s.I always cruise the check out lanes kinda scope out the cashiers of course my hubby laughs at me.It reminds me of an old wild west movie were you look at each other and stare each down.What I try to look for is young males or females who dont look like they care less.Like michelle said the older ones kinda get mad about it.I went to publix about 2 weeks ago and they had the special k granola cruch b1g1 I had 2 $1.00 q’s and the price was $3.19 so with the q’s it would have been $1.19 for 2 boxes.Well I had about 10 boxes of special K I was excited of course so I scoped out the cashiers and found one well I had seen this older cashier and avoided her like the plague and she was in the next lane so I got in my lane with the nice cashier and a manager comes and said maam you can move to the next lane and I thought oh shoot.Well I got over there and she started ringing me up and scanned my q’s as she was ringing up I thought I seen her not ring up some of my special k coupons.Well i didnt really believe it to be true but it was and being that I had already fought with my 2 yr old the whole time I was not willing to go back in and put him in a tizzy again.So I sucked it up and next time regardless of wheather someone tries to tell me to get in her line next time I will not and I will tell them why.Most of the time its easy for me but I do run into those sometimes who want to hassle you.I tell those people bottom line ot dosent come out of your check and your store gets the money back so just deal with it.
Jen
Yes, don’t let them drag you over to another lane! If the lines are long, find an interesting magazine to look at while you’re waiting for your good and/or cool cashier. If they say “M’am I can take you over here”, just say “Oh that’s Ok, really wanted to read this magazine while I wait!”.
Sometimes, if i see the lines are really long and this deal about opening a new lane is likey to happen, I just shop around a little bit more, and wait for my favorite cashier, or a cool-looking dude cashier, to have a shorter line. But it’s just my luck that while I”m “shopping around” that someone ELSE gets in that line.
It’s such a game, finding the best cashier. Here are my choices:
1. young cool guy, tattoos and piercings a plus
2. young cool girl
3. older guy
4. older woman….always last choice!
But even a young guy can be a pain, especially if he looks like he’s not that “cool” and maybe has been bullied or picked on in school. He might turn around and bully me by reading the fine print on the copuons and saying “oh this says ‘one coupon per purchase’ so you can only use one of these…”
There are always exceptions! One of my favorite cashiers is an older guy; he is so nice.
Nicole
I totally agree with you guys about the young male cashiers! I feel like sometimes cashiers at CVS get annoyed with all my coupons, but a few of the guys at my CVS are always excited and just say NO WAY! when I get almost everything for free. Luckily, I’m still in college and most of the cashiers around here are students like me who are trying to save money as well so they will help me out. I’ve never had a bad experience down here, but my Dad is a big coupon user and its usually older women who are unhappy with their jobs that try to take it out on you. I try to avoid really old women or those who just seem like they are not having the greatest day.
Greg
I have been power shopping for the past several months and have had a couple of issues but have gone back to the stores so often that most of the store employees know me and want to know what I am purchasing that day. The benefits of using coupons far outweighs any issues that we might encounter. There are several Walgreen, CVS, Target, Kroger stores in a radius of 10 miles of where I live and if there is a good sale I hit them all so I can spread the coupons out and not look like an obvious coupon junkie. I max out the free items at CVS and Walgreens every week based on CVS bonus buck quantity limit and at Walgreens based on the number of coupons I have clipped from the Sunday paper. Today I purchased 12 bottles of dish soap at CVS and had 12 coupons – no problem. Targets have been great and I have purchased up to 10 items and used 10 coupons. Two weeks ago I was purchasing Vaseline lotion several at a time and got each container for $.04. There were occasions where the register would not accept the $3.75 coupon but when the cashier or manager compared the product and found it legitmate the cashier would force the coupon to accept. I was never denied the use of coupons. I don’t shop at Walmart as one shopping trip last Christmas I purchased about $60.00 worth of items and when I got to the point of handing the cashier the coupons I was told the store did not accept internet coupons. I asked why that was not posted on their door at the front of the store. I said that is fine I will go to Kroger where I know they will accept my coupons and said goodbye. No biggy. I left them deal with putting back what I had hoped to purchase. Besides Walmart does not double or triple coupons. A couple of Walgreen stores also would not accept internet coupons so I called the corporate office and filed complaints. The next time I visited the stores I asked again if they accepted internet coupons and the response changed – yes we do as long as there is the bar code on them.
I will purchase items at Kroger and use the self check out to run through at least two seperate transactions. Kroger limits the double/triple couponing to the first item. So I have more than one order. I get the Sunday paper for $.50 so I have cashed in on the BOGO coupons and other high dollar coupons. Some weeks I purchase 20 papers and end up saving $100s of dollars.
I have been unemployed for 14 months and have learned a strategy by reading and following the posting on websites such as this. I appreciate you very much for the work you do and the service you provide. I pay it forward by donating much of this stuff I acquire and by teaching others the art of coupon shopping. I spent time with my 80 year old mother this past weekend and showed her how she could get free stuff at CVS that she could give to the grand kids. I am trying to start a coupon club in my area as I had gone through the Dave Ramsey video sessions at my church and there were several people that were also couponing. Dave endorses the use of coupons as reflects good stewardship with our finances. So far this year I have saved 68% on food and all the other stuff. I have purchased $7,345.00 worth of stuff (shelf price) and have paid $2472.00 for it.
Valerie
I haven’t noticed any problems at all with middle aged women; they seem to want to learn couponing when they see the deals, young men are also great. Not to generalize but the younger women are the ones that give me the blank stare and the “the computer won’t let me do that” comments, the eye rolls and the sighs.
I personally like a manager to ring me up because they (usually) know the rules. The problem areas I often run into are BOGO/BOGO, Free Item coupons (cashiers don’t know how to enter in the amount so they ignore it and I don’t realize it till I get home) and combining manu. w/store coupons
I try to give them a really organized pile of coupons and make sure that everything is legit. I don’t really bother with gray area competitor coupons, etc.
I typically am friendly about it until it gets ridiculous. One time at CVS the cashier tried to call the manager and about 10 minutes went by without him appearing. A long line had formed behind me and I told her to just void the entire thing. I’ve given up on many Target and Rite Aids because everyone is clueless about coupons.
Kroger and Publix are great; I just tell the cashiers up front I have a couple free item or BOGO coupons so they can watch for the prices to fill in on the coupon. CVS and Walgreens are pretty good for the most part,the managers especially are wonderful. If they aren’t I head to another store.
Michele
I once had a new cashier who thought that “do not double or triple” meant she couldn’t ring up more than one coupon in the same transaction (regardless of type or how many products you were buying. Thankfully, when I explained it to her, she scanned all my coupons without needing a manager, since it was really busy. Publix has always been good about listening & solving any problems I’ve had with my coupons. (Unlike Walmart – I hate shopping with coupons there).
Brooke
Wow, didn’t realize so many of you enjoyed couponing as much as I did. I’m fairly new to it, but already consider it a “hobby”! Thanks for sharing. I almost quit due to the complications/treatment I received at Wal-Mart. I’d rather change my shopping venue than give up my couponing! Yours in savings, Brooke S.
susan
I like my safeway amd fred meyer they are great for couponing.
My walgreens is the worst, customer service is terrible, they think the coupons are coming out of their pocket. So I travel 20+ miles to go to a nice one. My walmart is questionable. If i go to the manager they will take my coupons and adjust them, some checkers won’t take them.
Sue
I just discovered that Walgreens, at least the one I usually shop at, will not issue rainchecks on items that have the register reward bucks. CVS will, including the reward bucks, but not Walgreens which isn’t fair at all. At King Kullen supermarke they double coupons including dollar ones but limit the amount. Most of the time some won’t double even though there are no exclusions so it’s an onging battle to make sure they are done properly. I’ve probably lost more than I should with their strange system.
SHANNON
register rewards are coupons that print out specifically only for that weeks sale..so if the ad is over there is no way for us to “print” a register reward..but at my store we have wrote a rain check for the final sale price that is advertised minus the regl. reward..
Melissa
I think the worst was when I used too many coupons for the register at Bj’s and I spent an hour being embarrased by the floor manager who was trying to find a reason that I couldn’t use each coupon that I had. She kept trying to tell me that I couldn’t use a bj’s and a manufacturers for each item I had. and then tried to tell me that some of my in the mail from the manufacturer coupons were BJ’s coupons! Ultimately I still saved $245 and she still couldn’t ring it up, apparently their computers have only so many lines they can fill and I OVERFILLED the amount of space available. I know I shouldn’t have been embarrassed but when they make a public spectacle it’s hard not to be.
Jen
I try to deal with tough cashiers by simply not going to them. Avoidance is my main tactic. I avoid this one store during the day because I know the older grouchy ladies are the cashiers. When i first go into a store, I scope out the cashiers to see who is there. I like to shop when it’s busy and I have more of a choice of cashiers. You know, it shouldn’t be this way! We shouldn’t have to make such a science out of finding good cashiers…they should all treat us well, but it just doesn’t happen! How does this same grouchy cashier treat someone who is using food stamps? Do they roll their eyes, sigh, act like it’s a big hassle, and hold up the line by reading the fine print on the food stamps?
jackie
Thats how Dollar General treats me! They are so rude and grumpy! I dread every time I go there! ug!
jennifer
I have developed a “strategy” for each of the stores I frequent.
At WAGS – I avoid one elderly cashier. When I walk in the store, if she is there, I see if there is another cashier at the cosmetic counter – if not, I simply leave the store. She is grouchy even when I’m not using any coupons!!!!!
At CVS – I love the middle-aged women, they are terrific. Actually, I feel confident having almost anyone at CVS check me out.
At Meijer – I simply check and recheck my receipt. If it isn’t right, I just walk over to the customer service counter and they fix it every time.
At Target – AVOID middle-aged, heavy-set women. I’m not sure what the deal is with them at Target but they all seem to be mis-informed and not interested in learning what their company’s policies and procedures are. If possible, I look for young men to check me out – when this is not possible, I break up my transactions so that I can carefully watch what happens and one more than one occasion have had the cashier give me cash out of the register because a coupon didn’t scan.
Bottom line for me, as a consumer, it is my responsibility to know what a stores policy is and to follow-it. When they don’t, I make them correct it. I NEVER feel bad when a line is held up at any store for my purchases to be handled appropriately. I NEVER feel bad when a cashier makes a mistake and it needs to be fixed. I NEVER feel bad when I make a mistake and it needs to be fixed. I NEVER feel bad when I need to report poor customer service to a manager or even a corporate office. I am always courteous and pleasant and do not let other people determine what my attitude or response to poor customer service will be – who wants to be a “Debbie Downer” over making smart purchases?
Hilary
I only go to the self check out at Pathmark which takes longer but there is never any issues with coupon attitudes.
If an occasional coupon doesn’t scan the customer service gals (who know me & my couponing well) are very pleasant.
I’ve been saving half or more on every grocery trip since becoming a deal seeking mom reader combined with going to the self check out.
Sara
I have been a cashier before and sometimes, you’re just having a bad day! If you are in a job where you have too bee super-friendly on those days, around hour 5 of an 8 hour shift you may be at your limit! I’m not excusing rudeness, but sometimes we misinterpret when we’re on the other side of the counter. That said, if I have complicated transactions I wait until it’s not busy. Most people don’t mind ringing up more than one transaction, but as customers we need to be respectful of the fact that the cashier has to keep his/ her line moving. I’ve been able to warm up a few cold shoulders by being really friendly, and maybe throwing in a “I was so excited to find this deal…we’re almost out of money for the month.” Then the employee remembers that a lot of us do this for good reason. However, I’ve never had really awful, aggressive run-ins described above in couponing. I *have* had terrible, consistently rude treatment by 2 or 3 staff members at my doctors office. Just yesterday, while I was spending the fourth day in a row trying to get my prescription refill, the nurse hung up on me. Luckily, I don’t ever need to go back there and my doctor will be getting a registered letter re: why I am leaving his practice. Point is, we can make all the allowances in the world for someone behaving badly, but in the end, there is no reason to give them our money.
Megan
Sara – I do agree on some occasions that the person is just having a bad day. Yesterday, I was at Walmart and had a guy who basically declared that he had no ability to do anything, because he could not be trusted with any responsibility. I’m guessing this might have been something someone had said to him. Well, he worked through the problem and I got my items for free after coupons, and I had two wonderful ladies behind me in line who said they understood and new it wasn’t my fault either. I just stood patiently, not giving the guy a difficult time and thanked them all for their patience before I left. All was good and I just hope that guy has a better day today.
I do often find it does help to acknowledge the people in line behind you and apologize for the inconvenience this has created, but stand with confidence that I know what I’m doing is right. (not always easy though)
finallygettingtoeven.com
For the most part i have not had a lot of problems dealing with the cashiers not accepting my coupons (however, i don’t use a TON of coupons either).
Grumpy cashiers are just part of the whole shopping experience. I know, i used to be one. (a CASHIER…not a GRUMPY cashier).
The key is to always greet the cashier in a warm friendly manner. Remember they are just people too. They have good days and bad days, encounter extremely friendly folks and downright nasty individuals throughout the course of any given day. They have rude individuals that spend the entire checkout time talking on their cell phones, or chatting with everyone around them but never even acknowledging the cashier’s presence. I will get a ‘feel’ for the personality of the cashier and quickly try to determine what kind of mood they are and then play it accordingly. I usually will come off with something witty and get them to crack a smile. Once they realize that you are not going to be the enemy for the next 5 minutes they usually are quite cordial (even if you witnessed them being less than friendly to the 12 people in line in front of you).
Treat them with respect and kindness and they will return the favor, and in addition, the best part of all, they won’t smash your bread…..
Marion McCullers
I too have been a cashier at WalMart. I have also been on the floor. Most of my coworkers were nice, friendly people. I have seen some who came off rude. Usually it was someone I know to be super nice but as a fellow associate I knew they were rushed, tired and overworked. Often, they just lack training and are not encouraged to think outside the box. I always tried to find a way to solve a problem for a customer myself..
Stephanie
I have found that giving the cashiers tips on how they can get the same deals we do is a great way to get them to warm up to you. Give them blog sites, tell them where you got the valuable coupon you just used, etc.
Herald
I avoid older cashiers. I have found that a lot of them are very skeptical about printed coupons from the [evil] internet — their generation is not as computer savvy an they just don’t trust it.
The easiest cashiers are young guys – LOL!!!
I have 3 Walreens stores within a 15 mile radius. 1 is horrible about taking coupons, 1 is mediocre and the other one simply rocks…..so I always go there first and use the other 2 as a last resort.
Buddie
Lately I’ve been getting a lot of coupons that say “up to $$$” which means that the cashier has to write in the price the item is ringing up for at the store. Instead of waiting until the end and having the cashier try to locate the item I give them the coupons before hand and tell them they need to write the price in. Then while they are scanning the items I remind them when the item comes up. The usually scan it, write the amount on the coupon and then keep scanning. Then at the end when they ring in all the coupons they can easily type in the dollar amount. The cashiers tend to be very greatful about this little gesture.
Nettie
I can’t stand the walmart here, they are always trying to find a reason for you not to be able to use your coupons, so usually me and my fiance get into it with the cashiers and the managers about it even though my coupons get on his nerves sometimes. He still fights for me in the store when it comes down to it.. I got into it with one cashier at WAGS a few months back when they had B1G1F on purex and she told me i couldnt use a B1G1F coupon. I told her to get her manager because they still would get their money either way back from the coupon.. The manager came up and she told her that I could use it.. The cashier is the one that felt embarrassed.. I smiled and paid like 2.00$ in taxes for 10 boxes of purex … same thing happened at walmart for snuggles with the 100oz bottles and they ended up costing me 1.00 each… I can’t stand cashiers that give me problems with my coupons. I have no problem getting rude right back with them though.. I’m only 31 yrs old and i have been into coupons for almost 10 yrs now.. when my mom was alive she hated going coupon shopping with me.. she has been gone 8 yrs now.. I miss her dearly but I’m sure she doesnt miss my coupons lol
Rikki
When it comes to WALMART…. I have found the “self check” out to be my saving grace. I always have trouble with the cashiers telling me I can’t use coupons. The self check outs let you ring the coupon yourself. Sometimes it doesn’t recognize one and the person watching that section just has to come over and put in a code, but it has saved me much frustration doing it this way!
girl
I never had a bad experience with cashiers, maybe I’m just a very patient person :)
and I don’t really use coupons that often either.
Barbara A. Demblewski
When I encounter one of the many store clerks (or even managers) who claim they cannot honor one of my legitimate coupons and imply that I’m some species of crook, I happen to pull from my purse a Form that I printed up that I ask them to sign. The form states:
I herein refuse to honor ______________(Company’s Name, such as
P & G, KRAFT, etc) Manufacturer Coupon in the sum of _________ with an Expiration Date of __________________ .
Signature ________________________________
Store Name_______________________________
Date_____________________________________
Rather than sign my Form and get reported to the manufacturer by me, the clerks and/or managers are pretty quick to change their minds about accepting my coupon(s).
Josh
I’m a cashier at Walmart. If one of your coupons is rejected by the system, I wouldn’t take it. I wouldn’t refuse it simply to be a jerk, but because we can get in trouble from the cash office for putting it in manually, which can result in a coaching that is then held against us.
Not only would I refuse to sign your form, but I’d deny your coupon if the system said no, no matter how legit it was. Those are just the breaks of couponing in stores that treat their employees badly. Take it up with a manager or corporate, not your cashier. We are simply cogs in the wheels of life…
Linda
Tell em Josh! Walmart is just terrible to their employees. My mom works there and she is terrified of making the smallest decision because they are so hard on their cashiers. I hate that store. The deals aren’t even that good. Target is way better. Oh god, I dread having to make a return at walmart. They never know how to do it and always make it like it is my fault.
jackie
great form. thanks.
Evie Sintay
Yesterday, June 4 I was at Wal-mart with about 30 coupons the cashier had to get the Manager who then got another Manager they started to go over my coupons making such they either were from Smart source or had the little scissors on the top corner of the coupon. I never heard of it, I pulled out a copy of the Wal-mart coupon policy and they told me that these are the only coupons allow from now on. Thank you Barbara A. Demblewski for the refuse coupon form. I have made a copy and some changes and will be sending it to the Wal-mart Corporation telling them about this matter. Anyway after half hour dealing with this issue they ran all the coupons. I sincerely apologized to the customers on line. I was so embarrassed.
Stephanie
I believe the problem with coupon-user abuse starts at the management level. Often when I am blocked by a cashier it is because the management does not know their own store policies, and cashiers get written up for legitimate transactions. This is a very frustrating situation because the only appeal is often the customer service number for the chain, and one can even run into misinformed customer service representatives.
The only fool-proof relief I’ve found is SELF-CHECKOUT.
Generalizations about middle aged women, etc. may seem to be relevant in some situations, but I believe that the root of our frustrations is truly misinformed management.
Rebecca
LOL – I love the coupon refusal form! I am totally stealing that idea to keep one in my purse! I can think of a few occasions where that would have come in handy :)
Morgan
Dont be afraid to express your unhappiness with the way you have been treated. I email the stores corporate headquarters if I feel they have made a specticle of me and my coupons and degrade me. I was yelled at once from across the store in Albertsons by the manager, it was about how my Marcal Manufacturer coupon would not be honored and how she was tired of ‘dealing with me’. I emailed the corporate headquarters the next day and received a HUGE apology. I have not been treated that way again.
strandedj
I don’t handle it well. I was at Walgreens and unable to use my 2 dollar off 2 reach toothbrushes cuz there system doesn’t allow them to put 1.98 in (the price for 2). They would have to put 2 dollars in and that would be fraud. Give me a break!
dot
I try to handle the cashiers w/ humor. I tell them “I am the coupon queen” do you want to turn and run now??? then laugh w/ them!!!!! So far so good. Another tip is to go to the young kids (teenagers) they usually don’t care and will scan everything w/ no questions asked. I no longer shop at Stop and Shop in the New England area, because, they no longer accept competitors coupons. Their loss. Now I do almost all my shopping at Price Chopper, don’t care for their stores, but the prices and deals are the best around.