Fantastic news for those of you that have been having various issues with coupons at Target. The Target corporate coupon policy is now available online!
Target Stores Coupon Policy
Coupons are a great way to save even more when shopping with us, and it’s easy to use them at our stores.
- Target accepts one manufacturer coupon and one Target coupon for the same item (unless prohibited)
- Super Target coupons can be used in any Target store if the store carries the item
- We gladly accept valid internet coupons
Because of the variety of coupons available to our guests, we do have some guidelines for how coupons can be redeemed at Target.
When accepting coupons, we use the following guidelines:
- We accept two kinds of coupons: Target-issued coupons and manufacturer-issued.
- We’ll accept one Target coupon and one manufacturer coupon for the same item, unless either coupon prohibits it.
- Coupon amount may be reduced if it exceeds the value of the item after other discounts or coupons are applied.
- We can’t give cash back if the face value of a coupon is greater than the purchase value of the item.
- We can’t accept coupons from other retailers, or coupons for products not carried in our stores.
- All valid coupons should be presented to the cashier while you’re checking out.
This policy clearly states the official stance on many of the issues that have been reported to me recently. I would encourage you to print a copy and keep it with your coupons to present at the register should you have any future issues.
Thanks, Krazy Coupon Lady!
Shelly
Thank you for mentioning this… I have had nothing but problems EVERY time I go into Target… This is very helpful…
Jenna
Oh my gosh! Serious mood changer! I was just thinking about my Target experiences lately. Last Saturday I printed a few General Mills 1/1 coupons – they do NOT state a specific size or cereal so I intended to use them on the cereal to go cups. Knowing that not every cashier is on the same page about coupons, I was ready for anything. When she scanned the coupon, it beeped and she said she could not take it. I argued nicely – said that I printed it from the website and it does not state any particular amount or kind therefore it was valid. She keyed the barcode in by hand and it worked. She was nice to take them all in the same transaction.
Soooooo, my happy go lucky self went ahead and printed more to take one more trip. This time I went to my local Target and got just one of each (cereal cup and market pantry cheese) to ask before I looked like a fool with a ton of stuff. Anyway, the “manager” said they couldn’t accept them because a) the cheese coupon had a picture of the bigger package and he didn’t understand that it’s the wording that counts and b) he said the items were priced less than the coupons! Cheese was 40 cents each and cereal cups 95 cents. I KNEW they had to adjust it but he just didn’t do it and so I didn’t get any. My biggest shopping pet peeve is inadequately trained staff!
Anyway, thanks for reading! Im excited now!!!
: )
Kris
Thank you so much for this. So many employees at that store have given me grief about my coupons.
In response to Jeanna….I always get that line also, “the one in the picture is bigger.” That line always makes me livid since the coupons I use never say what size you have to buy.
LISETTE
THE SAME HAPPENED TO ME WITH THE CEREAL CUPS…BUT I HAD THE COUPON POLICY…THE MANAGER SAID OK JUST FOR THIS TIME WE WILL DO IT FOR YOU..LOL I GUESS HE BETTER PREPARE!ONE THING THEY MISSED IS THAT THEY SHOULD ACCEPT COUPON JUST FOR WHAT IT SAYS AND NOT FOR WHAT ITS PICTURED!..THEY TOLD ME AT CORPORATE THAT THATS THE RULE..BUT NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW…NO I WONDER LET JUST ASSUME WHAT THE CASHIER SAYS ITS CORRECT THEM HOW COME THEY TAKE THE COUPON IN OTHER GENERAL MILLS CEREALS THAT DOESNT MATCH THE PICTURE!LOL….SO ONLY THIS REASONING WORKS WHEN ITS COMVENIENT..HUMMM
Andrea
This is sooo timely…. I just had a horrible experience at Target. Last week I had to argue my case with the front end manager. Every time I go in there he hovers over the cashier telling her over and over again that you’re only allowed one coupon per item. The whole while he is standing 10 feet from the sign that clearly states that you can use both a Target and a Man Q on the same item. When I showed him this he still wouldn’t budge so I had to ask for the manager. She relented but was clearly perturbed. When I asked for the front end managers name she said she could only give me his first name because she must protect her team members!??!! Geez … wonder if any one has ever been trained in customer relations at Target.
Just needed to get that off my chest. THANKS SO MUCH FOR THE OFFICIAL COUPON POLICY…YOU CAN BET I’M TAKING IT TO TARGET ON EVERY TRIP THERE!!!
Amy
This may be a silly question but if I can use a Target Q and a MFG Q than doest that mean I don’t need filer items?
Elizabeth
I just yesterday called an complained to “GUEST RELATIONS” 1-800-440-0680 thats who I was told to call an the lady I spoke with told me the next time the coupons beep on me to tell the manger to call the “GUEST RELATIONS” so that they could find out whats going on in the store. So I plan on doing just that… Maybe everyone should do that!
rahlquist
We have never had a serious issue at Target, even when someone I know walks in, gets on their bridal registry kiosk, logs onto Targets website and prints the coupons right there. We have gotten the “Just this one time” comment when doing the cereal cups. What a lot of managers dont seem to get is that Target does get that $.50 back! So we arent costing them diddly. Managers who refuse to let you use more than one coupon per transaction fail to realize that we can come back in as many times as we want and use the coupon, and if we come back in store 5 times to use 5 coupons that multiplies their transaction cost by 5x! It can either be one 1/8th inch line on a receipt or a whole new receipt. It can be .5 second as part of a transaction or it can several 2 minute transactions. Taking coupons is an incentive to shop there. Ticking off a customer because you have a holier than thou attitude to coupons is just plain foolhardy.
Trisha
I’ve been pretty lucky when it comes to Target. I also like the gift cards you can receive with purchases so much better than register rewards that have to be used in 2 weeks and then you have to have the filler items because you have a $3 and $1 and a coupon for the item you want to get that costs more.
Salinda
Thank you!!!!!!!!!!! My Target would never mark one down for me! Now, maybe they will!
cheryl
thanks so much, now i hope to have better experiences at target
Sophie
I had the same experience also with the cereal cups and was told the “picture” was for the full size box and not the cup sizes. I ended up not getting them. Also, they wouldn’t accept my coupon for the ‘any size All detergent’ she also said that it had to be a full size because the picture was a full size but i tried to clue her in that it says “any size” in the description, i had to pass on that deal also and several other ones that said ‘any size’ but the picture was a display of the regular size.
and thanks Elizabeth i am going to call Guest Relations & ask them about the ‘full size’ items when the coupon clearly states ‘any size’
Carrie
The only issue I have had at my Super Target that is not addressed above is that the store manager says there is a limit of 3 of a like kind of Target store coupons per customer per day. So for a $1/1 General Mills coupon, I can only use 3 of those a day. I have to come back the next day to use 3 more. Can’t even split them up in separate transactions! Anyone else had this happen?
Tara Kuczykowski
Amy, there’s no need for filler items at Target. You can stack a manufacturer’s coupon with a store coupon on the same item.
Carrie, the coupons actually state that you may only use one per transaction. Customer service has told many people that it’s ultimately up to the store’s discretion to accept more than one in a single transaction though, so there’s probably not anything you can do about that.
lilbitabecca
The problem I have had like many of you is that they think you have to buy the exact item pictured. And if you are going to get it for free or nearly free it obviously is the wrong item and you are trying to rip off the store. Up until 2 weeks ago I never had problems, but now you hand them a coupon and they instantly think you are up to somthing. They must have been burned by someone doing a serious stockpile. That’s all I can figure.
Carrie
Thanks, Tara.
I had that happen last week too (lilbitabecca’s comment) where a Target cashier would not let me use a $1 coupon on a .99 item even though it was the coupon item, because “then it would be free, you can’t get anything free, that’s not how it works”. Usually they just don’t understand how coupons work. In severe cases of this, where cashiers or supervisors or managers are freaking out about you getting so much “free”, I find it helpful to inform them that thier store is actually reimbursed the entire value of the item for every coupon used, plus a a little extra (I think I heard 8 cents extra per coupon, or .8, or something). So the store is not losing any money! They actually make money on coupons.
Jenni
I had a similar experience with the cereal cups. The cashier refused to take the coupon for them and I just didn’t fight it. It was the end of a long day. He did seem a little put out that I then didn’t want the cereal cups though!
I wish the coupon policy would clearly state that whether or not trial sizes are allowed and also that it is the wording that counts, not the picture. Just a little bit further to go and that policy will make a total difference.
Laura
Thank you for posting this! I actually tried to buy the Hungry Hippos travel game last week and was told that I could not use the $4/1 coupon because the item was $4.99. I looked at the cashier like he was crazy. He said that the coupon was for the full-sized game (even though it doesn’t specify a size) and said he could only accept the coupon at a reduced amount. Reduced amount?! Yes, he said he would take off $2 with the coupon but not the full $4 because the game was “only” $4.99. I explained that the game IS $4.99 which is well above the coupon amount. He still refused, so I called a manager who argued the coupon was for the full-sized game. I asked him to show me where the size restriction was listed on the coupon, in case I missed it… he said it was the picture. Ugh. Will definitely print out a copy and carry it with me!
prtlndblnd
Last week I had problems (like every other time I shop at Target) and was told that their new policy was to only accept 6 of any one coupon. I only had 5, but the cashier ringing my purchase and the one just standing around were pretty snotty about it.
shannon
clueless employees are one thing, but how about dishonest employees? last night i went to get the fiber one/$5 gift card deal. it was my first time ever receiving one of these so when the employee pulled out the card, scanned it, kept it, and muttered something about taking it off the total now, i assumed that’s just how they do it. however, when the total was a bit more than i expected, my normally quiet self, built up enough nerve to question what she did exactly. she then gave me the card that she had previously stowed away and enlightened me with some nonsensical explanation. at home i checked the receipt to find the $5 had NOT been taken off and it was still on the card. sorry to be so long winded, the point was that she had tried to keep my card and lied about using it off the total. while i fairly easily forgive ignorance, dishonesty really makes me mad!
Patti
Thank you so much! I have had really good luck w/ Target in the past, but yesterday’s trip was beyond frustrating. I need to go back today to get some if it fixed. Having this in hand will hopefully make it a much better experience.
I did call their Customer Service line yesterday and was advised that if they ever resist, I can ask to speak to Customer Relations and they (corp office) will advise the cashier or manager what is acceptable and what is not.
Beth
Hey Shannon,
I really think you should call the store, receipt in hand, and explain to the manager what you experienced. If she did this with you, she’s probably done it before and gotten away with it. Your receipt will have some sort of identifying information so the manager will know who to watch/talk to about the problem.
Noreen
I might brave printed Super Target coupons at my local Target again. They always treat me horribly in the past when I tried it. I will have to print this!
Patti
Ok, so I went back and got yesterday’s transaction ‘fixed’. And of course, picked up a few more things :)
With Target Coupon Policy and Customer Relations number in hand, I confidently approached the cashier for checkout. No worries, I’ve had this cashier before. OMG, she gave me hell for the stupid GM cereal coupon! I am not a confrontational person so this was really hard for me. Remaining calm, I provided her with my copy of the printed policy. She refused to look at it and continued to state that because the item wasn’t the same as the “picture” she couldn’t scan it. I kindly reminded her that she and I had done this exact same transaction a week or so ago. She said yes she had done it before but that she got in trouble that night. Ok, so maybe it’s the manager who didn’t understand so I asked to speak w/ Guest Relations. She flipped the switch on her light to call a manager over. Because a line was forming behind me and because a manager had not yet responded, she said “oh, ok, I’ll do it this one time”.
Why-oh-why do we all need to keep having these same conversations? Why does Target not adequately train their staff on their policies? If the printed coupon does not exclude particular sizes, why the cashiers make such a fuss if the price is lower… just mark down the coupon like we have in the past and like their own policy says and be done with it.
Even though… I still prefer Target and will go back. I’m just learning REAL FAST which cashiers to check out with and which to avoid :>
Alleen
Awesome!!!!!!! I have not even been bothering with the deals at Target if the value of the coupon exceeds the price because they give me such a hard time and refuse to change it. I will now be armed with this information and won’t back down.
Ann E.
I was just there tonight and was told “We are no longer execepting the GM 1/1 target coupons.” They offered to scan in the 2/1 target coupon if I purchased 6 boxes of Fiber One cereal. I even pulled out the printed copy of the policy and got a no go from the manager. So I left with out the cereal.
Kris
I strongly believe the reason why employees get in rage over these coupons because they get jealous that you are getting too good of a deal.
liz
I spend my money elsewhere. Since starting the whole couponing game, I shop at Target about 90% less than I did before I used coupons. It is too big of a headache to always hear you can’t use store and manufacturer coupons when every other store I shop at does! In this economy I take my money where they most accommodate my efforts at saving my family money. Whenever I get a store survey for Target I always bring up my issues with how difficult they make it to get the great deals.
Rachel K
Boy! I sure would like to get some free/cheap stuff at Target but all these stories are crazy! I’m afraid to even try.
Christopher
A solution to the “the picture is bigger” problem –
Print coupons on an inkjet printer, and insert an empty color ink cartridge. That way, only the text and bar code (which are always black ink) will print clearly, and the image will either not print at all or barely print. I use these all the time, and it forces cashiers to read the text.