Keep sending in those questions – we love to answer them! Just remember if we didn’t get to your question this week…we will do our best to cover it another week!! As always a big thanks to my buddy Christy over at Haphazardly Hobbying who gives me so much help to get the questions answered.
Remember–there is a tab at the top of the site called “Q & A” where I organize the questions and answers from this feature so that it can serve as a quick reference!
Here are this week’s questions:
- When a coupon is a PDF or pops up your printer window and you can select how many you want to print, are those coupons meant to have no print limit? Is it ethical to print them as many times as you want?
- What is your advice for someone who wants to start the drugstore game, but hasn’t ever done so before? Where should I begin?
- Besides seasonal deals on flour, Chex (my hubby’s fav.), and other baking goods, what tips can you offer for saving on holiday meal prep (e.g. when is the best time/price to buy the turkey? or what other items usually go on sale around this time?)?
- Is a Target Catalina REALLY a manufacturer’s coupon like it says at the top?
- Why do I sometimes see copied coupons taped to packages? Isn’t this coupon fraud??
- Is there any kind of rhyme or reason to what item goes on sale as the Publix Penny Item?
- How can I get to the standard view of your site (instead of the mobile version) from my iPhone?
- Doesn’t Publix get the full value of my coupon even if they adjust the value down to avoid giving me overage?
- Is it cheaper to order the coupons you want/need or to pay for 4-5 newspapers every week?
- My local Walmart stopped taking internet-printed coupons. Publix isn’t going to do that too, are they?
And here are the answers!
- Stacie wants to know: When a coupon is a PDF or pops up your printer window and you can select how many you want to print, are those coupons meant to have no print limit? Is it ethical to print them as many times as you want?
- Victoria wants to know: What is your advice for someone who wants to start the drugstore game, but hasn’t ever done so before? Where should I begin?
- Michelle wants to know: Thanksgiving is just around the corner and I’d like to spend a LOT less than I did last year. Besides seasonal deals on flour, Chex (my hubby’s fav.), and other baking goods, what tips can you offer for saving on holiday meal prep – e.g. when is the best time/price to buy the turkey? or what other items usually go on sale around this time?
- Whitni wants to know: I have a question about Target Catalinas – they say ‘manufacturer coupon’ on the top, but yesterday I tried to stack one with a Publix store coupon and my cashier told me I was using two store coupons because it says ‘redeem at Target’ on the Catalina. There was a long line behind me so I let it go, but I think it is a manufacturer coupon. It even has information about how the store should send it in to be reimbursed. What do you think?
- Chrissy wants to know: Occasionally I will see a display of something at my store (last week it was Kettle Brand Chips) and they will all have COPIED manufacturer’s Q’s attached with tape. The cashier peeled the coupon off and it scanned. Isn’t it illegal to copy a manufacturer’s coupon? I wonder if a customer taped these there or if it was a store employee. I have seen this done on several occasions. Isn’t this essentially coupon fraud?
- Dana wants to know: My Publix always seems to run out of the penny item by the time I get there (after work, so usually around 6). The exceptions are if it’s not in the regular penny item location (like if it’s refrigerated) or something that no one wants (like Frosted Flakes). If it’s something good (like toilet paper), it’s always all gone. They replace it with something else, but it’s hit or miss whether I’ll want it or not.
I’m not sure if they simply don’t realize how popular the penny item is or if they’re trying to get rid of extra inventory by making it the “new” penny item. All I know is that we had Frosted Flakes three times in one month, and those Lipton noodle bags are always showing up. Our old Publix never had this issue. Is there anything I can do about this? - Kurt wants to know: I was wondering about your site’s mobile version. I use an iPhone 3GS and when I click on one of your sites it goes to the mobile version. I actually like the standard view better but when I try to change over from the mobile version I can’t! Any ideas on how to fix this?
- Doesn’t Publix get the full value of my coupon even if they adjust the value down to avoid giving me overage?
- ChrystalM wants to know: Is it cheaper to order the coupons you want/need or to pay for 4-5 newspapers every week? It seems like it’s cheaper to pay for just the coupons you need but the shipping times are so long I sometimes miss out on deals!
- LJ wants to know: My local Walmart stopped taking internet-printed coupons. Publix isn’t going to do that too, are they? I hope not!
Christy: Like all ethical calls, this one is ultimately going to be up to you. My feeling is that if the company releases said coupon as a .pdf, then they are not concerned about print limits and I am free to use the coupon as many times as I want – within reason, of course. Personally, I won’t use a .pdf coupon to score 20 of an item – I’ll usually limit it to 4 or 6. As I said, though, you have to make this decision for yourself! Commenters, what do you think?
Michelle: Unless otherwise stated, then technically you can print and redeem as many coupons as you would like. Most companies are smart and use technology to limit prints. Those who don’t limit prints take the risk that they may have a ton redeemed!
Christy: Drugstores are the best – that’s where I save the most money every week! If you had told me when I started out that I would never again pay more than a quarter for a bottle of shampoo, body wash, face wash, etc – I would have told you that you’re crazy! My husband and I were spending $50+ on the bare essentials every other month and were ALWAYS running out of stuff. But since I started the drugstore game, I have a nice little stockpile of everything we use on a regular basis – and running out is a rarity.
To get started, Michelle has some great basic tips over at I Heart Saving Money – you can find the Walgreens FAQ HERE, CVS HERE, and Rite Aid HERE.
Michelle: Start slow! I would say begin with one store at a time and then add on another store once you get the hang of the first store. They all have their unique systems and little quirks but they are not that difficult to master and the perks are quite rewarding!!
Christy: We’re already starting to see the deals in the Publix sale that starts this week, and I think it will only get better from here! If I’m remembering correctly, turkey was probably cheapest the week before Thanksgiving last year, but you can even make your own deal this week with the $4 off Turkey wyb Stovetop coupon from last week. My favorite thing about this time of year are the stockpiling possibilities – I’ll grab all the baking supplies I need for the next 8 months or so over the next 5 or 6 weeks – not to mention all the super cheap decorations and gifts you can snatch up in the days after the holidays!
Michelle: Yep, there are some decent deals right now and I am hoping for more next week. I went back to the ads I posted last year to give you an idea of the prices last year at Publix:
week of 11/12/09 : Publix Young Turkey, 8-lbs and up $.69/lb (limit 5 –more than five $.99/lb)
week of 11/19/09 : Publix Young Turkey, 8-lbs and up,$.69/lb (Limit 5- more than 5 $.99/lb AND Butterball Fresh Turkey, 10 to 24 lb average, $1.59/lb
week of 12/10/09 : Publix Young Turkey, 8 lbs +, limit five, $.69/lb (More than five, $.99/lb)
wee of 12/17/09: Publix Young Turkey, Frozen, 8 lbs + limit five, $.69/lb (more than five $.99/lb) AND Butterball Young Turkey, 10 to 30-lbs, limit five, $.99/lb (more than five $1.29/lb)
I really hope to see them back at $.69/lb or maybe even less!!
Christy: Since Publix doesn’t issue Catalinas, they do not redeem them – which means that when they accept a Catalina, they are in effect accepting a competitor coupon for which they will not be reimbursed. Some stores may do this differently, but I’ve only ever been able to use Catalinas as competitor coupons.
Michelle: It will depend on the store. The majority of Catalinas are manufacturer’s coupons (begin with a 5 or 9) and stores will accept just as they would any other coupon. If the coupon states “redeemable only at xyz” then it should be entered as a store coupon.
Christy: My store often has coupons taped to products (to the best of my knowledge they are always legitimate coupons), which I always assumed was the store’s way of distributing tearpad coupons equally among customers and attracting non-coupon-using folks to try different products. I would ask your store management about this and see what they say – and report back, because now I’m curious as to why they’re doing that!
Michelle: I have seen stores tape coupons to the products but never copied coupons. I would definitely inquire at your store and give us an update!
Christy: Sadly, I have no experience with the Penny Item because we don’t get it in Florida. I feel a little like a broken record today, but I’d ask your store management about this and see what they have to say. It certainly doesn’t seem fair that you’re always stuck with the ‘leftover’ penny items because you have to shop after work!
Michelle: I have mixed feelings on this one. While I understand your frustration, I see it as a freebie and better than nothing. The average shopper probably does not even realize that when they get the replacement penny item that there was any change at all. Consider having a conversation with the grocery manager to see if there is any way he can try to order more to ensure that there is enough to go around! Most stores know what the item will be 2+ weeks ahead of time which should be plenty of time to get the stock they need. You might also give them a heads up on what the most popular items are…maybe they aren’t paying attention to the fact that they are running out.
Christy: Hi Kurt! I have an iPhone 3GS too, and when I access the site on my phone, I can scroll all the way to the bottom and select “Standard” view and it switches right over. If this isn’t working for you, I’m not sure what to tell you! You might want to check that your phone has the most recent software update because I guess that COULD be affecting your usage of the phone. Are ther any other iPhone users having this problem or that have a solution for Kurt?
Michelle: You may have to clear your cache on your phone. Once you do that you can click the standard button at the bottom of the site and you should be good to go. I have a Droid and had to do the same as I prefer the standard view myself!
Christy: To the best of my knowledge, yes, Publix gets the face value of any coupon they redeem. If you’re having a problem with your store about this, I’d talk to the store manager, district manager, or corporate customer service in order to get the problem resolved!
Michelle: Yes. As far as I know the big coupon clearinghouses are pretty much automated and the coupons are scanned by a machine. There is no way for that machine to know that your coupon was adjusted 🙂
Christy: Chrystal, this is a question I’ve been asking myself for weeks now. I usually buy 4 papers a week at the drugstores, and I do my best to make them “free” with whatever ECB or RR deals are best that week. That said, I’ve had a really busy month and I haven’t gotten to pick up my papers for 3 of the past 5 weeks, so I’ve been having to purchase coupons as I need them. Personally, I’m finding that I just don’t do well with the added hassle of going out to the clippers for every coupon – sometimes one service doesn’t have all the coupons I need, and the shipping costs can get astronomical if you have to use multiple sites.
However, Crystal over at Coupon Beat has been a lifesaver, because she’s started carrying whole coupon inserts (and they’re really cheap, even with shipping!). I really like having the whole insert filed away so I can just go grab what I need from the drawer when I make my list. Of course, I know Michelle will have a different take on this one…
Michelle: I have told you guys before that I only get my one delivered newspaper and then get the rest from trades or clipping sites. I have never had an issue getting my coupons on time. I post the ad on Monday which gives the sender 6-7 days to get the coupons to me in time for me to use them before the sale ends!! If I place my order on Monday sometimes I get the coupons even before my sale starts!! It is really just getting into a new habit. Instead of making time to get your coupons (inserts) on Sunday you just make it a point to order/trade coupons on Monday. I post all of the drugstore deals over on I Heart Saving Money on Friday mornings for the upcoming week–so again you have plenty of time to get your coupons!!
Christy: I certainly haven’t heard anything about Publix not taking internet printed coupons anymore – and I think we deal-hunters would probably hear about it first if it was going to happen. In the meantime, the only thing we can do to make sure that our stores DON’T stop accepting IPs is to use them correctly – because I’m sure it’s the issue of IP fraud that is behind your Walmart’s decision to stop accepting them.
Michelle: I hope not! It is my hope that if we keep playing by the rules and encourage others to do the same, stores will allow us to keep using them.
I hope our answers to these questions were helpful! Make sure you ‘tune in’ next week for even more Q&A with I Heart Publix. If you have a question you’d like to see answered, email me at contactiheartpublix@gmail.com.
I have a question to add to question #9, regarding ordering whole coupon inserts. If you do purchase whole inserts from a clipping service how do you know which “region” of coupons you are getting? I know that coupon value will vary depending on where you purchase your paper. I normally purchase the AJC and my coupons are (sometimes) pretty high in value, but I also know that a smaller city paper will not have the highest value coupon. So if I do purchase whole inserts from a clipping service am I just taking a gamble? (I hope my question makes sense!)
I have bought whole inserts from coupon services before. Generally if you look in what coupons they are selling from that week, they will be the same coupons in the inserts(if that makes sense). Like say I wanted to by a insert from 11/2/10 SS, I would look to see what coupons they are offering from that particular SS, and know which ones will be in it. Also some services will tell you what coupons are in the insert when you click on it, and if you want to be certain you can always email the site owner, im sure they have a master copy.
I wanted to add that I think if the company releases a pdf coupon that we should in reason ( I mean don’t go buy 50 rolls of tape) then we should be able to use it. I did this with the blueberry coupon back in the summer making them free and my family is enjoying blueberries all through the fall. I think I got about 8 containers of blueberries. I asked the cashier if I could get more than one and she said sure so I always ask my cashier or customer service if I am unsure. Publix makes me happy on a weekly basis with all of the good deals so I want to make sure I don’t annoy or do something wrong for the people that work there.
about the coupon that is reduced to avoid overage. Since manufacturer’s coupons are redeemed at face value for Publix they should not be reduced to prevent an overage. If combined with a store coupon, the store has the right to reduce the amount of the store coupon so there is no overage because the store coupon amount is just a loss for that store. But if it is a Publix coupon it will have a LU# and the computer acknowledges the full amount of the coupon. Again it depends on your stores policy, but if cashiers are reducing manufacturers coupons it could be considered fraud…or somewhere (coupon)training was incorrect and needs to be corrected.
Always remember generally you can have overages but you can’t have a negative balance at the end of your order and try to have an item for each coupon used. EX: mq+pq on flour (2 coupons,1 item)buy an item you don’t have a coupon for (2 coupons, 2 items)and you and the cashier will have a fabulous shopping experiennce!
The link for Coupon Beat doesn’t work and I can’t seem to locate that site on a google search. Is there a working link? Thanks.
Is there any way you could do a post of Thanksgiving/Christmas/baking price points? This is my first holiday season couponing so I have NO idea what good deals are.
When it comes to pdf coupons, I can never understand if the company is just really dumb about internet coupons, or if they don’t care. I usually skip them altogether, since there are so many who endlessly print them until the expiration date and so many get called “frauds” in the end. There have been a few (the Intuition 4/1, for example) that I have used. I used 6 of that one because I really loved the razors and had commented on their FB page about excessive use ahead. They deleted my comment. haha.. If you happened to print the BOGO Sunbelt coupon, it actually encourages you to print and use as many as you’d like though!
my “excessive use” comment wasn’t that *I* was going to do it, just that this was a silly way to release such a high value coupon because the forums were already talking about saving the pdf for later.
My advice about the Publix Penny item running out, is that Michelle always posts what the penny item is or will be on I Heart Publix the day before! So if that particular penny item is something that you really want or your store usually runs out of, try to shop earlier in the day that day to make sure that you get one! I’ve seen very limited stock of Publix Coffee when that is the penny item, so I know to shop early if I want it! 🙂
You may not know this, but if u call Publix ahead of time in the morning and ask what the item is, and u happen to want one but cant get there until a time it will most likely be sold out, have them hold it for you. They are required to do this!
…. and if for some reason it is not there when you do get there you have every right to get a rain check. Publix is nice enough to give away and item for a PENNY. I say watever they have when you get there is what you get!
Publix is not required to save items for customers. They do it because it is “customer service” and they treat your request like a special order (which means if they are out-they will order some for you)so don’t get upset if they say they can’t hold it for you, just ask for a raincheck.
I have a question for you Michelle & Christy…how about a website called iheartbilo. I have been finding some great deals at bi-lo lately…any advice on good sites for match ups???
If I have a $5 off $50 publix coupon, does my total need to be $50 after all other coupons?
I work at Publix so i can answer this question for you. Most of the time when people use that coupon, usually found in the yearly 20 dollar coupon book made for Piggly Wiggly, and multiple couons with it, you most simply have to give it first. We take off the 5 dollars and keep going. I’ve seen costumers go from 148.00 to 14.00… its as easy as that!
Thanks Susan!!