The cashier smiled and laughed at the customer in front of me, but the minute I stepped up to the counter her face turned very tense and serious. I’ve seen this look before. In fact, I’ve seen it so many times that I do whatever I can to avoid her line and have even considered shopping on different days of the week so I can ensure that she won’t be there.
I handed her my discount card and let her know that I had a stack of coupons matching the items in my basket. I asked if she wanted to see the coupons in advance and she said no. I placed the items on the counter one-by-one and watched each item scan before putting the next one down. In total I had twelve items.
When all of the items were scanned I handed over my coupons. The cashier flipped through the stack and made a face. Then she said, “I can’t take this one or this one or this one.” She informed me that I could not use a buy-one-get-one free coupon if the store was running a buy-one-get-one sale. I told her that the store policy permitted one coupon for every two items, in essence permitting me to get two items for free, but she immediately snipped back saying, “we can’t just give away the store.”
I turned to the person behind me and apologized for the inconvenience of holding up the line. He laughed and said, “No worries. My wife uses coupons and gets stuck in the checkout all the time.”
I wanted to tell him that I encounter this problem every time I’m faced with this particular cashier. She looks at me as though I’m trying to rob the store of merchandise. Every time I try to checkout I must explain that I am following the stores policy and every time she gripes at me over each and every coupon.
She was clearly annoyed with me so I suggested she call the store manager. I turned to apologize to the person behind me, but I realized that he had already checked out through a different line and there weren’t any other customers checking out. That made me feel much better. I hate holding up the line when other people are waiting. In fact, a lot of times I’ll just give up on the transaction and come back another time.
When the manager reached the register the cashier said, “this woman is trying to get everything for free.”
Now I should say that I’m not an extreme couponer, but I do save a lot of money on every day household products by shopping at the local drugstores in my area. It’s not unusual for me to walk into a store with a wad of coupons and walk out paying only a dollar for two or three bags worth of items.
I’ve lived in the same neighborhood for ten years and I frequent this store quite often so I know a lot of the managers, assistant managers and cashiers by name. When I walk in at Christmas time they all wish me a happy holiday and when I haven’t been around for awhile they ask where I’ve been. Well all except for this particular cashier.
I’m not sure what her issue is. Perhaps she truly believes that I am abusing the store’s policy. After all, she sees me walk out of the store with nine or ten products knowing full well that I’ve paid nothing but the taxes. Perhaps she doesn’t love her job, doesn’t make a lot of money and thinks that people like me are contributing to her low pay and lack of benefits.
I’m not sure what her issue is, but I wish she wouldn’t make me feel so bad about combining sales and coupons to obtain deeply discounted items. The truth is I’m not doing anything wrong. I make certain I don’t use expired coupons, I don’t use more than the number of coupons permitted and I don’t obtain extra savings cards by pretending they are owned by my husband. Given all those factors I really wish she wouldn’t make me feel like I’m stealing.
what happened with the manager then???
ugh. I know full well how crazy some cashiers can be. But I mainly fault the store: why on earth would a store accept/offer coupons and deals and not properly train their cashiers to deal with them? it sounds like the problem lies with one particular cashier, but you'd better believe I'd be submitting serious complaints to the higher ups EVERY time I had to go through that.
I,m with jolie here what did the Manager say to the Cashier, and did he or she apologize to you ???
Seriously, these people are nuts — they should either not accept the coupons at all, or not harass you for daring to read the fine print and actually use them.
I agree — I am dying to find out how the situation got resolved! I'm betting the manager had no problem with it, but it sure would be nice to hear you say that. You didn't just slink off, did you? Because you're right — you had nothing to BE ashamed of.
I've done this myself, and the cashiers, to a person, have been full of admiration for how much I saved — not making fun of me. Sounds like the cashier is dealing with a bunch of other issues, and you were/are a convenient place to vent. Don't let it get you down, girl.
It's a lot simpler here in Australia – most stores just run "specials" on particular items that apply to everyone, rather than relying on "coupons" that only give savings to those time-rich, cash-poor enough to bother using them.
The few "2-for-1" and other coupons that are used (by the big grocery chains, bookshops and so on) either have a condition printed on them that states "this coupon cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer." or "this discount is not available on already discounted items". Makes it a lot easier to know when and where you can use the coupons.
Two things: First, I would probably talk to the manager and explain that this seems to be a pattern. Even a phone call the next day so that hopefully he would remember helping you. Second I would simply avoid her line. You should be able to see who is checking people out before you get in line. Even if you go to a line with more people, you'd probably still come out ahead in the end with another cashier who would take less time in handling the coupons.
Perhaps she doesn't understand that manufacturers reimburse the store for the value of the coupon. Either way, it's really none of her business.
It is poor management to accept coupons and not properly train your employees. I'd be interested to know what the manager said.
Lol, I am also interested in the outcome. I can't believe she was so rude and blatantly wrong. Don't feel bad you did nothing wrong.
Oh I can't believe I didn't mention the manager's reaction! The manager told her to ring up the coupons with no questions asked. He did say he would need to review the store policies, but he didn't give me any grief about it.
@Sense – I don't understand why they don't post the policies right next to the cash register. I actually printed out a copy (it's only one page) and decided to carry it with me from now on.
@Maureen – No apologies.
@Merry – I completely agree.
@Cindy Brick – I stuck it out and as I mentioned above the manager told her to ring up all of the coupons I presented. Honestly, though if there had been a long line behind me I probably would have walked out of the store.
@Money Beagle – Unfortunately it's a small store without a lot of traffic, so on most occasions there is only one cashier at the registers at any given time. When I have a choice though I definitely skip her line. I considered talking to the manager but everyone else at the store is so nice to me I hate to make waves.
@Pam – I explained that manufacturer's reimburse the store, but she didn't seem to care š
@DC2 – Thanks for the kind words. The cashier definitely made me feel like a criminal.