Some mornings I wake up and think "what in the world am I going to write about today?". Then God says "you want something to write about? I'll GIVE you something to write about!"
You can be the most ethical couponer ever to walk the face of the Earth. You could walk in to every store with a smile on your face.
Sooner or later, you are going to have a problem.
It could be the cashier who gives you an attitude. It could be the manager who is always limiting your purchases (as they do have the right to do in most companies) or following you around the store or giving you dirty looks when you are there. It could be an unreasonable or inconvenient coupon policy.
I frequent a few coupon message boards and one of the things I see written all the time is "He made me feel like I was committing coupon fraud!" or "I was so humiliated!" or the worst (in my never-to-be-humble opinion) "I have to fly under the radar because I don't want them to give me a problem".
This may not come as a shock to my regular readers, but I refuse to fly under the radar. I fly smack-dab-in-the-middle-of-the-radar....with a big bullseye on my back. And when there is a problem, I do not feel humilated nor do I let anyone treat me poorly. I strike back.
Does that mean that I create a scene in the store? Of course not.
But what I will do is express my displeasure in two ways: with my words and with my feet.
So what should you do when things go wrong?
The first thing to do is to keep your cool. I know that you may have spent time gathering your coupons, creating your shopping list, printing off IPs, etc, but this is business, not personal. You may feel like the cashier hates you, but don't let that bother you. Unless you were hoping to make the cashier your BFF, her opinion of you has nothing to do with it. You are simply conducting a business transaction and have every right to be treated the same as any other customer.
The second thing: never pay for anything unless it is at the price you planned to pay for it (unless it was your mistake and/or you must have that item that day). If you are trying to stock up on canned tomatoes and have a bunch of $1 Muir Glen coupons and the cashier will only accept 1, simply tell her to give you back the rest of your coupons and take the other cans off your order. Yes - it is a pain for the cashier, but unless you knew walking in that they might only accept 1 of the coupons, it's not your fault.
The third: NEVER allow yourself to be talked to as if you were anything other than a valued customer. The fact that you are paying with coupons does not make you less worthy of respect. If a cashier is giving you problems, speak to the manager. If the manager is giving you problems, call or write to corporate.
Finally - if it has come to the point where you are simply "done" with a store, do not go quietly. Let the store manager and corporate know why you are taking your business elsewhere. If you have received shoddy treatment, perhaps they can use this as training so that other customers don't have the same experience as you. If it is the coupon policy that it is driving you away, let them know that (especially if there are other stores in the area who will welcome you and your coupons with open arms and no attitude). Do not let yourself be driven from a store. You are leaving for a good reason and they should know why.
I realize that all of this advice is easier for some people than others. Different personalities react to different situations in different ways. Some people may find it easier to walk to the moon than to speak up when they feel slighted. Other people may live in a 1-store town and not have any alternative. And some may not be able to conceive of anything worse than having people angry at them.
If you learn nothing else from me, learn this: using coupons requires using your backbone as well.
There are 2 famous quotes that I try remember whenever I am in a difficult situation:
"Nobody can make you feel inferior without your consent" (Eleanor Roosevelt)
and
"Never grow a wishbone where your backbone ought to be."(Clementine Paddleford)
Try to think of them next time you have a problem! They can change your whole outlook on life!
And now - I have a letter to write!
kimmiep621
tahnk you so much for this post, some days i am feeling very overwhelmed with the thought of them getting upset, i have to keep remembering i don't care, but i'm getting there and standing up for my rights more and more every time
kelly
yes plus do we get to hear why you are writing a letter?!
Gingertre
Ok, seeing how I saw you today at a certain store, I'm taking a wild guess at whom you are directing your rage?
And a story that you will be pleased to hear since it means that you MAY have converted me from Giant to Acme.
I have been a social couponer (you know, like a social drinker - I coupon what everyone else coupons, when they coupon it and don't make a scene :)) for many years, thinking I've struck gold saving $12 on a $100 tab. But 2009 is different and I have a different attitude.
So into Acme I strolled yesterday, no less than 40 coupons in hand and a strict list. Both kids were napped and fed and happy, so I my mission was well in hand.
I took advantage of the sales (soups, cereals, BOGO pork loin LOL) and walked to the register. When I plopped my Acme card and a pile of coupons on the register, the cashier eyed me nervously and put his "This Lane is Closed" sign up after my order. T-R-O-U-B-L-E for sure, I'm guessing he thought.
In the end, I ended up paying OOP $40.39 for $126.45 worth of groceries. I stocked up on a lot pantry items and got a few pork tenderloins to boot.
And you know what? The cashier THANKED ME. Thanked me for having my coupons organized, and for having all the right products for the coupons and for being so polite and for being a good shopper. In his words, "You got a good deal with all the coupons AND you were nice about it. Thanks."
Uh. The golden rule still holds.
Bonnie
I love it, I love it, I love it. Your post, I mean. How true! I used to be the type to buy whatever at full price when they wouldn't accept my coupon like I had planned. Just so that I wouldn't cause any trouble, but no more. I feel more confident now with knowledge behind me and I know what the rules are, I know that I am playing the game as they have set it up, and I know that I AM NOT STEALING. That being said, I walked out of Walgreens yesterday and left at least 20 items in bags at the counter because the cashier and manager on duty wanted to make up rules for whatever reason that did not follow corporate policy. The old me would have paid and walked out with my chin on the floor, no more "I'll give my business to CVS" and I will hold my head high!
Mindi
My problem today was relatively minor, until the cashier yelled at me. Basically, she "stole" my Catalina. I saw it print, then my daughter started fussing. I got my receipt and was halfway to the door when I realized I hadn't got my catalina. I walked back and nicely said "Wasn't I supposed to get a catalina?" To which she snapped "NO! YOU DIDN'T GET ONE!". I told her that I was sure I saw it print and she snapped at me again. It was just a $2.50 Johnsons catalina (that would get me 3 more Buddies soaps, which I really don't need more of), but her yelling at me was the final straw. Had she just said "Oh - sorry - I tossed it...would you like me to grab it?" , then I probably would have told her to just forget it (seriously - I have about 50 Buddies soaps...don't need more). But she and a few other cashiers have been giving me problems lately.
I came home, called the Catalina company who confirmed that one should have printed, so I knew I wasn't hallucinating when I saw it print.
I ended up calling the store last night and got one of the Asst Magrs (who I know, although I'm sure that he doesn't know me by name) and told him that I wanted to file a complaint about "XXX" and her yelling at me and that, while this incident was pretty minor and I didn't care about the Catalina, it was another in a long line of problems I have had with this person (who I think is a "leader"..not a mgr, but more than a cashier). That the attitude of employees towards couponers at that store needed to change and that I expect to be treated the same as any other customer, even when I am paying w/coupons. I also pointed out that the Acme next door has a better coupon policy and employees who are nicer to couponers and if they would prefer that I shop there, I will happily accomodate them.
Funny thing - this whole stupid silly and minor incident could have been avoided just by not yelling at me and not lying to me.
And it makes me want to place a phone call to Malvern to let Acme corporate know how wonderful the employees at my local store are! It's like night & day!