The wording on coupons can often be a source of confusion for many. I can't even tell you how many people have been shocked when I told them that they could use more than 1 like-coupon per transaction. Many of them just assumed that if they were buying 3 of the same items, they could only use a coupon on 1 of them....and it's all because of the wording on the coupons!
So let's clear this up right now, shall we?
"Limit One Coupon Per Purchase" or “Limit One Coupon Per Specified Item Purchased” - this causes the biggest confusion, because many people (and cashiers) don't understand the difference between a "purchase" and a "transaction". Simply put, a transaction is putting your items on the counter, having the cashier ring up those items, paying and leaving. The items in that transaction are each a purchase. If you have 50 items in your transaction, you have 50 purchases. Unless the store limits the amount of like-coupons that can be used per transaction/day, you CAN use a coupon for each item that you have.
So why does the store put that wording on the coupon? It is to alert you cannot stack manufacturers coupons. If you have a coupon for "$1 off 3 boxes of cereal", you cannot buy 3 boxes and use 3 $⅓ coupons, nor can you use a $⅓ and a $0.75/1 coupon.
"Limit One Coupon Per Transaction": this is the most restrictive coupon verbiage (and not seen that often). It means that you really ARE limited to 1 like-coupon per transaction, no matter what the store policy is about like-coupons. It gives the manufacturer the right to not reimburse the store if they ever performed an audit. As I said, this is rare and I can only remember it being on a few things like the Zone bars $0.50/1 coupons.
“Limit 4 Like Coupons In The Same Shopping Trip” - this started showing up on Proctor & Gamble coupons a little less than a year ago and is starting to appear on more and more coupons. With the growing popularity of using coupons, shelf-clearing has become a big problem is this is the manufacturers attempt to reduce that problem.
Any other questions about the wording on the coupons? Leave them in the comments!
Make sure you read the rest of the posts in my Saving Money With Coupons series!
Calvin Umphlett
Can you clarify this wording for me.
"you cannot buy 3 boxes and use 3 $1/3 coupons, not can you use a $1/3 and a $0.75/1 coupon.
Mindi Cherry
HI Calvin!
Well, first, I made a typo that correcting may clear up for you (and I will correct it in the post as soon as I finish this reply)
It should have been: “you cannot buy 3 boxes and use 3 $1/3 coupons, nor can you use a $1/3 and a $0.75/1 coupon.
Meaning - if you are buying cereal and you want to use a $1/3 and a $0.75/1 coupon in 1 transaction, you will need to buy at least 4 boxes of cereal. If you want to use 3 $1/3 coupons, you would need to be buying 9 boxes of cereal.
Hope that clears it up!
Mindi
Calvin Umphlett
Thanks, the "nor" cleared it right up. Thanks for the hard work on this site. I think my wife loves me even more, since I do most all the shopping now days and I coupon to save money.
Katherine
What do you mean limit 4 like coupons in the same shoppng trip
Mindi Cherry
"Like Coupons" are the same coupons
So if you have 5 $1/1 Pantene Coupons and the coupon wording (or store policy) limits you to 4 like-coupons, you can only use 4 per transaction
Elaine
HI, I recently went to Walmart in Sacramento. Their store coupon policy states there is no limit to the number of coupons one can use. However states if one uses 40 coupons in a transaction, the manager will be alerted. During my shopping trip I had 4 like coupons on two different products. The cashier stated I was only able to use one coupon per like item because the coupon stated "one coupon per purchase."
I asked to speak with the manager and explained that my understanding of the above phrase is one coupon per item purchased and also pointed out that I had never had a problem using coupons in that store before. The manager stated that the above phrase means the same as one coupon per like item per transaction. I pointed out that every coupon I have read states "one coupon per purchase" with some limiting the number of coupons per transaction. I also pointed out that the company coupon policy does not have a restriction of "like" items unless the coupon stated a restriction. The manager kept to her statement that "per purchase" and "per transaction" meant the same thing. Do you have a suggestion on how I should proceed?
Mindi Cherry
Hey Elaine!
When you are confronted with a manager who does't understand their own policy, the best thing to do is to contact Walmart corporate. From what I have heard, they are usually able and willing to re-train/inform the manager about their coupon policy!