on the betty crocker fruit snack deal. Wouldn’t the $0.50/2 double to $1, making the OOP total $2.95 with a $3 Cat? a $0.05 moneymaker?
Charlenesays
Nikki if your store doubles it sure will. My stores don’t double coupons.
jenniesays
Last night at vons both my ecoupons and paper coupons worked for the honey nut cheerios and the fruit snacks . They stopped working together a few months ago, and for awhile none of my ecoupons were coming off at all. Anyone heard if they are allowing stacking of the ecoupon and the paper coupons again?
Sarah H.says
Just want to be sure before I try it regarding the Special K deal–can I use 2 BOGOs and the $1/2 coupons on 4 boxes or just the 2 BOGOs on 4 boxes? Either way, it’s a fantastic deal!
Charlenesays
Sarah- I would try it but I wouldn’t buy it unless you are happy to pay the price without the $1 coupon. Does that make sense? The BOGO coupon is coded to attach to both cereal so the $1 will likely beep. Some cashiers will put it through but the policy is to not accept ips that don’t scan. I should actually modify the post so people know they might be in for a hassle.
Sarah H.says
Also, if I do the buy 4 Kellogs cereal or Pop Tarts twice in the same transaction do you think it’ll print 2 cats for the free milk or should I separate it into 2 transactions? My store has Pop Tarts on 2.99 per box but BOGO, so 4 boxes for $5.98. I have an internet coupon for $1/3 boxes (I think from Kellogs.com), so 4.98 for 4 boxes and then the cat for free milk.
Nikki Esays
woot!! there was also a $0.50/2 in this last sunday’s fifth insert if you were lucky to get one. I bought 3 papers and only one of mine had it in there. Also, could I do this scenario twice? Like in 2 separate transactions and get 2 $3 cats back for a total of $6?? thanks.
Nikki Esays
oopsie, sorry, I was still referring to the fruit snack deal.
Charlenesays
Yes Nikki should be fine. One thing though is that a reader told me last night she tried to do 3 transactions and was treated really badly by the store. I think that some people might start having a hard time until the hoopla from the tv show dies down. So just keep that in mind if you want to do multiple transactions in stores 😉
Nikki Esays
Awwww, thanks so much Charlene. Hahaha, I wasn’t going to get 7 carts full of fruit snacks! I often have to do more than one transaction at my store anyway because, unlike many, it does double but only one type of coupon per transaction. I have been treated poorly because of this in the past too. By the way, you are my #1 stop for Safeway (Randall’s) Matchups. Thanks for all your hard work and for getting back to me so quickly 🙂
Nikki Esays
oh gosh, one more Q. If I use the Cat from the Fruit snacks to pay for my second purchase of fruit snacks, will I still get another $3 cat??
Charlenesays
Yeah. Walgreens is the only store with that stupid no rolling rule. If you don’t get it for some reason- catalina marketing will mail them right to you.
Charlenesays
Thank you Nikki. I work really hard on these ads so hopefully I will be #1 stop for more stores for you soon 😀
Angelasays
Charlene – Did you get the Oatmeal coupon in your paper this last week?
Charlenesays
You mean in that stack of inserts I haven’t looked at yet?
Charlenesays
Ok I checked and I don’t have it. But I did find the Golden Grain coupon I was looking for last night.
Nikki Esays
well, I think it went really well. They didn’t allow me the $1/3 fruit snack coupon because 2 $0.50 Ecoupons automatically came off (I’m sure I can use it later) and they would not allow me the $1 Special K coupon With the bogo coupons (bummer) but I got 10 boxes fruit snacks, 4 boxes special K, 2 cups yogurt, 2 boxes GGiant Veggies, string cheese, gallon milk, bananas, rotisserie chicken, and Excederin for about $14. I’m happy and my catalinas printed like a charm. Took 4 transactions though lol.
EGJensays
NONE of the catalinas printed for me. 🙁 The store manager gave me a rain check for a free milk, but I lost out on the yogurt and fruit snack cats because they’re not posted.
Charlenesays
EGJen- just call catalina marketing and they can assist you:
If none of the cats printed there is probably something wrong with the machines at your store.
Laura Williamssays
I was just looking at the ad and I noticed they are doing the Big Sizes Big Savings where you can mix and match for 9.99 each. The Charmin 24 pack of double rolls is 9.99 if you buy 2 of the items listed. There is an e-coupon available on the Just 4 U site for 3.00 off the Charmin. There are also e coupons for 1.00 off Tide and Bounty. Or I noticed All Free and Clear 96 load is available and there is a 1.00/1 12/5 Red Plum.
Just thought I would mention the TP because that is something I have a terrible time getting a good price on.
Sarah H.says
Lean Cuisine deal–go on Just for U, coupon center, frozen foods, click on the Lean Cuisine button–makes Lean Cuisines .99 each (limit 3). Use $1/3 All You coupon and they’re .66 each! It’s not a “personalized deal” so I think this is available to everyone.
naomisays
Oh my gosh u guys!I’m glad I haven’t had any problems with the BC deal!The cashiers at my store are supeer nice!And I do like 3 or 4, transactions!:)I tell them it’s going to help my kids school w/the boxtops plus they have some program running until the 23rd where they will donate 10% of my purchases!Awesome!
naomisays
I also found some peelies on the Propel pack,$2.50/2 packs.And they are $2/5,so $1.25 each! And the single bottles have $1/2,they are on sale for $.88,so,$o.38 each!
Cathysays
Today I bought 4 Progresso soup cans $.99 each. I had 2 Just for U $.50 ecoupons, and 2 shortcuts $.50 ecoupons. Plus I was in self checkout, and lady let me use $1/4 coupon from newspaper (expire 1/8). So I got 4 cans for $.96.
I also bought 8 dannon activia yogurt 4 packs at $1.88 each. At http://www.activiachallenge.com you can print form. If you do the challenge and feel you did not benefit, you can can send in form and receipt to get $12 reimbursed. I’ll try.
Sarah H.says
Charlene, I know somewhere you posted your conversation with corporate regarding their reimbursement policy for overcharging, but I can’t find it. Yesterday I was overcharged so tonight I went back in the store and was reimbursed in full for 4 items (3 were the same item). They said if the item is under $5, reimburse in full. If it’s over $5, reimburse $5 plus the difference. I think this is different that what you said though. I sure hope the bugs in Just for U get worked out soon because I’m a little tired of going to customer service almost every trip. Thanks again for you all do!!!
Charlenesays
Sarah I think that sounds like what they said to me. I was unclear if it was $5 total or if any single item was off by $5- since I was overcharged on 5 items 🙂 Anyway- they gave me the difference in price and a $5 supposed e-coupon to my card. I haven’t tried to use it yet.
Jonisays
Charlene. I have a question about the safeway coupon policy. It says that they will not accept an internet printable for a free item. Does this include BOGO free internet printables, such as in your scenerio with the special K cereal? Or do they take those? I have passed up Safeway in the pass and used the coupons elsewhere because i thought they didn’t take them. Can you please clarify this for me? Thanks.
Charlenesays
Joni- The way I read the policy is that they will not accept free item coupons such as the free Kerrygold cheese we saw not to long ago. Each store seems to be making up its own policy about whether they will take a BOGO coupon- my store doesn’t give me any problems. I would just call customer service at your store and ask so you don’t waste your time. I heard from a few readers that used this specific coupon no problem but I think some stores are really going to start getting more unpleasant since that tv show has aired.
Jonisays
Okay. I will do that. Thanks Charlene! 🙂
Angelasays
Do you think that stores are going to get “mean”since the airing of the show. I am afraid that they are going to get really strict with how some of them did what they did.
Charlenesays
Well first you have to understand that not one of those transactions can be repeated by a normal person. To have stacks of free item coupons and catalinas to use to get the totals down is not realistic nor is it accurate. Also, most of us don’t travel to another state to avoid taxes on our purchases- although it would be nice to have that option. I will try to measure my words here- from what I am seeing out there as far as new couponers and their expectations/attitudes and as far as the response from stores- I haven’t seen very much that is positive. It is nice to introduce people to a new way of thinking about money but not in such a totally unrealistic way. So I guess we will see what happens. I don’t think it was overall very positive except for maybe those that were looking for publicity. I understand this will become a short series so I guess we have to see what the next group brings. I am more interested to see how inventory levels and such shift in stores. I have a feeling those of us that are only interested in a few items might start finding a lot more empty shelves.
Cherylsays
Charlene –
What TV show are you referring too, in one of the post listed above? Was it on using coupons?
Charlenesays
There was a show on Extreme Couponers that aired on TLC last week. You can Google it- the show was… well I won’t comment 😉 But they are now creating a 12 part series for the show so I really hope it gets better.
Shellysays
I am able to use 5 Oatmeal coupons if I use them before entering my club card.
I just looked up info about the show. What stores are they shopping at that they are able to pick up 218 boxes of pasta? That’s a serious amount of stock for a store to have out, isn’t it? Further more how in the world do you go about getting enough coupons for all that?
This seems a bit more than extreme to me.
Shellysays
Doubling coupons is how they do it…no stores in my area that do that.
Charlenesays
Well sort of. The doubles certainly helped. One of the shoppers lives in an area without doubles though. The math does not add up no matter how you do it. It is simply impossible with coupons that have been available. My guess is that the shoppers used free item coupons they gathered up from various places and used catalinas. I looked at one of the trips and I looked up the taxes. The taxes alone were significantly more than the person paid. So either the TV show left out important details or the shoppers neglected to mention catalinas or gift cards or large numbers of free item coupons that created overage. Also, one shopper used 18 printable coupons meaning they used 9 computers to get them. It simply isn’t realistic. The taxes are a bit of a concern. Technically you aren’t supposed to use catalinas toward taxes and to be honest we all hope for overage but I never assume it. I have a little concern over teaching people to expect overage or worse demand overage. (I just read a post today from someone ranting about how Target refused to give overage so I am concerned about where this is going really.) I don’t have anything against anyone on the show. My heart broke for Amanda because we all know how it feels to have everything go to pieces at checkout. And I actually find Nathan very likable. I have seen lists of what 2 shoppers bought but not the coupons they used. I post all my business every week and if I mess it up ya’ll call me on it in a heartbeat. So I wish they would also post exactly where the coupons came from just so we all can understand.
One other note- the precoupon prices appear to have been before club cards or shoppers cards were used. To me that is very misleading because once upon a time I had a bill for $79 for a few mangoes at Safeway. They were priced at $7.99 without a club card and $1 with one. The cashier honestly looked at me and asked for $70 something dollars without blinking. My true total was about $7 so I would have looked terribly impressive but I didn’t use a single coupon that day 😉
Well… I am a new couponer and am not a fan of how this show is portraying couponing.
katysays
In regard to the question about e-coupons above, I believe Safeway is allowing those that were preloaded prior to signing up for UPromise. Some of these will pop up on your CRT from time to time as a nice surprise.
Nikki E says
on the betty crocker fruit snack deal. Wouldn’t the $0.50/2 double to $1, making the OOP total $2.95 with a $3 Cat? a $0.05 moneymaker?
Charlene says
Nikki if your store doubles it sure will. My stores don’t double coupons.
jennie says
Last night at vons both my ecoupons and paper coupons worked for the honey nut cheerios and the fruit snacks . They stopped working together a few months ago, and for awhile none of my ecoupons were coming off at all. Anyone heard if they are allowing stacking of the ecoupon and the paper coupons again?
Sarah H. says
Just want to be sure before I try it regarding the Special K deal–can I use 2 BOGOs and the $1/2 coupons on 4 boxes or just the 2 BOGOs on 4 boxes? Either way, it’s a fantastic deal!
Charlene says
Sarah- I would try it but I wouldn’t buy it unless you are happy to pay the price without the $1 coupon. Does that make sense? The BOGO coupon is coded to attach to both cereal so the $1 will likely beep. Some cashiers will put it through but the policy is to not accept ips that don’t scan. I should actually modify the post so people know they might be in for a hassle.
Sarah H. says
Also, if I do the buy 4 Kellogs cereal or Pop Tarts twice in the same transaction do you think it’ll print 2 cats for the free milk or should I separate it into 2 transactions? My store has Pop Tarts on 2.99 per box but BOGO, so 4 boxes for $5.98. I have an internet coupon for $1/3 boxes (I think from Kellogs.com), so 4.98 for 4 boxes and then the cat for free milk.
Nikki E says
woot!! there was also a $0.50/2 in this last sunday’s fifth insert if you were lucky to get one. I bought 3 papers and only one of mine had it in there. Also, could I do this scenario twice? Like in 2 separate transactions and get 2 $3 cats back for a total of $6?? thanks.
Nikki E says
oopsie, sorry, I was still referring to the fruit snack deal.
Charlene says
Yes Nikki should be fine. One thing though is that a reader told me last night she tried to do 3 transactions and was treated really badly by the store. I think that some people might start having a hard time until the hoopla from the tv show dies down. So just keep that in mind if you want to do multiple transactions in stores 😉
Nikki E says
Awwww, thanks so much Charlene. Hahaha, I wasn’t going to get 7 carts full of fruit snacks! I often have to do more than one transaction at my store anyway because, unlike many, it does double but only one type of coupon per transaction. I have been treated poorly because of this in the past too. By the way, you are my #1 stop for Safeway (Randall’s) Matchups. Thanks for all your hard work and for getting back to me so quickly 🙂
Nikki E says
oh gosh, one more Q. If I use the Cat from the Fruit snacks to pay for my second purchase of fruit snacks, will I still get another $3 cat??
Charlene says
Yeah. Walgreens is the only store with that stupid no rolling rule. If you don’t get it for some reason- catalina marketing will mail them right to you.
Charlene says
Thank you Nikki. I work really hard on these ads so hopefully I will be #1 stop for more stores for you soon 😀
Angela says
Charlene – Did you get the Oatmeal coupon in your paper this last week?
Charlene says
You mean in that stack of inserts I haven’t looked at yet?
Charlene says
Ok I checked and I don’t have it. But I did find the Golden Grain coupon I was looking for last night.
Nikki E says
well, I think it went really well. They didn’t allow me the $1/3 fruit snack coupon because 2 $0.50 Ecoupons automatically came off (I’m sure I can use it later) and they would not allow me the $1 Special K coupon With the bogo coupons (bummer) but I got 10 boxes fruit snacks, 4 boxes special K, 2 cups yogurt, 2 boxes GGiant Veggies, string cheese, gallon milk, bananas, rotisserie chicken, and Excederin for about $14. I’m happy and my catalinas printed like a charm. Took 4 transactions though lol.
EGJen says
NONE of the catalinas printed for me. 🙁 The store manager gave me a rain check for a free milk, but I lost out on the yogurt and fruit snack cats because they’re not posted.
Charlene says
EGJen- just call catalina marketing and they can assist you:
http://myfrugaladventures.com/2009/10/what-is-a-catalina/
If none of the cats printed there is probably something wrong with the machines at your store.
Laura Williams says
I was just looking at the ad and I noticed they are doing the Big Sizes Big Savings where you can mix and match for 9.99 each. The Charmin 24 pack of double rolls is 9.99 if you buy 2 of the items listed. There is an e-coupon available on the Just 4 U site for 3.00 off the Charmin. There are also e coupons for 1.00 off Tide and Bounty. Or I noticed All Free and Clear 96 load is available and there is a 1.00/1 12/5 Red Plum.
Just thought I would mention the TP because that is something I have a terrible time getting a good price on.
Sarah H. says
Lean Cuisine deal–go on Just for U, coupon center, frozen foods, click on the Lean Cuisine button–makes Lean Cuisines .99 each (limit 3). Use $1/3 All You coupon and they’re .66 each! It’s not a “personalized deal” so I think this is available to everyone.
naomi says
Oh my gosh u guys!I’m glad I haven’t had any problems with the BC deal!The cashiers at my store are supeer nice!And I do like 3 or 4, transactions!:)I tell them it’s going to help my kids school w/the boxtops plus they have some program running until the 23rd where they will donate 10% of my purchases!Awesome!
naomi says
I also found some peelies on the Propel pack,$2.50/2 packs.And they are $2/5,so $1.25 each! And the single bottles have $1/2,they are on sale for $.88,so,$o.38 each!
Cathy says
Today I bought 4 Progresso soup cans $.99 each. I had 2 Just for U $.50 ecoupons, and 2 shortcuts $.50 ecoupons. Plus I was in self checkout, and lady let me use $1/4 coupon from newspaper (expire 1/8). So I got 4 cans for $.96.
I also bought 8 dannon activia yogurt 4 packs at $1.88 each. At http://www.activiachallenge.com you can print form. If you do the challenge and feel you did not benefit, you can can send in form and receipt to get $12 reimbursed. I’ll try.
Sarah H. says
Charlene, I know somewhere you posted your conversation with corporate regarding their reimbursement policy for overcharging, but I can’t find it. Yesterday I was overcharged so tonight I went back in the store and was reimbursed in full for 4 items (3 were the same item). They said if the item is under $5, reimburse in full. If it’s over $5, reimburse $5 plus the difference. I think this is different that what you said though. I sure hope the bugs in Just for U get worked out soon because I’m a little tired of going to customer service almost every trip. Thanks again for you all do!!!
Charlene says
Sarah I think that sounds like what they said to me. I was unclear if it was $5 total or if any single item was off by $5- since I was overcharged on 5 items 🙂 Anyway- they gave me the difference in price and a $5 supposed e-coupon to my card. I haven’t tried to use it yet.
Joni says
Charlene. I have a question about the safeway coupon policy. It says that they will not accept an internet printable for a free item. Does this include BOGO free internet printables, such as in your scenerio with the special K cereal? Or do they take those? I have passed up Safeway in the pass and used the coupons elsewhere because i thought they didn’t take them. Can you please clarify this for me? Thanks.
Charlene says
Joni- The way I read the policy is that they will not accept free item coupons such as the free Kerrygold cheese we saw not to long ago. Each store seems to be making up its own policy about whether they will take a BOGO coupon- my store doesn’t give me any problems. I would just call customer service at your store and ask so you don’t waste your time. I heard from a few readers that used this specific coupon no problem but I think some stores are really going to start getting more unpleasant since that tv show has aired.
Joni says
Okay. I will do that. Thanks Charlene! 🙂
Angela says
Do you think that stores are going to get “mean”since the airing of the show. I am afraid that they are going to get really strict with how some of them did what they did.
Charlene says
Well first you have to understand that not one of those transactions can be repeated by a normal person. To have stacks of free item coupons and catalinas to use to get the totals down is not realistic nor is it accurate. Also, most of us don’t travel to another state to avoid taxes on our purchases- although it would be nice to have that option. I will try to measure my words here- from what I am seeing out there as far as new couponers and their expectations/attitudes and as far as the response from stores- I haven’t seen very much that is positive. It is nice to introduce people to a new way of thinking about money but not in such a totally unrealistic way. So I guess we will see what happens. I don’t think it was overall very positive except for maybe those that were looking for publicity. I understand this will become a short series so I guess we have to see what the next group brings. I am more interested to see how inventory levels and such shift in stores. I have a feeling those of us that are only interested in a few items might start finding a lot more empty shelves.
Cheryl says
Charlene –
What TV show are you referring too, in one of the post listed above? Was it on using coupons?
Charlene says
There was a show on Extreme Couponers that aired on TLC last week. You can Google it- the show was… well I won’t comment 😉 But they are now creating a 12 part series for the show so I really hope it gets better.
Shelly says
I am able to use 5 Oatmeal coupons if I use them before entering my club card.
sarah w. says
I just looked up info about the show. What stores are they shopping at that they are able to pick up 218 boxes of pasta? That’s a serious amount of stock for a store to have out, isn’t it? Further more how in the world do you go about getting enough coupons for all that?
This seems a bit more than extreme to me.
Shelly says
Doubling coupons is how they do it…no stores in my area that do that.
Charlene says
Well sort of. The doubles certainly helped. One of the shoppers lives in an area without doubles though. The math does not add up no matter how you do it. It is simply impossible with coupons that have been available. My guess is that the shoppers used free item coupons they gathered up from various places and used catalinas. I looked at one of the trips and I looked up the taxes. The taxes alone were significantly more than the person paid. So either the TV show left out important details or the shoppers neglected to mention catalinas or gift cards or large numbers of free item coupons that created overage. Also, one shopper used 18 printable coupons meaning they used 9 computers to get them. It simply isn’t realistic. The taxes are a bit of a concern. Technically you aren’t supposed to use catalinas toward taxes and to be honest we all hope for overage but I never assume it. I have a little concern over teaching people to expect overage or worse demand overage. (I just read a post today from someone ranting about how Target refused to give overage so I am concerned about where this is going really.) I don’t have anything against anyone on the show. My heart broke for Amanda because we all know how it feels to have everything go to pieces at checkout. And I actually find Nathan very likable. I have seen lists of what 2 shoppers bought but not the coupons they used. I post all my business every week and if I mess it up ya’ll call me on it in a heartbeat. So I wish they would also post exactly where the coupons came from just so we all can understand.
One other note- the precoupon prices appear to have been before club cards or shoppers cards were used. To me that is very misleading because once upon a time I had a bill for $79 for a few mangoes at Safeway. They were priced at $7.99 without a club card and $1 with one. The cashier honestly looked at me and asked for $70 something dollars without blinking. My true total was about $7 so I would have looked terribly impressive but I didn’t use a single coupon that day 😉
sarah w. says
Well… I am a new couponer and am not a fan of how this show is portraying couponing.
katy says
In regard to the question about e-coupons above, I believe Safeway is allowing those that were preloaded prior to signing up for UPromise. Some of these will pop up on your CRT from time to time as a nice surprise.