A lesson learned... the hard way

[newVancouponer]

Hi Fellow SCers....


Just wanted to share to you guys my experience today at Safeway... Was doing power walking earlier and decided to go to Safeway just to see if there are any good deals and any new coupons as well. I don't know what triggered me (maybe it was the music that I was listening to) but I got overboard with taking coupons (1/8 of a pad, 10 to 15 pcs of this and that) ... I took more than what I should... so I went to the check stand to pay for the stuff that I got and the cashier saw my coupons and she took them away from me and said you can't take this much coupons and she gave me like to pcs of each...

Anyways it was really embarrassing .... I think I'm scarred for life (lol)...

I just needed to vent this whole situation thing.... I think I'm feeling better now....

Sigh!

[Chantel]

I'm glad you admit you went a bit overboard, shows you're not greedy, just got excited.

The cashier should not have even TOUCHED your coupons, I would speak to the manager of that store. Coupons are put out by a third party and she has ZERO right to tell you how many you can take, the coupons don't belong to the store. You could take every coupon in that store and as long as you didn't ruin merchandise or knock things down or anything, you would be perfectly within your rights to do so.

Do talk to the management and let them know that you are aware that a third party handles the coupons, NOT safeway, and having the cashier belittling you and dictating how many of a coupon you can have makes you angry and you're not going to stand for being humiliated like that.

[harbie]

While I don't agree with people taking entire tear pads(which you didn't) I would have flipped a gasket if the cashier said and or did that to me! That is none of her beeswax. They DO NOT belong to her and I would have called for a manager right then and there. Not to mention I would be on the horn to HO the second I got home if not right there in the store!

Considering you were purchasing things(ie making them $$$$) they should have zipped their lips! Please contact HO and make them aware of this because it is poor CS.

[harbie]

.

[newVancouponer]

I'm glad you admit you went a bit overboard, shows you're not greedy, just got excited.

The cashier should not have even TOUCHED your coupons, I would speak to the manager of that store. Coupons are put out by a third party and she has ZERO right to tell you how many you can take, the coupons don't belong to the store. You could take every coupon in that store and as long as you didn't ruin merchandise or knock things down or anything, you would be perfectly within your rights to do so.

Do talk to the management and let them know that you are aware that a third party handles the coupons, NOT safeway, and having the cashier belittling you and dictating how many of a coupon you can have makes you angry and you're not going to stand for being humiliated like that.

Thank you for your input on this one... I emailed Safeway through their contact us link on their site... I feel a lot better now...

[newVancouponer]

While I don't agree with people taking entire tear pads(which you didn't) I would have flipped a gasket if the cashier said and or did that to me! That is none of her beeswax. They DO NOT belong to her and I would have called for a manager right then and there. Not to mention I would be on the horn to HO the second I got home if not right there in the store!

Considering you were purchasing things(ie making them $$$$) they should have zipped their lips! Please contact HO and make them aware of this because it is poor CS.

I was just so embarrassed by the whole thing... my knees were trembling as I walk out of the store... I almost forgot my change because of this. I'm so ashamed that I don't think I can enter that store anymore.

[MrsSunshine]

SERIOUSLY.. wtf.. she would have been pulling back a stump had she done that to me. like everyone has said. they are NOT the stores property.. just because they are in the store doesnt matter.. and who cares how many you take of each..(you left some behind and thats a good thing). for all she knows you could be doing donations or making baskets for shelters etc.. OMG i would have freaked.. please let us know how it goes with the response from your email.
do NOT let this get you down totally uncalled for.

[newVancouponer]

SERIOUSLY.. wtf.. she would have been pulling back a stump had she done that to me. like everyone has said. they are NOT the stores property.. just because they are in the store doesnt matter.. and who cares how many you take of each..(you left some behind and thats a good thing). for all she knows you could be doing donations or making baskets for shelters etc.. OMG i would have freaked.. please let us know how it goes with the response from your email.
do NOT let this get you down totally uncalled for.

Thank you MrsSunshine for the support. Honestly I was speechless when this incident happened. All I can say was, oh.. Ic... Ok... I'll updae u guys with this one....

[kanda]

Wow! Who is she to tell you how many coupons to take? I would feel just as you do (not being able to shop there again) and you should tell Safeway this.

[barbs]

I'm glad you admit you went a bit overboard, shows you're not greedy, just got excited.

The cashier should not have even TOUCHED your coupons, I would speak to the manager of that store. Coupons are put out by a third party and she has ZERO right to tell you how many you can take, the coupons don't belong to the store. You could take every coupon in that store and as long as you didn't ruin merchandise or knock things down or anything, you would be perfectly within your rights to do so.

Do talk to the management and let them know that you are aware that a third party handles the coupons, NOT safeway, and having the cashier belittling you and dictating how many of a coupon you can have makes you angry and you're not going to stand for being humiliated like that.

sorry, but a store manager does have the discretion to tell you how many coupons you can take.........and they frown heavily on people taking the whole pads.

A store is private enterprise, not a public domain.....the store manager can also have security escort you to the door, and tell you that you are no longer welcome at their place of business again, as they do have the right to refuse service to anybody.

Stores have 'contractual agreements' with the manufacturers of products they sell; and they have ownership of their in-store product as well as all 'promotional materials', which does include coupons.

[MrsSunshine]

store manager.. maybe. NOT the Cashier. and i would hope even if that is true. it would have been done in a much more tactful manner. she didn't steal anything..

[Chantel]

Yeah maybe the manager might have SOME ability to say something if the amount of coupons a person took was causing some sort of issue (I doubt that), but the cashier does not. Cashiers have no power over anything besides scanning items and opening and closing the cash drawer, and I know this because I am one. We are basically the lowest rung on the ladder and we call customer service or a supervisor for everything besides scanning and taking money, more or less. If I tried to take somebody's coupons away, I would be scolded.

If the cashier thought the amount of coupons was excessive, she could have called the manager for some assistance. She had ABSOLUTELY NO RIGHT to take the coupons from him the way she did. How did she even know he took them from that store? A half dozen stores in my city have the same coupons!

The OP stole nothing, did nothing wrong. If the manager had an issue with it they could talk to her. But no manager was involved, just a cashier on a power trip.

[newVancouponer]

Well here is their reply to me

Mr. Bernardo:

Thank you for your recent correspondence regarding the unsatisfactory experience you encountered with the cashier at your local Safeway store. We appreciate you taking the time and effort to notify us of your concerns.

We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience you may have experienced. At Safeway, we strive for world class customer service and a positive shopping environment. We have escalated your concerns to the Store Manager for further review on this matter.

Also, thank you for your kind words regarding the cleanliness and organization of your local Safeway store. Positive feedback from a valued customer is always appreciated. We will also forward these commendations to the Store Manager. He or she will be happy to share them with the rest of the staff.

Mr. Bernardo, should you require further assistance, you may reply to this email or phone us at 1-877-723-3929 and reference Contact ID 19494082. One of our associates will be happy to assist you.

Thank you for shopping at Safeway.

Sincerely,

Safeway Customer Service Team

[pmoonie]

out of curiosity, which store?

[newVancouponer]

out of curiosity, which store?

3410 Kingsway
Vancouver, BC V5R 5L4