Can a store refuse to let me use a french coupon?

[Jody22002]

It hasn't happened yet but I am just being prepared. I received an awesome envie of coupons today. Some of them are only in French. Can a store refuse me if they aren't also in English?

I speak french but I don't very often come across someone else here who does so I am anticipating getting a cashier that gives me an issue. Can they refuse to take it?

[benye]

no way! as long as the content thereof is applicable...

[FallenPixels]

Yes, stores do not have to take any coupon but if they accept an identical English one and turn down a french one it would cause a PR headache

However, they have the right to say that they have no one to translate it and so cannot verify the terms and conditions of it, I find having a matching English one helps but SDM and WM have been fairly good at taking them recently

[campfire]

I used the French one at a SDM this week and it was no problem as it clearly states the amount and expiry in english.

[ninna]

haha. That's when you need a translate app for your phone!!! That would be my way around if they refused. I never get french coupons though so it's not been an issue for me...yet.

[quebecqueen]

I know here in Quebec they take both english and French (obviously they would take french).. But I sometimes run into issues with the English ones if the cashier can't speak English. If I have a matching French one on hand they do take it. So I don't see you being refused the French couposn if someone in the store can read it or if you have an English one in hand

[katie333]

Resurrecting this thread a bit as I have just been given a VH promo booklet that contains $10 worth of decent coupons. Particularly the ones for Pam and Hunts sauce seem like ones I would use. I speak a bit of French so to me the coupons are pretty straight forward. Expiry date is listed in French only - 30 juin 2011. Surely most people know that juin=june?

Dare I try it out?

If anyone has had a coupon fail (in this situation or others), do you just refuse to purchase the item? Or cancel everything, or fight with the cashier? None of those options thrill me ...

[FallenPixels]

Depends on how much I need the item, usually if you ask the manager if someone speaks French they will recommend a cashier. I find if I have a matching English one, they don't fuss nearly as much as if they are insure of their French they could confirm it in their mind

[Katie<3]

Resurrecting this thread a bit as I have just been given a VH promo booklet that contains $10 worth of decent coupons. Particularly the ones for Pam and Hunts sauce seem like ones I would use. I speak a bit of French so to me the coupons are pretty straight forward. Expiry date is listed in French only - 30 juin 2011. Surely most people know that juin=june?

Dare I try it out?

If anyone has had a coupon fail (in this situation or others), do you just refuse to purchase the item? Or cancel everything, or fight with the cashier? None of those options thrill me ...

Please don't ever EVER fight with the cashier!! It's not their fault for creating the coupon policy, or even for not being trained in how to use coupons!!! Just ask for a manager, and at all times try to remain calm! You'll get MUCH farther in life by being sweet/patient than by being mean

[katie333]

Please don't ever EVER fight with the cashier!! It's not their fault for creating the coupon policy, or even for not being trained in how to use coupons!!! Just ask for a manager, and at all times try to remain calm! You'll get MUCH farther in life by being sweet/patient than by being mean

Agree totally. I'm not the type to do this, just curious how others have approached the situation. As a former cashier, believe me, I've had lots of people fight with me.

To be honest, I'm also not inclined to ask for a manager, I'd personally probably just walk away from the purchase or buy it at full price.

[jojos_n_kelowna]

French is our country's 2nd official language. Stores should allow it, especially if that store chain is in Quebec also. If the coupon states Quebec only, then that's a different story, then you have to abide by that. Any store has the right to refuse any coupon, however it shouldn't be up to the cashier. If a cashier refuses it, just politely ask them to check with the store manager, or you can say 'no problem, I'll just take this to the Customer Service desk to pay for it after this transaction is completed. I've never been refused using a French coupon here in BC, not even if I don't have a English equivalent. Even London Drugs accepts them and they don't have any stores in Quebec.

[katie333]

French is our country's 2nd official language. Stores should allow it, especially if that store chain is in Quebec also. If the coupon states Quebec only, then that's a different story, then you have to abide by that. Any store has the right to refuse any coupon, however it shouldn't be up to the cashier. If a cashier refuses it, just politely ask them to check with the store manager, or you can say 'no problem, I'll just take this to the Customer Service desk to pay for it after this transaction is completed. I've never been refused using a French coupon here in BC, not even if I don't have a English equivalent. Even London Drugs accepts them and they don't have any stores in Quebec.

Thanks for your feedback and experience. My DH said the same thing to me, that being in French is not a valid reason for declining it. I think I'm going to give it a try this weekend and share my experience with it as well. Thanks to all for your thoughts!