EVER wonder why stores want to make their own policies???

[hollyquaiscer]

I have been reading booth the brag posts and many of the rant posts, and for some reason, not sure exactly what it is , but I feel bad for some of these stores. Seems certain Wal-Mart's will only take one coupon per transaction, others want coupon printed on glossy paper. Other stores refuse to take printable coupons at all. Ever wonder why ? Well, lets see, photocopies of coupons, stores having shelves cleared by a few people (and I am by know means saying everyone because the majority of us couponers use our manners and couponing etiquette). Some people complain about the smallest thing just to get free stuff, and yet others make a huge deal out of nothing. And....a lot of us complain about the rude staff at stores. Let's put ourselves in their shoes for just a minute, the staff they hire, for the most part, are polite young, and older people. After weeks of dealing with rude people, it's hard not to get jaded, we all have bad days, after all, we're only human right??? Yes, there is no excuse for a store employee to treat any customer with anything but the utmost respect, but I must say, I have personally seen more than my share of couponers in front of me in a line become rude when questioned about a coupon, and some of them down right rude. So, if stores are trying to change rules to ensure less loss on their end, I personally feel we should not be bashing them and saying we won't shop there ever again. Myself, I have been treated badly at a store before, have been very upset about it, and have just decided not to frequent that store again, but when I sit here and think about all the crap that these people and corporations take on a daily basis, I honestly cant blame them. JMO of coarse. What's yours? Just opinions, no attacks of anyone please!

[c_mcarthur]

the other day at work, i was doing some backup cash since it was busy.
I had an middle aged man scream at me because I ''stole'' his extra 2 cents.
My store has gotten on the penny dumping bandwagon, we dont take any or give any pennies.
all of our pennies have been rolled up and taken to the bank.
The computer's automaticly round up or down people's change as per the government round up/down guidelines.
His total was $36.38 so I told him it's rounded up to $36.40 and hes like well the screen says .38 I should owe you .38 not .40.
I explain we dont take pennies anymore as per government blah blah blah, .08 is round up, .07 is round down.
he went into a full blown rage screaming at me saying that its not right, I'm stealing his hard earned money, etc etc
I offered him the guidelines sheet to look at and he said to me ,'' I dont want to look at your f-ing sheet, it's all total bull----"

Yea, a full grown man behaving like a 2 year old.

I know I kind of derived from the original topic holly, but i agree that customers should not take out frustrations on the poor cashiers have nothing to do with.
The way I look at it, those cashiers that ''make up their own rules'' are just trying to make sure they don't get in trouble for taking a fake coupon. I've heard stories from cashiers at walmart who got fired for making too many mistakes, one of which was given fake coupons.

People have even given some of my cashiers fake, expired, US coupons, and everytime we have to reprimand the cashiers to pay more attention.

[Shwa Girl]

he went into a full blown rage screaming at me saying that its not right, I'm stealing his hard earned money, etc etc
I offered him the guidelines sheet to look at and he said to me ,'' I dont want to look at your f-ing sheet, it's all total bull----"

Yes. Cashiers get the full brunt of the anger. Some customers think the CASHIER makes the rule - and not the Federal Government of Canada (as in this case).

I am thinking that in this case, there is more going on with this man. I think that, on that day, the 2 pennies was the last straw for him. Don't take it personally. He has other things going on in his life that has brought him to this state of anger.

[macw1960]

I have been both a cashier and a customer. I have to say that cashiers put up with a lot of crap from customers at times and I know that sometimes I really had to bite my tongue, grin and bear it but it sure did not help that my boss was a real A$$.

I have never really had a problem using my coupons but I shop at certain stores only and search out my coupon friendly cashiers when possible. I did have a new cashier last weekend at Walmart who was curious as to where I got all my coupons from. So of course I told her all about SC, Save, Websaver, Go and others. I think see was asking to be informed and because she did ask me if they were photocopied. I would gather from that, that she or the store had had a problem with photocopied coupons.

I have also chosen not to shop at non coupon friendly stores and do not abuse my coupons. I have also let cashiers know that I know the coupon says "1 per transaction" and do want to use them all (no shelf clearing involved) and I will do them separate if need be. Have been thanked for that one and have had them all rung in together then.

The most flack I get is usually from other customers in line and I just remember to treat them as I would want to be treated. Same goes for the cashiers as they may not be as coupon savy as some as us SC'ers and we can help them out to make things go more smoothly.

[hollyquaiscer]

I agree with you Shwa Girl, as is the case with so many others, that's why I think that so many customer service people can become complaisant over the years. They are trying to protect their jobs, and the company they work for. Everyone seems to thing that it's a big company, it won't hurt them. But...in the end after a few hundred thousand people do that, it hurts!

[Shwa Girl]

I agree with you Shwa Girl, as is the case with so many others, that's why I think that so many customer service people can become complaisant over the years. They are trying to protect their jobs, and the company they work for. Everyone seems to thing that it's a big company, it won't hurt them. But...in the end after a few hundred thousand people do that, it hurts!

There is a little more going on with the the cashiers and customer service reps. Their hours are being cut back (ever notice only 2 cashiers open and long lines).

Some, their wages are being cut back (example = Loblaws - up to a $5 per hour salary cut for those with decades of seniority!)

Some of the great cashiers are taking their retirement $$ and leaving. What is left, in some cases, are newly hired cashiers and the worst of the older/veteran cashiers (sorry, y'all - lived it - been there - it's true. Wish I were wrong).


I agree with above comments that we, as customers, have the right to choose our cashiers.
I profile.
I am paying good money and will not tolerate being told off and then have to give my money to that person?! Whaaa!?!

As for customers behind me, I warn them about my coupons and price matching. If they persist comments and huffing and puffing, I stare them down - a Shwa Girl stare stops all the comments.

[walkonby]

Well holly, this is an interesting thread to join.
It is confusing and aggravating for me to have to memorize and keep informed of all the changes made ( sometimes weekly! ) to many store policies ( not like the cashier who only has to know his/her own stores policy)

Between researching all the flyers and making my list and planning my strategy to lower my OOP for groceries, then deciding if I have a few coupons to apply, or if PM everything is better, agh! I get tired! Then if I hit a snag, like the item I want is not there in the EXACT size, colour, flavour of what the other flyer states, IF the cashier I get is DEAD WRONG about a dispute, I get more tired!
Do I patiently wait and smile every time while they send a rover to check the shelf price, and then try to get out of giving me a scop on it? I should still smile.....patiently. So, yeah it can become a battleground for sure.

ALL the larger grocery and WM style ( everything in one place ) stores want my business, and I want what they have....but it has now become a staring contest, a game of chicken!! Who will brake first?
For me to declare " I am never going to shop ( fill in the store name here ) AGAIN! " sounds like I have exercised a great power, OR let's say from the store's side of power, a member here said once that a store can ban you from shopping there or stop you from using any coupons there?? If either of these strategies is played will my $$ alone spent/not spent hurt their bottom line? Probably not. Still, because THAT is my only weapon I have not bought one thing from WM since they treated me so badly over the TENA pads purchases. I went everywhere else to shop BUT WM. Think they missed me? Doubt it.

So they can scrutinize us and our coupons all they want, change their wording on their policies too if they think that makes for better communication between cashiers and customers, but at the end of the day I will likely spend less OOP still. Not because I am scoring overages, or have an endless supply of FPC's but because they would now have given me no reason to want to scurry over to their store. In fact if anything some people may avoid going as often if there is no incentive like before. So who wins? who loses?


!

[PurpleBunny89]

I will tend to agree with OP on this whole discussion but I must feel like I need to comment about something.

If I am treated badly as a couponer by the same person over and over and over again multiple times more then I can count and this person is a manager no less then I absolutely will not go to that store again and proceed to tell everyone of my experiences. Sure, I'll try and be poliet and considerate the first few times but when certain people make up rules on the fly that you know aren't true I admit that it is sometime hard to keep your annoyance under control especially when like I say this person is the same person you deal with all the time and is a manager.

Its really a two way street. If a manager or cashier wants to be treated nicely by a customer then they should treat the customer how they want to be treated back. I'm sorry but if you talk all condecending towards me like I'm an idiot child trying to pull one over on you I'm probably going to have to bite my tongue but that doesn't mean that a bit of attitude might not escape.

All this being said I do acknowledge that I may have been a little short with a cashier in the past when they don't deserve it but who hasn't? That doesn't make it right but sometimes there are other things going on in our lives that make it hard to control ourselves.

I try to be as plesant as possible to others because I know what its like to work as a cashier. Believe me I worked at Mc Donalds for 3 years and had food thrown in my face more times then I can count because of someone elses mistake.

Bottom line is treat others how you want to be treated.

[cinpow]

to prevent trouble I m starting to stick to just those couple that I m know they are "nice" and they know I m the "coupon lady". it just makes things a lot easier, save lots of time.

[PurpleBunny89]

to prevent trouble I m starting to stick to just those couple that I m know they are "nice" and they know I m the "coupon lady". it just makes things a lot easier, save lots of time.

I try to do this as much as possible as well but lately its like none of my great cashiers are working when I want to shop anymore!

[hollyquaiscer]

I must confess, that I too, profile cashiers. I make a point of striking up a conversation with some of them, I get to know them and they I. I also will introduce myself to a CSM or store manager if it's a store that I plan on using a LOT of coupons at. It honesty does help. But, if they choose to disallow my coupons (or coupon) for whatever reason, I just won't use that coupon there again. I am just finding that as I age, it's not worth stressing over or having a bad day over a coupon and/or a cashier/store. Life is short, enjoy each day.....another store will be happy to take your coupons and your business if you choose. Cut out this coupon and present it to the next person that you know is incorrect about your coupons....

[i_forget]

I think it is a two way street.

I treat everyone with kindness and respect, unless they do something to me first, then I will defend my ground.

We should not have to argue. They should have policies and they should stick to their policies and it should not be up to interpretation, and people should not be treated like second class citizens because they are taking advantage of a deal that is within their policies to do.

This is one reason why I love Costco. They do not take coupons, but have generally lower prices on most products.
I do not have to go in there and argue about wording on a coupon, they are always kind at the door, if I need something, they go out of their way to help me. If there is a SCOP, I just tell them and they verify it and thank me for bringing it to their attention and I do not have to ASK for the SCOP, they just give it....and they always have stock.

Now, going into Walmart is like walking into a war zone. Argue over coupon wording, cannot find anyone to help you....have to prove that there is a SCOP because they change the signs on the shelf and deny it was like that, have to ask them to follow the SCOP policy, shelves are always cleared.

[FallenPixels]

Purplebunny, I had the same issue at the SDM near my old place. The staff were coupon friendly, I went there all the time my only issue was it was a smaller store so they had a limit of 4 items on everything. Then a new manager took over, same staff but I swear she would open a cash when I was next in line just to refuse my coupons. One per purchase became one per day (she won't split transactions). If my boyfriend was shopping with me, she wouldn't let him also buy 4 of an item. I had enough of her one day when I shopped on 20x day and bought items with bonus points and used coupons. She starts screaming about how I am causing them all these losses and she is calling Head Office to have my points reversed and wanted my Optimum card back to get my card number. I called HO and guess what, she doesn't work there anymore and the store is nice to shop at again. I had never abused a coupon, the staff there all liked me and would ask where I got coupons - one of the cashiers is even an SCer although she rarely posts. This manager just hates coupons.

Back to the OP, I completely agree. While I do think SC should be a positive place to share brags, I find it hard to bite my tongue when someone posts a shelf clearing / wrong coupon brag, especially when they then post about not being able to find items themselves due to shelf clearing. I have had no luck with getting stores to order large quantities for me, with my very coupon friendly SDM telling me if I want to buy wholesale maybe go to Costco so it is not an option for everyone.

Plenty of stores have lost my business over the way they treat me as a couponer, I can pricematch their flyer elsewhere, their loss, I don't see the need to argue with them. I will ask for a manager to clarify and if the coupon issue is obviously coming from a manager who doesn't understand their own policy, stop shopping there. If they correct the cashier, I just avoid that cashier in the future.

It amazes me what people will argue about. Some time ago we had coupons for Neilson milk and Fortinos had the 1L cartons on sale for $1. A woman at Walmart was freaking out on a cashier I know is coupon friendly because she wanted to pricematch 2x1L for the 2L that Walmart carries and use 2x coupons because Walmart should (in her mind) carry the 1L so she can pricematch it - but it wasn't even the same brand of milk she had.
At the same walmart, I saw someone get arrested for freaking out on a cashier, the coupon was wrong but they claimed another walmart had let someone on a deal site do it so this one should let them. Really, say you are not interested in the product and leave

[nessa23]

some interesting thoughts here.

I too was a cashier for a few years (before I was a coupon-er) and all I can really say without typing a huge story, is I have a whole new respect for cashiers now that I coupon... (and I've been in their position before!)

I try to be as friendly as possible, and be organized so it's easy for the cashier to check the coupon and the product. Occasionally they will question a coupon and/or product, but it doesn't happen too often, and usually I won't argue, I just say to leave the product behind, and I'd like my coupon back please....

I agree with some other posts here that people think too much into these things. Its NOT a huge deal if you miss out on a deal (heck, how many times have I gone to a store and they are OUT of stock.... or the flip-side, I don't even bother going to the store that week..!) The deal will likely come around again in a few weeks. Yes, we CAN choose where we shop. Yes, we can price match at a different store. YES, we SHOULD be checking (and double-checking) our coupons and the products to ensure we are using the coupon correctly.

I think PurpleBunny nailed it with the comment "Treat others the way you want to be treated." If your nice, you will likely get pleasantness back. If you knowingly abuse coupons and/or coupon policies, you will likely be questioned... and hopefully caught.

MHO.

[janetta]

I have a weekly shopping routine that I adhere to and 99.9% of the time, I have the best experiance!

1. I plan ahead looking through early flyers on SC during the week and finalize on Friday
2. Make a list, check it twice along side any stores I'll be price matching with & matching coupons
3. Saturday: shopping day at Walmart!
I've become friends with a cashier there. We keep in touch via e-mail and she lets me know when she's working.
She's one of very few cashiers I will cash out at, especially when I have a huge order with tonnes of coupons and when I'm PM'ing everything!
The first thing I do when I enter Walmart is scout to see which lane she's at. lol
I say hi and go on with my shopping. Once I'm done, I check out at her lane.
4. I always put my coupons/flyer on top of the product. I always circle what I'm price matching and the date! I also highlight the coupon's expiry date.
Check out is always SUPER fast and friendly. She's so fast that we don't even have time to have a small conversation!!
And I want to, because she's super nice and want's to learn my couponing ways.

I'll be super sad when she leaves for full time career. :-(
(I always make an effort to fill out a "customer comment" card when I come upon a friendly and efficient employee!)

--

I've dealt with lots of demanding and rude customers.
What do I do? Kill them with kindness.
We usually end up being friendlies after a couple of times- especially when they're regulars!
Soon enough they'll request that I take their order...
Which means a nice tip at the end of the day