Shoppers Coupons getting a bit stingy.

[WINNIPEGZELDA]

Well, here's a change a coming. 1 card to share between husband and wife. No 2 cards allowed.

12:00 - called to ask about 8000 wus $30 not on hubby's account today (shopped on 21st. This is the offer I did not want to risk on the weekend before).
Told they had to speak with hubby. I said I would call back when he gets home. I understand they have to get his ok to speak with me about his account. That's ok.
Spoke with lady, don't know her name.

12:30 - called back. Hubby gave ok. Spoke with a man for at least 20 minutes. Don't know his name.
He was able to bring up transaction, said that hubby's purchases qualify for 8000 pts., he needed coupon code to check why points not given. I don't have original receipt, the only one out of 50 or so!

Told me to go back to store and the manager could print out the transaction, then the manager could manually add the points or he could fax to him. Or manager could call with info from the printout. He said he needed to determine the glitch in not scanning properly before he will issue the points. He agreed that the pc was scanned as he could see the '1' point on my receipt.

5:00 - went to SDM on my own. Hubby stayed home to cook. Acting supervisor printed out the transaction from the 21st.
I called and said I have the coupon codes that the man, who I spoke with earlier, asked for.
She said he has NO record of that conversation. Only has a note from 12:00 conversation. Of course, I didn't ask his name!
Said she needed to speak with Hubby to get his permission to speak with me. I said hubby gave permission to service rep during 12:30 call.
She said there is no record of that call. I told her hubby at home and I'm standing in the store.
She told me to get my husband to call and say that I'll be calling back and ok to speak to me regarding his account.

Called hubby, gave him 1-800 number and instructions.

Waited about 10 minutes, called 1-800 number, on hold for a while, heard a 'beep' on my phone, did not answer as I was on hold with SDM.

When service rep answered, she said that she could not talk to me as needed my hubby's permission. I said he just called and cleared that up. Said goodbyes as she couldn't talk to me.

Called hubby, he said "why didn't you answer the call, shoppers did a 3 way conference call".
Well, this was the first I heard about a conference call happening!

6:00 - left my cart in store, went to my van to call, again. A new rep would not hear a thing. Kept saying I've been calling several times today already. I repeatedly tried to tell her that EVERY person I spoke with has told me something different, and that I followed the instructions of each rep only to be told something different. She kept cutting me off, would not let me explain that I'm only doing what I was told to do.
Call ended. I'm sure by this time account is triple-red-flagged!!

Good thing I was in my van, at this time I had a good cry, composed myself and made another call.

6:30 - called and spoke with another rep. She said she could see a lot of notes. Asked a lot of questions.
end result -
I manage both cards on 2 different email accounts
I print personal offers
I shop with my husband when we use his card, or when we use my card
We cannot have 2 card between us, viewed as misuse of card
I'm to have husband call, transfer his points to my card, then cancel his card so we have only the allowed 1 card between us. She gave us her name, asked for hubby to call and ask for her to do this. Then she would issue the 8000 points as a 'good will gesture'.

7:00 - got home, hubby and I did what they asked for.
Hubby's points transferred to mine, his card is now cancelled.

Unbelievably stressful, but I have to say that the staff and manager at the only SDM I go to, are WONDERFUL and make shopping a great experience! It pains me to even write this..

[momof3heathens]

That is just dumb considering their own policy for optimum health points. Was told I couldn't collect points on prescriptions for my kids after 15 years old. They could collect own points though.

[walkonby]

Well, here's a change a coming. 1 card to share between husband and wife. No 2 cards allowed.
7:00 - got home, hubby and I did what they asked for.
Hubby's points transferred to mine, his card is now cancelled.

yikes! There are many members here where their spouses also have an Optimum card. Is this really going to be the new policy? One card per household?? uh oh, do not tell momi or amira!

[amira84]

yikes! There are many members here where their spouses also have an Optimum card. Is this really going to be the new policy? One card per household?? uh oh, do not tell momi or amira!

Don't worry walkonby! I took care of business! I am talking to her about this thing. Lol. Can't say anything else unless my job is done.

Oh.....BTW....... what are you doing here in our sdm lovers' world, you non-sdm'er!

[WINNIPEGZELDA]

The last rep's concern was she felt I have 2 cards because I "manage" both.
By managing she aid that:

I print the email offers
- hubby doesn't know how to turn on he computer, never mind opening an email
- one computer in house, his pc emailed to here
- one computer at work, my pc emailed to here

I made the phone call
- hubby doesn't even call to make his own doctor/dentist appointment because can't follow "press 1, press 2,..". He uses a basic flip pone with talk only plan

I shop with him
- I cannot shop alone unless for 2 or 3 items (panic attacks). That's why I love the fresh produce and groceries. He goes to Walmart alone too big for me.

I must be using pc, from both cards, together on the same transaction
- NEVER,NEVER...I've never even used the same offer more than once (if others do then that's their choice)

By the way, in the end, the 8000 wus $30 was not credited

[WINNIPEGZELDA]

yikes! There are many members here where their spouses also have an Optimum card. Is this really going to be the new policy? One card per household?? uh oh, do not tell momi or amira!

Maybe, maybe not new policy coming. Best not to bring it to their attention if both spouses have a card.

I see someone asked this question to SDM on Facebook. Good.


update:

Hubby's points were transferred by rep, also his card cancelled. This is ok as this is what rep and I (and hubby) discussed as per my long post last night.
Just checked my account on line, no 8000 points, called SDM and guess what?
Rep did NOT make note of "good will gesture"!!

lesson:

If you have to call for anything...
1- get rep's name
2- ask them to read their notes back to you before you end call

[momi]

The last rep's concern was she felt I have 2 cards because I "manage" both.
By managing she aid that:

I print the email offers
- hubby doesn't know how to turn on he computer, never mind opening an email
- one computer in house, his pc emailed to here
- one computer at work, my pc emailed to here

I made the phone call
- hubby doesn't even call to make his own doctor/dentist appointment because can't follow "press 1, press 2,..". He uses a basic flip pone with talk only plan

I shop with him
- I cannot shop alone unless for 2 or 3 items (panic attacks). That's why I love the fresh produce and groceries. He goes to Walmart alone too big for me.

I must be using pc, from both cards, together on the same transaction
- NEVER,NEVER...I've never even used the same offer more than once (if others do then that's their choice)

By the way, in the end, the 8000 wus $30 was not credited

Your hubby sounds like mine hubby....my hubby is all dependent on me..except his job.
I attend all phone calls,I make appointments...
If the door bell rings,he will not even go to check who is there lol.

[WINNIPEGZELDA]

I hear you. Sound the same. and mine's retired!

Your hubby sounds like mine hubby....my hubby is all dependent on me..except his job.
I attend all phone calls,I make appointments...
If the door bell rings,he will not even go to check who is there lol.

[super807]

Winnipegzelda, so sorry to hear about your challenges with SDM yesterday. Sounds like a super frustrating experience.

Am surpised about the no two cards piece. Does not seem to be standard policy for SDM, as they still have this on their Optimum FAQ page, which has been updated recently as it has questions about loading coupons to your card:

"There are two people in my household who each have accounts. Can we combine them?"

Now, of course, this question is intended for combining accounts, but it does imply that more than one account is allowed per household.

That said, I do understand the customer service reps pov that you are in fact managing both accounts. Likely it's intended that two accounts in one household are okay when each person does their own shopping and takes care of their own stuff, like with teenage or adult children living in their parents home. Or spouses that shop spearately.

[amira84]

I hear you. Sound the same. and mine's retired!

everything same here about my hubby. EXCEPT...... He is not retired, physically very active, plays sports etc, but as soon as there is something to do around here all of a sudden he starts experiencing "sleep attacks". And almost 364 days in a year are his "today is my lazh day" days.

@WINNIPEGZELDA will talk to you later after i send my son to school (which is right in front of our house).

[WINNIPEGZELDA]

Thanks. I understand what you are saying. But that would mean that we can't go to store together.

If shopping on hubby's card, then I have to stay home? or vice versa?

One spouse cannot open the other's email and print the offers for the other?

Does not make sense!

They asked me directly - who physically opens email and prints? Are you physically with him when he shops on his card? Is he physically with you when you shop with your card?

I open and print (he doesn't know how). We shop together (like a date) as I have a difficult time going alone.

I am sure there are lots of card holders where one or the other prints both offers, and who go together to shop. I found the questions she asked me very odd. Would have been easy to lie, but my mind and conscious don't work that way.

My very first call opened with the statement "I noticed that 8000 points are not credited. Can you check why so I don't do it again" Period. Then the rest of the day (calls) got really carried away.

Winnipegzelda, so sorry to hear about your challenges with SDM yesterday. Sounds like a super frustrating experience.

Am surpised about the no two cards piece. Does not seem to be standard policy for SDM, as they still have this on their Optimum FAQ page, which has been updated recently as it has questions about loading coupons to your card:

"There are two people in my household who each have accounts. Can we combine them?"

Now, of course, this question is intended for combining accounts, but it does imply that more than one account is allowed per household.

That said, I do understand the customer service reps pov that you are in fact managing both accounts. Likely it's intended that two accounts in one household are okay when each person does their own shopping and takes care of their own stuff, like with teenage or adult children living in their parents home. Or spouses that shop spearately.

[Ivanasavalot]

Sitting here reading all the hubby stories and nodding my head and laughing....I decided early on, that if I ever had an issue with hubby's points, I would just have to accept the defeat, because 1) I could never explain to hubby in small enough words what the problem is, and 2) if I did manage to explain what I need him to do, he would not do it :D :D :D

[Poobah]

Well, here's a change a coming. 1 card to share between husband and wife. No 2 cards allowed.

12:00 - called to ask about 8000 wus $30 not on hubby's account today (shopped on 21st. This is the offer I did not want to risk on the weekend before).
Told they had to speak with hubby. I said I would call back when he gets home. I understand they have to get his ok to speak with me about his account. That's ok.
Spoke with lady, don't know her name.

12:30 - called back. Hubby gave ok. Spoke with a man for at least 20 minutes. Don't know his name.
He was able to bring up transaction, said that hubby's purchases qualify for 8000 pts., he needed coupon code to check why points not given. I don't have original receipt, the only one out of 50 or so!

Told me to go back to store and the manager could print out the transaction, then the manager could manually add the points or he could fax to him. Or manager could call with info from the printout. He said he needed to determine the glitch in not scanning properly before he will issue the points. He agreed that the pc was scanned as he could see the '1' point on my receipt.

5:00 - went to SDM on my own. Hubby stayed home to cook. Acting supervisor printed out the transaction from the 21st.
I called and said I have the coupon codes that the man, who I spoke with earlier, asked for.
She said he has NO record of that conversation. Only has a note from 12:00 conversation. Of course, I didn't ask his name!
Said she needed to speak with Hubby to get his permission to speak with me. I said hubby gave permission to service rep during 12:30 call.
She said there is no record of that call. I told her hubby at home and I'm standing in the store.
She told me to get my husband to call and say that I'll be calling back and ok to speak to me regarding his account.

Called hubby, gave him 1-800 number and instructions.

Waited about 10 minutes, called 1-800 number, on hold for a while, heard a 'beep' on my phone, did not answer as I was on hold with SDM.

When service rep answered, she said that she could not talk to me as needed my hubby's permission. I said he just called and cleared that up. Said goodbyes as she couldn't talk to me.

Called hubby, he said "why didn't you answer the call, shoppers did a 3 way conference call".
Well, this was the first I heard about a conference call happening!

6:00 - left my cart in store, went to my van to call, again. A new rep would not hear a thing. Kept saying I've been calling several times today already. I repeatedly tried to tell her that EVERY person I spoke with has told me something different, and that I followed the instructions of each rep only to be told something different. She kept cutting me off, would not let me explain that I'm only doing what I was told to do.
Call ended. I'm sure by this time account is triple-red-flagged!!

Good thing I was in my van, at this time I had a good cry, composed myself and made another call.

6:30 - called and spoke with another rep. She said she could see a lot of notes. Asked a lot of questions.
end result -
I manage both cards on 2 different email accounts
I print personal offers
I shop with my husband when we use his card, or when we use my card
We cannot have 2 card between us, viewed as misuse of card
I'm to have husband call, transfer his points to my card, then cancel his card so we have only the allowed 1 card between us. She gave us her name, asked for hubby to call and ask for her to do this. Then she would issue the 8000 points as a 'good will gesture'.

7:00 - got home, hubby and I did what they asked for.
Hubby's points transferred to mine, his card is now cancelled.

Unbelievably stressful, but I have to say that the staff and manager at the only SDM I go to, are WONDERFUL and make shopping a great experience! It pains me to even write this..

HOLY HELL... That sucked. I give you credit for holding up as well as you did. I'm not sure I would of faired as well.

The Crack down definitely seems to be escalating.

[jennrav]

Sitting here reading all the hubby stories and nodding my head and laughing....I decided early on, that if I ever had an issue with hubby's points, I would just have to accept the defeat, because 1) I could never explain to hubby in small enough words what the problem is, and 2) if I did manage to explain what I need him to do, he would not do it :D :D :D

I completely agree..I wouldn't bother calling....I use different addresses, different phone numbers, and if I had a problem with points I would try to resolve it via email....cause my husband knows nothing of what I do or how I do it or how much money I am saving for him!!!

[WINNIPEGZELDA]

I bought a BIG bottle of Advil when I was there. Regular price

HOLY HELL... That sucked. I give you credit for holding up as well as you did. I'm not sure I would of faired as well.

The Crack down definitely seems to be escalating.