Today is Day 2 of my Clippin’ for a Cause Challenge
(This is where I am trying to score as many products as possible with a budget of $100 to donate to those in need)
Before I get started, just let me say…I DID NOT clear any shelves to acquire these items
Today was a very interesting and quite frustrating trip to Target:
Here’s what I got:
4 Bonus Packs of Listerine
9 Sure Deodorants
(Just a heads up they are on Price cut for $1.50 – I used the $1/1 Coupons from 10/2 SS)
10 Packages of Carefree Liners
5 Benadryl Itch Sticks
14 Oral B Flosses
10 Reach Flosses
4 Bottles of Pantene
Total Out of Pocket including tax = $23.44 for 56 items or just $.42 per item
Total Saved = $63.51
Head over HERE to see how I spent $57.92 of my $100 budget on Day One!
I only have $18.64 left to spend at Walmart tomorrow…this one is going to be tough!
**On a whole other note…I really try to be a positive person and I try not to let too many things bother me, but I just gotta say, my trip to Target today was quite frustrating in that I felt like I was being punished for using coupons!
Let me explain: Apparently my Target store will let you buy as many of whatever item you want, but if you have coupons, then you are limited to “5 like items per household”!
I am fine with limits, don’t get me wrong…it’s cool to help with shelf clearing, but Target…if you are going to limit quantities, then limit them for everyone, not just people who are using coupons!
They had no problems ringing up 10 or 14 of the same items, but as soon as I whipped out my coupons, then all the sudden it became an issue, and they wanted to enforce this “ONLY 5 LIKE ITEMS” POLICY!
According to a little tiny sign posted at Guest services on the side wall where no one can see it (which when I asked to see it, they didn’t even know where the sign was),it states: ”Target has the right to limit items being purchased”
If that’s the case…then why did you even ring up all 10 or 14 of the same item…you should have stopped and mentioned this limit before you scanned everything!! Just because I had coupons…then all the sudden you are going to enforce a limit??
I don’t know, kind of seems logical that if you have a rule, you enforce it for everyone, not just us coupon shoppers…maybe one of the reasons I have only been shopping at Target like once a month!
{ 31 comments… read them below or add one }
I’ve only shopped twice at Target with my coupons and I’ve had such a difficult time with it that I only go there maybe once every 3 months or so (unless I’m hanging with a fellow couponer who wants to go but even then I don’t buy anything).
Well, I completely agree with you. Those rules should apply to all purchases, not just someone with coupons. If they get reimbursed for the amount of the coupon, then what in the world is the problem?
Target is not my favorite store either. I had a cashier tell me that “one coupon per purchase” meant one coupon per transaction when I tried to buy 4 clearanced tubes of toothpaste with 4 like coupons. The cashier called over the manager who then had to go to the main desk to figure out if I could use the coupons. Begrudgingly, after five minutes of rereading the coupon, they allowed it but the manager said with a smirk, “well, now you have enough to last”. In other words, don’t come back to get any more. I’ve had bad experiences everywhere, but Target is one of the worst.
I’m not a fan of target because they always seem to make “PEOPLE WITH COUPONS” Feel like an Outcast and that is very unfair to us.. I maybe shop there 1-2 times a year if that.. They have to have a really good sale going on for me to even show my face there.. Just because I have coupons to save money doesn’t make me a bad person… We are a family of 5 on one income…No government assistance because I save money with my coupons.. I am very proud that we do it on our own but I don’t want to be treated like crap for using coupons either!!!
The best experience i had at Target was when my cashier was a couponer, too!!
It seems like everytime I shop there, they have to call a “supervisor” because of the coupons, then they come up with some excuse or another why it is not allowed. Very irritating.
hey carie– I am guessing you were shopping at the one at cave springs??? I have ran into the same problem there.. I have been going to the Target on the rock road and They are so friendly and don’t care how many coupons. When I am at cave springs as soon as I pull out my coupons they flip the light and call the manager.. i feel like I am getting punished for using coupons. I just dont understand what the big deal is.. The stor gets their money back and plus some since most the time they adjust my coupons down…So aggervating!
You must have been at Dardeene Prairie Target. I had that happen a couple of times there. They inspect coupons very carefully there which I dont mind because I inspect my own to get the correct items but when I was told of the limits they waved me over to Customer Service. No big deal now I know not to do big shopping at that Target.
Yup…that’s where I was!!
There is one nice lady cashier at DP who is a couponer, and I look for her everytime when I need to go thru the checkouts. The others are so unreasonable. I called the manager there and asked WHY target offers coupons when their stores are so hostile to couponers. I then called their main office and did the same comments. I suggest, if you ever get the survey on your receipt, honestly tell them what you think. For some reason, those things score the store, AND the MGRS (I used to work in retail), and bad scores affect their bonuses, SO be honest.
The other thing I found was DP target usually has higher clearance prices than the one on K or in Chesterfield Valley, so I have actually stopped going to that one as much. For instance the Listerine you bought, when I bought it a week ago it was $4.34 at DP, and $3.48 at Chesterfield Valley, same time just one day apart. Both were on their first markdowns, so I don’t know why DP is higher, but somehow it is not the same.
Last time I was at DP it literally took the cashier 10 minutes to check me out, she had messed things up so much, and I MADE her go over the coupons as she had put THREE in her drawer before they had scanned, each worth over a dollar. I told her YOU ARE CHEATING ME as Target gets money for those coupons. She was extremely rude. HOPE you didn’t get her, but it sounds like you might have.
Wow. This reminds me of the time when my 4th grade teacher all of a sudden made the rule that anyone who brought their lunch (I did) had to sit at a separate table from the ones who bought the school lunch. Of course, that was in the 60′s and they could get by with that then.
I REALLY HOPE YOU ARE COMPLAINING TO CORPORATE.
Stores should have coupon policy posted where you can see it before you shop.
This seams to be a personal issue with some of the cashiers. Before you just walk out and leave, ask the employee if they have an I.D. number or if they call them manager over and he/she will not let you use the coupons ask them for their name and tell them that your are going to call the corporate office to complain. Let it be known that you are not going to be judged differently just because you use coupons. The manager will not want people continuously calling corporate about him, this would not be a good career move and I would bet that this HARASMENT will stop.
Yes I just found out, after a cashier added a coupon instead of taking it off, that you can have multiple items, BUT you can only have two like coupons; did something change in the coupon policy that none of us have been told about? Very frustrating lately.
Hi Everyone!
Just wanted to say I’m not a fan of Target, Walmart, Albertsons or Smiths (which are the only stores in my town) Couponers should not be treated like we are. I could tell you awful stories of how I am treated just for couponing. I think its time to write a letter to the “Editor” and make it well known. These stores should be happy with sales, after all isn’t that what the bottom line is about for these stores? I know my manager would have been happy to see couponers come in so that his store sales would increase because you are right, stores do get this money. We are not cheating them of anything!!! I do not feel guilty at all for using coupons. If they only knew the amount of time it takes to do this, it is alot of effort, so be proud of what you do and how much you save. Customers are amazed at my savings!!!! Just keep smiling because these stores can make it to where you can never come back.
Hi! I work at the D. Prairie Target and would just like to say I’m sorry you all are treated that way! I don’t know what the deal is there! I think they forget that they are reimbursed for the coupon plus .08. Occasionally, I hear team members talking about the coupon ladies and they make it out like we (since I’m a couponer also) are stealing products and walking out the front door.
When I’m shopping, I like to leave coupons for someone else…to be nice and I think it would also boost sales if someone buying a 5.00 item based on a 2.00 coupon vs. I can’t afford that and walks on by and we lose 3.00 + 2.08. (I hope that made sense! lol)
I can only say so much on here but hang in there and remind them they Target is getting reimbursed and then some. Maybe it’ll help.
I’m not sure who came up with the “5 like item w/coupons” deal, but it doesn’t sound right. Does every store make their own rules??? That’s not fair. What if you go through the line 4 times with 5 items each w/coupons? Do they have a problem with that?
Ugh. People.
You MUST be the lovely cashier I had once who was a couponer. You made my day that day as I was expecting the worst and got the best!
No, that wasn’t me. I don’t work up front. But I do know who you’re talking about, pretty sure anyway, lol. Her and I share coupon stories. She’s usually very patient and helpful when it comes to couponers.
Unfortunate that you had such a frustrating trip. But I have to say you did a great job in acquiring products for your challenge.Keep up the good work and GOOD LUCK for your trip to Wal-mart
I have stopped visiting the Cave Springs location due to there poor attitude about coupons and this used to be my preferred Target.I go to the Mid Rivers location and have little to no problems there.
HORRIBLE!!! Target is HORRIBLE!!! I love the point made early……regular customer buys 10 like items….. couponer buys 10 like items then there is a problem….discrimination or what??????? I am just saying.
I am so tired of the Extreme Couponing Show….it has ruined couponing.
When the ‘Extreme Couponing’ Show ended their last season I know it sounds silly but here in Illinos all of a sudden my items were in stock again.. I could get pretty much everything on my list with no issue. Now that the show is back on I went shopping and it took me two seperate stores to find my items! Back to shelf clearing. =\ I hope this season ends soon.
My nephew just told me of a similar story last night about Union, MO Wal-Mart. He said he had 8 boxes of cold care kleenex boxes and when he got out his coupons, they asked him if he cleared the shelf, he said no. They made him wait in line while they sent someone back to check and see if there were any left on the shelf and if there weren’t any he could not have them. If he wouldn’t have been using coupons he could have them though. RIDICULOUS! Guess this is a new tactic the stores are trying. I have a family of 6 and 400 tissues would not last my family very long if we were having a cold spree.
ok i was at TArget in the BUZZ WESTFALL CTR NORTH COUNTY STL by my mother’s house and i did what you taught me CARIE i found the ‘YMC” i had the tide P&G coupons for the $2/3 and used 6 on the trial sizes (totaling to 18 tides) and he was the first ever YMC to actually look at them instead of just scanning however he did scan after he looked but it scared me lol and then he did not say anything about a 5 like item coupon policy or anything the computer did beep but told him to press exception and he did it every time and it went right through so if any of you happen to be that way that is one i have had a good experience with just passing it along…..bc i rarely go to that one unless i am in the area….but now after all the horror stories i may have to save all my target coupon deals for that store lol
I have had good luck at the Brentwood and Rock Road locations for Target. The K-Mart on Rock Road wouldn’t take any coupons so I walked out with nothing, very frustrating.
I also hate shopping at Target. Example, I have gone in three times this week looking for the Curel lotion for $2.99 and it has been gone since the sale started on Sunday. Also, they have been out of Caffeine Free Diet Coke which is on sale. They will not give a rain check for either one since one is a vendor product and the other is a gift card item WYB 4. So shopping there is a BIG waste of my time and they do not treat their customers well…
I personally don’t shop at Target but in reading your post I think every store that is going to accept coupons should have a nice big post of their coupon policy right near customer service so that everyone can see it. At least your heart is in the right place. Don’t let them pesky coupon haters get you down.
I love Target as a store, but I have had problems everytime I use my coupons at the Mid Rivers store. Even customers there have been obnoxious lately.
The Fenton Target is limiting to 4. I also had no issues until I got out my coupons. It is true that the stores are reimbursed for coupons plus they get a surcharge for each coupon for the store. Its not right. I am not a shelf clearer, but if I want to buy 5-6 of something I use, then it should be ok no longer if I have a coupon or not. They should welcome couponers as they are making more money off the coupons.
I had the exact same problem at the Target at Dardene last week when I was buying Fuze. They had no problem ringing up all my bottles of fuze, it was when I whipped out my coupons there was suddenly a problem. The customer service manager was a total snot. She actually took the bottles off the transaction, I paid, went out to my car and came back in to purchase the additonal bottles. What was the point of that? Other than wasting my time. Later in the week I bought more at the target in wentzville with no problems at all. I also tried to make the point that they were only limiting coupon customers and didn’t care how many you bought if they were regular price. Didn’t seem to matter.
I posted before about how much I hate Cave Springs Target!! Well mostly just the bald headed jerk manager! Today I was there cause i thought they had old spice body wash on clearance and was hoping for a deal but NO.. so anyways I had the target printed Air wick coupon.. The coupon says “Winter Lights” knowing how they read every word I looked and looked found the same picture but NOWHERE did it say winter lights… so up to the service desk I go. I show the girl (sweet) the coupon and told her what was going on. She turns to the jerk and asks. He VERY RUDE says “it has to say that” I said well it dont he said check all the way in the back of the store in seasonal.. so I go back there. found a worker and asked if airwicks or back here. she said no. AT the point I was about to blow a gasket. I said I hate this store (aloud) she walked me back to the front where the air wicks are and looked, she said stay here and took my coupon and the pack that looked like the picture. She came back and said it had to be the limited addition twin pack…By that time I was not giving that target any money. I will say target on the Rock road is the best..also there today. I was asked 3 times if I was finding everything okay and no problems with coupons and their prices are lower then St. Charles!!! AHHH I tried sending this to target on their website but ran out of room. I think I will call tomorrow!