I had a TERRIBLE coupon experience today at Target. Now, I rarely, if ever, have bad experiences couponing at Target, but today took the cake.

I had about $50 worth of stuff, and plenty of coupons to bring down the price.
Mind you, I must state, the cash register NEVER beeped on any of my coupons. But that didn't stop my cashier.

First... I had purchased 2 Up and Up Mouthwashes. I had handed the cashier 2 coupons for $1/1 Up and Up Oral Care. The coupon had a picture of the mouthwash on it. She said "I can't accept this coupon. It says Oral Care, not Mouthwash." I said "I understand that, but you see, Mouthwash falls under the category of Oral Care. Just like Ibuprofen falls under the category Pain Reliever. It's a broad category, and I can get any 1 item under that category." "Well, I don't think I can take this coupon." I said "It has a picture of the mouthwash I purchased on the coupon. How about you scan the coupon and see if it will go through?" She scanned it. It didn't beep.

Duh.

Then, I had purchased 4 things of Clorox Disinfecting Wipes. I had 4 Target Store Coupons for $0.75 off 1. I also had 2 Manufacturer's Coupons for $1.00 off of 2 (2 coupons for 2 products each being 4).
She said "You are trying to use too many coupons- you can't use Target coupons and Manufacturer's coupons on the same item." I said "Target coupon policy says that I am allowed to use a Target coupon and a Manufacturer's coupon on the same item. I would be happy to show you your store's coupon policy- I have a copy with me." I started to reach for it and she said "Well, I'll try. But this coupon doesn't even show Clorox wipes on it." (It had a picture of several Clorox products on it, but in the printed description said it could be used for Clorox wipes). I said "See? It says right there that it can be used on Clorox wipes of this count and above... and this is the count that I'm buying." She said "Well, I'll try it..." She scanned it... and no beep. It went through.

Then, she got to my hair dye coupons. I had bought several hair dyes off of the endcap on clearance. She said "I can't accept coupons on clearance items." I said "Your store policy does not state I cannot use these on clearance items. The coupon also doesn't say it has to be on a regularly priced item, so me using the coupon is valid, and I am able to use it." "No, you can't. It is on clearance. You're already saving money on it." I said "Well, see, I can use this coupon, and save even more money on it!" She said "Well, I guess I can try it again." It went through. No beep.

Seriously, lady, just scan the coupons. If it beeps, THEN see if I've done something wrong. Don't freak out over me saving money when the register okays it! Clearly if the register says I can use the coupons, I can. I was really close to calling a supervisor over just because I honestly thought my cashier couldn't handle checking me out.... to say Mouthwash is not Oral Care is just... beyond me.

I stayed calm, I smiled, and I was very polite, but I was about to reach my breaking point with her.

However, the mouthwash thing had me literally laughing on my way out of the store...

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I'm amazed at your ability to stay calm, cool and collected. Major kudos to you!

Still learning... and sharing what I learn on my blog, Money Saving Mode!

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mouthwash isn't oral care. um, i don't even know what to say to that. i think my jaw would have dropped if someone said that to me.

Yeah, by the third one, I would NOT have been calm and WOULD have been asking for a supervisor! LOL!

You are nicer than I would have been. I would have made a stop at customer service to ask for a manager to help tone down that cashier's attitude and review the coupon policy with her.

The oral care thing is hilarious though. People can be so clueless these days.

Oh thats a hater right their! You gotta love the bs that fly's out their mouth. Where they come up with it is beyond me.

I'm Paige DH DS1 DS2

the women at target always scrutinize my coupons too! i usually only go to male cashiers.

I know that Target's employee policy for cashiers states that they must offer exceptional customer service. Also, they are supposed to welcome coupons with open arms, and are able to make minor price adjustments (like a coupon that wont work but is legitimate) I had a cashier at the Plainville, MA Super Target begin complaining about my coupons before she even began scanning them. As she was ringing my items, she noticed that my printed coupons were faded (low on ink). She says "I don't think these will scan" Then I had 3 coupons printed on a full size piece of paper (I printed right as I was leaving, and I have a baby with me). As she was still ringing, she hands me the paper and says "These have to be cut to coupon size" I said "oh, k" So I tore the paper into 3 coupons. She was still giving me a hard time because i had a few stacked coupons. Then as I was paying... she was still complaining about how the coupons "see! they won't even fit in the slot!" I then remembered that same cashier complained to me once before... i used coupons on trial sized items (cpn had no size restrictions) She refused to take them, AND told me I was "taking advantage of the system" UNBELIEVABLE Sometimes couponing is frustrating, but in the end, i just want more for my money, I don't have much, so i must make it stretch.

The first time I went to Target was a couple weeks ago and I thought I would never go back, lol. They had someone at the front directing people to the registers they wanted them in and I was sent to an older lady who said my coupons were no problem....just give them to her as she scans the item. I had 48 items and 54 coupons, because I was stacking some and had at least 1 Q for everything. She read the fine print and the package of every item I purchased. One. By. One. It took over 30 minutes to check out and now I had to go through all of the coupons in the stack to find each and every coupon as she scanned each item. It was unbelievable. My next trip I got to choose my cashier and I choose a young male. Best couponing experience ever. He was not only nice, but happy for me.

Better to ask ONline than find out IN line!

I did what you did today but got the total opposite reaction. All the cashiers came over to look at my receipt. I bought mouth wash, Benefiber (which was a $2 MM for me), Curel lotions (another MM), Bathroom cleaners, Nature Valley Granola Bars (all free), batteries (all free), Tide single packs, Execedrin (another small MM), my allergy med (which is what I went in for. It's $4 and I used the $1 Q). I walked out paying $1.20 OOP because I found a way to add all those MMs to my bill so that I could get the allergy med for nearly free. And now I have the all the Fiber I could want (I don't want but my doc thinks I need more in my diet so he'll be happy to hear this.) And I have several cleaning sprays so my kids can help me prepare the house for moving day. Yep I love Target. Oh my total before Qs was a little over $50.

Sorry you had such a sucky cashier but I'm glad you had a fun story to share with the rest of us.