Even though, I hardly ever right about using coupons and saving money, I have a passion for it. I’m always saving coupons and using at least one at the grocery story, but I always feel triumphant when I end up using 20 coupons and saving 50-60% or more on my grocery bill. Blogging and couponing are the two ways that I contribute to our family’s debt snowball plan. A penny saved is a penny earned. One of the stores that I live close to and had a few really good savings trips at from time to time was Rite Aid. They had such a great coupon policy and it was really easy to get things for FREE! I’m guessing that too many people are now using coupons or something has gone wrong someone because now they changed their policy, and I don’t like some of the changes!
So If you shop at Rite Aid too, you’ll want to be aware that they updated their coupon policy last week.
Here are some of the changes:
- You can no longer use a B1G1 coupon on a product that is on sale B1G1. You can use $ off coupons, but they must be less than the total of the product you are buying.
This coupon policy was my FAVORITE one. I’m wondering if all stores including major grocery stores are going to implement this policy.
- If something is on sale B1G1 you can only use 1 coupon per pair of items purchased.
Oh this is another rule that really stinks. Only one coupon per two items, that’s just wrong! Stores are reimbursed by companies for the coupons used so I don’t understand why there is so much of a fuss over the use of two coupons when a store has something on sale for buy one get one free. I guess it’s just this really does make me sad because I worry that other stores are going to follow these new rules too.
- There is a limit of 4 like items per transaction and you must leave sufficient stock in the store for other customers. This is up to the manager’s discretion.
- You can use manufacturers coupons (starts with a 5), Rite Aid manufacturers coupons (starts with 49) and Rite Aid Valuable coupons (starts with 48) all on the same product as long as the coupons are not worth more than the product.
- Coupons printed off the internet (that are not Rite Aid coupons) are only accepted up to $5.
The final three changes seem to be decent changes. I mean it’s hoarding to take more than 4 items of something at a time. Things do go on sale in cycles and it should be on sale before you can go through four of something. Yeah, of course there are some exemptions but it’s the kind thing to do to make sure there is enough for others. I’ve been in Rite Aid and Walgreens many times when there is a really good sale and they are completely out.
It’s also nice that you can use three different kinds of coupons on one product. Walgreens makes you have one item per coupon used even if three of the coupons were for the same item. Now I’m sure that seems confusing, but it’s true. You can use a store coupon and a manufacturer coupon at Walgreens as long as you have the same number of items as you do coupons.
And when it comes to coupons printed off the internet, most of the time if they are over $5.00 they are probably fraudulent coupons. Like I said though, I’m really sad about changes in coupon policies. I hear whispers on the internet that it’s because of TLC’s show Extreme Couponing.
Read the entire Rite Aid Coupon Policy here. And Tell me What you Think?
Very interesting. I actually never shop at Rite Aid only due to location … my closest is by other stores I shop more. But they are building a store at the plaza by me, but I don’t know which store is going in … I wonder what it will be?
Hmmm, interesting. I’d be incredibly aggravated at those changes too.
I hope this doesn’t offend anyone, because I don’t mean for it to.
But the seeming unintended consequences of the Extreme Couponing show continue 🙁 There’s nothing wrong with using coupons (I use them, myself). And there’s nothing wrong with getting great deals when & where you can if you are following the rules. (Sadly I’ve read in a lot of places that the rules may not have been followed in a lot of situations on that show.) The rule about not clearing the shelves really make it feel like it came from shutting down those people who stockpile 3 years’ worth of stuff they’ll never use.
It makes me sad because those of us who are just trying to stretch our families’ budgets are the ones who are penalized.