.png)
When it comes to coupons, the rules of the game are pretty clear. But with just a little gumption, rules like expiration dates, exclusions, and quantity limits can be stretched, or flat out busted, to maximize your savings. Here’s what you need to know.
Expiration Dates Aren’t a Hard and Fast Rule
With very few exceptions, online and in-store coupons have a clearly printed expiration date on them. Go past that date, and you’re stuck paying full price. It turns out this isn’t always the case, though, as a few big-name retailers have been known to ignore expiration dates and hook you up with the savings anyways. While no store has a stated policy that they’ll gladly accept expired coupons, it’s always worth asking if they might make an exception for you. Here are a few stores known to accept their own coupons after they have expired.
- Bed Bath & Beyond: Don’t throw away your old BB&B coupon, as they have the reputation of regularly accepting their own expired coupons. I discovered this when I successfully used a three month old “20% off any one item” coupon that I stumbled across in our junk drawer (an experience I’m sure many will find familiar)
- Michaels: Never throw an expired Michaels coupon in the recycle bin—they’re often are still usable. My wife is a loyal Michaels shopper and on several occasions she’s been able to use an expired coupon. She also reports she was once able to use an expired competitor’s coupon as well (though your mileage may vary—her Jo-Ann Fabrics coupon had only expired the day before).
- Lowe’s: I was recently ticked off that I let a “$10 off $50 or more” coupon for Lowe’s expire. Instead of throwing it in the trash, I decided on a whim to try and use it anyways. I was pleasantly surprised when the cashier was able override the expiration date and give me the $10 discount anyways. Maybe it was my charm, or maybe she felt sorry for me, but in either case, I’m glad I asked and am $10 richer because of it.
- Target: Some Target stores will accept expired coupons. It has been my experience that different Target stores have different policies, though, so ask when you check out.
- CVS: Certain CVS locations have also been known to accept expired coupons. For example, my local store had no problem taking a $5 off $25 coupon that has been expired for up to two months.
While that’s a handy list of stores, it doesn’t guarantee that they’ll accept your coupon—but it also isn’t an exclusive list, either. Your key takeaway should be: if you have an expired coupon, don’t throw it away. No matter what store you’re going to, bring the coupon and plead your case in a friendly way. This is especially true when the expiration date was less than a week ago, as you’ll get a little more sympathy. In many cases, the employee has the authority to override the expiration date, or has a similar non-expired coupon in their drawer they can scan for you. But if employee says, “Sorry, can’t accept it”, then accept that gracefully and move on with life, knowing there will be more coupons on the way.
Also, when using expired manufacturer coupons, always try to slip them in when checking out. In many cases, the manufacturer will include a grace period on the expiration date letting you use it beyond the printed expiration date. The grace period might be a week, or could be as long as a month. Once the cashier scans it, you’ll know immediately if it’s expired or not. You can also download the QSeer Coupon Reader App ($1.99 on iOS and Android) and it will tell you exactly when the coupon expires and if there’s a grace period attached.
Excluded Items May Have Wiggle Room
It’s incredibly frustrating when an in-store coupon being rejected by the cashier because the brand you’re attempting to purchase is excluded. For example, I was recently trying to purchase a new set of golf clubs from Sports Authority using a 25% off coupon, and the number of brand exclusions was so long that I was unable find a decent brand outside of the list. A few other retailers with a laundry list of ridiculously long exclusions include Staples, Golfsmith, Macy’s, and Office Depot.
The good news is that many stores may bend the coupon exclusion rules to make you a happy customer. Here are a few examples I’ve seen:
- Dick’s Sporting Goods: Just last week, I was shopping at Dick’s with a coupon in hand, and bought an excluded brand with no issue. The employee scanned the coupon and no bells or alarms went off. Either their system doesn’t recognize excluded brands, or employees regularly over-ride the coupon and give you the savings anyways. It’s also worth noting this wasn’t the first time I have done this successfully at Dick’s, either.
- Guitar Center: The list of brand exclusions at Guitar Center is so long that, at first glance, it appears difficult to actually buy a guitar with a coupon. The good news is that Guitar Center employees realize their brand exclusion list is laughable and they’ll accept your coupon on almost all new guitars, or at the very least negotiate a lower price if you show them your coupon.
- JCPenney: The coupon exclusions at JCPenney are slightly different than most. They include brands like Nike, Levi’s, and Sephora, but they also include general store categories like baby gear, kitchen wear, and athletic shoes. While they may be sticklers on not letting excluded brands pass through, I was recently told by an employee that excluded general categories are typically given a bit more leniency and you can get that discount.
Coupon exclusions are generally not the making of the retailer, but rather come directly from brands who ask to be excluded, as they don’t want to be associated as a “discounted” brand. Because it’s a brand policy, and not a company one, many stores will often turn the other cheek and let you use the coupon anyways, or help you score the deal another way. The bottom line: always try and use the coupon anyways and see just how bad the retailer wants your business.
“Quantity Limits” Can Be Worked Around
Many coupons include a “Limit 1 Coupon per Transaction” boilerplate that can limit your savings, especially on many manufacturer issued coupons. If you’re only buying one, then it’s no big deal, but what if you have two manufacturer coupons you want to use? The most obvious rule bend is to politely ask the cashier to break up your purchase into two transactions so you can use a separate coupon on each. Aside from dirty looks for holding up the checkout lane, most cashiers will begrudgingly do this for you. If for some reason they won’t, then move on and try again when the store isn’t busy.
A much smarter workaround is to do something termed coupon stacking. This is when you use a store issued coupon and combine it with a manufacturer’s coupon on the same product. So instead of breaking up your purchase into two separate transactions, you buy two of the same item and stack a store issued and manufacturer’s coupon. You still end up with two items and often get the same savings or greater. And, you’ll greatly reduce your checkout time and the number of dirty looks thrown your way.
Target is a great example of a store that has a large selection of store issued coupons that you can combine with manufacturer coupons to double your savings. Also, if you’re a regular shopper at CVS, Safeway, Walgreens, Publix, and Whole Foods you should always look to stack coupons.
Stores desperately want your repeat business, and many are willing to bend their coupon policies to make you happy. The more you know the rules you can muscle to your advantage, the easier it is to save a few extra bucks on your next trip to the store. Just make sure you don’t get tricked by those coupons into spending more.
from Lifehacker http://ift.tt/1biqzd8
