Kroger Coupon Policy Woes (but awesome Chex Mix deal!)

Kroger has all of their Chex Mix (including the chocolate kind) and Cheerios Mix on sale 2 for $3. Since I have a ton of printable coupons for these, I rolled on over there this afternoon and picked up 8 bags for $3.97 or about 50 cents each (Saving over $18) - how does that work, you ask? Well, I had 2 cpns for regular chex mix, 4 cpns for chocolate chex mix, and 2 cpns for Cheerios mix. Each was for 50 cents off one bag and they doubled (Kroger doubles cpns up to 50 cents) even though they said "do not double" on them. ("super-couponer" note: if a coupon says "do not double" but its serial number starts with a 5 all the way to the left of the bar code, it will likely still double. If the serial number starts with a 9, it won't. I know that is crazy picky, but it's a pretty consistent rule of thumb in the couponing world).

Here's the "woe" part - After the checkout girl rang up all the bags, she told me that they only take two internet coupons at a time now. I said, "Two for the same type of item? Or two total per transaction for any internet coupon?" I asked because I could at least get get 6 bags with the coupons I had (two were for regular chex mix, 2 for chocolate, and 2 for Cheerios mix) if the former were the case. The manager was next to us, manning the self-bag lanes, and he said 2 per transaction total. He said that due to fraud, only accepting two at a time is the only way they could control it. So, I said I didn't want all of the bags then and asked for my coupons back so I could use only the two that were about to expire. I told that that since Harris Teeter is still accepting the printable coupons I could take them over there. Meanwhile the 5 people behind me in the express lane were all annoyed. I think that is what inspired the manager to then say that he'd let me use my coupons "this one time." Here is what Kroger's website states about printable internet coupons - I'm not sure my store was following it the way it is laid out.

So, as if I didn't have enough reasons not to shop at this Kroger (New Hope Commons), this added to my list. They don't double up to 99 cents like HT does, they don't do triple or super double coupon specials, their produce seems to be wilting every time I shop there, their variety for some of the things I buy (like yogurt) is limited, and 80-90% of the times I've been to this Kroger something I was looking for was sitting in a puddle of something else that was leaking next to it. These complaints are not new to them. I filled out a mail in survey a few weeks ago. I'm not saying I won't shop there for certain deals when they are cheaper than anywhere else, I'm just saying I'm not planning to change my usual shopping routine at HT any time soon.

I am not a fraud couponer - I print to my 2 coupon limit each time. This is obvious by looking at my coupons since their expiration dates vary. I know that some hard core couponers have coupon parties and share and trade coupons with each other just to get multiples of things they use, though. This new policy would affect them the most, I think.

*** Just a note about HT - Technically, Harris Teeter only doubles coupons for up to three identical items per transaction - coupons used for those items after that are redeemed at face value. Also, technically with the purchase of two like manufacturer’s products, they accept two internet coupons, per store, per day. I say technically have never had a problem with my Harris Teeter doubling more than 3 coupons for identical items or accepting multiple internet coupons for like items. Check out the rest of HT's Coupon Policy here.

BIG Kroger Deal 1/26!

Kroger just started a great deal today where if you buy 10 of the participating products, you get $5 off. There are some good coupon match ups with this deal, and some things are really cheap even without the coupons (e.g., Goldfish crackers that are normally $2.19 are 88cents if you take into account the $5 off). I'm sorry, I don't have the original prices since Kroger doesn't print them on the receipt and I didn't jot them down, but most of these items go for more than $3 each normally.

Kroger doubles coupons up to 50 cents. Some of the coupons that match up with this deal...

From today's paper (1/24) in smart source:

• Chex Mix (50 cents off 2) or there are printable coupons for 50 cents off 1 that will double - the chocolate chex mix varieties ARE included in the sale. Final price after deal & cpn: = 49 cents if use printable, $1 each if paper cpn
  
• Orville Redenbacher popcorn ($1 off 2) - final price after deal & cpn = $1.49 each
• Orville Redenbacher Poppycock (50 cents off 1 - doubles) - it's like Cracker Jacks kind of - final price after deal & cpn = 99 cents
• Kraft cheese (shredded, block, or singles ($1 off 2) - final price after deal & cpn = 49 cents each
• Brawny papertowels ($1 off 1 pack 8 rolls) - final price after deal & cpn= $4.49
  

From 1/17 smart source:

• Johnsonville smoked bratwurst ($1 off 2) - HT has this on sale right now for $2.99, but it's $2.49 if purchased at Kroger as part of this deal, plus the cpn it would be $2 each pack.

From 1/3 smart source:

• Finish Electrosol gelpacs or tabs dishwasher detergent ($2.50 off 1) - HIGH VALUE CPN expires at the end of the month! If used as part of this deal, your detergent will only be 50 cents. I love these things, too; so convenient!

From 12/13 smart source:

• Jello ($1 off 2) - I got this cpn reference off Sue Stock's database but couldn't find the actual coupon. I'm not sure if I clipped it and used it already, but if you find it, your Jello will probably be free
• Oscar Meyer cold cuts ($1 off 2) - final price after deal & cpn= about $2 each
  

From 12/6 smart source:

• ChiChi's salsa ($1 off 2) - final price after deal & cpn = about 50 cents each

I spent $9.04 and saved 25.90 according to the receipt - My ten items were 2 bags of Goldfish (88 cents each), 1 pkg Electrosol (49 cents), 1 chocolate chex mix (49 cents), 2 jars of ChiChi's salsa (49 cents each), 2 pkgs of Oscar Meyer cold cuts ($2 each), 1 pkg Kraft Shredded Cheese (49 cents) and 1 pkg Kraft singles (49 cents)

You could do it cheaper if you buy the jello :-)

Kroger Deals this Week!!! Free toothpaste!

Ok, I know what you're saying. "WHAT? What about Harris Teeter??" Yes, I've already been there this week :-) But there are some phenomenal deals at Kroger right now worth checking out. I spent $31 and saved $66, plus I got a few items free! So here's the deal:

There's a promotion - if you buy 10 participating items, you get $5 back on your purchase. This is the case no matter how many sets of 10 you buy. So, for example, tonight I bought 30 participating items, so I got $15 back on the order. Not all the participating items are in the circular, so you may want to check out the couponmom.com database to find out which items have coupons AND are participating in the promo. You can also get a list in the store near the produce in the form of a "shopping list" - ask at the customer service desk if you can't find it. It may take some creativity to get the sets of 10 items and the best deals. Here's what I got:

2 bottles - All laundry detergent (99 cents each) - the sale/promo makes it $2.99 for the 26 to 32 loads bottle (includes "small and mighty" free & clear high efficiency detergent). There was a $2 off coupon in the 10/4 Red Plum making it 99 cents. I also had a printable $2 coupons so I got two at that price.

1 tube Colgate toothpaste (FREE!) - the sale/promo price is $1. There is a coupon for Colgate Total in the 10/25 Smart Source for $1 off. I took a chance and used this for regular tarter control whitening Colgate (not the Total kind, which was $2.50) and it worked! So I got it free.

2 cans Nestle Carnation evaporated milk (FREE) - You can use this with canned pumpkin to make pumkin pie. Sale price was 50 cents - coupon was in the 11/1 Red Plum for $1 off 2. There is a coupon for $1 off 4 cans of Libby veggies which I assume include pumpkin in the 9/27 Red Plum that I wish I knew about before I went shopping. These were not part of the promo but were on sale today.

1 bag Nestle chocolate morsels (99 cents) - Sale price is $1.99 - coupon in the 11/1 Red Plum for $50 off 1 (doubles to $1 off) Great for cookies!

4 bags Birds Eye frozen SteamFresh veggies (49 cents each) - Sale price$1.49 - coupons for 50 cents off in the 10/13 Smart Source and printables available. I had 3 printables not yet expired. Double to $1 off. 3 were for lightly sauced veggies. Frozen veggies are a time saver on busy nights and the freezing process preserves the vitamins, I've read :-)

6 bags Chex Mix (49 cents each) - Sale price $1.49 per bag (typically 2.89 or 3.15 per bag original price). Coupons were in the 10/25 Smart Source for $1 plus a whole mess of 50 cents printables that doubled. Chex Mix is a popular printable. I actually could have gotten more if I had printed more of the Chocolate Chex Mix ones - I didn't think they'd be included in this promo but they were!

1 container Land O Lakes spreadable butter (19 cents) - Sale price 99 cents - coupon in 10/18 smart source for 80 cents off.

2 packages Uncle Ben's Ready Rice (49 cents each) - Sale price was 99 cents each - coupon was in the 9/13 RP for $1 off 2. These are nice to have around for a quick side dish on busy nights.

5 cans Del Monte diced tomatoes (30 cents each) - Sale price was 49 cents each - coupon was in the 9/20 Red Plum for $1 off 5 cans of Del Monte veggies. Great to have on hand for chili!

Now, if you're counting along, You'll notice there are only 24 items here. To get these prices I needed to buy 30. No problem. I stocked up on 3 Edy's Slow Churned ice creams for $2.50 each and 2-liter Coke products - 4 for 79 cents each (that's cheaper than HT brand soda!) - I can use that for my next party :-) Yes, I normally pay a little less than $2.50 for ice cream, but this is Edy's - we used to buy it all the time at the sale price of $5.49 each. So I had to get some for old times sake!

I bought a few other needed items too like eggs (Eggland Best and Born Free has had some coupons out lately) and peppers (red, yellow, and orange for $1 each - normally $2.50 to $3 each). Produce at Kroger is not so hot in my experience unfortunately and tonight was no exception - otherwise I would have bought the organic bananas at the awesome price of 45 cents/lb. Normally at HT they would be up to 99cents/lb. for organic which is why we normally don't buy organic bananas - they have thick skins anyway.

Overall, it was a good haul - some great stock ups and some good deals on things we use all the time. Can't beat free toothpaste! There are probably plenty of other deals out there on other promo products that I don't usually purchase, so feel free to comment if you come up with any others this week. Now I'll be making some pumpkin pie this coming weekend - yum!

Yours in savings,
-Li