Buy $XX, Get $YY Instant Savings

[Mickiab]

Advertised sale of buy $25 in participating products and get $7.00 instant savings. So, purchased the $25...but my coupons took me below the magic $25 number. I didn't get the instant savings. Is this correct -- or should I see the $7.00 savings? Any thoughts on how this works?

TIA!

[jenne64]

It used to be at places I shop like Shaws that the total would be before coupons, but since Extreme couponers many of the stores have changed their policies and now you have to reach the $25 after coupons in order to get the savings. It can be a bit of a crap shoot as to what happens when you get to the checkout. Nowadays, if I'm not sure I do two totals one before and one after the coupons and put the extras in my cart just incase. A lot of times if you ask the cashiers before they ring up they can tell you because if it's a popular promotion the chances are they have done it before. I often wait to the day after the promotion starts and check my blogs to see who is reporting what before I shop, this can save a lot of hassle at the checkout too imo.

[phil2853]

All of my stores take the instant savings off when i scan X amount of product needed , then allowed to use coupons on top of that no problems .

[Desert Debbi]

The way I handle the issue for these kind of trips is to have a spreadsheet with the PRE coupon total and the AFTER coupon total, and I speak to a manager before I buy anything. You can get them to initial it or to tell the cashier to contact them if there are issues. I have had repeated success doing this at my local safeway. One trick my cashier told me is to not give them ANY coupons until they subtotal, then give them coupons. It helps the register know the correct amount has been reached.

If, however, your store policy is penalizing you for using coupons then you can break your transaction into 2 piles. Pay for $25 worth of non couponed items (meat, produce ect), then get your OYNO rebate. Then get the couponed items in a seperate transaction and use your OYNO rebate on top of that. Hope that helps!

[Mickiab]

Thanks for the responses. I called Giant Food -- they say the computer is set to provide the instant savings IF you reach $25.00 WITHOUT Giant sales or coupons. Bummer. I shouldn't complain, though -- ended with $73, and OOP at $13. (although the extra $7 would have been nice). Overall, good trip -- got Capri Sun juice boxes for $1 and Kraft Cheezy Potatos for .10 at box!