Check out the article on stltoday.com - Shop 'n Save Clarifies it's 'Coupon Thursday' policy in light of TV Show.
The $10 off $50 policy stresses, "Offer is restricted to ONE offer per person per visit."
If your store hasn't enforced this policy in the past, I would imagine they will from now on.
Reference to multiple shopping trips is made in the article. What do you think? Are multiple trips to the store "a way around it (the policy)" or following the policy exactly as stated?
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To me "one per person per visit" means every time one person enters the store they are making a new "visit". So I dont have any problem with a person doing more than one trip a day, as long as they go out and come back. Or if 2 people go together, each can do a $50 transaction.
ReplyDelete^I'm with CJ. I do that all the time at "one per visit" stores or offers. It's not exactly convenient for the customer to go in and out, again and again, so I can't see why a store might have a problem with customers making multiple "visits" like that.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I have never tried to get the $10 off $50 more than once in a visit.
ReplyDeleteI think that SnS should clarify the purpose of the policy, as that is what determines what is and is not "getting around the policy."
ReplyDeleteIf the intent of the policy is to prevent people from receiving multiple discounts, then yes, it is clearly avoiding the policy to go out and in again. However, if the purpose of the policy is to keep the lines running smoothly and not inconvenience other customers, then going out and in again is perfectly in line with that intent.
Unless SnS wishes to reveal the intent of the policy, then I think it is currently acceptable to go in and out. They could easily have worded it "one discount per customer per day."
Well stated, pixie_bit!
ReplyDeleteIt has been stated at the store that I shop at that as long as you go out and come back in, multiple transactions are allowed. I don't know if that is the interpretation of visit for that store, but that is how they are operating and I had no problem doing two transactions this morning.
If they do decide to clarify the policy to mean one discount per person per day, they should also include whether that is per location as well. I can see that adding further confusion.
A friend of mine who used a credit card at two different SnS stores on a Thursday was denied the discount the second time. This was a few months back so I don't know if it's still like that, nor do I know how that does or does not help interpret their policy, but that's what happened to him.
ReplyDeleteI don't see how the computer would have known to deny the second discount when the discount is taken off at the moment your purchase crosses the $50 line.
ReplyDeleteI generally buy $50, leave and come back in And/or go to another location. I have asked about it when I lived in North County and now in South City and that is how they figure it too.
It isn't like they wouldn't recognize me on my second trip, right? I don't exactly blend and I talk to everybody I see. Right, Jeri?
Honestly, why even have the limit? I'd say the point of the $10 off $50 is to get people into the store & make sales. Same purpose as a loss leader. I'd imagine that a majority of people aren't as disciplined to only spend as close to $50 as possible so the store will be coming out ahead. From a marketing standpoint, it'd make just as much sense to give $10 off for EACH $50 spent plus it'd be more customer-friendly. Just my .02.
ReplyDeleteKelly, they used to do that - if you spent $100, they'd give you $20 off. I think they want people to come in and make their usual grocery purchase of $150 - 250 and get the $10 off and be happy that they saved money. It's a gimmick, just like coupons and sales.
ReplyDeleteI saw customers doing multiple back-to-back transactions today. It was really holding up the lines. I moved lanes 3 times to do my one transaction and get out.
ReplyDeleteI don't see how they could control a limit to how many stores or trips you make unless they have some kind of store card which they don't.
ReplyDeleteI have made 4 trips today to 3 different stores with one gift card and I have not had any problems. Smooth sailing. I have 2 more trips to make. Everyone knows me and they haven't said a word to me. I always go out and come in.
ReplyDeleteObiviously when you leave the store and come back in again, it's a new visit. They cannot refuse to sell you products simply because you have already bean their that day. Nor do I think they would want to. I wondered when I watched the extreme couponing episode in question, why they didn't just leave and come back again istead of bothering their friends and standing there waiting for them to show up.
ReplyDeleteHi All - It doesn't sound like the "memo" that went out to stores this week changed anything.
ReplyDeleteI do not think shoppers should hold up the line by doing back to back transaction. They are slow enough at the store I shop.
I wish the St Louis grocery chains would join the rest of the country with loyalty card and ecoupons. Then it's not up to the indivuidual stores what they will and won't do.