In the words of a clerk I encountered today, “This must have been internet coupon printing day.”
Yes, it sure was. At least in the AuburnChick home (and that of anyone who keeps up with couponing blogs).
Before I get any farther in this post, please allow me to pause a moment and give thanks that my mail arrives late in the day. I checked my mailbox as I headed out to do some shopping, and I found this…
I wondered what free thing I had signed up for, until I opened the note…
Then I remembered.
A couple of weeks ago, I had read this post by Linda. The next day, Linda offered a drawing for five people to receive their own “Thanks, Not Cranks” bracelets, and I signed up (to give to Chicky, of course. Just kidding. Sort of.).
Then, something neat happened. Linda’s pastor offered bracelets to everyone who had commented on the above-mentioned posts, so we were all winners!
As evidenced by the photos you’ve already seen, I received mine today.
Here’s a close-up…
Ok…so back to the original point of this post.
As I said, I was headed out to take advantage of some sales I’d read about today. I figured I’d start wearing the bracelet tomorrow.
Good thing, too. You’ll find out why shortly.
First, I visited Target, where I picked up these…for free…only having to pay tax (read about the deal here)…
Next, I drove to Walgreens, where I picked up the two, taller bottles in the center, only paying $.50 + tax for each (read about this deal here)…
Ignore the other four bottles. They come into play in the next part of my story.
So, the Walgreens I visited only had two bottles left, which I bought. Determined not to let some other savvy couponer beat me to the punch, I proceeded to drive to another Walgreens across town.
I entered and was happy to discover plenty of Soft Scrub bottles. Picking up four, I went to the cash register, where the clerk made the comment I quoted at the beginning of this post.
She took a look at my coupons (I had two sets that included a B1G1 and a $1.50/1) and seemed at a loss as to what to do. She called over a manager who closely eyed the coupons and said I could only use one per set of bottles.
Excuse me, I said. I am the Coupon Princess, specially trained by the Coupon Queen, and you are trying to tell me I can’t use these coupons? Apparently you didn’t pass Couponing 101.
I heard the male customer behind me gasp.
There we were, two young-ish (I’m still young at almost 40, right), petite females squaring off over coupons.
She was insistent, but I refused to give up my stance. I am honest (although I do make mistakes now and again, but not this time), and I wasn’t trying to get away with coupon fraud.
She stood her ground.
Whatever happened to the adage, “The customer is always right?” Guess it went south along with the economy.
Anyhoo, she told me that she would have to check with her manager, who would be in tomorrow.
Yeah, right. Meanwhile, you’re going to sell those bottles to someone who doesn’t have coupons and make more money.
I
Don’t
Think
So.
I asked for the number of Walgreen’s Corporate Office.
I was going to the top…Customer Service, anyhoo.
I called right there from the store and reached one of the nicest representatives I’ve ever talked to.
I unbiasedly (yeah, right) explained the situation, and she agreed that the manager should have allowed me to use all of my coupons.
I wanted to stick out my tongue like a toddler. Maybe I kind of did…in my head anyhow.
I offered to hand the phone over to the gal (Super Sis would be mortified as she is so much nicer than me and would never push such an issue).
The rep said she had no control over how managers ran their store, but she offered to file a complaint.
Uh oh.
There’s that word. The one that’s similar to the one on the bracelet I received in the mail.
Guess what?
The bracelet wasn’t on my wrist.
“FILE THE COMPLAINT!” I said in a rush.
I asked the manager for the address of the store, and she tartly provided it.
The rep heard it all. She promised that I would receive a call within two days.
Meanwhile, the manager said she would put the bottles in the back…to save them for me.
I left, still fuming.
I called Coupon Queen to COMPLAIN about what had just happened.
And then I had an idea. It was as if a light illuminated the interior of the car, even though it was now almost 6pm, and I had been shopping for over two hours.
Wanna know what I did?
Of course you do. This is AuburnChick’s life…full of drama but true to every detail except the part of the conversation where I said I am a Coupon Princess (I wouldn’t be so bold as to admit that in public).
I decided to carry the Walgreens weekly ad I had picked up in the first store into Target, get them to price-match (Walmart does this too, by the way), AND use my coupons.
Sometimes I can’t believe how smart I am, cause it worked like a charm!
I walked out of one of my favorite stores with four, $.50 bottles of Soft Scrub (minus the $.05 credit for using my own reusable bag).
Cha Ching.
I’m happy, except that now I’m going to have to figure out what I’m going to say when the Walgreens manager calls me back. See, I’ll be wearing the bracelet by then, and the whole point of it is to watch what I say…try not to complain…be thankful for all things.
I think I’m going to be switching that bracelet back and forth a lot!
Filed under: Saving Money | Tagged: couponing, Saving Money, Target, Walgreens | Leave a comment »
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