Everything we know about in-store coupons

March 8th, 2010

In-store coupons are a significant part of a “healthy bargain hunter’s diet”. Here on Buxr we award larger prizes to encourage our members to submit online deals however even with this incentive more than 10% of all Buxr deals are in-store and many of them coupons. We decided to share with you everything we know about them so you can make the most out of your coupon clipping. If our tips help you score a hot printable coupon – don’t forget to share it with others on Buxr!

Where to find in-store coupons

• Newspapers – Clip manufacturers’ coupons from national RedPlum, Smartsource, or P&G brandsaver inserts for groceries, department stores, as well as restaurants. You can even check online for a schedule of when they will be published, or fill out this online form to learn where to find the Red Plum coupon book in your area. Several of these sources also provide coupons on their web sites that you can print yourself. Check grocery and pharmacy inserts for store coupons.
• Magazines – Many coupons are found in monthly magazines. One example is All You, a magazine that is sold exclusively at Walmart or by subscription. The value of the coupons printed in All You each month far exceeds the cost of the magazine.
• In the store - Tear pads or dispensers (little machines that spit out coupons) are frequently found next to featured items, or there may be coupons on the items themselves. Some are removable hangtags or can be peeled off and used instantly, while others must be cut from the package or are found inside, to be used on a future purchase. Checkout coupons are now printed on the back of your register receipts, and drug store cosmetic counters often have manufacturer’s coupons available for the asking. Sign up for store shopper loyalty programs wherever you shop to get the special members-only coupons that print at the register when you check out, as these are often based on your buying habits.
• Mailers – You can get promotional offers and coupons by mail. Sign up for newsletters from the manufacturers of your favorite products to receive email and direct mail coupons. Several other sources that offer a direct mail option are RedPlum and Valpak. To add your address to the Valpak direct mail list, send your complete mailing address to customer_service@valpak.com.
• Online – Many sites offer printable grocery coupons, such as Smartsource.com, Redlpum.com, or CoolSavings.com. You can join ShopAtHome.com for free, decline the optional toolbar, and browse their list yourself. Other sites that regularly provide printable coupons include  Procter & Gamble, Pillsbury.com, Arm & Hammer, Betty Crocker, Nestle Family,  Kraft Foods, General Mills, and Campbell’s Kitchen. These sites may limit the number of coupons that can be printed, and refresh them every month, so you need to print them early to be sure to get yours.Visit CouponMom.com to search an interactive grocery coupon database for a listing of all available coupons, or search by state to see what’s published in your Sunday paper. From this site, you can also order a subscription to your local newspaper at up to 75% off.  At WorkingMom.com (no registration) and Penny Pincher Gazette (free registration), you can find coupons from all sources, link coupons to sale items, and comparison shop between stores.  You can get a newsletter or email digest of printable internet coupons from any of these sites,or from All You magazine.
• Ads – Many times a TV or print ad for a product will include a coupon or direct you to the product’s website or Facebook page, where you can find coupons.

There are manufacturer’s coupons as well as store coupons. These can often be combined for double savings at Walgreens, CVS, or Target, where in-store coupons are provided online. Websites like Totally Target will match coupons and product sale dates for you. But be sure to read the fine print on all coupons to note any restrictions, or if they ”cannot be used with any other offer” before trying to double them or combine them with other coupons.

Honoring competitor’s coupons

The acceptance of competitive coupons tends to vary by local store, and they are more likely to take a competitor’s coupons where there are a lot of similar stores. Usually, these are limited to direct competitors. So a CVS might take a Walgreens coupon but not a Kroger coupon, and Kroger will probably take another supermarket’s coupon but not one from Walgreens. You’ll just have to check with each individual store or retailer to find out their competitor coupon policy in your area. Often the cashier may not be familar with the policy and you may have to ask for a manager. Stores are unlikely to accept coupons from a company that has no locations within their trade area. Many supermarkets will also price match when you bring in a competitor’s current ad.

A lot of other businesses will honor competitor coupons, so check with your local dry cleaners, plumbers, health clubs, home improvement stores, and restaurants. Bed, Bath & Beyond and Pizza Hut locations accept all local competitor coupons, as do Midas, Best Buy, Lowe’s, Home Depot and Wal-Mart.

Expired coupons

Bed Bath and Beyond accepts expired coupons, but again, this can vary by store, so you’ll have to check their policy. Some stores will accept coupons up to a month after the expiration date. You can also donate your expired grocery coupons to military families through the Overseas Coupon Program. All manufacturer’s coupons are accepted up to six months after their expiration date.

Spotting fakes

It’s important that you carefully examine any coupons you find on the Internet to avoid being cheated, because coupon fraud has increased in the past year as coupon use rises. Smudged UPCs, signs of coupon alteration (date or value), barcodes that are missing or won’t scan, and no redemption information are just a few of the warning signs that coupons may not be valid, check this wiki page for more tips on how to spot fraudulent coupons. Counterfeit coupon alerts are posted online by the  Coupon Information Corporation, an association of consumer product manufacturers dedicated to fighting counterfeit coupons, misredemption, and fraud. This fraud can hurt the consumer, too, because any increase in fake coupons will cause retailers to stop accepting Internet-printed coupons.

Each coupon you use is like putting cash back in your pocket. They are usually deducted before tax and some can be doubled, so you’re saving even more than face value. Clipping or printing coupons may be tedious, but it’s a huge money-saver if you can do it efficiently!

Entry Filed under: Shopping