An overage is when the product you have is a price that is lower than your coupon.
Example:
Colgate toothpaste
Regular price: $2.39
Sale price: 99 cents (and you even price matched!)
You have a coupon for: $1.50
You have an overage of 51 cents per toothpaste you purchase.
This means that the coupon can be accepted (some stores say "yes" to the overage), some say "no" to the overage, but will accept the coupon UP TO the value of the sale price (example: 99 cents will be written on the coupon to show that you got the toothpaste for 99 cents, it's still "free" to you, but you don't get the difference). Some stores won't accept the coupon at all.
The BEST store for accepting overages is Walmart.
The best time to have an overage, is when you can get enough of one coupon to get the product overage and use the overage towards your other cart purchases (items that are more difficult for finding coupons and discounts for- like fresh produce, meat, eggs, etc).
Check a "coupon policy" for each store in order to find the specific way that overages are dealt with.
Showing posts with label sale. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sale. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
When IS it a Good Time to Use a Coupon?
The best time to use a coupon is when there is a sale. You will get more "bang for your buck" and save more money.
The next best time, is if you need the item (example: toilet paper) and it's a critical low time in the house, you can't wait for the next sale cycle in the store... make your own "sale" by using the coupon. At least you are still saving "something" and not paying full price.
The best time to try a "new" product on the shelves is when you have a coupon! When a new product comes out, product taste testing in stores or demonstrations for a products effectiveness are usually performed. This is also when they hand out coupons (sometimes) and this is when you will find the product on special (sometimes). Use the coupon (watch for Smart Source, Red Plum, etc for "new" products about to hit the shelves, and have your coupon ready for when it arrives in stores).
This is when to buy a product, on sale with your coupon, when it's new. Then, if you don't like it; it's not as big a ding to your pocket-book!
The next best time, is if you need the item (example: toilet paper) and it's a critical low time in the house, you can't wait for the next sale cycle in the store... make your own "sale" by using the coupon. At least you are still saving "something" and not paying full price.
The best time to try a "new" product on the shelves is when you have a coupon! When a new product comes out, product taste testing in stores or demonstrations for a products effectiveness are usually performed. This is also when they hand out coupons (sometimes) and this is when you will find the product on special (sometimes). Use the coupon (watch for Smart Source, Red Plum, etc for "new" products about to hit the shelves, and have your coupon ready for when it arrives in stores).
This is when to buy a product, on sale with your coupon, when it's new. Then, if you don't like it; it's not as big a ding to your pocket-book!
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Rain Checks
A "Rain Check" is basically a piece of paper allowing you to purchase a sale item at a later date because the store has run short of supply.
A typical rain check is dated and has an expiry date (maybe weeks or month), quantity of the item you want to purchase, a size, brand and store where it the rain check is valid. It will also have a signature from a department or store manager, or other authorized employee.
Example:
Metro runs a sale on chicken leg 1/4's for $1.49/lb. They run out of the chicken and offer rain checks to customers who ask for them.
The rain check will only be valid at Metro, by the expiry date, on the exact item and for the exact quantity specified. You cannot purchase chicken at the sale price (after the sale is over) without your rain check. You will have to give Metro the rain check, you can only use it once; even if you only buy 3 items and the rain check said you can have 6. All 6 must be purchased at the same time. You cannot exceed the 6 (example) that is specified on the rain check, you can only have the maximum.
Some stores have an idea when the "truck will be in" with the next shipment, while other stores may offer just a general "sometime next week." Either way, the rain check will be good for a length of time, just don't forget to use it!
There are the few stores in our midst that do not issue a rain check for items in their stores. This is inconvenient for the customer and frustrating. It's just their policy. The only thing you can do (besides not going back to check) is to ask when they expect a new shipment with your desired sale items on it to arrive.
Can I Use A Coupon With A Rain Check?
Yes. A coupon and rain check are two very different pieces of paper. One is a discounted price for a specific item that is kept until you are ready to redeem it. The other is a piece of paper entitling you to a sale priced item that the store ran short of during their sale. There is no reason that a rain check and coupon can't be used together.
A typical rain check is dated and has an expiry date (maybe weeks or month), quantity of the item you want to purchase, a size, brand and store where it the rain check is valid. It will also have a signature from a department or store manager, or other authorized employee.
Example:
Metro runs a sale on chicken leg 1/4's for $1.49/lb. They run out of the chicken and offer rain checks to customers who ask for them.
The rain check will only be valid at Metro, by the expiry date, on the exact item and for the exact quantity specified. You cannot purchase chicken at the sale price (after the sale is over) without your rain check. You will have to give Metro the rain check, you can only use it once; even if you only buy 3 items and the rain check said you can have 6. All 6 must be purchased at the same time. You cannot exceed the 6 (example) that is specified on the rain check, you can only have the maximum.
Some stores have an idea when the "truck will be in" with the next shipment, while other stores may offer just a general "sometime next week." Either way, the rain check will be good for a length of time, just don't forget to use it!
There are the few stores in our midst that do not issue a rain check for items in their stores. This is inconvenient for the customer and frustrating. It's just their policy. The only thing you can do (besides not going back to check) is to ask when they expect a new shipment with your desired sale items on it to arrive.
Can I Use A Coupon With A Rain Check?
Yes. A coupon and rain check are two very different pieces of paper. One is a discounted price for a specific item that is kept until you are ready to redeem it. The other is a piece of paper entitling you to a sale priced item that the store ran short of during their sale. There is no reason that a rain check and coupon can't be used together.
Saturday, June 06, 2009
Sale + Coupon = Big Savings!
Many thousands of coupons are flooding the market at any given time with an honest attempt to influence your purchase of a particular product. But when is using a coupon a good deal and when is it just a waste of money?
In your household you know what you regularally purchase and what are considered treats. You also know about new products on the market through advertising with any number of strategically placed promotions in a variety of media forms. You see the new laundry detergent marketed as "2x the cleaning power," or the "candies now with no artificial colours!" Something to grab your attention and get you thinking about the advertisement song (jingle) or the well built model showing the latest car or clothing designs.
So when is it a good deal to use a coupon?
I would suggest that the best time to use a coupon, is during a sale. If I know of a promotion within the timeline of the expiry of the coupon, then I would use it at the sale. This keeps more money in my pocket, through both the sale price and the coupon redemption. If the product is not on sale or is something that rarely goes on sale, then I would use the coupon to save money on the purchase.
Another good time to use a coupon is to try a new product, the advertisements are ringing through your head as you enter the grocery store and picking up that 'special' item to 'try it' is on your mind. You didn't need to write it down on your list, because the jingle has played in your head for a week now leading up to this moment. This is definately the time to use a coupon because you aren't sure if you'd like the product and paying full price would seem wasteful to you in the end if you didn't like it; you will remind yourself that, "well at least I used a coupon and didn't pay full price."
What could be considered an unwise use of coupons?
If I were to make purchases outside of what I normally buy for my household, 'just because it was a good deal,' is not wise use of the money that it took to complete the purchase. For example, if shaving lotion for ladies were on clearance and I had a coupon for the item, purchasing this is a waste if I don't have a reason to own it because I'm allergic to it.
I have heard and seen people talk about their stock piles of treasures which cost next to nothing and if it's something they normally buy, getting for a great deal is wonderful bargain shopping! When I hear of other people who buy the products to donate to shelters and food banks, I think that is just fantastic; both sharing and saving themselves money all in the same purchase. I totally applaud that. Excessive shopping and hoarding, however in some individuals can be a serious mental problem with real life effects. If you feel you're needing some help because your shopping has turned into excess, hoarding or obsession; I encourage you to contact your medical professional. There is strength in asking for help when you need it.
Coupon Usage Tips:
How to use more than one coupon during a sale and save even more!
Kellogg's Brand Cereals were on sale for $2.99 a box.
Raisin Bran $2.99 (sale price) - $2.00 coupon (back of cereal boxes) = 99c
Special K $2.99 (sale price) - $1.50 coupon = $1.49
99c + $1.49 = $2.48
$2.48 - $2.00 coupon (WUB 2 Kellogg's Cereal coupon) = 48c for 2 boxes!
Take advantage of the sale + coupon = greater savings.
Use individual coupons + "WUB*" more than one product coupons, for the same purchase.
*WUB= when you buy
Here's how you do it... (unless you have a cashier, which I have never had... that doesn't understand this)...I give them one box of cereal and one coupon. I give them the next box and that coupon. At the end of the order (or after they have rung it in anytime after the coupons are rung in) I give them the WUB 2 get $2 off coupon.
Here is what I say... I am very pleasant and never assume that they know what to do, or not to do with a coupon, I just say hi, how are you and start ringing in groceries... then I say, I have a coupon for that box of cereal. They scan the cereal and enter the coupon (some set them aside for the end, but most ring in as we go when we do it one at a time).
Then when they go to scan the second cereal box, I say "oh I have a coupon for that as well!"
When that is rung in, I hand them another coupon and say, "I get a bonus today, because I bought two boxes of cereal, I get another coupon off!" and the cashier looked at the coupon, smiled and said, "well yes you do!" That was it, just that simple. Twenty-four cents for a box of cereal, now to find a coupon to have milk with it!
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