Ok readers, I want your opinion on this. I do most of my shopping at Acme, but want to know from the locals which you prefer–Acme or Giant. Please post a comment and tell me!
Here’s the story: Remember the deal I posted a few days ago about the Softsoap, how you can get it at Acme for $0.30 a bottle? Well, yesterday I picked up three. I had three of the $0.35 coupons and one $1 off 3 coupon. I mistakenly handed the cashier the $1 one, realized the error, and asked her to void it off and I would use the other coupons instead. The cashier-supervisor person was standing behind her (funny how they always come to observe whenever I’m checking out) said: We can’t do that, we can only void off one coupon per transaction.
I argued a bit, but let it go. And, I might add, the first coupon that was voided off was because the cashier made an error–it wasn’t my fault. Believe me, I get the big picture. I know that paying $2.00 instead of paying $0.90 for three bottles of handsoap is not a huge deal. But it’s the point. It’s the point that I called customer service when I got home, and what I was told was not true. She could have voided it off if she wanted to, she just didn’t want to.
As I’ve said before, I don’t do anything illegal. I clip coupons and bargain shop in hopes of saving my family money. And for some reason, this really ticks off some cashiers and some supervisors, I don’t know if they’re jealous, if they think coupons are deducted from their paycheck, or what. But it’s getting really annoying and I shouldn’t be hassled every time I shop.
So I’m weighing out the pros & cons of regularly shopping at Acme vs. Giant.
Acme:
~closer to my home
~I pass it twice a day on my way to/from work.
~I like the deals I get on Avenu, the e-coupons
~they double all coupons up to $0.99
~I usually like their meat better
~constantly hassled and made to feel like a criminal for using coupons
~I feel like overall, they offer better deals
Giant:
~further away and out of my way
~I like their produce better than Acme’s
~no e-coupons, but occasionally have transaction coupons, like $5 off $30.
~only double coupons up to $0.50
~if you have several of the same coupon, they only double the first one, the others do not double
~haven’t ever been hassled over my use of coupons
~overall I don’t feel like their deals are as good
So what do you think? Are the extra savings worth the hassle? Leave me a comment with your thoughts.
I don’t have an opinion as we don’t have either of those stores. I just wanted to wave and say “Hi! I read your blog!”
It seems like your pros for going to Acme are much larger than the cons. I like Giant, but your deals at Acme seem to be much better, just from what I’ve read on your blog. If they continue to hassle you I’d call customer service again and let them know. There’s no reason that has to happen, and their superiors would like to know about it.
Hassled or not, I’d go where I saved the most. Maybe change the time of day that you go. I hear you! I hate being made to feel like the money I save is coming directly out of the cashiers paycheck! When I am checking out I feel like I am always explaining that what I am buying, how many I am buying is a very deliberate thing- something that I plan out and strategize over and I am not just throwing some coupons up there and hoping they’ll accept them.
FYI, the Giant in Jennersville does double coupons up to $.99, but only the first one if you’re using multiples.
You know my opinion on the Acme store in question. It’s too convenient not to use, but I’m going to start asking for full names whenever I have a problem there and sending them to corporate.