“Follow Me Monday”: Lots of Questions & a Few VERY Long Answers…
This Hip2Save.com Deal was hand-posted on Monday, March 29th, 2010 at 3:21 pm.
Well, today’s “Follow Me Monday” video is just me sitting on my couch, answering questions, being lazy, and drinking coffee! Yes, it’s pretty boring.
As you may know, I had you all email in questions that you were hoping I could answer. I honestly was not prepared for all the questions that started streaming in and by Saturday I had received a total of 25 pages worth of questions! Yikes! I was hoping to at least answer 20 to 30 questions… BUT, as you’ll see in the video, I answer a total of four questions. I know, I know… I don’t know why it took me so long to answer each question, but it did! You Tube only allows you to upload videos that are 10 minutes or less in length, so that’s why (with all my rambling) four questions was all I could fit in.
On a positive note, I will be answering a lot more of your questions in the coming weeks, so stay tuned!
Alright, so on to the video… and please be nice! I know I’m a dork, but I’m also a very sensitive dork! 
**If you can’t see the video, then go here to watch it.
New Update: Here are a few corporate phone number you’ll want to keep on hand–
*Walgreens Corporate number: (847) 914-2500
*CVS Corporate number: 1-800-746-7287
*Rite Aid Corporate number: 1-800-748-3243 or for Single check Rebate issues call: 1-888-213-9920
*Target Corporate number: 1-800-440-0680
*Walmart Corporate number: 1-800-925-6278
Video: Is now the time to refinance your home?
Lori says:
Another great video Collin!! I never used coupons before hearing about your blog. Seeing your videos with your perky personality just makes me want to save money by couponing. I get sooo excited when I save money!! Thanks for making Mondays a little easier!
Ehrin says:
Collin, you’re much too hard on yourself! Your answers weren’t long OR boring! I found them informative AND entertaining! Thanks!
Gina G says:
Ok Collin, your videos are the ONLY videos i’m able to sit and watch, I am so busy I never ever ever go on youtube or sit online but you are the only person that can get me to sit down and watch your full videos, they are filled with information that help me EACH time! THANK YOU, you do such a great job!
paivi says:
loved it. great info
keep up the good work
Jennifer S says:
I love the video I think you should do these questions more often. Love the CVS Coupon Diva story. Sounds like something I would do. Thanks for all you do for us!!!
Linda says:
Another great video!!! Just wished my computer wouldn’t cut out every 10 seconds or so. Even with all these interuptions, I still really enjoy these, just takes quite along time. I totally know what you’re talking about with the cashiers. I’ve been couponing for years and have always scoped out which lane I want to use. When my husband has gone with, he could never understand why I just didn’t choose the shortest line:o)
Wen in TX says:
pause the video and let your computer catch up to Collin! The streaming video takes up space and a while to load, so it would appear to skip while it catches up.
Vee says:
Great video!! I started couponing this year and absolutely love it. Hip2Save rocks!!!
Anonymous says:
love the video – thanks for the tips.
ERIKA says:
I’ve never had customer service take my word for it!! They always go to the lane I went through to find the coupon that didn’t scan. Because of this, ALWAYS LOOK AT UR RECEIPT BEFORE LEAVING THE STORE!!! If you wait until the next day, they will tell they can’t do anything b/c the coupon is long gone and they can’t just ‘take ur word for it;.
Katherine says:
Another awesome video — thank you for posting the corporate numbers as well. I have had issues before similiar to your CVS story and I would have loved to have called right then and there. Very good advice. I always count up the number of coupons I have before I hand them over — I tell the cashier, “I have 15 coupons, do you think you can handle that?” Of course, nobody wants to say, “No”. I then ask the cashier — “Did you get all 15?” They will check and then I check again after I pay. Even after the cashier has checked it, I have had to stop by customer service to correct a missed coupon, but the cashier is then on my side and all apologies.
Anonymous says:
I also count the number of coupons and make a point of telling the cashier I have 15 coupons. They pay attention to whether or not the coupons go through when they see you’re keeping count.
midcountymomma says:
Great tip Katherine!! I never thought to do that–still a newbie at the world of couponing!
Tilla says:
great video thanks, and i’ll have to watch it again tomorrow cause my 6 year old will force me to:)
Kari says:
Ah, I LOVED this!!! Thank you so much for a fun and educational video!!!
Damien Barber says:
A couple comments on the questions:
First of all, I would just like to say the first question should be “how can you get your spouse more involved in couponing” as I, the husband, am the primary couponer for our family; although my wife did a pretty good job at Rite-Aid a couple weeks ago (although she did purchase the wrong John Frieda product for the rebate so I had to take it back… it’s the thought though right).
Second, a tip I might suggest for ensuring all coupons get scanned at the grocery store is to put the coupons in order of how the products are going to come to the cashier, and hand the coupons over at the beginning while telling the cashier that they should be pretty much in order of how they are going to come through. Many cashiers (especially the anal ones) will appreciate what you have done and will then proceed to scan the coupons as the products themselves come through, which should make it easy to check if they scan all coupons (and will also make it easier to keep them from getting frustrated trying to figure out if you bought the right product and will make things easier if you have to educate them on using multiple coupons/ stacking coupons).
For drug stores, you likely will not have as many products and coupons and will want to use a total purchase coupon anyway, so simply hold your coupons until the end and hand the coupons over 1 by 1.
Dee says:
Not to be off topic, but is anyone not seeing the H2S logo at the top of their page? It’s not showing up for me!
susie says:
Think you may be alone on that one!
Summer says:
Collin… you are a riot! so much fun…!
Thanks for all of your hard work and your good attitude. So nice to see someone so happy!
susie says:
How true!!
Katie Simenson says:
I have to ditto what other people said, “It was great”. Loved the toilet paper story.
Lisa says:
Loved the video! I recently found a way to get my hubby involved…We’ve had a couple of rebates on liquor the past couple of weeks and he was way excited to go pick it out and save money with the rebate. Whatever works, lol
amy says:
Another great video Collin! Keep up the awesome work!
Joy says:
This video was one of my favorite. Please keep doing the Q&A videos whenever you are looking for a change of pace. We learn so much from each others questions. Thank you!!!!
alex says:
Great video, Colin! I have a tip I use for grocery or drugstore shopping with coupons. While I am shopping, I keep a running tally of my total. I jot down the price of the products, multiply by how many and subtract the coupon amounts. This way, when I get up to the checkout, I can see the (pre-tax) amount on the screen and be able to match it up to my calculations. If it doesn’t match, either something wasn’t priced or rung up correctly … or my coupon didn’t get scanned or I just didn’t do my math right (it happens!). I only really do this for the large shopping trips when I’m purchasing multiples, since smaller trips are easier to keep track of. But it works perfectly! I’d much rather stop the transaction (and hold up the line for a little while) than pay and have to go to customer service and argue my case… though I’m not above it!
Jennie says:
Great advice, I too look for the “right” cashier, and have called corporate a few times, However, recently at Target, after I called corp, and they verified I could use the coupons the cashier and manager were not letting me use, the manager actually REFUSED to get on the phone to talk to the lady from corporate! The rep from corp. then told me there was nothing she could do, that managers have to ” CHOOSE” to participate in the policies?????? Target is awful when it comes to couponing, and here in Vegas I have many locations I have tried. They all give me a hard time no matter what Im buying or how many coupons I have.
Smellyann says:
This has been my favorite video to date, Collin. Thanks for doing it, and please do the questions again soon!
Inge says:
Thanks for the video! I am so glad you meantioned the CVS Clearance b.c I just went there 2 nights ago and I was on sitting there going through all the makeup and found sooo much I could get for basically nothing with the coupons I had. I was approached by a worker who told me that they do not take coupons on items that have been marked down. I guess I will be going back up there and calling corp.
Kate says:
You are a ray of sunshine colin! Love your shirt. Thanks for you hard work, it really pays off for all your followers.
Laura says:
Loved it!! would love more like this! i have a story i thought only you all would appreciate… today i did my weekly grocery shopping with my three yr old. we had to stop at the dollar store to get some easter things for my 6yr olds class… well the cashier put a flyer in my bag as he bagged my items, my three yr old very loudly yelled “MOMMY HE GAVE US COUPONS!!!” everyone in the store laughed. The cashier said “wow you are small to know about coupons…”i smiled to myself as i walked out thinking…you have no idea.
Jennifer says:
So cute. My 3-y-o knows all about coupons, too… she is quite the savvy little shopper. And my 11-month-old knows this much: Mommy’s coupon binder is very important, so it MUST taste good and need to be ripped into!
Samantha says:
My 3 yr old is the same way. He likes to sit and watch me clip coupons and “help” as much as he can. In response to Collin’s first question, I’ve put coupons on the product I’m buying on the conveyor belt and the cashier tends to not miss them that way
Susan says:
I would be careful about putting coupons on the conveyer belt. I have had coupons get lost into the belt when the cashier didn’t notice them.
Shannon says:
My first coupon experience at Wal-Mart was disastrous. I had a coupone for every item I purchased and I asked ahead of time if she’d like the coupons with the items or all at once at the end. She said “all at the end”. When the time came, she had to dig each item out of the bag (and there were several bags) one by one to verify that I bought the correct item and even tried to tell me I didn’t buy some of the items I had indeed purchased (there was even a picture on each coupons, so don’t get me started). It was horrible and I stopped shopping there for quite some time. I recently went back and tried coupons again, this time with an older gentlemen. I placed each coupon on top of the item it went with on the conveyor belt, so he couldn’t miss the coupon. Before he started ringing anything, I stated “I put all the coupons with each item to make it easier for you”. It worked like a charm and he told me I was only the second person to ever use coupons in his line and that the other person only used 4 (I had 20 or 30). He also said I had inspired him with my coupon savings! All in all, a successful trip!
Jenn says:
My 2year old loves to help me with my coupons. Whenever one comes out of the printer, she runs over to get it and bring it to me. She feels so special that she gets to help mommy with the coupons.
karrie says:
You are too funny! This was great
Jennifer says:
Great video! Piking cashiers is tricky. One Target near me will *usually* push anything and everything through, but they are so fast, I sometimes don’t notice that something was missed. Another Target is very strict and the cashiers will look at each and every coupon, scroll through the screen and make sure it matches up. Which one I use depends on my mood and which coupons I am using. Johnson’s $1/1 for Soap Buddies are usually used at the “speedy” Target (no scrutiny and these Q’s are so common) and really high value coupons are at the “picky” Target.
I’d love to see you do a Part II to this video with more answers!
Char says:
Love your videos! Even my son, who is 4, has to watch when he sees there is a new one! Thanks for all the great tips!
TD says:
omg, your videos are hilarious! thanks so much for all the time and effort!
Michelle P says:
Thank you again for this!! I took your advice and went to a young male clerk and he just zoomed right through the coupons like it was nothin!! It was fantastic! Especially since I have come across clerks who will make you pull everything out of the bag for every coupon to show them you got the right item…
Annmarie says:
I agree! Thanks Collin for having such a positive attitude.
Jennice says:
Love the video! You are right, young male cashiers are by the far the easiest to deal with!!!
Betty says:
coolest. dork. ever. youre really awesome chicka! thanks for this, im always worried about those vigilante cashiers… what do they care anyways?? I think some of them need “coupon police” badges.youre right about the jealousy thing too, some are happy for you, and some are so sour… Ive actually won a Meijer managers heart by giving her coupons and instructions on how to get free-super cheap Purina One dog food last year. And youre right about young male cashiers, typically they are so easy… but thats cause theyre distracted by our cuteness :p Thanks for everything!
Rachel from OK says:
Loved your video and enjoyed hearing all the great advice! I also put those corporate numbers in my phone because I’ve dealt with unpleasant people at Walmart and didn’t know what to do. Thank YOU! Oh, I didn’t find the video too long – just right.
Sakura says:
With regards to the question about coupons being scanned you mentioned target. Target can use a number on your receipt, and pull up the video of your purchase to check if the coupon was given/scanned. I had to do this last week, $6 in q’s were not showing on my receipt. The security manager looked it up and offered to give me cash for the mistake. The odd thing was that his computer version of my receipt was different from what was printed out.
Kim says:
Loved the video!
Jen from Germany says:
What a great job! You inspire me to want to keep sharing with others how to save money! I really liked the comments about getting hubbies involved and saving money! My husband is more of an internet buyer but even he is aiming for 50% or more off!
Kristin says:
Collin,
You are too cute and fun!
I’d love to just pick your brain with questions like this for an afternoon! Thanks for sharing with us the wisdom you’ve acquired in these areas. For us newbies in particular, it is VERY helpful. Thanks for making couponing hip and fun and easy! 
Anonymous says:
It’s different. but it turned out great.
Kris says:
Collin
Loved the video. You are AMAZING! Also, thanks for the Corporate Numbers as I have plugged them into my cell phone so that I will have them with me at all times.
Thanks again
Kris
LISA says:
tHANK yOU! I just started taking couponing serious again and I love your videos!!!
miaduebambini says:
This was funny and informative! Thanks.
Anonymous says:
I usually like your videos but they are really starting to annoy me. You keep saying the customer is “always correct” and this is not true. I am a cashier at a grocery store and I have at least two people everyday that try to use coupons that are expired or not for what they have. Handing them one at a time will make every cashier mad, stacking them is not as bad.Just remember that when you are talking to the cashier while she is scanning coupons more then likely she/he is going to get distracted and miss one.
“Follow Me Monday” Q&A With Collin & Ma! – Hip2Save - Not Your Grandma's Coupon Site says:
[...] you were hoping I could answer. I received a total of 25 pages worth of questions, so just like the previous “Follow Me Monday” video I’m at it again trying to answer as many questions as I can– which is not very many due [...]
Jaclyn says:
I am catching up on your videos now that my kids are calm. Colin you ALWAYS crack me up. I laughed so hard about the napkins!!! The CVS story- I had the same EXACT thing happen to me about not being able to use a coupon on clearance & had the manager called over. The manager said yes I can, however the cashier still was refusing! I was stunned that she would argue with a manager! I finally had to report this cashier to corporate after having SEVERAL issues with her! GRRAT VIDEO!!!
Cathy I. says:
Hi Colin. I am a cashier for Rite-Aid and I prefer to have the coupons at the beginning so I can check to make sure the coupons match the products being bought. If they don’t, the customer can go back and get the correct product before I start ringing them up. They seem to appreciate it alot since they are usually coming in for specific products and using their $5 off $20 or $25 coupons. Also, I never used to coupon until I really started watching what was being purchased and what the final cost was. I decided that I should be getting those savings too. LOL. I have learned so much from your site that I am now able to help our couponers and have recruited quite a few. Love couponers! Keep up the good work.
Lauren says:
Did those pillows come from IKEA great job