The $1 Target General Mills Coupon Drama!
Alright, so you all probably noticed the lack of posts today. Well, two of my kiddos start school tomorrow, so I had to run around and do some last minute back to school shopping! Two of the stores on my list were of course Target and Walgreens.
Target was the first stop since I assumed it would take the longest–long it did! First, as I’m sure you all know, pairing up manufacturer coupons with Target coupons takes a little time. Plus, if you’ve got lots of Target coupons that are not clipped it takes even longer. Yes, I’ll admit I was not very prepared.
Anyway, I was excited to come across so many great deals. I found the Renuzit Air Freshener Spray priced at $1.92, so free with overage when paired the $1 manufacturer coupon and the $1 Target coupon. I also snagged $0.22 Pop-Tarts and $0.24 Bounty Paper Towels + more! My trip could not have been going better until I got to the register…
As the cashier was checking me out one of those wonderful Target coupons started beeping! Not a big deal (I thought), but I guess I was wrong. You know those $1 General Mills Target Cereal coupons with NO size listed on them? Well, I of course tried to snag one single cup of General Mills Cereal. It was priced at $1, so no overage was involved–it would have just been free. The cashier let me know that this coupon is for the box. I explained there was no size specified on the coupon. After a little discussion, she finally got her manager who was very puzzled and confused.
It’s quite funny how these little situations, over a single cup of cereal become sooooo big! The manager said to me that most people who use this coupon buy the boxes. I said yes, I get that… BUT I’m not most people! I’m a couponer– which means that I look for ways to spend the least amount out of pocket while still following the rules. Why would I buy a box, when I can get the single cup for free? She really didn’t know what to say and still seemed to have this confused look on her face. I then told her that Target specifies sizes on some of their coupons, so if they wanted to specify a size on their General Mills coupon they easily could have. I also said that even if they made the mistake of forgetting to specify the size–well, that’s there FAULT and the customer should not have to pay for it. The wording on the coupons is what counts and that’s where I think cashiers and even managers get confused.
After about 30 minutes of conversation over this $1 General Mills coupon, she finally got my email address, said she would be discussing this with corporate and get back to me. I’m very curious to hear what corporate has to say and I will let you know once I hear back. Oh the drama of coupons!
Anyway, if you’re brave enough to run over to Target anytime soon, here are a couple more deals for you:
Honey Bunches of Oats Pecan Bunches $2.24
Use the $2 coupon from here
Final cost $0.24!
Van De Kamps Frozen Seafood $3.98
Use the $3 coupon from here
Final cost $0.98!
(Thanks, Amber!)
Mrs Paul’s Frozen Seafood fish $3.98
Use the $3 coupon from here
Final cost $0.98!
(Thanks, Amber!)
**Please note that the above seafood coupons may not be available anymore!
I had a similar problem with the cereal coupons at Target. When the register beeped, my cashier called the manager over and said, “she’s getting these for free.” He okayed it. I agree with the other comments, Target staff need to have coupon training. This is not my first problem using coupons at Target.
Had the SAME problem with the cereal. I also had the problem using the $3/3 Johnson and Johnson products. Got 3 bars of the buddy soap (.97 each) and she was just going to not take it. I told her to read the coupon and she did let it go through. Ugh I have the worse problems at target anymore…
Can I use more then one of the same kind of target coupon in one transaction??
I have had the same problems with one event ending with a manager making the remark, “Well, those coupons are not meant for that purpose, but we will let it go this time.” I actually did not even get what I was supposed to get. It seems that a lot of Targets need to retrain. Surely, with as many times as I have seen this, corporate is getting the word out.
Hello there, I am a Target cashier. I am also a couponer. Sadly, we don’t receive ANY training about coupons, nor do we have a coupon policy available to refer to. I coupon at my own store all the time, and try to use each transaction as an opportunity to teach my fellow cashiers ( and even sometimes my mamagers!) that yes, we do have a coupon policy, and yes, even though I am getting that item for free, it is still legit. Good luck. and if a coupon beeps and your cashier doesn’t know what to do, tell them to push “K4” for Discounts, choose Target or Manufacturer coupon, then type in the price.
I had the same problem as well. They let me use 1 but said that the coupon said only good on one offer so they would not let me use multiple $1 off the cereal. they also refused to let me use a $1 off coupon for All small and mighty on the travel size they said the same thing they told you . . “most people use it on larger size and I don’t think it was meant to be used on a travel size because then it would be free.” I pointed out it said “ANY SIZE” but they would not budge – I too was in line for 30 minutes with the coupon “issues”. I finally gave up !!!!
I had the same problem as well. They let me use 1 but said that the coupon said only good on one offer so they would not let me use multiple $1 off the cereal. they also refused to let me use a $1 off coupon for All small and mighty on the travel size they said the same thing they told you . . “most people use it on larger size and I don’t think it was meant to be used on a travel size because then it would be free.” I pointed out it said “ANY SIZE” but they would not budge – I too was in line for 30 minutes with the coupon “issues”. I finally gave up !!!!
I have an email from Target re: their coupon policy. I got this after emailing them about how terrible they are with properly pricing items (I constantly have to go to guest services and get price adjustments) and how bad their cashiers are with coupons. Here it is, direct from corporate:
When accepting coupons, we use the following guidelines:
– We accept two kinds of coupons: Target-issued and manufacturer-issued.
– We’ll accept one Target coupon and one manufacturer coupon for the same item, unless either coupon prohibits it.
– We can’t give cash back if the face value of a coupon is greater than the purchase value of the item; in this case, we’re able to adjust the value of the coupon to equal the price of the item.
– We can’t accept coupons from other retailers, or coupons for products not carried in our stores.
– All valid coupons should be presented to the cashier while you’re checking out.
It’s short and straightforward so why the cashiers are not trained on it is beyond me! I too have had rough experiences with coupons at Target (although no one is worse than Walgreens but that’s another story…). Although I have to say, the last 2 times I’ve been in there I’ve had more luck. Maybe, just MAYBE they actually forwarded my letter (and countless others I’m sure) to the manager and they did something about it!?!? Can I dare to dream?
Same problem with not only that coupon but with several other Target coupons and manufacturer’s coupons. It was not worth the hassle and it will be a long time before I shop there again.
I had the same problem with the cereal coupon today at Target. A new “trainee” checked me out and she said her manager has already checked with corporate and they are limiting this coupon to one cereal per tranascation. She told me if I wanted to go through other lines 1 at a time I could get the other 9 cereals I was trying to buy. I said I’ll be back later and left. I’m sick of arguing over coupons but I need to save money. ARRRGH!
I am sorry to hear you had a bad experience at target. I myself ALWAYS have problem every time I shop at target with coupons so now I just stop shopping there. Each time I am trying to use multiple target coupon, or a coupon like you did on the cheerio the cashier (in most cases very rudes) would call manager in, and they refuse to take my coupon and look like I am crazy and take their advantage. It is extremely time consuming and frustrating. I emailed them about my questions of coupon and experience, and all I got from them is a generic email which has no real information that I need. I am very disappointing with Target.
What zip code did you use for the Van de Kamps? Thanks!
Wow Hip, sounds like we have a real Target support group going on here. I am so frustrated, I just left the store. Thanks for letting us all vent. Same deal I tried to get the cereal, the guy got the manager, little miss know it all says thats not what is on the picture. Blah, blah, blah. Then the little wench goes back through and checks all of my coupons to make sure they are all ok. Like I am a freakin criminal. Sometime I hate that store!!!!!!!!!!!!!
my target also rejected me using the $1 cereal coupon, also the $1 off 2 BIC target coupon + $1 off 2 BIC manufacturer coupon. She said i can’t use both target and manufacturer coupons at the same time for the same item. Same for the cereal, not for individual size! Target obvious doesn’t train their cashier well to know their own coupon policy!
Yep my $1 cereal General Mills cups were a no go too. They told me I had to get what was in the picture which is a box of Cheerieos. Even though it clearly states General Mills cereal. She got the manager who said no if the computer won’t take it we can’t over ride it. Whatever.
On the up side they did take my coupon for the Leap Frog tag reading system and I got it for only $14.98. Plus I got $5 coupon for a tag book that I found on clearance for $6.98 so I only paid $1.98 for it!
Hey ladies I work at Target….just wanted you to know that that thing beeps all the time it will say invalid coupon what do you want to do. That cashier was just being a pain all she has to do is hit f1 and it will accept the coupon. We are trained that you just ACCEPT it because half the time it say’s item not here and you are looking right at it.
NOW if it say’s not on trial sizes and someone is buying a trial size I have to let them know….if it doesn’t state anything about a size how am I to know the size comparison. I don’t have a reality ruler with me soooo Ladies get a GSTL over there tell them your not going to shop there again if it happens like this again. They will scramble to keep you.
I was able to get one but my coupons did say only one per transaction. My cashier was very nice and was able to see why the computer beeped at her. I follow the rules so I just had her return the other cereal cups which she did with a smile. I’m there enough that I’ll just keep coupons in my purse so that when I run in I can grab one cup.
I used to be a supporter of Target, but since I have started couponing I refuse to shop at Target anymore. I have had to many bad experiences with Target trying to use coupons. To me, it is not worth the hassle. Good Luck to the rest of you who have never had any problems.
I’ve used one coupon on one cup every day this week and the machine has never beeped. It always beeps on the Archer Farms bread, though, ’cause it is 99 cents instead of the dollar the coupon is for.
Can someone explain to me the beeping when a coupon doesn’t work? At the grocery store all the coupons beep when they are scanned. It’s when I don’t hear a beep that I worry.
Just want to say GOOD FOR YOU for standing up to them! UGH I have more issues at Target than anywhere else! GOOD for you!! Here is my post on ‘standing your ground’
https://www.savingeveryday.net/2009/05/stand-your-ground-when-using-coupons.html
I went to Target yesterday and had the BEST Cashier ever. She knew about all the deals. She even asked me what blog or website I follow. I told her about this one and she said thanks. It is so nice to go and have the cashier appricate that you are just trying to save some money NOT cheat the store out of money.
AMY
I have only ever had a nice cashier ONCE at Target. I always have terrible experiences just you describe. It’s sad because they have so many possible deals but I just ignore them to avoid dealing with the stress of Target cashiers.
walked away last night with 5 cups of GM cereal and a catalina printed that when you buy 5 more cups, you get $2.00 off. may score for some free cereal + overage! 😀
Does anyone in the SF Bay Area, CA know where I can find Honey Bunches of Oats with Pecans? I cannot find it on any store shelves!
Hey there you guys. I have the same problem using the $1 Target GM coupon as well. I want to ask if you guys have the corporate number so I can call them and complain? It is such a hassle to get stuffs at Target. They are being a pain in the butt!!! They make up all kind of excuses. Gosh, they act like I am cheating the store off or something. They should specify the size on the coupon but they didn’t..so it’s their loss!!! I HATE TARGET..making things so complicated. I had to stand there and argue with the manager for 30 mins and in the end, I was not able to use any of the coupons (esp. coupons for trial sizes).
You guys are right about going to the young male cashiers. THey are the easiest when checking out!
I have gotten over 70 $1 general mills cereal for free. Thanks!!!
I had a problem with a cashier once. I called corporate to complain. They sent me a $5 gift card for my trouble. Came out further ahead.
I have made 2 trips to Target with 20 yes 20 of these $1 coupons at a time and gotten 40 total FREE bowls of cereal, it really just depends on the cashier you get. Look for a lane with a young female cashier that’s where I have the best luck!
Just curious as to why you put up with Target at all? Because of Target’s poor customer service with returns and other issues we only go there if we know we cannot get a certain product at Wal-Mart or if we have a Target coupon. (In other words – rarely!) Wal-Mart prices are usually cheaper to begin with, and if there is something in Target’s ad Wal-Mart will be glad to match it (just did it with Juicy-Juice this week).
Ok so I know I’m commenting a bit late on this, but I’m a cashier at Target. Ha. And I’m 17. And I don’t know about other Target stores, but we pretty much always accept coupons even if they beep. But then again, we’re ranked in the top 5 stores in the state.
Went to Target yesterday to purchase a handful of trial size items with my coupons. Cashier would not take my coupons and called over the supervisor. The supervisor explained that “it’s an unwritten rule that coupons are not to be used for trial sizes”. I didn’t fight it because I had a long line behind me, but I’d love your input. Is there something IN WRITING from Target that explains we can use coupons for trial sizes? My Target won’t budge…
I had the exact same issue as you with the cereal cups. It was strange because I went through once and got some no problem. Then I went back in to get some other things and I grabbed some more of the cups. Well I had a different cashier and he called over the supervisor who said no I could not use them on the cups. I said no size is specified. She then gave the cashier a lecture about being especially careful when customers have internet coupons. So also said they didn’t accept any coupons if the machine didn’t take them. There was a line behind me and I was embarrassed because her speech made me look like a thief so I just paid for the cups. Then I went to customer service to return them and they said the coupon is fine for the cups and they ended up reringing up my order and giving me $6 back in cash. It was bizarre. I am not trying it again though because it is just too embarrassing.