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 went to target & had the same problem. I called corporate & the coupons are acceptable! I HATE when people look at the picture and think that is what you NEED to buy. I told the cashier today so I have to buy cheerios? Since that is what the picture shows. To make a long story short after a bit of a hassle, they accepted ALL my coupons. Corporate agreed I was right & said they would contact the store manager because their cashiers needed to be re-trained.
I had the same problem with the cereal coupons. The cashier just pushed them through though. I’m not sure why they beep since there is no overage.
I had a problem with two Targets yesterday trying to use that coupon. The manager finally gave in and said I could use the coupon this time but next time I can only use one per transaction.
too add: the cashier was NOT happy when she had to accept my coupons. She acted like I was taking money from HER or something. On top of that when I was leaving she ‘complained’ about me to another cashier. And yes, I told corporate ALL of that.
Sorry about your trouble!! We are not most people, we are SMART people that use our heads and our coupons wisely. I have been fortunate so far to not have a problem using a Target coupon with a Manufacturers coupon, usually it’s a bored teenager who just scans them all and doesn’t care…but I haven’t encountered the dreaded beep yet! Good luck, I hope Target gets their act together! Don’t you have to have some level of education/intelligence to be a manager of a major store? 😉
I personally love the cashiers that point out the picture as if the words are meaningless. I have walked out of many stores on many occasions in a full sweat. I can’t blame my two-year-old every time, but something about the transaction sends her over the edge. I can’t wait to hear the outcome.
PS Betsy- LOVE LOVE LOVE the “bored teenager” and seek him out every time I shop
Betsy:
I normally look for the younger cashers/teenagers (preferably) male too. They seem to just ‘push’ right thru them. The older ladies always give me problems 🙁
Hi!!! I want to know who you guys are talking to at corporate! 🙂 I called after I had this same problem buying Edy’s awhile back…Called corporate and they said that I could not use the qs on the small cups…Had to be what was on the picture.
I expressed my concern with the q not being specific…but really got no where. I have not tried the cereal deal yet…but doubt it will work at my local store…really stinks!
I always go to Target when I know my favorite young (male) cashier is working-he gives me no problems, and even gets excited each week to ring me out to see how much I saved!
My store in Hillsboro, OR sent the coupon right through with no problem. It is not a Super Target (only a small grocery section), so I wonder if that made the difference. Also, I was buying a different GM cereal cup (cinnamon toast crunch), instead of the cheerios.
So sorry you had issues… I went with same coupons, got 4 cups of Lucky Charms (they are General Mills too) … got some Bic Pens, Purina One cat food and the Dove deoderant. ALL Target coupons beeped, but the cashier pushed them through. NO words, no hassle, nothing.
I had the same issue @ Target today with the Clean & Clear trial size and the All trial size. The cashier got all snippy and said Target doesn’t allow you to use coupons on trial size stuff. I tried to be polite and have her re-read the coupon to show that it did not exclude trial sizes, but she said it didn’t matter. Tried to educate her on their policy of adjusting the coupon down, to no avail. Called for a supervisor who recommended adjusting it down, but the cashier was adamant another told her they couldn’t take trial sizes and she demanded for that supervisor to come over, who said no trial sizes. I told them they were wrong, I would be calling corporate, and would take my coupons elsewhere. Ironically enough, she didn’t say a word about the Kotex pads or Almay eye remover in trial sizes. What a joke. Target seriously needs to train or re-train their cashiers on their own policy!
I had mine pushed thru today as well, thanks to a young cashier, yes the males are best.
i have a question, how are you doing the bounty deal? i can not find the charmin on the go…where are they? does that coupon beep as well?
thanks so much
I now drive 7 miles out of my way to shop at a different target becase of the way I have been treated using coupons at my local target. I ttally get what you went thru.
I had the same problem at Target with the GM coupons. Finally, after calling over the 2nd manager, she agreed that, yes, they had to take them. The first manager tried to tell me that I had to buy a box since that was what was pictured. I told her that it said “GM cereal” so, of course, I don’t have to buy the box of Cheerios pictured. Target is such a pain!!!
SCG-
I had called corporate twice on the edys ice cream coupon & both times corporate said it was acceptable on the smaller ice cream as long as there was no size specified.
I feel terrible that you all are having so many problems! We have so many Targets in the area, but I try to shop at the largest one. There is a WONDERFUL cashier there who gets very, very excited about the amount of money I save when I use my coupons. She is very meticulous and makes sure that you actually bought the product, but other than that, she pushes them through. Also, she has taken to just typing in the amount off so that she doesn’t have to deal with beeping. She said that she knows I am not trying to do anything not allowed and she doesn’t want to deal with the hassle of the beeps. LOVE LOVE LOVE her! I’m really bummed when she’s not working (BTW – she is mid-40s and very nice – not a teenager). I have used coupons at the other Targets in the area and never had a problem – especially once I politely state their policy is to take both types of coupons.
Target is a pain. I told corporate they are my LAST source to use coupons because of all the hassle & bad service. Thats one thing I dont understand is why there is a need to give me attitude? Really ticks me off.
I went to Target with my coupons for the first time today-what a disaster! Of course I picked the new cashier, and she had no idea how to do anything with coupons, so the manager came to help and he was so rude! There were several coupons they would not let me use, and they questioned all the rest. I will NOT be making an effort to coupon shop there again unless it is a VERY special deal!
I had the same kind of problem today. The cashier accused me of not buying the items that I had coupons for. I asked her if she would like me to take all my items out of the bag and start over. She had a line and questioned all of my coupons. I had a coupon for a free can of mighty dog dog food. My daughter found a can for $0.28 and the lady refused to put the coupon through. I told her that I normally don’t have a problem and said she should push them through. She accused me of trying to get her fired. Eventually she got a manager who put through my pathetic .28 coupon. I only bought maybe 20 things. How hard is it to remember what you just rang up. I was so mad when I left there. Now I remember why I hardly ever go there.
I guess I must be lucky, because my Target never has any problems with any of my coupons ever. They’ve taken 15 of the same target coupon in one transaction and always just push it through if it beeps. Part of it may be that we’ve built a relationship with a teenage boy cashier that has a little sister the same age as our son, but all the cashiers we go to do the same thing. Target is my favorite place to use coupons.
I am surprised by the “horror” stories at Target. I have never had a problem. I have been to 3 different Super Targets and several different cashiers and they always take my coupons so I could get the free cereal cups. I have done 3 at a time several times with no problem at all. Yesterday was a good free spree day at Target! Never paid for anything! $45.00 in free stuff, including many different trial sized stuff. I LOVE Target, but sorry some of you have had such bad problems. I would never hesitate to call Corporate if I did have a problem though.
We should be careful not to become plain greedy
how funny the same thing happened to me with the BIC coupons and skittles core coupons.. they told me that in the PHOTO on the coupon it shows markers, not pens, and on the skittles i cant use it because it would give me an overage… blah!
My time is worth far more than 30 minutes trying to get to use a coupon just to get an item free. Yes, target should honor the coupon. I don’t knock you for trying though. I just wouldn’t do it. Good luck!
I stopped shopping at Target because I always had problems using coupons at their stores.
I just had the same problems yesterday. I emailed corporate and got the same old response. Just generic garbage. I have complained several times before and even to the point I believe they had enough of my complaining, but still I get the same junk when I go to Target. They must not need our business very much.
I had quite a few target printables today including the cereal, and pop tarts. After a couple did not scan, I was told by a young male cashier that if they dont scan then we cannot accept them. I said that they were their coupons. I told him that if they would not accept them then I will go over to your registary and print some more out. He would not accept them. So I paid for my order and then marched over to customer service and asked what there coupon policy was. Lets just say I was reimbursed for the ones that did not scan.
I’ve used that coupon like 5 times now on the cups of cereal. It amazes me that that manager would stand there and argue with you for half an hour instead of just giving you the stupid cereal.
They put the coupons out there, they should honor them!
I used the GM Qs with no problem today for 2 Lucky Charms and 2 Cheerios. For once, Target was not a problem. I tell ya, CVS is probably the only store that is on my “good list” right now, lol!! WAGS has their crazy RR rules, Rite Aid is cracking down on the $5/$25 coupon usage and Target needs to retrain cashiers! I’m really not trying to be ugly here, but it is so frustrating when all of us moms spend so much time couponing and shopping (usually with our kids) and have to “fight” to use coupons, etc. or just give up and miss out on a great deal for our families.
I love to shop at target! I used several of the cereal and skittles coupons as well as several others and didn’t have any problems. I do think it matters about the cashier you use.
I had the exact same problem with the $1 off skittles coupon. Cashier told me that I had to buy the larger bag (liked the photo) not the individual size. Interestingly, I was unable to even find the larger bag. I had young kids with me and decided to just not purchase that item. I have never had a problem at my local Target. I will definitely remember to avoid my cashier today next time. Despite this, I found some great deals today on clearance items with and without the coupons.
It’s strange how everyone always has such problems with Target. Of course I’ve run into the untrained cashiers before but the managers are always very helpful. Yesterday, my target had the single cups on an end cap and there were loads of them. I got 20, used 20 coupons, and went on my merry way. The kids at the children’s home love it when I bring them cereal!!
I had the exact same problem on 8-18-09. No one in the target I went too had any clue as to the target coupon policy. The first manager told me that because the coupon pictured a box of cereal I had to purchase a box. I then attempted to talk to the store manager but was given the run around. I did email the corporation and received an email stating the policy and giving me a number to call for questions regarding coupons. I will be talking to the store manager as well.
I have pretty much wrote Target off! It is a different coupon policy every time I go in there. The printed coupon policy doesn’t help much, when it comes down to a manager, their decision stands and it it usually not in my favor. I have complained and complained about my store here in Michigan and it’s a new face every time I’m in there, even Managers. Weird how it’s different every where you go.
same thing happened to me today over the cereal coupon. The cashier called the manager over to consult and she said the coupon was only good for the boxes of cereal because that was what is in the picture. I can’t wait to hear what Target’s response to you is!!!
I HATE Target!! Every time I go shopping there, I have a problem with the coupons. AND every time I go shopping there, the coupon rules change, depending on which LOD is on duty. Every manager I talk to has their own rules. 1 day I can use 5 in one transaction…after all, the coupon does say “limit 1 per ‘transaction'” But depending on what day I go, I can use 5, or I can only use 1. So I called corporate and tried to explain my situation, and they didn’t even understand. Then corporate got mad at me and said “Ma’am, I’ve been explaining this to you for 5 minutes, just call back tomorrow.” OMG, I was FURIOUS! They didn’t have a scripted answer for the question I was asking 😉
It looks like neither the stores or corporate knows what they are doing. People are being told different things, clearly. You can use the Edy’s coupon on the smaller item, you can’t use the coupon, you can’t use the cereal coupon unless you buy the box, etc.
Every time I have a cashier tell me I have to buy what is pictured, I show them one of the $.99 off 1 lb. of apples coupon. They have like 30 apples pictured. It’s not even a bag! If that was the case, I would need to buy 30 apples to use that coupon. Then they usually feel dumb and just push the coupon through.
What I think really happens, is as cashiers are learning how to use coupons, they hear other cashier’s stories, and/or they try to figure it out for themselves and start making stuff up. I had 1 cashier tell me I can’t use 2 coupons on 1 item. And I said, “No, I can use a store coupon and a manufacturer coupon on 1 item, and that’s what you have in your hand.” That shut them up. They are learning by trial and error – much like I did when I first started couponing.
It’s still frustrating, and I still hate shopping at Target.
Hey, hip. I, too am in Jax, NC and had the same problem right about closing time last night. Called corporate, who told me they had talked to the store manager….apparently they STILL aren’t following their own policy.
Has anyone had problems with the Fusion shaver deals?
I had a cashier tell me I couldn’t use the coupons on two shavers, I could only use it on one because it said- one coupon per purchase. I tried to explain that I was purchasing two but she did not understand. She said if I did two transactions to use the coupons I could not get the gift card. I gave up in the end and will try another store.
I haven’t had to do it yet . . . but when I run across coupon problems like that, my phrase that I have ready is “ok, I’ll wait while you call corporate.” Even better, once I’m more organized, I intend to have all the corporate phone numbers on my cell and make the cashier and manager wait right there while I waste their time while I call corporate. I was a grocery store cashier before (so I don’t feel bad about causing problems, I’ve done the time) and believe me, it really gets their goats to be overridden by a customer who knows more than them. Plus, there’s an evil cashier thing where we enjoy proving customers wrong and being able to refuse a deal they think they should get. I feel bad about that now of course. But as a cashier, you get so much bull that it’s a tiny way to fight back. Although at the wrong people. And I swear, if I ever in my life hear the phrase “working hard or hardly working?” I’m going to have to hit someone!
I used to work at Target as a cashier and I just wanted to let you all know that I never received ANY training on coupons. Target needs to make another training video on their coupon policy! It would probably decrease the amount of calls they get to corporate 🙂
When I worked there, I always tried to be nice to people with coupons and made them go through if they beeped (unless, of course, they hadn’t bought the item). I never got in any trouble for taking any coupons. It just seems Target needs to get with it!
I (luckily) haven’t had much trouble at Target. I went tonight and bought a bunch of stuff and even though several of my coupons beeped the cashier pushed them through without any problems (including the General Mills coupon). Since I shop there so frequently there are a few cashiers that know me pretty well and I always try to go in their lane when checking out. I think one of the best things you can do is make friends with some of the cashiers, then they are less likely to give you any hassle.
CVS has these for $1 so i use the manufacturers $1/1 honey nut cheerios coupons there. Ive had a few cashiers stop and inspect the coupon but then they dont say anything.
Hey Collin, Sorry to hear about your less than pleasant experience at Target!!!! I experienced that on my last trip there. Things never go as you plan! On a happy note, I went to Target today after going to 2 different Walgreens to take advantage of buy 25 get 5 in RR and used the cereal coupons at Target and they did beep, but the cashier pushed them through. I paired those coupons with some other GM coupons. I bought ten cups of cereal, used 10 target coupons and also 5 manuf. coupons for 1 off 2 on gm cereal….so I guess I stored $5 overage. The funniest part was that the cashier was an older woman- she said “Boy, you have a lot of coupons”!! In the end, I purchased $97 worth of things for about $30 by pairing manuf. coupons with Target Coupons…Target is now becoming my favorite store!!!! I would have never been able to do this, without using all the great advice you’ve given through your web-site!
oh my goodness…your post gave me flashbacks to my HORRIBLE Target experience a few months back when they actually called security because I tried to use the Target coupon to get a FREE Bliss chocolate bar…
I feel your pain.
I have no doubt that Target will rule in your favor 😉
Collin, I run into this ALL the time at my Targets. Especially for the travel sizes which is why I mostly ignore your target deals because I already know the outcome. I am always amazed at how wmay people get stuff without all the drama. My Targets are GUARANTEED Drama. Sorry you had to finally experience it. 🙁
I love my Target! The only problem I had today was the cashier didn’t pull a coupon off an item & scan it. My super target does not carry travel sizes in laundry which would be nice to have.
I printed 20 of those target coupons and was able to use them all. So Yes!! I got 20 free cups of GM cereal.
I have avoided Target the past couple months due to all the coupon issues I have had. It is SOOOOOOOO frustrating. They make you feel like a criminal for using coupons! I don’t have a Super Target by me & the regular Target won’t accept Super Target Coupons. I am going to have to look for the bored teenager next time!