Use Catalina Coupons at the Commissary?!
UPDATE: Many or most commissaries may initially deny the register rewards/Catalina coupons simply because they are not aware of the policy. If you experience this problem, I encourage you to request that your Commissary Customer Service Manager contact Danna Eldgridge, head of Customer Service for DECA.
I am so excited to report that a Hip2Save reader and blogger recently confirmed that the commissary WILL accept Walgreens Register Rewards. Here is the email that reader, Traci, received…
Thank you for bringing the coupons from Walgreens to our attention…the coupons you presented to us CAN be used at the commissary. We can accept manufacturer coupons, however the coupon cannot state that it has limited use in a certain store. For example, the coupons that you gave us stated \”redeemable at Walgreens\”, these coupons will be accepted because it does not state that it is ONLY redeemable at Walgreens.
Thank you again for making this a learning experience for all of here at Fort Carson. We appreciate your patience for allowing us to look further into the situation.
Although this email was sent from the Fort Carson Commissary, it should apply to all commissaries. In addition, any Catalina coupon should be accepted at the commissary since all Catalina coupons are indeed manufacturer coupons (just keep in mind that the coupon cannot state that it can ONLY be redeemed at a particular store). Thanks to Traci for addressing this issue with the commissary and for sharing this email!
How about all of you military shoppers…have you attempted to use a Catalina coupon at the commissary? Was it successful or a flop? Share your experiences with us in the comment section below.
(Thanks, My Price is Right!)
I have a friend in Ft. Worth Texas and she says her commissary doesn’t take coupons… Is that odd for a commissary to not take them???
Yes, it’s very rare for a commissary to not take coupons. I would call or email them and get more information. I can’t think of any reason (except a fraudulent coupon) that a military commissary would not take coupons.
All commissaries have to accept coupons. There are set guidelines for DECA. If they don’t let your friend use them then get a hold of DECA. It’s bunk, and don’t let them get away with that!
You can also use Walgreens RR and coupons at Meijers as long as it states Manufacturers Coupon!!
Can you use Walgreen’s RR coupons that say “Manufacture’s Coupon at any drugstore/grocery store that accepts coupons? Or just at one that print the catalina style coupons out?
thank you
I am at Fort Polk, LA and since I moved here in December, I have been able to stack commissary/military coupons with manufacturer coupons…until recently. The checker ladies are now individually going through your coupons and not letting you stack them. I also tried to use the self checkout to stack, and their systems won’t accept stacked coupons either. Do you know if there is a coupon policy for this?
I have had this same issue. They flag down a manager when they see me in line and she checks every single one of mine. (They don’t like me very much!) I have written Deca and they said that a Military only coupon is not like a Food Lion or CVS coupon. They are issued from the manufacturer and you can’t stack them because they are both considered manufacturer coupons. It stinks! I have also been told that the free Pace ($4 from the online game )coupon is flagged as fraudulent in their book so they won’t accept it.
I use the Pace ones regularly at my commissary and have never had problems. I would ask them for proof that it has been flagged. For it to be truly flagged they will have an email/flier/notice that they can show you. Then I would contact DECA and Pace about it. It’s a legit coupon so I think its wrong to pull such a stunt. JMHO
I used two(2) of the Pace $4.00 off coupons in the same transaction for two(2) Pace salsa products in my commissary and had no problem.
Oh yeah, the Pace coupon is a HUGE debate at our commissary too. They won’t accept them, they think it is fake.
They are fake
Hi,
I just wanted to comment on the coupon policy with the Commissary. I know that the Commissaries in the state of Virginia are extremely picky and not very nice when it comes to coupons. Here printables must be in color in order to be accepted and they literally will go through and look at each and every coupon. Also they will not accept a coupon with any box store logo reguardless if it is a manufactures coupon or not. Also the Commissary will not honor a printable free product. For example when we had the great milk giveaway that allowed for a free gallon of milk if you spent $100, they wouldn’t accept it. As far as someone talking about the commissary not accepting coupons there coupon policy is available online which is a standard for all DeCa commissaries and they encourage coupons. The commissary actually has their own flyer at the front of the store and these coupons specifically say that they are a military manufacturer’s coupon. One thing to remember though is that the commissary has the right to refuse any coupon reguardless and this per the management of DeCA. I hope this help!!
My commissary won’t accept a coupon with any store logo either. What a pain this makes it. I miss out on some good deals!
This is freaking AWESOME! I live on post at Fort Drum and always use coupons. The cashiers are always nice and never give me a hard time…But I’ve never even thought of using a Catalina. YESSSSSSSSS!
Has anyone had success using these at other stores, too? (i.e., Walmart, Target)
No luck for me.. My walmart wont accept the manufacturers coupons that have a target logo. Even tho they are just manufacturer coupons. I just dont even try anymore.. it gets to embarassing when they call a manager over. I am sure they know me by now.. 😛
I have used Walgreens RR at meijers before (They truly are Manu. coupons ) but I always have to go through a manager. It is up to the managers if they want to let them use them.
Awesome, I shop at Ft. Carson Commissary so this is great news for me 🙂
Thanks for sharing.
I will certainly give it a try at my commissary in SC. I think they are being more strick about coupons. Just yesterday I had a printed coupons for razors and the packages also came with a coupon attached to it and they could not let me use both for the same item. Thanks for helping the military families Collin!!!
This is from hot coupon world…hope it will help.
https://www.hotcouponworld.com/forums/military-commissary/148302-commissary-please-read-using-internet-printable-coupons.html
take look at this…hope it help for you!
https://www.hotcouponworld.com/forums/military-commissary/148302-commissary-please-read-using-internet-printable-coupons.html
That’s because they were both manuf coupons, you can’t use 2 on the same item!
This is untrue for my commissary. They will not accept any coupons with another stores logo or name on it not matter what it says. I tried to use a MQ i printed off of the target site and because it had the target logo they told me absolutely not. 🙁 Good luck!
same problem for me
Note:
I suggest speaking with your Commissary’s Customer Service Manager prior to using your RRs so that they may confirm with Ms. Danna Eldgridge, head of Customer Service for DECA.
The same for me at the MCAS, New River Commissary in Jacksonville, NC. They would not a accept a manufacturer coupon with the Target logo. I wonder if they would take all these Food Lion cats I have?
Thank you so much for sharing this! I’m a little disappointed now that I used some rr last night at Walgreens since I have to go to the commissary tomorrow!
Just go to Wags and get more !!!! See you later girl.
I understand that WAGs catalinas will also work at Cub foods. Haven’t tried it though as Cub is about 60 miles from where I live.
Anytime I have trouble with my coupons at the commisary I contact DECA. They contact the store manager, and so far the store manager has been apologetic about any issues I’ve had. I highly recommend contacting DECA with your issues, they REALLY want people to be happy shopping at the comissary.
I am sooooo excited !!! There is a case lot sale this weekend (New River, MCAS in NC), I am going to try to use them. I will keep y’all posted 🙂
That’s where I shop too. LMK what you find out!
Kim there is a group of us who coupon we have “socials”. Lemme know if you wanna come sometime.
Sure! I’m not the best couponer in the world since I seem to buy things that either don’t have coupons or are so expensive that the coupons don’t matter much either way, but I’d love to see what your “socials” are about!
find me on facebook schaefer_sos@yahoo.com or email me
OK, so my commissary was appalled when I asked if I could use coupons at the case lot sale and said “no, the manufacturers are already putting coupon codes in the system for us”. I am well aware that is true (if you have ever been to a case lot you know what awesome deals they give us). But, when we were stationed in VA, they let us use coupons at the case lot – thoughts from anyone?
That is strange. Last time I was at a case lot sale they were HANDING OUT coupons to use with the cases they had, so I would think if you had your own coupons that would be fine.
I send my expired RR overseas..if I accidentally let one expire..UNLESS the cashier THROWS IT AWAY!
I went last night…and I didn’t realize that one was expired..she scanned it..realized it..then took it off my receipt and threw it away. I asked her if I could have it back and she boldly said “No, it’s expired” and that was the end of that. Maybe if I explained that I send the expired ones overseas she would have given it back, but she was so bold about it I didn’t say anything else.
I did call Walgreens corporate though. I’m waiting for them to call back within two business days. I wouldn’t have it was trash..but it wasn’t…that’s TWO dollars I could have sent to the military! 🙁
Christine – can you explain the expired RR for the military? I dont have any active military members but Id love to send mine to someone who could use it. Is there a certain person or address to send these expired one too?
Do you have a mailing address to send expired coupons to? I have a bunch of them that expired 3/31 and 4/30 that I’ve been saving to send overseas, but I just need an address to send them to!
webpage to send coupons to the military: https://www.grocerysavingtips.com/expiredgrocerycoupons.htm
I send mine straight to my friend that’s in Germany and she picks the ones she’ll use and then she’ll bring them to the commissary and drop them in the coupon box! 🙂
anyone want to post contact info for deca? I;’m suuuuure they won’t take them at Ft Ben in INdy
That is so exciting. I shop at the McChord Commissary in Tacoma, WA. I would love to be able to use my Walgreens CAT’s there. Since I hate always having to use a filler item. I will have to give it a try next week when I go to the commissary. Thank you so much for this post.
Website to send coupons to the Military overseas: https://www.grocerysavingtips.com/expiredgrocerycoupons.htm
We are stationed in NC @ Camp Lejeune and I tried to use regular internet printed coupons (from coupons.com) last week and wasn’t able to because I printed them in black and white instead of color…. I had my little ones with me and it was only a couple coupons so I let it be but I was very irritated because no one could show me a policy that said coupons had to be in color… now I have to guy buy another ink cartridge for my printer just to print the coupons… kind of negates my savings : (
I may just try the New River MCAS instead, has anyone had any problems with that commissary accepting coupons?
Leah, I go to main side and new rivet and haven’t had any trouble (knock on wood). Did you ask to talk to the manager??? Call corporate – sorry hon.
no I didn’t, I had my little ones with me and was trying to get out as fast as possible… I probably should have asked for the manager but hind sight is 20/20 😉
I also just found Collin’s site (thanks to a wonderful friend!) so now I’ve done my research and feel more prepared for this week’s shopping trip. I am heading to the case lot sale at the air station without the kiddos and printed the coupon “rules” on DECA’s website and am tucking it into my purse just in case.
Those coupons say right on them “valid in color or black and white” When trying to prove your point, you should point out the different numbers that print out differently on each coupon. It really doesn’t make much sense to waste expensive color ink on coupons if you don’t have to.
I shop at Lejeune and New River and have never had a problem printing in b&w. Maybe your salesclerk was new…or having a bad day!
I am at Cherry Point, NC and have not had any coupon issues so far. I will be moving to Lejeune in a couple weeks! I am hoping to not have any problems shopping there! I guess I’ll start carrying the DECA coupon policy with me!
My commissary: sheppard afb will NOT take them if they have a logo. I have emailed DECA and they said okay but my store still will NOT take them.
I used over $50 in RR last night at the HAFB. It is a struggle since I have had to contact Danna Eldridge since mid April to resolve this but after personally speaking with the store maanger and getting confirmation from their clearinghouse that they will be reimbursed for these coupons, it is all GREEN lights from here! Gatta love the commissary.
Btw since Commissary Bargain Hunters are a very limited bunch I highly reccommend checking out the group on SD.
https://slickdeals.net/forums/showthread.php?sduid=204770&t=905580
Thanks!
I’ve been able to use Walgreens RR at Vons. They told me as long as they scan they’re fine! It never hurts to ask at your grocery store.
which Vons is this? I have a hard time with RRs expiring.. Thanks..
I’m in S. California. I always has the same problem w/ using RR before they expired too – there’s usually not the right kind of deals at Wags two weeks in a row. Catalinas from other stores work at self-check out registers too; as long as the cat says “manufacturer coupon” on it.
I have not yet attempted to use a catalina at the commissary in Fort Bliss. I have had great experiences at the checkout when using my coupons and we have been stationed here since 05′
I have been here off and on with deployments since 2002 and find that if you have over 20 coupons they are very rude and timely. Special orders are not filled and yet the shelves are? I contact Deca a lot. I went to the store yesterday and they would not except 26 coupons of mine because it had Dollar general add on the back of the coupon(hidden valley farm house dressing $2.00 from the paper). Then it took about half an hour with three kids to void the items and get a manager, to then be told they would gladly except the coupons. They do not train new employees properly.
wow this could open so many ways to help military families. A parent could buy the free with register reward items and send the catalina to family members. it’s cheaper than shipping products and cost no more than you were going to spend anyway. Thanks for the great idea.
I shop at Keesler AFB and I always some kind of issue with coupons. I tried to stack my coupons but that was a no go, so every coupon after that was questioned. If I had more than one of the same coupon she wanted me to show her the product to it. Make sure I had one for each coupon. It was nuts! I love shopping at the commissary and find that I save alot of money but just feel harassed at check out!
lol! my GF has also had major issue at NCBC Gulfport so when she wrote Danna she specifically requested the store manager NCBC Gulfport as well as the new Keesler Air
Force Base Commissary be contacted. So hopefully Kessler won’t be a problem.
I hope it works! One of the older cashiers got mad at me once cause I HAD to many coupons and I didn’t tell her I had coupons before I started to put my food on belt. I told her I have never been asked to hand over my coupons before I started. She mumbled something under her breathe she had everything stopped so she could go through my coupons. I don’t get it! I dread checking out!
In Washington we have to hand our q’s over first and they look at every single one. If you have multiples they ask if you have the X number of items to go with the x number of q’s. Any BOGO q’s they as you to give them the free item first. I did the Classico Deal and had 4 jars (2 red & 2 white) with 2 BOGO q’s and then a 1.50/2 q. She put them through but said I shouldn’t have used the 1.50/2 q because that was not okay. She still put it through. If it wasn’t okay than why put it through?!
Our commissary just put provisions on internet coupons. They won’t accept BOGO internet coupons or internet coupons over $1. I tried to get a copy of their policy, but they’re not that organized. Has your commissary started doing this?
After reading about this yesterday on SD I contacted them about being able to use man q’s with logos for other stores and the response I got was they can take them as long as the don’t say “redeemable on at”. They also sent the email to my commissary. I am hopeful now that I can do so without any problems. Woohoo!
I don’t know what is allowed here as far as leaving other coupon sites but I go to a site called Reaping Your Harvest – run by a military wife – and from there you can get a PDF of the commissary coupon policy. In fact, you will get more info on the commissary than you’ll want but the coupon policy is in it !! I have that PDF bookmarked so I can print out the coupon policy. Hope this helps.
Oh snap..they’re not supposed to stack a military coupon with a MQ?? Here in Hawaii, I shop at the Hickam AFB commissary because Pearl Harbor’s commy is anxiety central! But of the 2 cashiers I go to..they always take a military with a MQ. They just push them through. Hmm..I’ll have to ask the manager there today about this. And being able to use RR on top of that?? A whole new level of awesome has just been opened up. 🙂
I appreciate the encouragment for doing this but could someone PLEASE post the contact info for Dana Eldridge???? I have scoured the web and can’t find contact info.
I think it is actually best to contact Danna directly rather then going through the help form on commissaries.com. Danna has been helping me and alot of friends since April resolve this so she probably has a standard email that she can send to your particular store to clear up this issue. Also if anyone finds a way to contact Danna supervisor we really want to commend her to her supervisor for helping alot of us on resolving this issue.
lol an email would probably help
Danna.Eldridge@deca.mil
go to commissaries.com. Click on contact us at the top of page. That is how to complain/get info on coupon usage at commissary.
also go to weusecoupons.com. We have an excellent group of people that talk and share what they find free/cheap at commissary with coupons. Youd be surprised what we find!!
Nevermind. I found this on SD:
Danna S. Eldridge
Customer Service Division/DOC
Performance & Policy
Phone: 804-734-8000 Ext. 48772
DSN: 687-8000 Ext. 48772
Fax: 804-734-8009 Ext. 78772
and this is her email
Danna.Eldridge@deca.mil
So I thought that you could not stack a military coupon with a manufacture coupon. I was told that the military coupons are manufacture coupons. Am I missing something or am I just really confused?
I think you may be thinking of the BX. Their new policy is you can stack an AAFES coupon with a manufacturer’s coupon. The coupons that are sometimes in the commissaries ad and around the store are considered manufacturer’s coupons and you can’t use two of those together. Hope that helps!
Amber, if they start with a “5” and have an address for the store to mail them back to for reimbursement, they are manufacturer’s coupons.
and if they are dont have that then we can stack it with a manufacture coupon?
woo hoo i am at fort carson! that is awesome. mine have always been nice about taking coupons
This is so strange because my commissary (I don’t want to say where, just in case this changes) is VERY lenient about coupons. I’ve asked to use a day old expired coupon and been allowed to. *It was the 3 dollar off snuggle coupon, so I was way happy*. Also they will stack coupons and don’t even seem to look at them-though I do always make sure I only give coupons for what I have.
Katie – mine is the same way! the y just scan without even looking
both the commissarys by me; bangor subbase, and kitsap naval base are great about taking coupons! i have nto had a problem here! Just wish the prices were lower. We jsut moved here from Naval air station whidbey island (so 3 hrs north) and theres such a huge price difference between here and the island. 🙁 but yes, great with coupons and very friendly. i like the bangor subbase one better!
I am @ NAS Whidbey Island! I have been pleasantly surprised with the deals I have bee getting here.
Anyone at Cannon AFB in NM?
I have been using them at krogers for a long long time.
I tried to use my walgreens catalinas tonight at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland and I asked the cashier if we were allowed to use them. She said she didn’t think so and checked with a manager and they said no. I sent an email to Danna so hopefully she will respond and let me know. I also asked her if I was correct on the clarification if she could email some of the commissaries that I frequent so we can shop there more often. If they do start accepting them, since the Walgreens in my area are terrible at trying to use RR, I’ll just take them to the commissary!
I had a terrible experience at the Hickam AFB commissary last night. Awful. When i got in the car, I cried. Cried and cried. I made it a point to call the on duty manager the day before and he said he would contact Danna and find out for sure but that as long as it didn’t say “only redeemable at Walgreens” they should be allowed to take them. So I went to Walgreens before hitting the commissary and gathered up my $22 in RR and I was on my way. I’d only done the first section of the commy..hadn’t even gone to the frozen foods section yet..but my cart was overflowing and my coupons were stacked so high that I decided I would just come back the next day to finish the rest of my shop. I handed over my coupons..I always give them the B1G1 free coupons first so they’re on the lookout and can write in the price as it comes along. The kid? Took them and went to the manager’s office. She came out and practically accused me of fraud. That these Scrubbing Bubbles buy a toilet gel get a toilet wand or refill..whatever..free. I said “but I got them from the actual Scrubbing Bubbles website..how can they be fake?” and she said “yeah, they’ve been doing that.” “Scrubbing Bubbles has been giving people fake coupons…? I don’t understand what you’re saying” and she said “yep, mmhmm..we’ve been having a big problem with this. Especially with these.” Turns out, I guess, that someone had made a get a free 24 pack of Coke coupon..and multiple cashiers accepted them. This had to have happened within the last 2 weeks because those signs weren’t up the last time I was there. Anyway, she went to get the binder that has all of the fake coupons going around thing and THIS coupon wasn’t in there. She had no argument..she wouldn’t even hear me out. Her mind was made up from the time she was handed B1G1 free coupons that it just wasn’t going to happen. So I said..”okay, then I just won’t buy those.” Meanwhile, it’s like 8pm..my kids are past starving and exhausted..I’m exhausted..but I’m trying to stand my ground. EVERYONE is staring. EVERYONE is listening. Not even joking, It was so embarrassing! And THEN the RR happened. Or..didn’t happen, rather. I explained that I’d spoken with the manager on duty at 9:03 the previous morning..and that it was a male. She acted like she wasn’t even aware of a male manager. Then I brought up Danna..and she had no idea who that was. I tried to explain that as long as it doesn’t say “ONLY redeemable at Walgreens” that it’s okay. Like I said..her mind was made up. I never had a fighting chance. But she photocopied a couple of my RR and took my name and phone number and said she would contact whoever she needed to contact and figure it out. On Monday. And that IF I was right, she would give me a $22 credit to the commissary. Which is nice n all..but dude. Dude. Come on. She made me feel like I was this terrible person and..ugh..worst shopping experience of my life. WORST! So I came on here to get Danna’s contact information and I will contact her myself.
On Monday night I went to the New River Air Station Commissary with a print out of the DECA face book page and asked to speak to the manager before I started shopping to make sure I would be able to use my rr. The managers reactions was wonderful! She simply told me I would be allowed to used them and asked if she could make a copy of my print out for future references! I am new to couponing but with my rr and other coupons I saved $34.20 on my grocery bill! I was so excit ed! Thank you so much for posting this information for us!
I have expired coupons, where can I find US addresses, to send them to like to you guys. Let me know. thanks.