I am a firm believer in using coupons appropriately and in line with the manufacturer’s and retailer’s rules. Because I post shopping lists that match Rainbow’s sale prices with coupons, I thought it would be helpful to share their coupon policies as I understand them. These policies apply to all Roundy’s stores including Copps, Pick ‘N Save and Rainbow Foods.
General Policies
Roundy’s general coupon policies are as follows:
Internet printed coupons. Coupons printed from the internet must be legitimate, printed in color or black and white and have the following:
- “Manufacturer coupon” printed on coupon
- Bar-scan code
- Current expiration date
- Website where printed from must be on coupon
Manufacturer’s coupons for purchased products only. Manufacturer’s coupons will only be accepted for purchased products. Items received for free through store promotions (“meal deal” or “buy one, get one free”) are not considered purchased products; therefore, manufacturer’s coupons can not be used for these products.
Maximum value of coupons. Coupons are accepted only for products of equal or greater value; they do not give cash back on coupons. Sales tax is paid by the customer at full retail.
Free product coupons. Free or “buy one, get one free” product coupons printed from the internet will not be accepted at Roundy’s stores; free or “buy one, get one free” product coupons from the newspaper will be accepted.
Maximum value of internet printed coupons. There is no limit on the value of an internet printed coupon.
Right of refusal. The store has the right to refuse any coupon printed from the internet at any time.
Stacking store coupons with manufacturer-issued coupons. A store coupon can be redeemed with a manufacturer’s coupon for the same item.
Doubled Coupon Policies
Roundy’s stores doubles coupons (a “doubled coupon” means that a $1 off coupon is equal to $2 off):
Weekly. Every Wednesday – even when it is not explicitly advertised in the paper. Right now, Roundy’s stores are also doubling coupons on Saturdays (through September 2012).
$25 threshold. Roundy’s formal corporate policy is that the sale price value of the groceries in your transaction must be at least $25 for your coupons to be eligible for doubling. However, the registers are currently programmed (as of March 18, 2010) to double coupons when the shelf price (the highest price listed on the shelf tag, which is usually the full, pre-sale price) before coupons is $25. If you plan your transactions using the shelf price versus the sale price, you do so at your own risk that the registers have been modified to align with their formal corporate policy.
Only five. Up to 5 manufacturer’s coupons can be doubled per transaction.
It’s automatic. The registers automatically double the face value of the first five eligible coupons scanned if your groceries meet the $25 threshold. All that to say, the cashier does not push a button or manually “approve” you to have doubled coupons. The register just does it.
The first five. The first 5 eligible coupons scanned will double – that means you should hand the clerk your 5 highest value coupons first.
Up to $1. Only coupons valued at less or equal to $1 off will be doubled.
Exceptions. “Buy one, get one free” and “try me free” coupons are not eligible for doubling.
Coupons that say “Do Not Double.” Some manufacturer-issued coupons say “do not double” on them. Roundy’s formal policy is that they will not double these. Before I realized this was part of their formal policy I asked specifically about these coupons at my local Rainbow Foods. I was told that the store where I shop will allow these coupons to double if they double automatically when scanned. Note: I cannot tell which coupons have the “do not double” wording on them when I put together the weekly shopping list, so you will need to check them yourself.
Transactions. Roundy’s official policy is that customers are encouraged to make one transaction to double their coupons, but again, this will vary from store to store. Most shoppers at Roundy’s stores will find that they are allowed to make more than one transaction.
Your turn: What else have you learned about the coupon policies and practices at Roundy’s grocery stores?
About Carrie Rocha
Do you know if the computers at pick ‘n save are still adding up from the shelf prices or the sale prices? I’m a newbie to this and I’m trying to figure everything out… thanks!
I haven’t heard any differently so I’d assume it is shelf price.
I just called the pick n save and she said they count the 25 dollars after you use your roundy card :( so they count sale price not shelf price. Well what if u hand all coupons then be like “oh hey by the way here’s my roundy card” then what ?
what you end up having to do is go over to the customer service desk and have them fix it. Last week they had an offer where you would get a coupon for a box of pop-tarts for free if you purchased a certain number of post cereals. I bought the cereals, but noticed that the coupon (it was supposed to print at the bottom of the receipt) was not on the receipt. I went over to CS and he said that it did not print because I did not enter my roundy’s card. He made the adjustment, but this was an extra hassle ~ I am sure that I should have handed over my card, but I am glad I checked the receipt before I left the store. And I miss the double coupons offers for Saturday.
Although they tell you it is $25 AFTER using your Roundy’s card, it is not. I have done this dozens of time with it qualifying on the shelf price. I let them ring everything up (to make sure it is $25) then give them my Roundy’s card and then coupons. They always double, even if it drops below $25 after I hand them my Roundy’s card.
Even though, Roundy’s finally ended their Double Coupon Saturdays a few weeks ago. they are apparently still going to have Double Coupon Saturdays from time to time. Next Saturday (Oct 29) they are having a Double Double (up to 10) Coupon “one time only” special event.
Where did you hear that they are having double double daze? I do not see it in the ad from today’s newspaper
I picked it up from a printed announcement that was on the service side of the service counter at my local store.
Hmmm. Will have to check my local rainbow
I called the Coon Rapids store, and they said that they are participating in the “double double” even though it was not advertised.
Maybe I will call a few local ones. I shop lake street or Brooklyn Park depending on if I’m home or at my mothers.
When I was chedcking out last week, the checkout guy said that Rainbow would be doing the Saturday double double several times before the end of the year. I anticipate the weekend of Black Friday will be one. That is usually a pretty dead time of the year in the grocery stores, but if there is double double, i will be there!!
Does anyone know of anywhere you can take a class or learn more about how work your coupons to get best deal possible? I know there was a recent seminar in Minnesota that I was going to attend but filled up fast, any feedback would be appreciated, I live border of Wisconsin and MInnesota near Twin Cities area.
Rayna–Carrie did a blog post (http://www.pocketyourdollars.com/2011/10/carrie-rochas-public-speaking-schedule-for-fall-2011/) October 6th with her and Angie’s class/speaking schedules. Hope you can find something that works with your schedule :)
I just stopped at Lake Street store and they ARE doing double double daze this Saturday. also They have potatoes price cut to $1.49 but stack the coupon book coupon and it takes off $1.11 then the cheese is on sale for $1.66 and it takes off the coupon too for 51¢
What is this “coupon book” of which dedra speaks that brings the price of 8 oz of cheese for $1.66 down to $1.15?
It is the coupon book they mail out but also have copies at the store, the one I had expired Wednesday October 26, the coupon books usually run about 2 weeks. I would assume they will have a new one shortly.
To find out if Pick-n-Save is doing the Saturday Double Daze simply go to their website: http://www.picknsave.com. This Sat., Nov. 5 they are also doubling up to 10 coupons.
The rainbow in Brooklyn Park advertised on registers and receipt on Wednesday that Saturday November 5 (today) is another double double day!! I’m about to head out for a trip with my mom so we can make it two transactions!
can you use the coupon book and a manufactors coupon and double up?? i always wondered that…
Chelsea, yes you can stack a. Rainbow coupon book “rainbow only” coupon with a manufacturer coupon. :) for example the kotex coupon with a kotex manufacturer coupon. I have the $1.50/2 kotex manufacturer coupon and stacked it with the rainbow coupon and because I bought 2 the catalina coupon gave me a $2 off future purchase. This made my kotex 75¢ each after deducting all.
and, yes, you can do that at any store – not just rainbow.
Does anyone know how many times you can use your round’s card in one day? I went last weekend for double double daze and went through the checkups quite a few times and eventually they said my card wouldn’t work anymore that day. The cashier was kind of annoyed at me when she told me but hey – i followed their policy and i only did one order through the lines because i have had a few checkers at forest lake get cranky with me.
I’ve only had one store say I’ve used my card too many times in a day. I for one think you should be able to use your card as often as you wish.
I guess it has to do with the amount that you are getting with the gas discount. I am not sure about that, but as far as I am concerned, if you are spending your money at their store, and they are moving product, the last thing that you should have to contend with is a cranky checkout person. Use your card as many times as you can. and then pay cash or whatever. Or don’t give your card. You follow the rules. You buy stuff. You pay for it. They make an offer and you take advantage of it. Isn’t that what the whole double double is about?
What is the 25 Dollar threshold? I tried googling the defiinition but am still unsure. Does this mean I need to spend $25 out of pocket in order for my coupons to be validated? Also, for price cap, if there is an item marked down til December, and I purchase it, but also use my coupon, does it give me the full discount? Example- $0.78 Bar S hot dogs or bologna, combined with a $0.75 off of 2 manufactured coupon doubled=$1.50 total being $1.56 minus my coupon= $.0.06???? Does that work out? Would I need to purchase and addtional $24.94 in groceries? Or is the limit $25 in coupon doubles?
Allison – the shopping order needs to be $25 or more before any store coupons or manufacturer coupons are deducted.for example I went lastbight and had mine and my mothers orders each total $32 or more but after store and manufacturer coupons each total came to under $6.
As for the bar s prices, yes at 78¢ each and buying two, they come to $1.56 and if the coupon is doubled at 75¢,a total of $1.50 is deducted and you pay just 6¢ for the two packs.
Hope this helps!
The $25 minimum stays the same. Which makes the double double daze so nice, it’s much easier to reach $25 when using 10 coupons to be doubled.
When calculating your $25 minimum, do you use sale price or shelf price?
I believe the policy is sale price, some stores do this by shelf price though. So its hit or miss. My general rule of thumb is sale price, so I’m not short at check-out time!
Melissa,
Looks like you might be a newbie to the Roundy’s double coupons thingy. If you take the time to read through all of these posts you will find out a lot of info about how to redeem coupons to the max and haul a lot of stuff home for a lot less than any other store. The $25 thing? Really depends upon the store. In west st paul they have never made an issue about it. Last week my beginning total was $60+, but with the coupon book coupons, the doublers, and a coupon out of the ad, my ending total was less than $21. Dang! That word FREE keeps on popping up with the double double offer.
Gloria
I just called my local Pick N’ Save and they told me that to double coupons it is before your savings card and coupons, that the total has to be $25. They count the shelf price of the item, due to the fact that it is before your store card. They also told me that I can do multiple transactions to double coupons, but you have to get out of line and get back in. So it is important to check your local stores policies because each one is different!
i had a problem the other day ip used a coupon that was for 3 dollars off an item it just so happens that the item was only 2 but they would not let me use the coupon because they said it would make the item free and they do not accept free item coupons, i guess thy can decide what to be acceptable or not but i thought it was coupons that said “free” in the discription. otherwise every coupon you double to make an item free wouldnt be acceptable either..whatever, i used the coupon at walmart instead.
I understand that Rainbow Food clearly states on their policy that they don’t give cash back. So if they coupon exceed the item price, will they reduce the value of the coupon to the value of the item, or will they not? I know for sure that Cub Food reduce the value of your coupon if it exceeds the value of the item purchase and was just wondering if that applies to Rainbow Foods also because I did not see anything on Rainbow Foods policy talking about it.
My question is if you use a manufacturer coupon for buy one get another product free, can you use an additional manufacturer coupon on the product you purchase?
Chris – It depends. Sometimes a buy one, get one free coupon is linked to both products; sometimes it’s linked to only one. We err on the side of caution and do not list scenarios that use an additional coupon along with a buy one, get one free coupon, but readers have found success with it on occasion.
chris,
do your self a favor and do not try to figure it out ahead of time. Hand them to the cashier, and let them figure it out. If you think the coupons that you have submitted are right and the cashier is wrong, the store manager is the final authority. One cashier or store manager may interpret the policy one way, another manager may interpret another way. At my rainbow store the policy tends to be “if it scans, it is OK”. If it will not scan, you get to try that coupon at a later date. And you get it back. (Dang!)
gloria
Im curious if I buy gift cards (not rainbow gift cards but like Barnes and Noble) do they count towards the $25 minimum?
as far as I understand, no, gift cards do not add to the total for the $25.00
Does anyone know if there’s a limit on the amount of same coupons we can use. I’ve seen some store say “can use up to 4 of the same coupon”. So can I use 10 All detergent coupons in one transaction?
Today I went to the Blaine Rainbow. When I went to check out, I was told by the cashier and the supervisor on duty that I could only do two transactions. In the past this wasn’t the case. Are the Rainbow stores doing this accross the board now or is this just a new practice for this specific store?
They meant 2 transactions at the register, go to your car and come back in line with 2 more transactions, correct?
This same exact thing happened to me yesterday. What the heck!! The cashier was totally cool with doing multiple transactions, but a head cashier came over and told him I could only do TWO transactions. She finally let me do four because my husband was there and I was pretty insistent… but she only agreed if he paid with a separate card. And she said we could NOT come back in and do any more, only 2 per DAY. What is the purpose for this?? Are they trying to chase away couponers??
PS. I was at the Richfield Rainbow, which has some GREAT cashiers and some HORRIBLE cashiers and some absolutely horrific head cashiers and managers.. =)
I usually take my Register Rewards from Walgreens to Rainbow, but last week the RR started printing with “Redeemable only at Walgreen” in the bottom left corner. So far my Rainbow has been accepting them because they say “Manufacturer Coupon” at the top. If it’s a Manuf. Coup. Wherever I redeem it, they get reimbursed for it right. I asked at the service desk before I used it and she said as of right now it was OK. Then the cashier didn’t believe me and had to check, then the cashier said he didn’t think it was right to accept ” other people’s coupons” (walgreens), I tried to explain, but it fell on deaf ears !! Doesn’t Manuf. Coupon trump the “redeemable only at” ?
It seems pretty clear cut if a coupon says “redeemable only at ______”, then it would seem that is the only place to redeem it. That language doesn’t really leave any gray area. Just my opinion : )