I have been looking forward to this day all week, not only because it's Friday. Today, the Honey Bunches of Oats cat started printing (details here) making a very profitable deal at Safeway! The HBO price varies from 1.50 to 2.00 depending on your Safeway. The first Safeway I went to had the 1.50 sale price, but they shut me down on the Real CA milk Qs. So, I abandoned cart and headed to the Safeway a couple of miles away. Their HBO was priced at $2 each, but I had the other SW's ad, so they honored the 1.50 price. Be aware of the price differences and make sure you shop at the SW that has 1.50 HBO.1.50 Honey Bunches of Oats (5)
2.19 milk (5)
3.00 Special K (2)
2.09 eggs
.31 tax
26.85 subtotal
-2.00 for in-ad Special K SWQ
-BOGO Special K IPQ no longer available (deducted $3)
-1/1 Kellogg's cereal pink peelie found at Bashas
-2/1 HBO blinkies found on dairy case doors (5)
-.55/1 Real CA milk IPQ (5)
My total should have been 5.85, but when the manager fixed the price of the HBOs, she took off too much. She should have only deducted 2.50, but instead she took off 4.00.
4.35 total paid OOP, earned $4 OYNO
SUMMARY = .35 cost!
I was expecting a higher OOP, but I couldn't figure out what happened until I studied my receipt at home. YMMV on using the milk Qs along with the HBO qs. There are no beeps, but I had a cranky cashier who was determined to shut me down on something. I pointed out that neither Q said that it couldn't be combined with other Qs. She asked one manager and she said it was fine. But, then she felt the need to double check with a different manager who said the milk didn't have the CA seal. I was done explaining every coupon to these people, so I just voided the entire order and headed to the next Safeway. I had no problems at the second store.
One thing to note, if you are going to do the Special K deal with both Qs, one will beep because the BOGO attaches to 2 items. However, I read an interesting post on Krazy Coupon Lady explaining why you should be able to do this - read it here. The second Q beeped, but the cashier pushed it right through. I figured I would try it out and if they denied it, I would just have them take the Special K off my order.
If you need cereal or milk, Safeway is the place to be!
I'm curious as to how you were allowed to use the coupon for the California Milk. The Safeway milk that you purchased isn't CA milk at all????
ReplyDeleteAnon- Thanks for the comment! I've been told by several Safeway store managers that the Lucerne brand dairy products are all produced in Pleasanton, CA. You can verify this on the milk label. Generally speaking, I rarely have any problems using these coupons. I used them most of this year and all of this year. A word of warning though... they have never scanned for me no matter what size I print them.
ReplyDeleteMe neither- they never scan and some places take them, others do not. Curious on the HBO catalina, how many do you have to purchase for that? TIA!
ReplyDeleteThe Lucerne milk does NOT have the seal that the coupon clearly states is required
ReplyDeleteMy Safeway refused the milk coupons because the milk doesn't have the seal. The cheese does though.
ReplyDeleteHere are the details on the HBO cat deal, quoted from Southwest Savings' deal:
ReplyDeleteHoney Bunches of Oats $2 ea.
Cats start printing Friday 2/26/10
(Qualifying products, 10oz. or larger: Great Grains, Honey Bunches of Oats, Shredded Wheat, Honeycombs, Raisin Bran, Grape Nuts, Fruity Pebbles)
Buy 4, get $3 ONYO
Buy 5 or more, get $4 OYNO
I never claimed the milk had the CA seal and I have always posted this coupon with a YMMV disclaimer. I have a couple of Safeway store managers near me who happily take this coupon for Lucerne milk because, as they've told me, all of their dairy comes from the same plant in Pleasanton, CA (check the label if you don't believe me). Your Safeway may or may not take them. If my store manager was not being reimbursed for this coupon, he would not continue to take them from me after I've been using them for over 6 months. I think we have beat a dead horse enough about this subject, so any more negative comments about the milk coupon will be ignored. If you feel unsettled about the milk coupon, talk to your store manager or don't use it.
You're doing great. I've had the same experience with this coupon. One cashier said I couldn't use it, but I went to the manager and he allowed me to use it.
ReplyDeleteCouponing is not easy ladies, sometimes you run into obstacles on simple deals. Don't blame arizonasavings if you're having problems. she can only tell you what worked for her. If it didn't work for you be more constructive and positive in your follow-up questions rather than berating her.
Thanks AzSavings for another great deal scenario!
~J
Thanks J! I appreciate your positive feedback. Comments like yours makes me continue operating this coupon blog. Thanks for reminding me that most people reading this blog appreciate my posts and are able to save their family money.
ReplyDeleteI will say one thing to everyone: the best way to ensure couponing success is to educate yourselves. Those of you who were shut down on the milk Qs because there was no seal - next time, show the store manager the label where it says "produced in Pleasanton, CA". It matches exactly with the Lucerne cheese label (that has the Real CA seal). The cashiers and managers don't research couponing like we do, so often times, they are just misinformed. You don't need to be rude when explaining things, just speak in a calm voice and make the assumption that they just aren't as educated in couponing as you are. I have had great conversations with store managers about coupons and, for the most part, they push my coupons through because they can see I am not doing any sheisty deals.
where is the milk coupon? I know you posted a pdf before that expired in January, do they have a new one?
ReplyDeleteAnon- Check the right side of my blog under "Print Coupons Here". Click on Slick Deals database and scroll down to Real California Dairy for the link. This is a new link and doesn't expire until January 2011!
ReplyDelete