This week I’m tackling some of the questions I get asked most frequently.
Today’s question is a rather meaty one:
Can you use a buy 1, get 1 free coupon AND a cents-off coupon (both manufacturer) toward the purchase of the same items?
If I’ve lost you, let me illustrate.
Suppose you wish to buy 2 bars of soap. You have a “buy one, get one free” soap coupon you clipped from your Sunday paper. You also have a $1-off-1 bar of soap coupon you print from an online coupon site. Can you use both at checkout?
Coupon gray: it happens
Before I attempt to address this question, a quick couple comments. First, if you haven’t noticed, there are a lot of gray areas in couponing. While there are some fundamentals we can all agree on (such as we shouldn’t copy coupons or use them for items other than stated) there are just situations where you’re left going “huh?”, and written coupon policies may not bring clarity.
In these gray situations, my advice is to: 1) see what you can find out and 2) let your conscience be your guide.
I also want to acknowledge that not everyone agrees with my stance on these things, and that’s OK. I’m truly not here to judge anyone for making a different conclusion than me (provided it’s not one of those fundamentals!). I do feel a special sense of duty, though, as a coupon blogger. I am personally responsible for teaching many, many of you how to use coupons. Therefore, I am far more likely to skew to the conservative side of things. I want to make sure I’m teaching couponing in a responsible way that not only benefits you, but helps keep the good deals coming from manufacturers and stores, too!
I also want this to be a safe place for you to discuss your feelings on these things – and even debate them!
Well that’s clear as mud!
So back to the topic at hand.
I have to be honest. I don’t know that I have a definite “yes, this is OK” or “no, it’s not OK” for you today. Here’s why: there is conflicting information out there. And I can completely see why this scenario is confusing.
Consider this, for instance. I recently posed this question to P&G’s Facebook wall, and here is the response I got:
Now this completely sounds like they just wanted to be done with me, but their answer suggests it’s up to the stores.
Later that same day I got a response from P&G via an email contact form I’d filled out:
Buy One Product, Get One Product Free coupon cannot be used on the same purchase as a $ Off coupon.
I tend to go with the email answer as there is something in the Facebook response that made it feel they were giving me a pat answer to be done with me. But even so, you can see why this is confusing, right?
If you attempt to stack a “buy one, get one free” coupon at Albertsons with a cents-off coupon, the register will beep and state you are using too many coupons.
But at Rite Aid? They actually say it’s OK to do this, per their coupon policy.
It’s clear that there needs to be more clarity on this scenario.
What you think, what I think…
I decided to pose this question as a Facebook poll, because I was very curious to know what YOU felt on this topic.
Of the 71 of you that voted (thank you!!), fully 50 of you said that you felt this was an OK usage of coupons (74%). Only 15 felt it was like stacking manufacturer’s coupons (21%).
So here’s the part where I tell you what I think?
I think it’s like stacking manufacturer coupons. Here’s why. In order to get the “free” product, you have to buy a product. That means that the manufacturer coupon must “attach” itself to BOTH products. Using a cents-off coupon on top of that feels very much like stacking coupons to me.
We can all agree this scenario is wrong:
2 bars of soap
$1/2 manufacturer coupon
$1/1 manufacturer coupon
And I see the “Buy one, get one free” very much like a $1/2. I’ve arrived at this opinion after careful consideration, and that’s why you won’t ever suggest you use both towards the purchase of the same items. The only exception is if one of the coupons is a store coupon.
If I come to learn something that changes my opinion on this matter, I will gladly and graciously share it with you.
What do you think? Correct use, or incorrect use of coupons?
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{ 20 comments… read them below or add one }
I think it’s up to the store to decide. So far the only store I know of that doesn’t allow this is Target, so I don’t even attempt it there because I know it’s their policy. However, Rite Aid doesn’t have an issue with it, and neither does my Albertsons (interesting that your store’s machines beep- I’ve never had a problem!), so I continue to use BOGO and cents-off coupons together. But I do agree that if you feel you’re doing something wrong, you probably shouldn’t do it. And it makes me happy that you have thought this through- some websites (whose names I won’t mention
continue to post matchups for Target that include using a BOGO and a cents-off together, even though the policy says it’s a no-go.
I had 2 “Buy one get one free” on Kikkomen’s soy sauce. I also had 2 “1.00 off coupon” for 1 bottle. I took it to Albertsons and used both with a doubler and got my soy sauce for about 29 cents a bottle for the ones I paid for along with 2 free bottles. The coupon didn’t beep and they let me use both with no problem or questions. I thought it was one of my better deals I’ve done. :0)
thank you for making me think
Here is another scenario and what I did: The other day there was a buy 2 get 1 free deal on Chex cereal. The cereal was also on sale 2/$5. I had a coupon for $1.10 off 2 boxes. I picked three boxes and used my coupon. Since it was a sale I did not think twice about using my coupon. I was excited to get Rice Chex for $1.30 a box. (I then donated the “free” box to our local can-a- thon…what an easy way to give back!)
If the store’s sale was B2G1, I see no issue with this!
In fact, I will and DO share these sort of deals here at the blog.
Pat yourself on the back for being a smart shopper – and thanks for helping to feed those in our community!
Okay, here’s a variation. What if the B1G1 scenario is for different items? Example: I have some $0.55/1 20 oz. Dr. Pepper Ten coupons. (That I purchased on Ebay before I realized that they were a bunch of peelies that someone took in a store. Won’t be ordering from that Ebayer again.) Anyway, I also have some buy one 20 oz. Dr. Pepper and get $1/1 Extra gum – basically the gum will be free. Is it wrong to use those together? I guess I didn’t think it was because I am still buying Dr. Pepper in order to “earn” that $1/1 gum coupon. It just happens to be at a discounted price. (The Dr. Pepper will be about $0.50 after my store doubles the $0.55/1 coupon.) If there were a condition like “spend $1.50 on soda, get $1.00 off gum” then I wouldn’t do it. But it seemed okay to stack the soda and gum coupons to me.
I have to think about this though and I would welcome more input. I’m new to couponing and I care very much about doing it ethically, which is why, for example, I will take greater pains in the future to make sure I’m not buying 20 peelies that someone took off product at the store. That is LAME.
I’m not honestly sure about this one, either – I will continue to see what I can find out! (I regularly pester stores and the CIC! I’m sure they LOVE me – LOL!!)
Can I mention that I don’t advocate buying coupons – any coupons – from ebay? Read this, you might find it of interest: http://jillcataldo.com/no_more_selling_coupons
Does anyone else have thoughts on Anna’s question?
PS Thanks for this FAQ series! Its great, and its transformed me from a lurker to a commenter.
Oh wonderful! I love getting feedback like this!
It depends on the store policy. I was told no at walgreens, I was told it was ok at cvs and rite aid.
I wouldn’t use both manufactures coupons on 2 items Except at Riteaid where they state its alright. I still think the new Riteaid coupon is a little strange to allow it.
I’m with you, Sue. I even emailed my contact at Rite Aid, asking why they permit it. Unfortunately, I didn’t receive a response at the time of this posting.
I tend to agree with you…but like you, I err on the conservative side. If a coupon deal isn’t something I feel great about, then it is not making my world any better, or anyone else’s.
One note: sometimes the fine print takes away the grey area, in my opinion. Often coupons state “may NOT be combined with any other coupon or offer.” Or they state that they MAY be combined. I love that clarity.
Good point here, Christy.
Thank you so much for writing this article on the question you posted last week. I was one who voted no and posted the same question on a FB blog I follow that is closer to my home “Bargains to Bounty”. I was also surprised on how many couponers do feel this a an ok way to use coupons. When I first started couponing 3 years ago I also thought I could do this until it finally made sense with me. The coupon in question for me was the Free Milk w/the purchase of Oreo cookies that comes out every month. I was trying to use a coupon on the cookies also. Did it once and then the light went off that I was technically abusing coupons. Thank you from Michigan for your very interesting articles.
Thank you for posting this, Angela! I get asked this question often. Always tell them that I do not recommend it, but it is a gray area and many conflicting answers out there.
Thank you so much for posting this! I had this problem at Walmart (of course it was the Walmart that I always have problems with) but then had no problems at my other Walmart (never do)
Razors bogo and a $1 off 1 I didn’t see anywhere on the coupon that said buy one at full price so I assumed that if you are using the $1 off the razor you are buying and then using the bogo on the other it should have been fine. Now I am seeing it differently hmmmm
I’ve always considered a b1g1 to cover both items much in the same way a $1/2 does. As far as the albertsons register not beeping for the one gal – I wonder if it has tondo with the order. I think if you presented the b1g1 first and then the other it would beep but not if you presented the cents off first and then the b1g1 because they have to manually enter the reduction.
I think that it is stacking manufacture coupons. Not worth it to save the amount you do and do something I feel is wrong. I don’t see it as a grey area but I guess everyone sees things differently
I don’t care if it IS stacking. With the rip-off prices that stores charge, I want every edge I can get.
And that’s the difference between your view and mine. I see stores as allies, helping me find deals. I want those deals to be around for a long, long time. I don’t play couponing like a game where the stores and manufacturers are opponents to take out. I’ve seen how that backfires.