Couponer’s Commandments
- Thou shalt share the wealth! If you are a serious couponer and can get items for next to nothing take time to donate to our local shelter’s and food bank
- Thou shalt not push the rules – if a coupon states “one per household” don’t try to redeem more than one of them. Abuse like this is what causes manufacturer’s to cut back on their coupon distribution
- Thou shalt NOT clear the shelves! I’m sure by now most of us have seen some type of couponing show where they fill six carts, clear all the shelves and walk away paying next to nothing. While that is fabulous for TV it is not something we should do in the real world. Coupon stacking is allowed at London Drugs and Save On Foods however recent abuse of these stacking policies have led to major changes that make stacking much more complicated than it needs to be. These changes have come for a few reasons but it is very well known that retailers do not like people clearing off their shelves and leaving nothing for the other customers. I know it’s exciting when you can get something for free but ask yourself if you really need 20 of them or if 5 would do. If there is something you really want to stock up on as the retailer to special order them.
- Thou shalt not argue with cashiers! Sometimes they’re right and sometimes they’re wrong but arguing with them will get you nowhere. If a coupon is being interpreted incorrectly simply ask to speak with a manager to clarify or skip that item, complete your transaction and take it to customer service to get it figured out
- Thou shalt be courteous. If I’m in line with 30 items and 50 coupons I will typically let the regular customers go ahead of me so I’m not backing up the line. Some places prefer you go to the customer service desk if you have a substantial amount of coupons. London Drugs is one of those places. Their customer service reps are very well trained in couponing and stacking policies and can take the time to go through your pile with you
- Thou shalt not hog all the coupons! When you first start trading coupons the prospect of finding coupons in the grocery store is so exciting that you grab the whole booklet and run off with them. You use a few, trade a few and the rest go to waste because they expire. Please only take what you need. If you want a few for trading by all means but try to leave some for the other shoppers too.
- Thou shalt not buy what you do not need! The first mistake new couponers make is buying an item just because they have a coupon for it. The objective is to save money!! If you have a coupon for cat food but you don’t have a cat you don’t need the coupon! - unless you are donating it and then it’s a different story :)