How much do you save on your shopping using coupons?

ch4ndresh

I am shocked as to how so many of you save so much money using coupons...i am a newbie to all this and i was wondering how you do it..i have read many of the posts in this particular thread and one of the things i noticed is using self scan and scanning vouchers that are not for the particular product...is this true ? does it really work ?

WELSH-DRAGON_2

Hello ch4ndresh and welcome to MSE :wave: it is true you can use vouchers for products that you have not bought both at the self-scanning machines and at normal cashier operated tills. However, the policy varies from store to store and even depends on the cashier if you go to a manned till.

My thoughts on using a voucher for an item that I have not bought is that more than likely someone else has purchased the item without a voucher so it's swings and roundabouts. However, as we all keep saying, coupon acceptance is NOT an automatic right but a nice BONUS.

My other favourite saying at the moment is "Not everyone sings from the same hymn sheet" which is true as voucher acceptance can be very hit and miss.

Welshy x

ella2002

I used the self scanner for the first time and it accepted 2 vouchers and then beeped. Think I will go back to the manned tills

rozeepozee

ella2002 wrote:

I used the self scanner for the first time and it accepted 2 vouchers and then beeped. Think I will go back to the manned tills

I've yet to be successful with the self scanners. I find young male SAs much more helpful

WELSH-DRAGON_2

Ella2002 know what you mean I find the scanners at Asda with their supervisors terrifying, much prefer to chat to someone on the till and use my tactic of boring them rigid then they quickly scan the vouchers to get rid of me LOL

Welshy x

Coupon-mad

WELSH-DRAGON wrote:

Ella2002 know what you mean I find the scanners at Asda with their supervisors terrifying, much prefer to chat to someone on the till and use my tactic of boring them rigid then they quickly scan the vouchers to get rid of me LOL

Welshy x

My tactics too Welshy!!

For any newbies I really would not recommend self-scan because:

1. You will feel flustered and like you are doing something 'wrong'
2. You will be watched
3. The person watching may be a real jobsworth and may show you up
4. The scanner may beep after a maximum, say 10%
5. Most young till operators will scan some of your coupons, many will happily chat to you and scan loads of your coupons. Some will say 'only one coupon per transaction' (memorise who they are and avoid next time) but most will be very used to coupon-users.

Certainly Waitrose are always lovely about scanning coupons IME, Tesco and Asda cashiers are usually good too (except if your local branch has a Manager who has told them not to accept any coupons without buying the product...I soon sussed which of my 2 local Asdas to go to, I can tell you!). I find larger stores are best, and evening/weekend SAs are most likely to scan loads!!

Don't worry, just say 'could you scan any of my coupons please?', once you've done it a couple of times it will be second nature and the savings are phenomenal!

SMARTY29A_2

where can i find vouchers/discounts to get off my weekly shop at tesco or asda. reducing my bill would be great.

Felicity

I agree about the self scans. Our Tesco and Asda stores have 'self scan police' who make a huge fuss if you want to use vouchers.

One of them told me a couple of months ago that they very closely watch the self scans as they get a lot of voucher abuse and she advised me to use a normal till if I wanted to use vouchers.

One of our Tesco even has a big sign covering the voucher slot saying 'call a member of staff if you wish to use vouchers'. I also see that our Sainsburys self can do not accept any vouchers at all.

siamesecats

can you use the money off coupons in the asda mag without buying the goods?

Felicity

siamesecats wrote:

can you use the money off coupons in the asda mag without buying the goods?

I have used quite a lot of these in our local store, but from what people say on here, it does vary from store to store.

I have been into another store where you could not use ANY vouchers from the mag unless you bought the product (similar to Tesco branded vouchers) but you could use other manufacturers coupons.

I think it is a case of 'suck it and see'.

Good luck!