questions about coupons from Coupon-net

standingupformyself

Questions that have probably been asked and answered before I know... but I am quite new to the coupon thing! and rising to the challenge.

Today I printed off 15 coupons from Coupon net,

I have been lucky recently and have used the self scan tills at Tesco to get rid of my coke and daily mail book coupons.
Will these coupons I have printed off today work on the self scan tills do you think?
Any advice appreciated.

Thank you, xx

Coupon-mad

Yes but they will work at any till anyway.

When using a lot of coupons, many stores that are coupon-friendly would prefer you to go to a manned till. Partly to keep the ss queues moving quickly and partly so the SA can check the dates on the coupons (out of date coupons still scan....but don't try unless you want your couponing life to be short!).

SAs should also need to check that the coupons are not other Supermarket logo ones (Sainsburys, Asda, Somerfield etc) which some unscrupulous shoppers still try to get accepted at Tesco.

At the ss this coupon-checking is more difficult for the authorising SA when the coupons have already gone in the slot, and even if you are using them completely 'by the Tesco rules' the SA may suspect otherwise as ss machines have been targeted this way before. I found myself more flustered at a ss till with coupons, than with a nice happy scanner person at a normal till. I never use ss now and always pay with some coupons.

I would check your local store's coupon policy by asking a few times 'up front' at CS or at a till (you will get different answers but should be able to guage a pattern or general consensus at your local). BTW some stores won't accept internet coupons, it's at the manager's discretion, however you should find a store that will.

So my advice is to use a manned till and don't feel you have to hide coupon-use at the self-scan. It is OK to pay partly with coupons as long as they are all in date, non-store-specific and each one is for a different product. So you can use one batch from couponnet one day, and the second batch the next day, strictly speaking. You don't have to buy the products stated if you're in a coupon-friendly Tesco.

BTW, Daily Mail book tokens are a moot point. I don't believe Tesco can redeem them (several Managers have said so) so I no longer collect them. Just be aware they may be turned down, I wouldn't argue about Book tokens myself.

HTH

standingupformyself

Thank you, that's really useful. I have been using self scan as I never seem to find the right sales assistant...
I thought I would target a teenage lad last time, who really seemed so bored and un-interested!
I told my daughter (attractive and 20 years old) to chat to him nicely as we loaded up the shopping... This she did, and as appreciative as the lad was, he still asked if we had bought the particular items, and then just offered to take 2 coupons!

Which is the best sort of cashier to try do you think?

Coupon-mad

I used to think young lads but last year had more coupons accepted by chatty young girls, so now I look for them.

Failing that I go to a male of any age, finally (really scraping the barrel here!) I will force myself to go to a mifddle-aged lady's till. Some are still OK but my worst experiences with SAs thinking I am taking the mickey (even though I comply with Tesco policy) have all been with older ladies who think their job depends on saying no to coupons!

They think I am taking the money I have saved, from their own pocket. I try to explain it doesn't even come out of their employer's pocket but they think it does and huff & puff to say the least! Not a nice shopping experience, one best avoided.

Your best bet is to ask at CS up front because then you can quote what they told you (if it's in your favour of course) if the till operator says otherwise. Never be afraid to ask an obstinate SA if they could possibly check 'as you believe it is OK to use these coupons as you were told so by a Manager in another store'.

The SA will either grunt & say OK then, or they'll ring for a Supervisor, most of whom do know what the store's maximum is and MOST of whom won't have a problem with a couponer playing by the rules. IMHO having a Supervisor called is not a bad thing 90% of the time.

hidetheplastic

A middle aged lady refused all of my higher value coupons yesterday. I realised after she'd scanned all the 20p and 30p ones and ignored the £2.49 ones when I'd bought the coke.

I enquired at CS who refunded me and gave me a photocopy of the coupon policy so I can be better 'armed' with the facts if this happens again.

I went again today and young lad scrutinised every one and took them all except book token. He also asked where he could get coupons from lol.

Coupon-mad

That young lad sounds like he has the policy correct. :T

The SA should scrutinise them before scanning and IMHO should refuse a book token. Spot on.

The old bag you mention sounds like a few I have met in my time, but you live and learn (I find it helps me to memorise 'good' or 'bad' scanners' faces).

Now I have almost no problems in a couple of stores and several problems in another, where they seem to make it up as they go along. You get used to it and plan your shopping to take in the good stores, let them have your business, after all us couponers spend money like water given half a chance and a pile of barcoded bits of paper.

hidetheplastic

I couldn't fault him. I keep the photocopy of the store policy with the CS girls name on it just in case I hit a stumbling block though. I have 4 Mr. Ts that I pass weekly so will try them all to spread the 'love' around.

melg1973

I started using the coupon net coupons a couple of weeks ago and only ever use the tesco self scan tills (I go very regularly so only do a small shop, £5 - £12). I have been paying for around 25% of the shop with up to 4 coupons and had no problems whatsoever. Guess if you were doing a big shop or paying for a large percentage of the shop with coupons it might not be as easy.

novelli

Can someone just confirm, can i use several vouchers in tesco even if i dont buy the actual product???

thanks

Coupon-mad

Yes, as mentioned in the thread, as long as they are:

1. All in date
2. Not Tesco only (these are programmed to beep at the till if you don't buy the item)
3. Not other supermarkets only (an absolute no-no in Tesco, please don't try!)
4. All for different products (one of each).
5. All with a barcode that starts with 9 9
6. For a product Tesco stocks (the till will beep if not).


But some stores will not accept internet coupons and some still impose a maximum % in coupons. You should get at least one accepted by a friendly till operator though - often a lot more than you would be allowed on the self scan which usually has a limit.

Raspberry_Swirl

Coupon-mad wrote: »

But some stores will not accept internet coupons and some still impose a maximum % in coupons.

my store will take any number of coupons but NEVER let me use internet-printed coupons which is a real pain because lately i haven't found many originals, it's all internet-printed at the moment!!! they're real coupons which Tesco can redeem do i don't know what the problem is, especially as i print them in colour so they're obviously not a photocopy!