B1G1 FREE + Walgreen's Issues

I wasn't going to write about a VERY recent experience I encountered at Walgreen's, but with several emails that have been sent to me, and most recently a reader left this on my Walgreen's Post:

dannette said...

Hi there, Regarding the Right Guard deal, B1G1 = both free, Walgreen's wont do that, I went to 2 in my area and the first one said absolutely not and the 2nd. one took my coupon and it only took off one deodorant+$1.00....

I figured it was time we tried to clear up some coupon confusion, and give some added tips that I hope will help ALL Walgreen's shoppers.

Several weeks ago, I tried to get the Right Guard Body Wash deal, when it was on sale for Buy 1 Get 1 Free, and I had several manufacturer's coupons that were also Buy 1 Get 1 Free.  I must have visited every Walgreen's within a 15 mile radius.  Every store was sold out.  So I broke down, and requested rain checks.  ( For those of you who don't know me, I absolutely hate obtaining rain checks, I'm not exactly sure why, but my last week's experience pretty much reminded me why I hate it so much.) 

Okay fast forward to last week, I noticed the shelves had been restocked, so I went in with my coupons and my rain check.  The cashier who rang me up is always helpful and pleasant, unfortunately he wasn't sure how to ring in the rain check as well as the coupon for the B1G1 item.  He proceeded to call down the assistant manager, ( I say assistant, because I would like to think a person with this much attitude couldn't possibly be an actual manager.)  She proceeded to look at the rain check, and the coupon, and began to tell me that she couldn't do both.  I held my cool, and simply stated, why did she think the shelves had been sold out for a week and a half?  It was because everyone had these coupons, and they were purchasing the B1G1 free sale with the coupon.  She began to argue with me that she couldn't give me 2 free items. 

Knowing that I wasn't going to get anywhere with this woman, I simply turned around, and told the cashier to please take them out of the bags, and give me back my coupons, I would go to another Walgreen's.  (I think another reason why I didn't lose my cool was due to the fact that I had my daughters with me.) 

My girls seem to know me very well, the 5 minute ride home was quiet.  Well it was quiet everywhere except for the inside workings of my own head, I think there were actually three of me sitting in the front seat.  By the time I pulled into the driveway, I walked into the house, and started the rant.  Man, I love my husband, he always listens to my coupon rants.  I was sitting there on the couch, trying to calm down, only it wasn't working.  I decided that I would rectify this NOW.  I jumped on the computer, found Walgreen's Corporate Coupon Policy, and drove back to Walgreen's with the printed policy in my hand. 

Bad news, the coupon Nazi, as I was calling her in my head, had gone home.  I asked the cashier who originally waited on me, that I would like to see the manager that was in charge then.  She was over in the photo department, so I walked over, and then explained the situation, at this time the several cashiers had come over including the one who helped me out in the first place, to help explain my problem.    I handed over the printed coupon policy, and simply asked, if it meant that the store was not going to honor their own corporate coupon policy.  The manager looked over the policy, and proceeded to tell me that I was indeed correct, went and got me the 4 bottles of Right Guard, and ring me up.  I walked out with my 4 FREE bottles of body wash (Paying tax only on the items), a smile on my face, and a sense of vindication.

Now the ironic part of this story was, two cashiers who also read the policy that I brought in, told me that they were TRAINED NOT TO ACCEPT A B1G1 free coupon on a B1G1 free sale!  A complete disregard of the corporate policy!

I would suggest for those of you having a problem with this type of sale at Walgreen's to print out THIS POLICY (Taken directly from Walgreen's dot com) and bring it in with you when you are shopping. If this still does not help, call their corporate customer service line.  You can find the numbers and email HERE.  If you do happen to contact corporate, make sure that you get the name of the manager, assistant manager, etc that would not honor their own policy. 

Buy One, Get One Free Coupons 

• When items are featured in a Buy One, Get One Free promotion, up to two coupons can be used against the items being purchased, as long as the net price does not go below zero for the items being purchased.
• Sales tax must be paid for any Buy One, Get One Free coupon offers, if required by applicable state laws.

 This will work if items are being rung in as a full price item, and a Free item.  Some stores however, due to state law policies, are rung in as half price each item, so there really isn't a free item here. (I honestly think this is false advertising, another issue I would personally take up with a manager, but that might just be me.)

Also, take a good look at the first line item, UP TO TWO COUPONS CAN BE USED.  What does that mean?  It means that on a B1G1 Free sale, you CAN use a coupon for the FREE item. 

I certainly hope this helps you all get the free products that we work so hard to obtain. 

Questions? Comments?  Leave one below, and let me know what your thoughts are on this topic.