My experience with Kmart double coupon 6/8/9
Read the fine print carefully before you go :
1. No more than 10 coupons per person per day
2. Maximum of 4 items for the same items
3. Only 1 coupon per item (only 1 coupon will double) [not like in Publix, you can use one Target, one manufacturer)
Well, I heard from people who told me they paid like $10+ or $20+ or $50+ for $200+ of goods (the last time when Kmart had double coupons). With max of 10 coupons, I really could not see how you can buy up to $200 for stuffs such as cosmetics, deodorant, sun screen etc…
I am not too enthusiastic about it. First, it is out of my way to go to Kmart, also I had all the deodorants, shampoo stuffs that I intend to get because after coupons they are free. In fact, I have 2 closets full of free deodorants (Dove from Walgreens), shampoos (publix, walgreens over the last 12 months) and all kind of personal beauty products and I also have a cabinet full of salad dressings, crackers etc.
One of the reasons that I have gone on Monday was more for the experience and also share this experience with my readers.
Well, this was what I did
Preparation
1. I scanned through my post on Kmart Double Coupon and I picked up items that are free or cheap after double coupons
2. Then I cut the coupons and put them in a folder.
I arrived at Kmart at 12noon and I did not get out till 2:45pm. If you asked me if I would do it again. I would say a big “NO”.
These were what I got for $1.30 (mainly are tax)
1. 4 Dry Deodorant ($3.99 each), I have 4 $2 internet coupon
2. 4 Right Guard deodorant ($2 each), I have 4 $1 newspaper insert coupons
3. 1 Pert plus for man ($3.49), I have 1 $1.50 newspaper insert coupon
4. 2 500Ml Listerine mouth wash ($3.99), I have 2 $2 newspaper insert coupon
5. 2 Johnson & Johnson Buddies soap (99cents), I have 2 $1 newspaper insert coupon
6. 2 Clear & Clean facial wash ($5.29), I have $2 internet coupon
Kmart does not allow overage. Johnson & Johnson buddies soap is 99cents and the coupon is $1, so there is no double coupon.
I bought 15 products, so I was expecting 28 coupons listed on my receipt (since J&J soap did not double so 15×2 -2 = 28) but when I looked at the receipt, it only registered 26 coupons. The total was $8.07. I knew 2 coupons did not double.
So I went to see the customer service lady. She was very nice but it took her 1 1/2 hour to figure out how to refund back to me.
As I said this shopping trip was more for experience and also I wanted to find out if it was worth all that while for me to drive from my home to Kmart.
I waited patiently looking at my watch (in fact, I was taking a close look at my watch and wanted to find out how long the entire journey take for me to bring home $50+ worth of free products, I often do that to compare how much I save per hour VS the salary I earn from work)
The customer service lady had an excellent attitude, she was extremely helpful, enthusiastic in trying to rectify the problems but she did not get any help from anyone, she had lousy supervisor. I I have to say she had a ‘never give up’ spirit, good on her. Kmart should have more of her instead of the lazy supervisors I witnessed. I believe if they have more of her, Kmart might be in better shape.
Well, after 2 hour and 15mins, I finally got out of Kmart with $50 worth of free products !
I paid $4.85 out of my pocket but I have a $3.50 rebate on Pert Plus Man shampoo as there is a Try Me Free sticker on the shampoo and the rebate form is HERE. So with my rebate, I should be only paying $1.30 for all the above goods, looks like all the $1.30 were for Uncle Sam.
These are few reasons which I think it is not worth the while to do the Kmart double coupons if you are like me who know how to get free or cheap products from Walgreens, CVS and Publix.
1. It takes too long to rectify a cashier mistake (it would take Walgreen 5mins to rectify such problem, CVS probably 10mins). That is the beauty of shopping in smaller stores where the managers are close by but not Kmart, even when the customer service paged her supervisor, it took her more than 20mins to show her presence at the customer service desk.
2. All these limits put too much constraint on customers :
1. No more than 10 coupons per person per day
2. Maximum of 4 items for the same items
3. Only 1 coupon per item (only 1 coupon will double) [not like in Publix, you can use one Target, one manufacturer)
So bottom line is get these products in CVS or Walgreens when they have sales and ECB or RR or coupons on these goods !
I wanted to try it out, too, and was hopeful that I would have a better experience going in with knowledge of your experience. Well, I am NOT going back. I think I had the same customer service lady who was really nice, but the manager took a looong time to come. The cashier messed up. And I don’t like their coupon policy.
Thanx for the post – I’d heard from another couponer here in gnv that this was not all that worthwhile – and since it is WAY across town for me you’ve just saved me gas, time and money!
Sorry it didn’t go well. They obviously changed some things since I went last. Previously you could use up to 25 Qs. I mostly buy cleaners, snacks or diapering items. I’ve never had any problems, even when I realized one time that a few coupons did not register properly. Customer service simply refunded me in cash in moments and I was on my way.
One thing that I do differently is that I do not preclip any coupons. I do print out the list of what should be free and then put those inserts (the entire insert) into a plastic folder and take it with me to the store. When I get there I select the items that I can find and then sit down in a comfy chair and clip the coupons that go with it. I always take the kids with me, so obviously it’s not a long chaotic visit. It’s rather short and sweet… one hour from start to finish.
Now that they limit to just 10 Qs it’s not nearly as exciting. Oh well.
My Kmart (Niceville Florida) did not limit my coupons at all, in fact I went Sunday and probably used 50 Q’s. Don’t think I bought more than 4 of any one item, so that didn’t come up. Our cashier was helpful and didn’t mind all the Q’s. They all rang up correctly (I watched that register screen like a hawk when she rang up and deducted for the Q’s. We were very blessed that it took all the Q’s without any problems. Obviously neither of us knew about the 10 Q limit. A lot of things there were priced higher than your list, so we just didn’t get them. Overall, (I went to two different Kmarts Niceville and Ft. Walton Bch to get things I couldn’t find in Niceville) I bought $231.18 worth, spent $52.70 + I got a register tape that said $14.00 back and a free movie ticket for buying Axe Products. So to me, the drive was productive. Sorry to hear you didn’t have a good experience.
Angela,
I see Walmat as not as good choice as the others.
Since I have so many Walgreens, CVS and Publix near by and most of the times I pay close to nothing for most of my stuffs
Tracey told me earlier on be prepare to go with a good mood cos the stuffs are not coupon savy. It is very interesting that they refund you in cash in moment. It takes the lady a long time to figure out the refund to me.
Yes, Marianne, I do not like Kmart coupon policy. They are still a long way to catch up with CVS and Walgreen, that is for sure.
I think I just want to go to prove a point that there are so many stores that you can get bargains why bother with Kmart ?
I had another good day at Kmart bought $106.00 worth and paid $13 for it all. Two Kmarts, both totals began at around $53.00 then they started ticking off the coupons. I used about 16 coupons at each Kmart, but not too many more than that. They did not count them at all, just took them and rang me up. I used the $14.00 Kmart register coupon they gave me on Sunday, and at the first Kmart today the register printed me $2.00 off my next visit which I used at the other Kmart. I guess our Kmarts aren’t too rigid…even though the double coupon does say limit 10 coupons.
Oh well, I’m sorry it didn’t work out for you…I don’t normally go to Kmart but the double coupons worked so well here…I couldn’t resist!
FYI: the p and g adds have a kmart one. On it, it states you can use up to 75 coupons per visit. This was on the Junes issue. If u have it take it in thier and talk with the manager.
I went back to the 2 Kmarts in my area today. Bought $121 worth of items and only paid $12 for them. At no time did they limit me with only 10 coupons, or did they restrict how many of each item I purchased. So for me it was another great day at Kmart! I’m really going to miss those double coupons!!