How to Coupon in Canada: Coupon Etiquette

Using coupons is a great way to save some money on your grocery bill. But, like with all aspects of our lives, there’s also a level of etiquette that we must adhere to, making couponing a positive experience for everyone.

Here are 5 coupon etiquette tips that apply to the beginner couponer and the seasoned couponer.

Be kind to your cashier

With the popularity of coupon use growing in Canada, many stores are still working out their coupon policies and training their staff on the ins and outs of coupons. There are a ton of different coupons out there so be understanding if the cashier doesn’t know as much about coupons as you do.

If you feel as though your cashier is misunderstanding a particular coupon, and you feel as though it should work, then politely ask for the manager. If a cashier doesn’t know about the coupon policies it could be a lack of training on the store’s part.

The better you treat the staff at the stores you frequent, the happier they’ll be to accommodate you and your coupons in the future!

Know the stores’ coupon policies and follow them

Coupon policies can vary greatly from one store to the next.  It’s a good idea to look up the coupon policies for the stores you frequent most often.  You’ll probably have the best chance of getting the coupon policies by emailing customer service.  The email address or contact form is usually very easy to find on all store websites.

You may want to print off the coupon policies to have on hand when you’re checking out, this way you have the information readily available if there’s an issue. But as always, be polite when discussing issues with the cashier or manager.

No Shelf Clearing

It really is fun when a great coupon deal pops up, but is it really necessary for someone to take the entire shelf of items because it’s free or really cheap? No! (Unless of course, there is only one left on the shelf :))  Take into consideration how many you actually need so you can leave more for others who also want that product.  Chances are, there will always be another sale anyways!

Don’t take the whole tear pad

Tear pads are placed in stores for everyone to enjoy.  Take a few, but leave the rest for others.

Share the savings

A great way to clear out expiring coupons and coupons you won’t use is to be a “coupon fairy”. If you’ve got some extra time, the best thing to do is to actually place the coupon directly with the product it can be used for.  That way, someone who is shopping for that product will have a nice surprise coupon waiting for them!

Have you got any other coupon etiquette lessons to add to the list?  What are your pet peeves when it comes to couponing?

Here are the other posts in the How to Coupon in Canada Series:

How to Coupon in Canada: Ensuring a Coupon is Valid

Along with the fine print on a coupon, there are a few other things to look out for to ensure a coupon is valid.

Expiry date

Coupons are only valid up until the expiry date stated on the coupon.  There’s nothing worse than getting excited about a sale you have a coupon only to find it’s already expired!

Redemption address

To know if a coupon is valid in Canada, look for a Canadian redemption address.  Something like this:  “For redemption, mail to Nestle…Saint John, New Brunswick…”  You’ll find the redemption address in the “To the dealer” part of the coupon.  Coupons that are redeemable in the US can also be used in Canada only if they state they are also redeemable in Canada.

Product Specifications

Quite often, coupons have restrictions written on them. Things to look for would be specific sizes (300ml or larger), specified products in a product line (Stayfree Ultra Thin, rather than any Stayfree product), or exclusions (not valid on travel/trial sizes).

Here are the other posts in the How to Coupon in Canada Series:

How to Coupon in Canada: What the Fine Print Means

What the Fine Print on Coupons Means

The fine print on coupons can be confusing, so here’s a rundown of what that fine print means!

Limit one coupon per purchase

Many people assume that this statement means that you are only able to use one coupon per shopping trip (or transaction).  It, in fact means, that you can’t use more than one coupon per item purchased. So, if you are purchasing three of the same items and you have three of the same coupons, you can use one coupon per item, all in one transaction!

Limit one coupon per transaction

While a purchase means one single item, a transaction means an entire purchase.  So if you have a coupon that states “limit one coupon per transaction” you can only use one of them in one transaction.  If you wish to use multiple coupons with this wording, you can always make several transactions, or come back on another day. (But the frugal in me would say to do multiple transactions the same day so you’re not using extra gas!)

Limit one coupon per customer/person/household

This one is pretty straight forward. A customer/person is referring to each individual person making a transaction. In order to use more than one of these coupons, bring someone with you who is able to make their own transaction, while you make your own transaction using the coupon. Or, come back another day. When a coupon states only one coupon per household, this means that only one coupon can be used once for all members of your household.

Void if copied

Do not photocopy coupons!  It’s against the law.

Use of more than one manufacturer’s coupon per item is strictly prohibited

This coupon can’t be stacked, even if you’re shopping at a store that allows coupon stacking.  Stores (and you) must abide by the manufacturer’s rules.

May not be combined with any other offer

Although this seems to say you can’t use it on a sale item, it actually means you can’t use this coupon for stacking. It’s still okay to use it on an item that is on sale!

Here are the other posts in the How to Coupon in Canada Series:

Unique Ways to Get More Free Canadian Coupons

unique ways to get coupons in Canada

Other than ordering coupons, printing coupons and collecting coupon inserts, there are several other more unique ways to grow your coupon collection!  Here are my suggestions:

Trade with friends

Get together with some coupon loving friends and trade the coupons you won’t use for some you will use!  Do you need baby coupon and does your friend need pet coupons?  Swap them!

Check recycling bins

Pretty self explanatory, but there are tons of people out there that could care less about the coupon inserts that come in the local newspapers.  I find several in the recycling box at work! 🙂

Write your favourite companies and ask for coupons

Do you have a favourite product but never find any coupons for it?  Try writing/emailing the company to say how much you love their products and then ask it they have any coupons to share to help you enjoy their products more often.  I recently did this with Kiju organic juice.  I really wanted to try the juice, so I emailed and asked politely if they had any coupons.  They sent me two coupons for free juice!  Just as a note, please don’t abuse the kindness of companies.  Maybe request coupons once or twice a year only?

Sign up for Freebies

Many of you that already sign up for the freebies I post on Simply Frugal, probably notice that along with the samples, the manufacturers also tend to send along high value coupons.  It’s really a great tactic on their part as they give you a sample hoping you’ll like it, then think you’ll go out and buy the product with the coupon they sent you, then buy it again and again!  But really, if I do actually enjoy the product, I will go out and buy it with the coupon!

So you have any other unique ways to collect coupons to share with us?