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:
I AM NEW TO COUPONING HERE IN CANADA, BUT THE BIGGEST QUESTION I HAVE IS HOW DO YOU GET MULTIPLE COUPOUNS FOR THE SAME ITEM. FOR EX: IF A COUPON STATES THAT ONE COUPON PER ITEM CAN BE USED BUT YOU HAVE 3 ITEMS AND 3 COUPONS YOU ARE ALLOWED TO USE THEM BUT WHERE DOES ONE GET THE SAME COUPON, ON TV YOU SEE SOME BUYING LIKE 20 ITEMS WHERE DO THEY GET THE 20 COUPONS?
I thought that was only allowed in the USA (why you see it on TV a lot).
Well said. Thank you for sharing such information. To many of us who are as tuned into the needs of others as we are to our own, they’re common sense. But common sense isn’t always common! 🙂
I love the idea you gave about leaving behind a coupon that is close to expiring for another customer. I have shared things in lines up before with people. As well as having others share with me in line but I never thought to leave it with the item on the shelf…Thanks for thinking of that one and sharing it with us today…Made me smile:D
Thanks for adding the etiquette article re: couponing. It’s been almost 20 years since I was a cashier at a grocery store and I still dread being in line behind couponers. Some of them were so snippy and trying to sub them in for similar but not identical products. We dreaded couponers b/c of that… but people who follow this etiquette would be fun to serve.