I had a reader ask me a little while ago (maybe it was quite a while ago? oops 🙂 ) about printable coupons. She was saying that she’s been having troubles redeeming them at Canadian stores!
I have since then, emailed quite a few well known stores and inquired about their internet coupon policies. So far, none of them have told me they don’t allow printable coupons. Here’s what a couple of them said:
Loblaws family of stores: “We do accept internet coupons however they must have “To The Dealer or Retailer” text on them. They cannot be past expiration and the cashier must follow the exact instructions as laid out by the coupon. The disclaimer “one per purchase” means only one coupon can be used per transaction regardless of the number of units you are purchasing. If the disclaimer read “one coupon per item” you would be able to redeem as many coupons as units you are purchasing per transaction.”
Canadian Tire: “The rules and regulations of each type of coupon is normally printed on the coupon itself. For more information we recommend contacting your local Canadian Tire store directly.”
Freshco here in Ontario now accept printable coupons. They had a big sign on their door last week about it.
Just got a response from Loblaws VP for No Frills who says all No Frills in ON do and always have taken internet coupons, and they’ve recently sent communication to make sure they knew. That followed a phone call from a loblaws exec who said No Frills does take them now, but they weren’t for awhile. That followed an email from service saying the do take them, which followed their 1-800 saying no NO frills or loblaws stores will take them. The store that started my inquiry said they definitely do not take them.
So if No Frills or nay other loblaw store says they don’t you can contact loblaws…after you contact them again and again and again over months you might get straight answer and have them deal with the store in question. At this point I don’t believe there is anyone at all at loblaws who knows what they are talking about
Hello,
I tried to use the OceanSpray 1.00 off coupon from their website toniight at a Nofrills in Hamilton,Ontario and I was told that they do not accept internet printed coupons as per Head Office.
Gord and Kinston No Frills in Kingston just told me they will not accept internet coupons
In Kingson Walamrt should definitely be taking them(legit ones), its the policy of walmart to everywhere. Never had a problem there, they even get the “No tax on free item coupons’ right all the time now
Zellers SHOULD take them, however the local manager is nuts. After being rejected, he said I could tell him when I was going to be there, and he would look at it personally and decide if he thought it was legit…I told him I’d go elsewhere. Zellers policy IS to accept them however. Kingston store a horribly run operation imho.
All Loblaws should take them. Been rejected at Kingston center a few months ago, supervisor had elaborate story how loblaws was never supposed to take them, staff were making mistakes when they did, etc. Called 1-800 and they had no idea how she came up with that, and they called the store while I was on the phone. But watch out for any Loblaws owned store charging HST improperly on free item coupons. Ive even had the sales tax office visit the Kingston center store over that, but they kept getting it wrong. Now they are supposed to be retraining all the staff there by an outside training specialist and looking into if its a problem at other stores (it is). The gm there does not appear to care about customer complaints and takes no action to deal with them…at least until the customer gets in touch with some high execs :). The midland loblaws appears to be significantly better run(some issues with excessive expired food and health unit Ive heard though), but they can be weird with coupons depending on staff.
No Metro or Basics should be taking printed coupons, haven’t for many many years (policy kept from A&P days)
I’ve had issues with printables at Save-On-Foods in BC.
Thanks so much for all the replies!
I work at Safeway in BC and the only printable coupons we accept are the Safeway direct coupons. I used the $5 off any 3 Ziploc products printable coupon at London Drugs and they accepted it, no problem.
Thanks for that bit of information Sumiko! Great to know.
I have done some research as well:
Here is a blog post of mine with HBCs coupon policy:
http://www.groceryalerts.ca/zellers-hbc-printable-coupon-policy
Thrifty Foods:
http://www.groceryalerts.ca/thrifty-foods-printable-internet-coupon-policy
The only major chains that do not take these are Metro (that owns other grocery chains) and Marketplace IGA.
I want to get a petition going so that these stores will take printable coupons.
Anyone with me?
Marketplace (not sure if this chain is across Canada or not; I’m in Manitoba), would NOT take my printed coupons.
We’ve had no trouble at Wal-mart, Zeller’s or Canadian Tire. Food Basics and associated stores (Metro etc) however refuse to take them.
Food Basics does not accept internet coupons. From their website:
We accept Food Basics Coupons printed from our Food Basics website.
Coupons from save.ca are accepted. These coupons are ordered from the website and MAILED to the customer’s home. These coupons are not printed by the customer from the internet.
Manufacturer Coupons printed from the Internet, either on-line coupons or e-coupons are not accepted.
Places that did for me here in Kingston Ontario:
No Frills, Loblaws
Places that did NOT:
Canadian Tire
Walmart
Zellars
Thanks for the response to my question!