Jul 09 2009

Kmart 101: How The Krazy Coupon Lady shops Kmart!

Posted in // Kmart // Comments (9)

Shopping Kmart with coupons can lead to big savings if you make smart choices with sales and Double Coupon Days!

Study and learn the Kmart Coupon Policy.

Part 1: Coupons accepted by Kmart:

Manufacturer Newspaper coupons: These coupons are found in the free-standing inserts in your Sunday paper: Smart Source, Red Plum and Procter & Gamble. If a coupon value exceeds the price of the item, the register will auto-adjust the coupon value down to meet the item’s price.

Printable Coupons: Kmart accepts printable coupons that scan at the register and are less than 75% of the item’s retail value.

Kmart Store Coupons: These “Super Coupons” are found in their weekly ads, the occasional Kmart Storewide Saving Guides, or printed out at the bottom of your receipt. Select Kmart locations allow stacking one Super Coupon and one manufacturer coupon per item.

Part 2: What makes Kmart KRAZY!

Doubling Coupons: Select Kmart locations offer occasional Double Coupon events, which run for the entire ad week, Sunday to Saturday. Coupons are doubled automatically by the register. Events typically double coupons up to $0.99 (i.e. a doubled $0.99 manufacturer coupon becomes $1.98 off), although some may offer double coupons up to $2.00 (i.e. a doubled $2.00 coupon becomes $4.00 off). A double event will be noted in your weekly ad flyer, typically in a red box on the front page.

Email Savings: Kmart sends out printable coupons, such as $5 off $50 purchase via email for those signed up for their newsletter. Visit Shop Your Way Rewards to register.

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Becky
did i miss something? was k-mart doubling this week and i miss it or was this just an fyi?
Joanie Demer
Becky,
KMart is doubling this week, but not in ID. We've been receiving lots of questions from newbies and we thought we'd just do a post.
Stay tuned later this afternoon for a great Internet Printable Roundup!
Suzette
I understand how they "double" a $1 coupon on a $1.99 item. I've always wondered this though- If I use a $1 coupon on a $.97 item and they adjust the price down, wouldn't the store be commiting coupon fraud by turning it in to the mfg for the full $1 price?
Joanie Demer
Suzette,
You are 100% correct. Every time a store adjusts down a coupon, like the example you used: $1.00 of coupon on a $0.97 product. They should be physically crossing out the $1.00 on the coupon and hand writing in $0.97. If they don't, they just stole your $0.03 from the manufacturer.
It makes me laugh that some stores are SO HUNG UP on the "adjusting the price down. . . oh no, we don't pay overage. . no NO NO!". If they did pay us overage and didn't mark the coupon, they would still be reimbursed the full value of the coupon, plus the $0.08 handling fee like always!!
If you want to know how to do something strict and by the book, (and long-winded) ask the US military, right? Well Military Commissaries TOTALLY pay overage, because they understand the concept of getting reimbursed by the manufacturer. I CANNOT WAIT until I live close enough to shop at a commissary. I'm gonna have the hook up!
Moral of the story. If you ever care to tell your cashier, they should be hand-writing the lower amount on the coupon, otherwise the store just gets that extra money. Don't know if it's technically fraud, but it's interesting. I'm not gonna get my panties in a twist over $0.03. Even though I could probably feed my family of 4 on that money for at least a couple days. . .
tinnie23
I have had so many problems coupon shopping at Kmart, yet I still go back for more (I'm addicted to double coupons)!! I have found not only are the cashiers uninformed, the managers are as well. Also, the sales are sporadically posted on the items/items ring up wrong, so I always carry the flier to show the cashier or manager. Maybe this is just my local store? FYI, my store's registers must not be "smart", they do not automatically double coupons or adjust for overages, or do anything else automatically for that matter. Thanks for your site!! I discovered it by accident, and was surprised to see you are out of Boise. Used to live in Ontario, Or.
our family
i just went and did the diaper deal last night. at the kmart i went too i missed the $14 back because they told me that i had to spend $50 after the coupons too. i had no idea that was the case so it wasn't that great of a deal. just some helpful info i wish i would have known ahead of time.
Joanie Demer
our family,
I did the diaper deal (as did many others) and received the $14 off coupon. I would write in to KMart customer service FOR SURE!! I REALLY think they'll take care of you and get you a $14 gift card or something!!
Keep your receipt, send them and email and let us know what turns out. You should have got your coupon. It IS $50 BEFORE COUPONS!!! (Check your receipt to make sure you got ALL the way up to $50 before any tax!! If you bought 5 diapers at $9.99 each, you'd be at $49.95)
Megaland
@tinnie23 – I've run into the same problems!!! it's amazing how much information the employees are lacking about the promotions they are running. Like you, I'm addicted to double coupons so I keep going for more. But the customer service is so poor, it makes it soooo difficult to want to go back. I have written corporate twice now regarding the poor customer service and have actually gotten good feedback from them. But still, I wish the employees were a little more "educated" about what's going on in their place of employment!
Tina
I called the only K-Mart in this area which is 30 miles away and asked the important questions (are you doubling, up to what value, how many can I use, and do you ad match) I received a yes on all the questions from a manager. So I headed up there before work yesterday, spent a hour matching the things I wanted to the ads and coupons, went to check out and the cashier told me the do not ad match. I told her that I spoke to the manager Amanda (I always write down the name of the person that I speak to) but she informed me that they do not and she said and I quote “I don’t know what to tell you” I was so mad by the time I left there I don’t know if I will ever go back even if they do double.