Not a Crook...Just a Couponer!

"I'm sorry Ma'm about that. I'm sorry that they made you look like a crook because that's what it looked like. I don't understand why they didn't get that you can use a Publix coupon and a regular coupon. Of course if you are stacking coupons, you'll probably get overage. You did good, but there's still one more lady that does even better than you!"

Yep. This is what was said to me by the 16 year old bagger boy tonight at Publix. And, yes, I did feel like a crook. As if I was stealing food right from underneath them! Here's the story...

I took Caroline to my sister's house so she could swim with Savannah and I headed once more to Publix. I wanted to take advantage of getting some "free" Huggies diapers. We are completely potty trained during the day, but not at bedtime, so I wanted to use the $2.00 PQ with a $3.00 MQ to get them for free. I made my list of items to give me overage, gathered my coupons and headed in the store.

The two baggers were very friendly, as was the cashier. BUT...she began to get upset after she finished my Publix coupons and then realized that I had manufacturer coupons. OVERAGE! I patiently waited while she tried to "figure out" the system, patiently waited while one customer service staff came over to "figure it out" and then began to lose my patience when the asst. customer service manager came over. No one had an answer to give me. I have baffled them! WHAT? How do you baffle one when you have gone to that store repeated times? After several minutes of explaining by the cashier to the manager why she can't enter my MQ's because it would make the item "free", I had had enough.

"You know what, I have done this multiple times at every other Publix including this one. I handed over my Publix coupons first, like I had been told, and then handed over my Manufacturer coupons next. Yes, the item is $1.39 and I have used a $1.00 publix coupon and then a $.50 manufacturer coupon. What seems to be the problem today?"

"We aren't sure you can do this. We can't give you the item for free and give you money out of the cash register."

"I'm not asking you to give me money out of the cash register. I will end up paying you. But, my total is still $47 and you haven't even scanned my manufacturer coupons yet. You know what? Just give me back all of my coupons, you can keep your groceries and I will go to another Publix store who is much friendlier than you!"

"Oh, wait a minute ma'm. Let's just see what we can do. Scan the coupons and we'll see what happens."

So, they scanned the coupons and my total came to $1.00 plus tax. They profusely apologized and out I went with my groceries. Hence the bagger boy's first statement.

10-Apple & Eve Juice- $1.39 ea (10- $1.00 PQ and 10- $.50 MQ)= Free+
6- Reach Floss- $1.49 ea (6- $1.00 PQ and 6- $1.00 MQ)= Free+
5- Tylenol Arthritis- $3.85 ea (5- $2.00 PQ and 5- $2.00 MQ)= Free+
20- Kool Aid- $.20 ea (no coupons)= $4.00
2- Sugar- $.85 ea (2- $2.00 MQ wyb 10 Kool Aid)= Free+
2- Huggies Diapers- $19.99 ea (2- $2.00 PQ and 2- $3.00 MQ)= $14.99 ea
6- J&J Travel Kits- $1.47 ea (see below)
3- Band Aids- $.79 ea (see below)
2- J&J Gauze- $1.79 ea (see below)
1- J&J cloth tape- $1.79 ea (6- $3.00/2 MQ and 4- $5.00 PQ)= Free+++
1- Onion- $.23
1- Jalepeno Pepper- $.08
1- Fingerhot Pepper- $.02
2- Blueberries- $1.67 ea
-Used $3.00/$30.00 Publix coupon

Total: $121.01

Total after coupons: $7.37 ($1.00 before tax)