Please note that Kroger registers have changed in the past week. Though it previously varied by store, ALL locations will no longer allow the use of a digital coupon with a paper coupon. When coupons are combined on a single item, the register will note the conflict and the paper coupon will be refused.
On the Kroger digital coupon page, each coupon bears this warning when you click on “more info+”:
CONSUMER: No other coupon may be used with this coupon. Consumer pays any sales tax. Direct-to-Card coupons are easy to redeem. Simply swipe your store savings card at checkout for automatic savings. (Ref. 123456)
Limit of one coupon per item. Digital coupons and paper coupons may not be combined on the purchase of a single item.
To update, I requested a current copy of the official coupon policy for Michigan. Here is what I received via email. You’ll notice that the electronic coupons are only mentioned as not doubling:
Thank you for contacting the Kroger Co. The coupon policy for your region is as follows:
The store manager has the right to accept, decline or limit the quantity of coupons or items used or purchased in a single transaction, by a single customer, or in a single day.
General Coupon Policy
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Limit one (1) manufacturer coupon per item purchased.
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Limit one (1) store coupon per item purchased.
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One (1) manufacturer and One (1) store coupon can be used on the same item.
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A second or third coupon cannot be used on an item that is part of another coupon offer.
Example: Coupon states: Buy 2 cereals and get a gallon of milk free. Customer cannot use another coupon on the cereal or the milk. Coupons cannot be used on “free” items. -
Expired coupons are not accepted.
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Amount refunded cannot exceed the cost of the item.
Double Coupons (Michigan)
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Manufacturer coupons of $.50 or less will be “doubled”.
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Manufacturer coupons over $0.51 will be redeemed at face value.
This does not apply to “free,” Kroger, Retail Food Store coupons, electronic coupons on the Kroger Plus card, or items prohibited by law.Plus Card or items prohibited by law.
PAH (Print At Home) Internet Coupon Policy
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We only accept printable coupons if they scan properly at checkout.
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We do not accept “free product” printable coupons that have no purchase requirement.
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Buy-one-get-one-free coupons and other values that have a purchase requirement are acceptable but will be MUCH less common than traditional value-off coupons.
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We do not accept coupons for more than about 75% of a product’s value without advance notice.
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Legitimate PAH coupons will not be for a high value relative to the cost of the item. For example, a $2.00 off coupon will be acceptable for a product that normally sells for $5.00 or more, but a $2.00 off printable coupon for a product that sells for $2.25 is unlikely to be legitimate.
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Coupons will be rejected if they appear out of proportion or blurry, or are obvious duplicates.
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Legitimate PAH coupons are never copied, sold, or traded. Nearly all coupons are “non-transferable,” meaning they should not be photocopied or scanned and distributed to others.
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Coupons will be rejected if they appear to have been altered in any way.
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PAH coupons can be checked for validity at http://www.printcoupons.com.
Pharmacy Coupons
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Competitor pharmacy coupons are not accepted.
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LCM or Competitor Coupons may not be used in conjunction with our $4 Generic Program.
I hope this information is helpful. If you have any further inquiries, please contact your local store manager.
Thanks so much for tracking down this information. This information is very helpful.
To bad Krogers still couldn't tell us in writing if they would take BOGO coupons on a BOGO sale.
Thanks again for all your hard work! Your awsome!
I am very excited that it states we can use One (1) manufacturer and One (1) store coupon can be used on the same item. I have been wondering about this for months. Thanks for finding this information.
Coupons cannot be used on "Free" items.
I guess it all depends on the store. My husband went to Kroger yesterday to get the Ball Park Franks that are on sale B1G1 and he was able to use two coupons. Same with the Wholly Guacamole. It was on sale for B1G1 and he used (2) $1 off coupons. Now I have not tried a B1G1 coupon on a B1G1 sale.
Check your receipt – in my experience, most BOGOs at Kroger actually ring up at half-price which is why 2 coupons can be used.
I think the most important part of this whole policy is the manager has the descretion, I know I have done a few of these at my local Kroger (Middlebelt and Warren).
How can you use a competitor's pharmacy coupon with the $4 program if the previous point says Kroger does not take any competitor's pharmacy coupon?
Something does not seem right with the pharmacy section and the policy
I did ask once at my local Kroger and they do not take pharmacy competitor coupons.
So if the policy states that you can combine a store coupon and a manufacturers coupon..i am assuming its ok to combine a store sale with a coupon. I dont see where it says anything that woudl indicated you cant use the razor coupon. What am I missing? They get reimbursed for the coupons. I am buying two items…
•Cannot use a 2nd or 3rd coupon on an item that is part of another coupon offer. Example: Coupon states: Buy 2 cereals and get a gallon of milk free. Customer cannot use another coupon on the cereal or the milk.
•Coupons cannot be used on "Free" items. —-This part wouldnt apply because this isnt a coupon offer its a store sale…what am i missing?
I really don't understand why companies don't allow us to use coupons on Free items. Do they know that they will get reimbursed the coupon value thereby making more money then from a non-couponer?
These companies need to do the math…
Jeremy ^^^^
That isn't quite true.
Kroger doubles coupons….so they are taking a "hit" on the portion that they pony up…
If you use two 50 cent off coupons on a B1G1 where the "B1" portion costs you $1, they get reimbursed $1.20 (approx/assumes 10 cent handling fee per coupon) from the product's company.
They "eat" $1 (from doubling), and you get two free items. They have "made" only 20 cents on that deal (if you presume that their handling of the coupon is of no corporate cost to Kroger—-)
A non couponer will pay them $1 on this B1G1 deal AND they don't have to deal w/ trying to get reimbursement from the company on any coupons.
They make more money on the non-couponer.
While this might not be a popular opinion, I think using coupons on "free" items such as those associated w/ a B1G1 sale is abusing coupons and just makes it that much more of a challenge for (what I consider to be) legitimate uses of coupons.
I think you are wrong in saying it is abusing coupons if there are no rules or laws set against it. Why is it abusing? Because you are getting the items free? If that’s the case, all couponing to get free items is wrong and how can you say that and coupon? It is STILL legitimate use of coupons. It is in a lot of stores policies including CVS, Wag’s and Rite Aid that legitimate use of coupons IS using a BOGO on a BOGO sale. The store is still reimbursed for both the sale and the coupon. Please get the facts straight before posting incorrect information.
I know the Kroger on Canton Center will not take 2 coupons for a B1G1.
In the past year of using coupons, I've only been told once by a manager that I couldn't use a high value coupon on an item because it was more than 75% of the price. It didn't matter that the item was super cheap that week, and that had it not been on sale, they would have let me use it. This was at 15mile/Ryan.
Just reaffirms that Kroger is not the best place to shop for a couponer.
I went there this week with 2 PAH coupons for 2 identical products. The cashier spent more time scrutinizing the coupons than she did ringing me up. She even asked if one was a copy. I told her "of course it's not, that would be illegal".
Meijer is the place to shop. Period.
I use a coupon on a free item almost every time I go to Kroger and used one yesterday!
Just because you use a coupon on a free item doesn't mean its right. Usually stores don't get too strict on coupons until people start taking advantage of them. I am saying this because the
Meijer in my neighborhood used to be pretty nonchalant about coupons and now they are pretty
petty. I think thats because of the ecomony and more people using coupons. Also some people don't understand why a store won't take a coupon on a free item because they think the store is making money on it doesn't make sense. The only person making money is the couponer. The store is giving the couponer the value of the ginving and then getting it back while the store pays for the processing.
I think the strict policies are more for people purposely abusing the system, clearing shelves or just generally being uneducated on the use of coupons, not because of people who get free items. The stores indeed do get reimbursed (plus handling) for the coupon used on a free item and a purchased item both in a BOGO sale as long as the have sufficient stock (which if you purchased it, they had to) to satisfy the criteria for the coupon and it was used correctly (i.e. if it says cannot be used for a free item, THEN AND ONLY THEN will they not be reimbursed). The stores that refuse to accept coupons on both the purchased and free item do so to higher their profits, not because they lose money otherwise.
Stores are reimbursed for the full value of every legitimate coupon, plus processing fees as well (this is usually stated in the fine print on every manufacturer coupon). The store gains customers by accepting such coupons, so it's always in their best interest, in my opinion!
You can learn more about the life cycle of a coupon (and store reimbursement) here:
http://www.sharpenyourscissors.net/2009/02/coupon-after-life.html
I tried to use a printable coupon for buy two gallons of milk get 1/2 gallon of chocolate milk for free. So far MEIJER and KROGER have rejected this coupon. I guess I will have to try Walmart. I have conacted the whymilk website and it is a legit Q I just can't find anyone to take it. I'm starting to get disgused with some of these stores. I never try to cheat or create reprints. I always play by the rules and it seems that some of the stores are getting really picky.
A lot of chains don't accept any printable coupon that is for a free item. This is because many fraudulent coupons are for free or high dollar amounts so stores have quit accepting them altogether.
I love coupons and this site. I use every store coupon policy to the best of my savings. I don't want people to abuse coupons because I don't want stores to lessen their policies or become so petty I have to stand in line forever
having my coupons rung up. My Target is terrible, I may only have one coupon and one item and they look at it with a magnifying glass for 5 minutes.
Currently I have been saving a lot of money with printable coupons and would like to continue that. I do know if stores get too many copied or fraudulent printables they will quit accepting them. And Kroger used to piggy back manufacturer free coupon with a cents off on the one you buy, but has quit accepting anything with a free coupon altogether because of people trying to get just a little more, I think that is where their ridiculous 75% rule came from.
ok, apparently I am dense. What is the purpose of using two coupons on a BOGO? Why use a coupon on something that your already getting for free?
Greed in my opinion. I totally agree, why are people complaining? Sheesh!
Howell Kroger does not ring up both items at half price & they don’t allow ANY coupons to be used on bogo offers. The policy is posted at the front door. This is manually controlled, so a cashier may miss it from time to time, but it’s still prohibited.
Just my opinion about coupons…If you are wondering if a cashier will “catch” something, maybe what you are doing is wrong. If you steal something, but you don’t get caught, is it ok?! If you’re unsure, then ask for permission first, not forgiveness later. Aren’t these basic values that we teach children?
I completely agree. I get a lot of comments supporting deals that the “cashier let me do, so it must be okay.” True integrity means you’ll do what’s right even if no one is watching.
Couldn’t agree more!
I AGREE I WORK AT MEIJERS AS A CASHIER AND TO TRY TO EXPLAIN THE POLICY TO R CUSTOMERS IS HARD SOMETIMES AND ALOT OF PEOPLE GET MAD AT US, US CASHIERS ONLY INFORCE THE STORES POLICY AND UR RIGHT IT’S ALREADY FREE AND I’M A BIG COUPONER AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE COUPONS BRING USED RIGHT BECAUSE IF NOT THEY PROB. WILL INFORCE DIFFERENT RULES, SO THANK YOU FOR UNDERSTANDING.
Because it makes your price so much less in a lot of cases. For example if:
Purex $6.99 and on sale BOGO
-$3/1 on the purchased item
-$3/1 on the free item
=$.99 for 2 instead of $3.99 for 2
I’d also like to point out that the manufacturer’s don’t have any language prohibiting coupons being used this way to my knowledge so I’m not understanding why people are saying it’s greedy and wrong to use it if a store actually allows it. My Kroger’s has always allowed it and they are strict with coupons.
On another note…a couple months back there was a $.50/3 coupon for the Hunt’s tomatoes and they didn’t double at the register even though they were coded to double. When I questioned at the service desk they just said “some of them don’t double even if they do start with a “5” and don’t say “do not double”. Anyone else have this problem? I didn’t know what to do with that.
…because you’re purchasing one bottle for $6.99 and the other for $0. If you read the fine print on the coupon, it states the manufacturer will reimburse the retailer the lesser of the item’s retail value & $3. In this case, the lesser value is $0 – hence the coupon is worthless. Some K-Marts will take both coupons, but the second coupon will appear as “-0.00” on your receipt (unless, of course, it was manually entered). Citing your original example, often one retailer will run a buy one, get one promotion wheras another will be at 2/$7 (in which case BOTH coupons may be used). The difference is attributed to the retailer’s (or its supplier) promotional power and/or promotional allowance – the latter of which figures a smaller coupon redemption rate.
Howell won’t double printed coupons. They told me that they all say “do not double” on them, but I can’t see it anywhere on them. I agree that Meijers is the place to shop.
I stopped shopping at Kroger at least 3 years ago because of the hassle I was given by both cashiers and management over using coupons (printed from coupons.com). I simply told them that they could keep their items and I left. If it’s too much hassle to get a store to follow policy I just do not shop there. Meijer has had my business for years. They have always been great and friendly to me (the couponer). I once use to like shopping at Kroger until they started treating me like a criminal at the register and I am like many here…I always do the right thing and am not out to cheat the store or do anything against policy. I just want my deal in an honest way.
Question….I don’t think I quite understand….so you can’t use any other coupons with a Kroger digital coupon (like one loaded onto my card)? Or you can’t use another store coupon with a digital coupon? but you can use a digital and a mfr coupon together? or no? Did that make sense?…..
You cannot use a digital coupon (loaded to your card) with any other coupon on the same item. You can use a paper store coupon with a paper manufacturer coupon on the same item – however, Kroger makes that tricky since even coupons with a Kroger logo are usually manufacturer coupons.
I think Kroger is making a mistake here. Why bother loading digital coupons when, more often than not, manufacturer coupons are of a higher value especially when they double? I find Kroger prices are slightly higher than most stores anyway. I feel like I’m being punished for using coupons. Oh, well…Kroger’s loss.
I was just wondering if this meant that all the Kroger stores are only doubling to 50 cents now? There are a few select stores that double to a $1 – are they changing their policy?
No, those stores haven’t changed their policy. There are no policy changes, really – they’re simply enforcing the policy stated on the digital coupon page when they hadn’t always before.
Oh thank you for clarifying!
I am wondering if I should remove all my loaded coupons from my Kroger card. The manufacturer coupon are usually higher value and then doubles. Ugh…what to do? What is everyone else going to do?
I only deal with paper unless its a certain amount off of purchase or free product digital coupon(which i had won on krogers site)
Do we get to choose which coupon, digital or paper we want to use? Often, but not always, the paper coupons are of higher value and they double. Usually ,I don’t even remember what coupons I have loaded onto my card so it’s a surprise when they come off. Half the time they don’t come off anyways.
Don’t get to disturbed I called the Howell kroger they’re still doubling the dollar to two dollars off! It’s still 3 like items there’s no longer any piggy backing, a store coupon and manufacturer that’s all! We are good!
Does Kroger still take up to 3 coupons for the same type of product per transaction?
That part of the policy should be listed in your store’s ad (I think).
yeah the digitial coupon works great but you still get taxed on the full amount. even if the coupon brings the price to zero, your still gonna pay sales tax on whatever the sale/regular price is.
Has anyone been keeping up with the Kroger Facebook page or the Krogers Couponers facebook page? Yikes! Looks like bad decisions being made by the Kroger Co. I love the deals but I think this time I need to stand up and support my fellow couponers… boycot Kroger till they can get their story straight.
I fail to understand many of the comments:
Pretend a consumer and her husband purchased two shopping carts worth of products for a busy supermarket. At the conclusion of their order, they hand their cashier dozens of coupons – many of which they did not satisfy requirements (e.g. instead of buying two, they purchased only one) and a handful of others for products they didn’t even purchase. In most cases, the cashier will honor most of the coupons – this is especially true if the cashier is tending to multiple self-checkout lanes. This can’t possible be stealing (unethical isn’t a strong enough word) since the store’s going to get credit for those coupons, anyways – right? Wrong.
Coupon redemption is largely electronic these days. Manufacturers look for unusual patterns – e.g. a high percentage of coupons that had been manually entered, or an unexplained higher-than-average redemption rate – in choosing to audit specific retailers, specific stores and specific receipts; charge backs are VERY common. In the end, EVERYBODY loses – the manufacturer responds with weakened coupons (issued less frequently, lesser amount, etc.) and the retailer/store responds with tighter policies (and maybe higher prices to offset fraud).
(Segregated) extreme couponing can often result in coupon charge-backs for a retailer by triggering irregular usage patterns. Furthermore, if a store typically sells 10 bottles of Gain Fabric Softener per week but orders 100 in preparation of a $3 off coupon promotion, and a single consumer walks in with a 100 coupons and buys nothing but Gain, it’s bad for business. Upon seeing there’s no Gain left, many consumers will take their business elsewhere. Thus, management should reserve the right to restrict quantity.
Internet blogs, television programing, newspapers, etc. have risen the popularity of extreme couponing in recent years. Unfortunately, most extreme couponers want something for nothing (e.g. arguing BOGO coupons should combine with a BOGO promotion to make the items free); much like fraudulent coupon usage, extreme couponing is also leading to tiger policies all around. Not specificity related to groceries, but I recently read an article in which a diner offered a $5 cash coupon in local papers; patrons responded by buying meals totaling around $5 and attempted to pay for multiple meals with multiple coupons on separate checks. When the diner placed restrictions, it was threatened with lawsuits. A promotion that was meant to drive business into the restaurant instead drove it out of business.
I don’t ever load coupons onto my Kroger card unless I don’t have a paper coupon for the item. Both Kroger & Hillers have a similar e-coupon policy and I have found I would rather not load any coupons to it since it ends up costing me more than to just use paper coupons.