Here is a question and answer about the Kroger Coupon Policy in the Kroger Southwest Region which covers Texas. Last month a reader emailed me the following:
Tiffany,
I was told today by two different managers from Kroger that they are no longer accepting printed coupons. Have you heard that also? That’s a real bummer!
Libby
I wanted to make sure that I was correct, before I told Libby that her store was incorrect, so I emailed corporate and talked to their knowledgeable PR person for Kroger Southwest. This is her answer:
Hi, Tiffany,
I’m not aware of any changes to our coupon policy. The current version and FAQs are attached.
She then attached the same coupon policy that we have had, which means there have been no changes. You can download and print the policy HERE and see the FAQ HERE.
I want you to take a look at #9 though. This is what it says:
- If a Manufacturer coupon exceeds the price of the item, the excess will be applied to the basket purchase. If the excess is greater than amount due on the total order after the coupons are redeemed, the excess will be given in cash. WIC or SNAP items in a WIC or SNAP transaction are ineligible for cash back or application to the basket purchase.
Just like Walmart, Kroger will give you the difference back in cash if a coupon (from the Sunday paper) value is higher than the price of an item. If the TOTAL of the transaction is lower than free. Otherwise the overage will be applied to the cart purchase.
Kroger has a great coupon policy. They are very fair and in line with their policy as to what other stores are doing. Make sure to print off the coupon policy and always have it with you.
Also, in the FAQ it explains that you CAN use a coupon on mark down items, for those who have been asking!
Jennifer Johnson says
Thank you Tiffany for posting this. I just wanted to add that each store is different because each have different managers. I shop at many stores from near downtown Houston and along 45N. The Kroger stores in Houston are least likely to accept all coupons in any given transaction I may have. Conroe and Spring area are better about accepting all coupons. I have only noticed the Kroger on 2920 and 45N limit three coupons per transaction. I only shopped there that once though. I used the Neutrogena coupon on the facial bars over the weekend at the Sawdust Kroger just fine. On Tuesday, I tried to use it on the facial bars at the Kroger near my house in Houston(its at Airline and Parker.) The checker girl scanned all my coupons, but that one had a red circle on it, so she left the check out lane and went to customer service desk to get permission to scan it. She came back to me and told me I could not use it there, since it was a Target coupon and handed it back to me.
Tiffany Ivanovsky says
In that particular case, I would have argued that, since it is NOT a Target coupon, but a manufacturer coupon. Also, in the coupon policy it does NOT say that they will not take a coupon with anthers stores logo.
Anne says
I went to the Kroger located in Conroe,TX on Davis & 105. I had 2 gallons of milk and one box of Totinos Pizza Rolls(Totinos priced at $1). I handed the cashier (Melissa, who was not overly friendly after observing my coupon binder) my $1.25 coupon. She stated to me that she could not take it because it exceeded the $1 price. I told her that I thought that in this case, is she not supposed to key it in for at least the amount of item. She rudely and simply stated “no.” I s this common or was she specifically in the wrong? I know at this store, they have said that they would’nt accept a coupon for a “Manager’s Special” that exceeds the price, but for a regular sale item?
Tiffany Ivanovsky says
It sounds like they are not following the coupon policy. You need to print it off and keep it with you all the time. They also do NOT adjust the coupon down.
Anne says
Thank you for your quick reply. I will be sure to have my policy at hand at all times now. Let me ask this, like Jennifer replied above, “Each store is different because each have different managers”…..is the coupon policy for Kroger allowed to be suited to each individual manager or is it to be followed verbatim to avoid my situation?
Tiffany Ivanovsky says
Yes they do leave some room for managers. But if it is in the coupon policy it spells it out for them. What is up to the managers is what is left OUT of the policy.
Talline says
Are they considering the digital coupons as manufacture or store?
sara says
hi Tiffany, I was also wondering what do we do or say when they refuse to give us overage? It is such a fight already just using coupons. Im in fort worth and my manager limits us to 3 like coupons because he says his shelves get cleared. Ok, i understand that I can work around that but when it comes to overage they adjust every single coupon down. I once had a coupon for .75 cents off some pasta and it was on sale for .71 cents and she adjusted it down. That was fine with me but i just thought it was silly because she acted like it was a big deal that i was trying to get .04 cents from them. When I think about it they are actually getting full value for the coupon. So my question is when they start to adjust the coupon down do i pull out my policy and show them what it says? Thanks so much for your help.
Tiffany Ivanovsky says
ALWAYS HAVE THE COUPON POLICY WITH YOU. It clearly states in their policy that they give overage. NOw, I don’t think if you are dealing with a non coupon friendly store that I would make a point of getting overage in the form of cash back. Just make sure you buy enough items that it covers the overage and get those for free. YES pull your policy and show them that they are to NOT adjust the coupon. Let us know what happens the next time.