SmartShopper

Grocery store coupon policies

Find out all the specific coupon policies for area grocery stores.

Posted Updated
coupon
By
Faye Prosser
, WRAL Smart Shopper

In order to take advantage of the fabulous deals our grocery stores have to offer, you need to be well versed in their coupon policies. It’s one thing to know which stores double coupons, but there is much to know if you want to score some free pasta and 10-cent toothpaste.

The great news is that here in the Raleigh area, we are very lucky to have a number of stores that double coupons every day of the week! You don’t have to recite the alphabet backwards, perform back flips or get down on your hands and knees and beg – they double coupons automatically. Harris Teeter, Lowe’s Foods and Kroger all offer double coupons and there are freebies to be found at these stores every week by coupling the sales and doubled coupons.

Even at stores that don’t double coupons, you can still find great buys on items by coupling a good sale with a high value coupon. If you have a store coupon to go with it – the deals are even better.

Following are the store policies for Triangle area grocery stores including Harris Teeter, Lowe’s Foods, Kroger, Food Lion and Walmart. To see more detail, click on the links provided for those stores offering an online policy.

For more information on coupon policies for grocery and drug stores including ALDI and Target, click the link in the box above for Thursday Thoughts: Store Coupon Policies and Contact Information.

Harris Teeter

 

Do they double coupons? Yes, Harris Teeter doubles coupons every day of the week.
Doubling amounts: Coupons with a face value of .99 or less will be doubled. For example, a .75 coupon will be doubled to $1.50. If the product costs less than the coupon when the coupon is doubled, it will be doubled up to the amount of the product. $1.00 or more coupons will be accepted at face value. When Harris Teeter offers Super Double or Triple events, the same rules apply below.
Daily coupon limits: HT will double up to 20 coupons per day per household.
Limits on multiples: Harris Teeter will double up to 3 multiples of coupons. For instance, if I have 3 identical coupons for .50 off 1 Daisy Sour Cream and buy 3 of the sour creams, they will double all three of the coupons.
BOGO (Buy One Get One Free) Policy: Harris Teeter has a “fake” BOGO policy. When they advertise a product on sale BOGO, the 2 items will ring up at half price for each item. If you buy one of a BOGO deal (instead of buying 2 of the products) it will ring up at half price. This is great when you only want one of a product. They will allow you to use a coupon for both items in a BOGO deal.
Competitor’s coupons: HT will accept competitor’s coupons for money off the total order. For instance, they will accept a Lowe’s Foods coupon from a mailer you received at home for $5 off a $25 purchase. They will not accept competitor’s coupons for money off a specific product or any Internet printable competitor’s coupons.
Internet coupon policy: Harris Teeter accepts Internet printable coupons as long as they scan, but they do not accept Internet printable coupons for free products.  They accept 2 Internet coupons per store per day.
e-Coupons: You can load electronic coupons to your Harris Teeter card through their website. These coupons can be combined with manufacturer's coupons on the same product for even better savings. No e-coupons will double. You need to be signed up with the e-VIC program to get the e-coupons, which you can do on the Harris teeter website.
Minimum purchase required before coupons are doubled?: No, there is no minimum purchase required before they will double coupons.
Raincheck policy: Rainchecks do not expire at HT and they can be written for a limit of 3 products (unless the ad states something different).
Price scan guarantee: Their policy states, "If an item scans higher than the shelf tag or sign, you will receive one like item free, excluding alcohol and tobacco." Go to customer service after the transaction and they will refund the money and give you the product free.


Lowe’s Foods Coupon Policy

 

Do they double coupons? Yes, Lowe’s Foods doubles coupons every day of the week.
Doubling amounts: Coupons with a face value of .99 or less will be doubled. For example, a .75 coupon will be doubled to $1.50. If the product costs less than the coupon when the coupon is doubled, it will be doubled up to the amount of the product. $1.00 or more coupons will be accepted at face value.
Daily coupon limits: Lowe’s Foods will double up to 20 coupons per day.
Limits on multiples: Lowe’s Foods allows redemption of up to 4 multiples of coupons. For instance, if I have 5 identical coupons for .50 off 1 Daisy Sour Cream and buy 5 of the sour creams, they will allow the first 4 coupons, but not the fifth.
BOGO (Buy One Get One Free) Policy: Lowe’s Foods has a “fake” BOGO policy. When they advertise a product on sale BOGO, the 2 items will ring up at half price for each item. If you buy one of a BOGO deal (instead of buying 2 of the products) it will ring up at half price. This is great when you only want one of a product. They will allow you to use a coupon for both items in a BOGO deal.
Competitor’s coupons: Lowe’s Foods will accept competitor’s coupons for money off the total order. For instance, they will accept a Harris Teeter coupon from a mailer you received at home for $5 off a $25 purchase. They will not accept competitor’s coupons for money off a specific product, any Internet printable competitor’s coupons or any competitor coupons from drug stores or club stores.
Internet coupon policy: Lowe’s Foods accepts Internet printable coupons as long as they scan, but they do not accept Internet printable coupons for free products.
e-Coupons: You can load electronic coupons to your Lowes Foods card through their website. These coupons cannot be combined with manufacturer's coupons on the same product. No e-coupons will double. You need to be signed up online through LowesFoods.com to get the e-coupons.
Minimum purchase required before coupons are doubled?: No, there is no minimum purchase required before they will double coupons.
Raincheck policy: Rainchecks expire 30 days from the day they are written at Lowe’s Foods.
Price scan guarantee:  If the item scans incorrectly, go to customer service after the transaction and they will refund the money and give you the product free (except beer and wine, according to the policy on the website).


Kroger Coupon Policy

 

Do they double coupons? Yes, Kroger stores in the Raleigh area double coupons every day of the week. According to the Kroger corporate office, there is no set policy for stores and each manager sets his/her own policy. The following policies are verified for the Garner, NC store. Please check at customer service of your local Kroger for their specific policies when it comes to each of the following couponing aspects:
Doubling amounts: Coupons with a face value of .50 or less will be doubled. For example, a .50 coupon will be doubled to $1.00. If the product costs less than the coupon when the coupon is doubled, it will be doubled up to the amount of the product. Coupons with a face value of .51 or more will be accepted at face value.
Daily coupon limits: None in the Garner store.
Limits on multiples: Most Kroger stores in the Triangle will let you use up to 5 multiples of a coupon.
BOGO (Buy One Get One Free) Policy: Kroger has a “fake” BOGO policy. When they advertise a product on sale BOGO, the 2 items will ring up at half price for each item. If you buy one of a BOGO deal (instead of buying 2 of the products) it will ring up at half price. This is great when you only want one of a product.
Competitor’s coupons: Kroger in Garner does not accept competitor’s coupons.
Internet coupon policy: Kroger accepts Internet printable coupons as long as they scan, but they do not accept Internet printable coupons for free products. They will accept 3 Internet coupons per transaction at most stores.
e-Coupons: You can load electronic coupons to your Kroger card through their website (and through cellfire.com and shortcuts.com). These coupons cannot be combined with manufacturer's coupons on the same product. No e-coupons will double. You need to be signed up at the Kroger.com website to get the Kroger e-coupons.
Minimum purchase required before coupons are doubled?: No, there is no minimum purchase required before they will double coupons.
Raincheck policy: Rainchecks expire 30 days from the day they are written at Kroger. Recently (June 2011) some Kroger stores have been crossing out the 30 day expiration and indicating that their rainchecks do not expire.
Official coupon policy: Not available. The corporate office said that each store is responsible for setting the coupon policy for that store.


Food Lion Coupon Policy

 

Do they double coupons? No, Food Lion does not double coupons in North Carolina.
Daily coupon limits: There are no limits to the number of coupons you can use per transaction.
Limits on multiples: There is a limit of 10 of the same coupon per customer.
BOGO (Buy One Get One Free) Policy: Food Lion has a “fake” BOGO policy. When they advertise a product on sale BOGO, the 2 items will ring up at half price for each item. If you buy one of a BOGO deal (instead of buying 2 of the products), it will ring up at half price. This is great when you only want one of a product. They will allow you to use a coupon for both items in a BOGO deal.
Competitor’s coupons: No competitor’s coupons are accepted.
Internet coupon policy: Food Lion accepts Internet printable coupons as long as they scan and appear to be original. They will not take Internet coupons from competitor's. They will not take Internet coupons fro free products.
In-store coupon kiosk: Food Lion stores have an in-store coupon kiosk where you can print Food Lion store coupons and manufacturer coupons. You swipe your card at the kiosk and a page of coupons comes out. You cannot combine both store and manufacturer coupons at Food Lion. No coupons will double at Food Lion stores in the Triangle.
Minimum purchase required before coupons are doubled?: No, there is no minimum purchase required before they will double coupons.
Raincheck policy: Rainchecks do not expire at Food Lion.
Official coupon policy:  Food Lion no longer has their coupon policy on the website. See store for additional questions.


Walmart

 

Do they double coupons? No, Walmart does not double coupons. If the coupon amount is for more than the product, the Walmart coupon policy indicates that they will give you the overage to use towards the rest of your transaction.
Daily coupon limits: Use of 40 or more coupons requires manager approval.
Limits on multiples: There are no limits unless specified in the ad. One coupon per item allowed.
Price matching and competitor’s coupons: No competitor’s coupons are accepted but Walmart does price match. Click HERE for the Walmart price matching policy.
Internet coupon policy: Walmart accepts Internet printable coupons as long as they scan.
Minimum purchase required before coupons are doubled?: No, there is no minimum purchase required before they will double coupons.
Raincheck policy: Rainchecks are issued at Walmart, per the statement on the back of the weekly ads. Some items are not eligible for rain checks including “while supplies last” and “bonus” items. See store for more details.

 

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