Kroger
Kroger Print-at-Home Coupon Acceptance Policy
Effective November 2007, all Kroger divisions accept industry-standard, secure print-at-home coupons. We recently partnered with Coupons Inc., the industry leader in print-at-home coupons, to offer print-at-home coupons on Kroger.com and all of our store banner websites. You may also find coupons on brand websites and legitimate coupon websites like Coupons.com. Help us make your shopping experience a pleasant one by keeping in mind these simple rules for using Print-At-Home coupons.
We can only accept print-at-home coupons if they scan properly at checkout. Legitimate printable coupons are delivered using special software designed to print a properly rendered barcode on the coupon and limit the number of coupons printed.
We will generally not accept "FREE product" (no purchase required) print-at-home coupons. It is currently an industry practice not to produce print-at-home manufacturer’s coupons for free product. Buy-one-get-one-free coupons and other values that have a purchase requirement are acceptable.
We will usually not accept coupons for more than about 75% of a product’s value. For example, a $2 off coupon will be acceptable for a product that normally sells for $5 or more, but a $2 off printable coupon for a product that sells for $2.25 is unlikely to be legitimate. If there are exceptions, we are usually provided advance notice by the manufacturer.
Coupons will be rejected if they appear distorted or blurry, altered in any way, or are obvious duplicates. You should always print the coupon yourself directly from the website or email that is offering it. Only then can you ensure you are printing a legitimate coupon. The coupon will never appear on your computer screen. A legitimate coupon is never sent as a graphic or PDF or sent in a Word document.
Print-at-home coupons should never be copied, sold, or traded. They should not be photocopied or scanned and distributed to others. They have unique serial numbers printed on them and follow an industry-standard format. Coupons are never sold and you should not pay for someone’s "time to clip" or other service fee.
For more information about using print-at-home coupons and to check coupons for validity please visit the Coupon Resource Center online at www.printcoupons.com.
The typical format for print-at-home coupons accepted at Kroger stores.
In addition to the above info on their policy for internet printed coupons, here is an email I received in response to a few questions I asked:
Hi, Dian, please see below for responses to your questions…hopefully it’ll be useful information for you and your followers. If I can be helpful in any other way, please let me know.
· Can I use a B1G1 free coupon on a product that is on sale for B1G1 free to receive both items free?
The customer must choose rather to use the coupon and get the free product or buy on and get one free, but not both.
· If there is a product on sale for $.97 and I have a $1 off coupon for that item, will the cashier adjust the coupon down to $.97 or will I receive the $.03 overage?
The coupon would be adjusted down to $.97; an overage would not be given.
· I understand "We will double or triple only ONE coupon per like item." Can I check out more than once to use additional coupons?
The policy is to double or triple one coupon per like item. Our front-end systems are set with a max of 3 to err on the side of the customer. More than 3 in an order and the coupon will not double or triple.
{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
I just wanted to say, I live in a small town & our only local grocer is a Kroger store (which overtook the previous Farmer Jack store). I went in with about 10 printed coupons (from Coupons.com) & maybe 4 or 5 coupons from the Sunday paper, and was turned away. The cashier would not even begin my order. The highest coupon was for 75 cents off a box of Kellogg’s All-Bran, which on sale was $3.49 that week.
When I asked what exactly is the store policy on coupons – as I could not see it posted anywhere within the store, nor was it posted in their weekly ad – the cashier left her station to find a manager. She returned and stated they would not accept print-at-home coupons, period.
I called 1-800-KROGER on my way out the door. After several “press 1 for __, press 2 for __” I got a recording that told me all operators were busy, try my call again later, and it hung up on me! When I got home, I went online, found a different toll-free number. I spoke with a very polite woman who said there is no chain-wide policy on coupons. It is left up to the individual store manager to decide what they feel is acceptable. She asked how much money I would have saved with my printed coupons, I estimated the amount to be around $5.00 total. She put a $5 credit on my Kroger card, as this was the best she could do for me.
Eventually a store manager did call me, and stated I could bring in my printed coupons, she would personally initial & “ok” them, and I would be allowed to use as many print-at-home coupons as I’d like. But the hassle of having to go in while she’s on shift instead of whenever I want, then have her initial every single coupon, just so I do my grocery shopping, is very tedious. However, since we have no other grocers unless I’m willing to drive a fair distance, its my only option at the moment.
I just wanted to warn others, please call your Kroger first, before just showing up with a stack of printed coupons. In my opinion, this would be a good idea for any store really. Call first, be sure they’ll accept your coupons. Dont be left standing in the check out lane, having to leave your full cart of groceries behind as you walk out in utter embarrassment.
~Barbara~
@Barbara: It sounds like your manager should really not inconvenience you by having to only shop when he is there. He should train his cashiers. It also sounds like they are new in your town and it may take working out some of the kinks to actually be doing things right.
But, definitely thanks for the warning. I also suggest everyone print a copy of the store’s coupon policy before they go shopping, just in case there are any questions.
Kroger DOES DEFINITELY take printed coupons. IN FACT, they have links to print coupons from on their site: http://www.kroger.com/in_store/Pages/coupon_landing.aspx And HERE: http://www.kroger.com/in_store/Pages/default.aspx
So, whoever you spoke to on the phone was correct and incorrect. They can choose to limit the number of coupons you use, however they DO take printables because their site offers them in more than one place.
You can read more about their coupon policy here: http://www.groceryshopforfree.com/store-coupon-policies/kroger/
If you have any questions, please feel free to let me know. I would print their policy and a screen shot of the links on their site I gave you and carry them with you, in case there were ever any more question.
Thanks,
Dian
Hello, I still don’t understand the b1g1 free deal. Can you use 2 b1g1 free coupons on an item that is not on sale to get them both free? Can you use a b1g1 free coupon on an item that is not for sale and use another $1 off coupon for the item that you are actually purchasing? Can you use a b1g1 free coupon on a b1g1 free sale to get both items for free? I keep reading different things. Can you help me understand this please? Thank you.
@princess: It depends on the store and sometimes the manager or cashier. At CVS, absolutely you can use a B1G1 FREE Coupon on a B1G1 FREE Sale and get both FREE. Some employees don’t know it, but you can call customer service from the store and they will tell them. I had that happen to me the other day at A CVS. Basically if it doesn’t beep they will do it.
Walgreens will sometimes and not others.
Grocery Stores are all different on that, you need to ask your store what their policy is. I have several policies in the menu bar at the top of the page, but of course not for all stores, I am adding them as I get them. I hope that helps, but ultimately it’s up to the store and Like at my Kroger, corporate says some things are up to the manager… Makes life hard there. I had a talk with corporate and the manager of my local Kroger yesterday about that very thing.
I wish I could give you a more hard and fast answer, but most stores don’t have a printed policy on that.
I do STRONGLY suggest you print out your store’s policy, and take it with you EVERY time you go to the store in case there are questions.
Were you asking specifically about Kroger, or another store. I might could help more if I knew what store and what area.
Thanks,
Dian
Sorry, I was asking specifically about Kroger. I read the policy you posted and it was still a bit confusing to me. Do you find that most managers are honest or they will just say no because they don’t want their store losing money?
@princess: The Manager’s are honest, but they are given pretty much free reign to make “policy” for their own stores when it comes to coupons.
The policy I have here shows that they will not take B1G1 for a Buy 1 Get 1 Sale.
Kroger doesn’t have a policy across the board written out for coupons. That causes alot of confusion. I think they think it makes it easier for the stores… I called corporate a while back and asked for a coupon policy, they said they would send it, I didn’t get it I kept calling they finally said they were sorry I was told that, but they don’t give those out.
Honestly my Kroger has told me 4 different things in the last few weeks regarding coupons and they were all from people in management and none of them were correct. I had to call corporate yesterdaya dn then had a phone conversation with the store manager about some stuff I was told that i knew was not right.
This is my frustration,
1. If it’s up to the manager – the rules can change daily
2. If I have a supervisor tell me something and then I call back and corporate and the manager say that’s wrong
3. You mentioned the store losing $ in your question – that’s another one the store doesn’t lose money and some cashiers think they are! The store gets the amount on the coupon PLUS an additional $.08 for each coupon redeemed!
So, Kroger is a hard one, you have to know your manager and know what they say their policy is, and then work within it.
Hope that helps, let me know if there is anything else, I can answer for you.
Thanks,
Dian
Thank you so much for taking the time to answer. No wonder I was confused. Everyone has a different interpretation. I will make contact with the manager at my local Kroger. By the way, I love your site!
Area Cincinnati, OH
Dian do you know if all Kroger stores triple coupons? I didn’t know if this was up to the store or if it is a corp issue. Thanks :)
@MandyQ: Not all Kroger Stores double and triple – different Regions do different things. You will need to check with your local Kroger or the one you’re going to be going to about their policy.
Hope that helps!
Thanks!
Dian
@princess: Thanks so much! I LOVE doing it!
Thanks again and feel free to ask if you have any questions!
Dian