I did some shopping last night — first stop was at Safeway. Bad experience – cashier was a coupon NAZI. Really just nitpicking things and not letting coupons go through, and just plain rude. I will be calling customer service today to follow up with my initial email. But I did get some great deals still!
Then off to Albertsons where I had a wonderful time {its like night and day shopping at Albertsons versus Safeway. Albertsons is like skipping through a field of flowers, Safeway walking on coals.}
…And here is how I did!
Total Spent: $22.90
Total Saved $164.76
How did you do this week coupon shopping?
I have never had a bad experience with Safeway, and this past weekend I went to 5 different ones to get fruit snacks for me and all my friends. I did however have one of many bad experiences at Albertsons. I went to a ‘coupon friendly’ store but got the only male coupon nazi I’ve ever met. I shopped later on sunday afternoon (around 4pm) and the cashier rolled his eyes in my head and siiiiiighed when I handed him my stack of coupons and it started all over again when he realized that the following order was mine as well. Each order only had 4 or 5 items and I had everything ready for him & paid in cash. I commented that my catalina didn’t print out from my jello purchase and he literally said ‘Well I guess you don’t get it, now do you?’ I just kind of stared at him I was so shocked! Guess it just depends on the people in general.
I live in Central Oregon and the cashiers at the Safeway I go to are always nice, I usually go to my favorite cashiers only =D
Albertsons cashiers are also nice, there seems to only be one lady that works at customer service that seems to be a coupon nazi. I try to avoid her.
Safeway had pet food on sale 3/6 – 3/8 for killer price (same as if I had a coupon) and the Customer Service desk employee was very nice and apologized for not having my brand in stock. When I suggested to my husband we could price match at Walmart, she was still within ear shot, she voiced her approval, confirming that they probably aren’t even going to carry it at all. I’ve been lucky thus far not to have any coupon problems, yet (knock on wood), but my husband said why are we driving out of our way when Walmart will give us the sale price with the flyer. So no more Safeway!
Beth, you are in Alaska, so your Safeway is running that free coupons promo – I am jealous!
Beth Mollow – Nice shopping!! Love how much you saved. Thats a lot of money!
Pamela, yeah if all managers at every store were like “Albertsons Bill” * happy sigh* lol!
I live in Orting and the past two weeks have been horrible at safeway. They won’t let you combine store and manufacturers coupons. I was trying to buy the Danimals for $1.77 and I had the $1.00 off coupon they told me I had to choose which one I wanted to use. Ugh…what a pain. I did post on the Safeway FB page and they said that I should have been able to use both. It’s like they make up their own rules.
I have to say I’ve had bad experiences at both Safeway and Albertson’s and it really depends on the store. I have found a few Safeway’s that are wonderful and will let me do multiple transactions without caring. Safeway is much more convenient for me to go to as opposed to the nearest Albertson’s being over 40 miles away. Good job on your trips! There were some great deals this week. I enjoyed stocking my freezer with super cheap frozen veggies at Safeway! I never had anyone give me a hard time over the 5 off 15 coupon either in my many trips. Maybe they just feel sorry for me carrying my squirming 1 1/2 year old! 🙂
Oooo, good job! Yeah, my safeway doesn’t seem to like couponers either…so I only go occassionally if there is a super good deal. Or I go just for the french bread…it’s my favorite!
Did any of you get the big sheet of coupons for free food. I did! Hopefully they keep coming like they did last year.
Kudos to what Karrie said — and what she described WAS me exactly. Newbie couponer, followed the rules at Safeway for a promo, left in tears cuz no staff or mgr saw that I did everything correct, corporate contacted mgr who made gross assumption without even knowing the situation, corporate promised results and didn’t produce, in tears again. Have had stumbles at Albertsons but nothing even close to the bad experience at Safeway … and all this as a coupon newbie did not sit well. If Safeway wants to retain customers, it needs more “Albertson Bill” managers — mgmt needs to be ADVOCATES, not enemies, to customers.
I have only been couponing for a short time, but have to say that the hardest time I’ve had is at Safeway as well. My last experience on Saturday just about left me in tears. I’ve decided not to shop there anymore.
Paula,
I live in Puyallup too. I was glad to see the Albertson’s go. They were so unfriendly they treated me like I was stealing for using coupons. I had started to go down to the Albertson’s on Canyon. They are awesome there. On the other hand, Safeway had been better. I try to shop during the day when the main manager is working. His name is Greg and he is awesome. If he isn’t at a register and the cashier gives me hard time I just ask her to call Greg. It always solves the problem. He has trained all of his cashiers about the use of coupons but they just try to do what they want. Also, Angie is a supervisor and she is great. She asked me yesterday if she could come over and see my pantry. I told her that she would have to see my garage and she laughed. I love her. Watch out for Melissa she is another supervisor but she hates couponers and lets it be known.
I did 2 trips to Safeway. One this week and one last week. My budget for my family of 7 is $50 per week for groceries. My first trip I spent $38.65 and saved $182.13. My second trip I spent $23.03 and saved $139.18. So total I spent $68.38 and I saved $306.28!
wow…I agree. Why don’t they see the value in coupons?? I don’t get it. Albies is by far (and of course Rite Aid) my favorite place to shop!
I know…I am just about to want to stop posting the Safeway deals for all the trouble they have been causing to so many coupon shoppers. I mean, all the new couponers that just get started (and are so excited to save money) try Safeway and it might ruin them forever from using coupons.
Safeway is horrible… I love to shop at Alberstson. Its so much smooth and less stress. I had contacted Safeway customer care in past and they had me on conference cal with the store manager. The manager apologised for the bad experience but again when i went to Safeway Mr. cashier was so rude that I decided to stick to Albertson.
I live in WA, puyallup area, and all safeways are rude, cashiers make up their own rules, and are extremely picky.
Uh! Safeway is horrible! Do you know if Albertsons would just price match them? That would be like Christmas!!!! 🙂