After doing my grocery match-ups for Safeway yesterday and I happened to check the Safeway coupon policy and saw that it had been updated, just Wednesday (2/16/11). What I did was compared the new policy with what they previously had on their Web site (from 6/18/10) the crossed-out content is now gone and the underlined content is NEW. It’s kind of hard to read, but I wanted you to see what changed. To see the new policy and always check for the latest you can find the Safeway coupon policy here.
Here’s some of the most important things to note:
(In my own words)
- If your coupon is for more than your product costs, you can get the item for FREE, but you won’t get a credit (also called overage). They will redeem the coupon for the price of the product, basically they’ll adjust the price of the coupon down to make the item FREE. (See rule #1 below)
- Coupons can’t be used on any free item received in an offer. For example, if there is a store promotion for buy milk and get a free box of cereal, you couldn’t use a coupon on the cereal. (See rule #4 below)
- Safeway will accept a manufacturer coupon (including catalinas!) that displays another retailer’s logo as long as the coupon is for a specific item – for example, $1 off Skippy peanut butter. But they will NOT accept manufacturer coupons that are for just for an amount off, without a specific product listed – for example a coupon for $3 off your purchase. (See rule #6)
- You cannot use an expired coupon and the coupon must have an expiration date. (See rule #7)
- Probably the biggest change is they added a policy about minimum required purchases! “Purchase reward thresholds (if any) will be calculated based upon customer’s final price (after deducting Club Card savings and all other discounts and savings) before deductions for any manufacturer coupons.” Wahoo – this is good news! A specific example of this might be the in-ad coupons. Those require a minimum $10 purchase to use, but this is only after your Club Card savings – after your manufacturer coupons you’re minimum total can be less than that! At least that’s how I read it. (See rule #12)
I really appreciate that Safeway updates their coupon policy and posts it clearly on their Web site. As a coupon shopper it’s important to follow the policy. Honestly, not all cashiers are familiar with their own policies – so be patient and bring a copy of the policy with you printed from the Safeway Web site.
———————————————————————————————————————–
Manufacturer and Store Coupons:
1.Coupons are redeemableWe will redeem coupons onlyby a customer purchasingfor the specificbrands and product(s)items included in our customer’s purchase transaction. The redemption value will be as stated on the coupon,with the face valueunless that value yields a final price for such item less than zero; if application of the redemption value yields a price less than zero, the coupondeductedwill be redeemed only for the amount that yields a zero price (our customer cannot net a cash credit or payout fromyour retail or club card price.a coupon purchase).2.
Coupons must be for products sold at Safeway andPaper coupons must be presented at the time of thetransaction.purchase transaction. We will accept only coupons issued by Safeway or the manufacturer of the relevant product. We will not accept photocopies of coupons.3. Coupons are subject to advertised offer limitations and all other limitations and restrictions on the applicable coupon
.or product.4. Coupons
cannotmay not be applied againsttheany free item received in any offerwhere a customer buys one or more items to get one or more items free..5.
Coupon amount may be reduced so that any combined discounts and coupons do not exceed the value of the item. See number 12 below.
6.Coupons have no cash value.
7. Accepted coupons must be Manufacturer or Safeway store issued coupons for specific items only.
86. Safeway will not acceptvalidmanufacturercoupon that displayscoupons (including, but not limited to, coupons issued through a Catalina or other in-store coupon dispenser) that display anotherretailer’sretailer’s logo or nameonly ifunless such coupon is for a specific item.with the same product identifiers as the product included in our customer’s purchase transaction.
9. Safeway will accept valid Catalina manufacturer coupon that is issued to a customer by another retailer only if such coupon is for a specific item.
10. The coupon must7. We will not accept coupons unless they have an expiration date. Expired coupons will not be accepted.
11. Coupons are void if they8. We will not accept coupons that, in the determination of Safeway personnel, appear distorted or blurry,or are altered in any wayor copied..
12. The transaction amount may not fall below zero value, or go negative, meaning we will not give the customer money back.
13. All sales taxes are paid by the customer at the full value of the item.
14. All9. Sales taxes will be applied in accordance with the law of the applicable state, regardless of any coupon or other discount that may apply to the purchase transaction.10. All applicable bottle and packaging deposits on the purchased and free items
aremust be paid by the customer.
1511. Safeway reserves the right to refuse any coupons at its discretion.12. Purchase reward thresholds (if any) will be calculated based upon customer’s final price (after deducting Club Card savings and all other discounts and savings) before deductions for any manufacturer coupons. As an example (and not as an offer), if a $10 minimum purchase is required for a customer reward, a customer’s order at full retail would be $12, a Club Card discount of $1.75 applies, and a manufacturer’s coupon of $1 applies, the customer would be given credit for a $10.25 purchase, and would be eligible for the reward (assuming compliance with all other requirements) even though the customer’s cash payment would be only $9.25. The manufacturer’s coupon would not be deducted from the total for purposes of determining reward eligibility. Purchase reward thresholds (if any) will be calculated based upon customer’s final price (after deducting Club Card savings, and all other discounts)
13. References to a threshold purchase requirement will exclude purchases of: Beer, Wine, Spirits, Tobacco Products, Fuel, All Fluid Items in the Refrigerated Dairy Section (including Fluid Dairy and Dairy Substitutes), Prescription Items and Co-payments, Bus/Commuter Passes, Fishing/Hunting Licenses and Tags, Postage Stamps, Money Orders, Money Transfers, Ski Tickets, Amusement Park Tickets, Event Tickets, Lottery Tickets, Phone Cards, Gift Cards, and Gift Certificates; also excluded are: Bottle Deposits, Redemption Values, and Sales Taxes.
Internet Printed Coupons:
1614. We gladly accept internet printed coupons. The same manufacturer and store coupon rules above apply to all internet printed coupons.
1715. Internet printed coupons mustscanbe capable of scanning at checkout.
1816. Internet printed coupons must have serial numbers and must follow an industry-standard format.
1917. Manufacturer internet printed coupons must clearly indicate that they are a manufacturer coupon and must have a valid manufacture address on the printed coupon.
2018. We will not accept““free product”“ internet printed manufacturer coupons.Load to Card Club Coupons:
2119. Internet and digital coupons that have been electronically loaded to a Safeway Club Card are automatically redeemed at the time of purchase after the club card number has been entered. All other coupon policies above apply to electronic coupons that are loaded to a club card.Doubling of Coupons:
2220. Check with your local store regarding‘double coupon’‘double coupon’ advertised promotions where customers will receive double the coupon face value off the regular or club card price up to the advertised limit. Not all locations offer double coupon promotions. Limitations and restrictions for double coupon promotions may change at any time. Changes will be posted in store only.Coupon Stacking:
(Hawaii stores only)
23
21. Safeway does not allow a customer to redeem two or more manufacturer coupons against the same item in a single transaction.
2422. Coupon stacking policies for manufacturer coupons apply to paper and electronic coupons that have been loaded to a club card.
2523. If a customer presents two coupons for the same item in a single transaction, Safeway willonly acceptgive thefirst couponhighest discount for that item, subject tobe applied inthesystem.terms of the applicable offer and/or coupon.Rainchecks:
2624. Rainchecks expire ninety (90) days from the date issued andarewill not be accepted at any Safeway store.after that time.
2725. We reserve the right to limit Raincheck quantities based on product availability and advertised limits.
2826. Rainchecks can be issued for up to six (6) items unless otherwise stated in the applicable advertisement.
2927. Rainchecks can be issued for all items, excludingAlcoholBeer, Wine, Spirits, Tobacco, andProducts, Fuel, All FluidMilk,Items in the Refrigerated Dairy Section (including Fluid Dairy and Dairy Substitutes), whichsuchexclusions may vary from state to state.28. Rainchecks can be offered for store super coupon items unless otherwise specified on the coupon. Rainchecks will
vary State by State.not be provided for items advertised as “clearance”, “while supplies last,” “limited quantities,” or other designation indicating a limited supply.
We may change
this policythese rules at any time. All couponredemptionsredemption terms are subject to thepolicyterms of the rules in effect at time of redemption.PolicyRule changes maynot be advertised.become effective without advance notice or advertisement. The currentpolicyrules will be posted at the customer service area in each store. You are also advised to periodically check our website for any changes to these rules.
Revision Date: 02/16/2011
———————————————————————————–
If you are new to Queen Bee Coupons – welcome! Sign up for my FREE daily newsletter, and follow me on Facebook or Twitter!
Here are some of my recent popular posts:
- Check out my Safeway deals for the week
- Stop by my Costco price list – it has more than 400 prices of bulk items, so you can always determine if you’re getting the best deal.
- Enter my giveaway for six-months of menu planning!
- Get 24 photo cards shipped for only $2.49!
Emily says
I’m so excited to see the change in how the minimum required purchase is calculated! I was so frustrated when they started calculating it AFTER mqs that I actually wrote them a letter complaining about it and explaining that coupons = cash! Happy happy happy to see it changed back. 🙂
Zoe Jones says
You are lucky with Safeway treat you with some dignity. Try going to Vons or Pavilions, they bring the term COUPON NAZIS to a new level. Even though Vons and Pavilions are part of the Safeway family, they blatently make a public scene because you use coupons including buying items on sale.
I am member of other website with forums and blog listing with more horror stories than Simpson and Saturday Night Life episodes combined with Vons as the worst of the two Southern California markets.
Here are some of the stories:
Every IP coupon is a photocopy
Using Coupons is unpatrotic
Using Coupons is Socialism or Communism.
Coupons helps fund terrorism.
These are the nice experience. There are many horrible stories can be shared by your fellower shopper.
The worst exprience is from an African American mother sharing her experience about Vons’ manager calling police about coupon fraud because of the huge savings. The manager thought she was making the coupon at home. Here is the irony, the police officer coming to Vons was husbands golf buddy and family friend who know the family use coupon often shops with the police officer’s spouse. Manager’s had big slap on his face.
Alyshia says
I have been denied several times for using Internet BOGO’s (at specifically local Lacey & Tumwater Safeway). But the Facebook Safeway Team wrote me this a week ago when I asked if we could use Internet BOGO’s:
Good Morning Alyshia,
Thank you for taking the time to contact us directly.
We’d like to apologize for any confusion or inconvenience caused by this situation. We do accept Internet printed Buy One Get One Free coupons, as long as the coupon follows the other necessary guidelines for Internet printed coupon acceptance.
We will be contacting the Store Management at the locations you provided to clarify this policy.
Thank you for providing us with the opportunity to assist you.
Sincerely,
Safeway Facebook Team
I have been too frustrated to go back and try just to be denied again, but apparently they are suppose to take them.
Audrie says
Safeway is becoming very difficult to coupon at. They have so many extra rules aside from their coupon policy (which I hear from a lot of people), that it’s just not worth the confusion to go there. In this area, they’re become the worse place to coupon at. No BOGO’s or pdf’s accepted.
Heather says
Hi Audrie, I hear you! I have had similar experiences and have heard this same thing from many other coupon shoppers. It’s a shame. 🙂
Zoe Jones says
Safeway, Vons, Pavilions and rest of the Safeway family do not want coupons users shopping at their supermarket. They are making difficult hoping you never come back.
Mary says
I had the manager decline to accept a manufacturer’s coupon for Tostitos because it had the Albertson’s logo on it. He said they weren’t taking them at all with another store’s logo. I pointed out the policy but he wouldn’t budge. I came back in the store and bought the chips using the coupon at the self check out lane. I’m not advising cheating the store but if the self check out lane will take it then the clerks should accept it. jmho