Get Full Credit for all your Hard Work

(Get full credit for your coupons)

You’re at the register, you’ve handed the cashier your large stack of coupons. The continuous, happy register beeps are music to your ears. The cashier scans the last one then announces your new total. It’s much lower than before, but still higher than you’d expected. You’re wondering if you received credit for all your coupons. After meticulously making your list and carefully clipping your coupons, you expect all your hard work to count. What can you do? You were busy loading your cart full of bagged bargains. You’re not sure coupons were missed. You know the cashier is trained to handle coupons. So you simply pay the amount asked and leave. But you cannot shake the sinking feeling in your gut that you were shorted.

Here are some easy ideas to help rid yourself of that horrible feeling:

• Count your coupons. That way, you can tell if they were all credited by the total number of coupons itemized on your receipt.

• Total your coupon values. Then you can easily see if the total drops the appropriate amount by the end.

• Hand the cashier only a few coupons at a time. Although somewhat slower for the checkout process, you can watch each coupon being credited individually.

• Don’t be afraid to speak up. If you are fairly certain a coupon was missed, ask politely for the coupons and transaction to be reviewed. Even if you end up being wrong, at least your mind will be set at ease.

• Ask for a manager if you and a cashier do not see eye to eye. Cashiers are held responsible for the coupons they accept. This can sometimes cause them to be hesitant regarding certain coupons or hesitant to review the transaction.

• Be polite. Even if you know you were shorted, keep your cool and speak kindly to the cashier. Most cashiers are excited to watch shoppers save and are not bothered by questions or a need to review. A smile and a thank you will show your appreciation for their hard work.

• If a coupon is not correct (such as wrong size or variety), apologize for your oversight and ask for the coupon back. You may be able to use it again another time. Plus, you’ll help the cashier out, as they should not have an unused coupon in their drawer.