Not Feeling the Love

Well, as I just now realized it is Friday the 13th. I am guessing this means I should've just stayed home today. As you know I am coupon crazy at this time and will do a lot to get my free stuff. So when Walmart was out of a product yesterday I found a Walmart nearby that had it in stock. I brought my coupons and my ad, since I wanted them to do a price match {which they GUARANTEE in all their ads, and it was done for my friend just yesterday} But when I hand over my ad, the lady rudely walks away to get a manager, so much for easy. The manager comes back to tell me this deal would require me to use my shoppers card at Rite Aid, so they will not match it. I tell her {trying to not sound too mean} that any ad I brought her would be advertising prices with a shoppers card, that's what King Soopers and Safeway publish, their card deals. She says they would not except those either. I then tell her my friend used this same ad at the other Walmart just yesterday, and what does she say to me? That they do not compete with other Walmarts so that doesn't matter. At this point my son is crying in the cart and my patience is officially gone so I nicely tell them to forget it and I leave. I then call my friend to tell her my little horror story {and in the coupon world this is a horror story} she happens to be with her Mom who works for Walmart who instantly tells us that I was right and they were wrong. If I didn't have a screaming child in the back I would have walked back in and put her on the phone with the mean managers. She tells me to call 1-800- WALMART and make a complaint, so I hang up and call. The lady is very nice as she writes down my complaint, probably wondering why I care so much about .97 cents, but she doesn't say it. {this is .97 cents per each one I was buying though, so it was going to be almost a 7 dollar difference, and between free and 7 dollars is a big jump I am not willing to take.} They take my name and number and tell me I will receive a phone call back. this leaves me feeling the same, nothing has been resolved. So I call the to speak to the store manager at the Walmart I just visited. She was very mad that they did not come get her, instead I guess I spoke to a shift manager. She was very sorry about what happened, and said there should NOT have been any problem in the price match or with using the coupon. She is going to send me a gift card as well. So from this phone call I feel better, not only will the mean lady I spoke to get in trouble {which she deserves, you should not be rude to a guest, or be rude in general, but her job is to make the customer happy, so come on} But I will also get a gift card in the mail. She told me I could come back and she would do the price match, but I told her I would not be returning to her store, and its true. After an ordeal like that, which had all the customers staring at me, I would not return. I have found some people are just "Coupon Haters" and you know what? That is just silly, we aren't ripping anyone off by using our coupons, we are just using the coupons to our advantage when things go on sale. Just the other day when I was doing a BIG trip with my friend the cashier saw my coupon pile and literally walked away without saying a word.... hmmm... then a manager headed over.....hmmmm... does this store not take coupons anymore? Well, the manager was very nice, she rang in my items, took all my coupons, and then handed me one dollar and 16 cents. So yes, on this trip I was making money to shop, but only because I was using my coupons with the right sales, nothing wrong with that. The cashier returns, but only momentarily, as she see's that my friends cart matches mine, she once again walks away {great customer service} The manager comes over again and rings in my friends items and coupons and gives her her change. My friend over heard the cashier say to the manager that it wasn't fair for us to get so much for nothing....well why should she care? It's not her money, its not even her store, and the manufacturers will pay the store back for the coupons, so if we are being un fair to anyone it is the manufacturer, since we are using so many of their coupons. And if her anger was from jealousy, then she should use coupons too, she works there, so she knows the policy and when things are on sale, she could shop for free too. I now see that there are ups and downs to using my coupons in large quantities.{a down also being carrying all my free drinks up three flights of stairs....wow that was a workout}But the free stuff is worth it, and if I have to make some people mad to get it then it is there loss, I am very nice, and instead of hating my coupons they could chat with me while scanning them in {which is part of their job} I thought I had it down, you have to pick the right checker....but sometimes their isn't one and you have to try your luck with a "coupon hater" . I feel like today can only get better, soon my son will wake up from his nap and I plan to try and watch Yogi Bear with him, we'll see if he is interested. And I know tonight will be great, I get some "me" time. I am going to get my hair done..... not super exciting, but I love it. Tomorrow will be an okay day, I have to work, which is not ideal for a Saturday, but atleast it will pay for our dinner out with friends when I am finished. So beware of "coupon hater's" and remember to take a breath, no need to let something silly bother you for too long.{I'm still getting over it, but I'll do my best to make it snappy} And I left the store with my most important item anyway, my baby boy.

Kelly Callahan