Shoppers may run into issues if they have loaded electronic coupons onto their shopper’s card and try to use a paper coupon for the same item in the same transaction.
E-coupons are great when there is no paper coupon available for an item you want. These savings are good for a one-time use only and at face value — e-coupons do not double. For someone who does not want to hassle with clipping coupons, but would like instant savings on items they purchase, e-coupons are the way to go.
You can find e-coupons on several websites, including:
• Kroger.com
• Shortcuts.com
• Pgesaver.com
• Cellfire.com
In most cases, you enter your shopper card number and can select at least 50 coupons to load.
E-coupons and Kroger’s new software can run up against one another and cause a problem if you are not aware of what e-coupons have loaded onto your card. In most cases, a paper coupon will be more valuable because they double — meaning any coupon under $1 will double in value up to $1, saving you even more. E-coupons don’t. So if you have one on your card, you’re stuck with lower savings.
Check your card before you head to the store to make sure you don’t have e-coupons that may hinder your ability to use a higher-valued paper coupon. While you can remove Kroger e-coupons at Kroger.com, you cannot remove Cellfire and Shortcuts coupons from your card.
If you are buying more than one item, you can still use a paper coupon. For example, if I buy five bags of Green Giant vegetables and I have one 50-cent e-coupon and four 50-cent paper coupons, I can use all of these because each will apply to one item.
Make sure your cashier knows your purchase amount and ask to speak to a manager if you have trouble using paper coupons in conjunction with e-coupons. Don’t miss out on savings just because Kroger changed its software.
For more savings tips, visit the Here’s the Deal blog online at middletownjournal.com/go/bargains.
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