Normally, we don’t post many personal experiences on MHOTC, but sometimes we just have to vent and you, our favorite Mile High Cheapskates, are always willing to listen. Yesterday, I headed to my closest King Soopers for some light shopping. As some of you are aware, I often use coupons to pick up extra items to donate to local charities. Using coupons in combination with a sale can sometimes shave the price on food or toiletries down to mere pennies or just the sales tax. My latest outing was to pick up some Colgate toothbrushes. My closest King Soopers is at Monaco & Leetsdale and even when other King Soopers are out of stock for a particular sale item, this store usually has them. Now, I know why.
Here’s my story: I walk into the store, coupons in hand. I head to the oral care aisle and, “hooray!”, there is a full shelf of various toothbrushes priced at $1. I have a 50¢ coupon which will be doubled to $1. The coupon excludes certain styles such as “Plus” but there are “Triple Action” available and that is NOT excluded. So I grab three and also a box of basic Colgate toothpaste on sale for $1. (Again, I have a 50¢ coupon, which will be doubled to $1.)
Then, I check out the Manager’s Clearance section. “Eureka!” I’ve hit the motherload, as they have “dumped” a ton of hair care products. (Dumping occurs when the box is damaged or a product is being discontinued.) There is a bottle of Suave Professionals conditioner marked down to $1.49 and I have a $1 off coupon. The coupon excludes Suave Professionals silver or green bottles, but this one is the Gold line. I also find two bottles of Tresemme hair spray for $1.29 and I have two $1 coupons for that as well. After checking out the grocery aisles for any hidden specials or clearance (no luck, all the good ones are gone), I head to check-out.
Before I continue, let me back up a bit. While I shop this King Soopers because it is convenient, since early last year I have had progressively worse experiences at check-out when using coupons. I never get through without a delay, an argument or a clerk telling me that they have changed the rules.
In the past 12 months, I have been told: “We only accept 3 identical coupons.” “We can’t accept more than four ‘like’ coupons.” (When I asked someone to define “like”, I was told that meant I couldn’t use 4 Colgate toothbrush and 4 Colgate toothpaste coupons in one transaction or 4 Suave shampoo and 4 Suave deodorant). “The product you buy has to match the picture on the coupon.” “The coupon’s picture is excluded.” “You can’t use a coupon on an item from the Manager’s Clearance shelf.” You get the idea. I have even asked the store manager to give me a copy of its coupon policy. It is NEVER available. There are even certain clerks or checkout lines I avoid, so as to not get into a confrontation.
That’s one reason why this time I avoided self-check and instead used a checkout line being manned by a store assistant manager. (I could tell by her name tag that she was one of the higher pooh-bahs.) I figured, if the system gave me any issues, she’d just do an over-ride and I’d be done lickety-split. Big mistake.
So I swipe my loyalty card and she rings up the purchase and, then, it starts. “These coupons don’t work. The computer rejects them,” she tells me. She points out that Colgate Triple Action is excluded, she even reads the coupon out loud and adds in Triple Action. So we read it aloud again together and it clearly does NOT exclude Triple Action brushes. And I tell her that I bought a few over the weekend at this same store using coupons. Her reply, “Well, the computer won’t take them.” Then, she points to the Suave coupon and says, “This one excludes Suave Professionals.” “No,” I reply. “It says green or silver bottles, not the Gold.” She argues and says, “Well, I can’t make the computer accept them, so they are no good. That will be $6.27.”
I don’t think so. I politely asked for all my coupons back and cancelled the entire transaction. That’s an hour of my life I can’t get back. Then, I drove over to the King Soopers on S. Havana in Aurora. As I walked to the oral care aisle, two different stockers ask if I’m finding everything okay. That was refreshing.
Darn, they were out of the toothbrushes, but had the toothpaste. Nothing on the clearance shelves, so I headed to self-check. I scanned the three tubes, handed my coupons to the clerk and ended up paying 12 cents (the sales tax) for the lot.
Now, I know why there is always plenty of product at the Monaco & Leetsdale store. Using coupons there is such a hassle that savvy shoppers avoid it. I play by the rules, read the coupons carefully for restrictions and don’t try to cheat the store. I’m not clearing shelves of product to resell (and I know that’s a problem for the grocery store industry and couponing.) However, I expect the store to play by the same rules and its clerks and managers (especially the experienced ones) to be knowledgeable. Sometimes, it feels as if they make it up as they go along or “someone” told them the rules had changed.
What really bugs me is that most shoppers using coupons aren’t as skilled as I am. That means they are getting burned and paying more than they should at checkout. Likely, the folks who can least afford it.
I miss the days when I would shop at the Safeway on Leetsdale. Sadly, it closed. But, until its last days, I would always try and get into Tony’s line. I loved, LOVED Tony. If a coupon was legit and the computer rejected it, he just did an over-ride. No arguing, no posturing, no making the customer feel bad or like a coupon criminal. I would gladly wait in Tony’s line for 20 minutes, if I was using coupons rather than do speedy self-check just to avoid issues. I miss you, Tony.
So will I continue to shop King Soopers? I can’t afford not to. But I will drive further, probably to the Havana store or Stapleton or maybe even the flagship store in Glendale (which is always a zoo and the parking lot a nightmare), when I intend to use coupons. I’ll shop less frequently at King Soopers and see if Safeway or Albertsons is giving me a better deal. The lines at Safeway are often long, but the clerks are friendly and willing to take that extra step, when the all-mighty cash register doesn’t want to play nice.
Okay, now I feel better. Thanks for listening and, if you have anything to add, feel free to comment below.
— Laura
It’s tough to ignore King Soopers in this town, but Safeway is usually my first choice. You could always hit the King Soopers at 14th and Krameria. It’s not the fanciest one, but I can usually get in and out of there pretty quickly. AND Safeway is right across the street. Two stops, one block.
I shop at Queen’s (9th and Corona) they will over ride any coupon manually. Dot it all the time. It is an individual store thing I guess. They will also accept expired coupons. But I thought double coupons went away years ago. How do you get double coupons? I have often used coupons on manager specials too
I think “Extreme Couponing” ruined casual couponing to save money for the rest of us!
Having moved from the SW suburbs a few years ago closer to the city ,I can say that I was shocked at the difference between King Sooper stores. It was like I was dealing with another company! Surly employees ,ratty looking produce ,fewer sizes of familiar products…I avoid the 2 closest stores & drive further to ones that remind me more of my old suburban haunts,but it’s really bad that they allow quality differences between stores & one wonders why the employees in these bad stores have such an attitude!
Ranting is great and it gets it off your chest… but if any other MHOTC-er’s had similar experiences and they all complained to this website: https://www.kingsoopers.com/customercomments
It might get resolved. I’d reference the blog post too, so that the headquarters realizes how many people read this blog and the impact an article has on a store.
Laura,
I have run into the same problems at the kings that we shop at in Westminster. I feel what you are saying. There is one clerk that I love going to, to check out if there is a problem he just overrides it.
Just this weekend we had the same problem with the free digital item that kings has on Fridays. I he rang them items up & I said it should be free. I showed him the paper and he adjusted the items.
I understand what you go thru. Kings is the only store that is close to us.
Thank You
Laura, did you send this to the poo-bahs at corporate? Or to the MANAGER of the store?
I agree with you that KS in general has been making things less and less consumer-friendly. They are endlessly changing aisle sets and putting things in difficult places to find. A couple of years ago the lower-sodium items were discontinued to make space for Simple Truth etc. They have two liters on high shelves difficult for older folk or people with shoulder injuries to reach. I keep filling out consumer comment cards, to no avail.
I agree with Kim, they made it real difficult. I just want a few bucks off the things I use. I tried the same at a Kings, I had a coupon plus it was at a reduced price, the lady said the computer wouldn’t take the coupon, it was just for one item, I asked how the heck do they do it on TV then .. no one know…lol
PS my husband says the Kiss of Death for a product is for me to find a product at King Soopers and LIKE it, want to keep buying it again and again. Next week or month — POOF! goes away.
I hear you! My King Soopers solves the issues by just not stocking items. It’s becoming more and more of a problem. Granted, not just items on sale, but others. Often, for instance, they have no gallons of organic milk. I know there are freshness issues, etc., but milk now is dated to expire in something like two months, so they have some flexibility, and when they are often out, clearly they need more. The other day it was ham hocks and all the best coupon items – out of stock. It’s not my preference, but if couponing is causing them serious financial trouble, they should quit doubling! But meanwhile, they DO double, so they should stand by their policies. Not to mention the service — the other day, we couldn’t get help at self-check because the assistant manager was yakking with an employee about Facebook while she ran the checkstands. I’ve been a lifelong King Soopers loyalist, but Safeway is right across the street (Mayfair in Denver). I already dumped a basket when we had the flu and Kings was out of ginger root — Safeway had a big, beautiful bin of it. I’m dismayed to hear it’s not just my store.
This is too bad, I love Kings for the mega sales and mpp digital coupons, and the freebie Fridays. I’ll be sure not to go to this one, my Bennett location is great.
Claire, as a matter of policy (except for a few stores), all King Soopers continue to double coupons up to a $1 value. So if you have a 30 cent coupon it is doubled to 60 cents. If you have a 50 cent coupon it is doubled to $1. A 75 cent coupon gets 25 cents added to bring it to $1. — Laura
Janet, the sad truth is we are often in contact with King Soopers marketing and public relations department. Bryan (who really is MHOTC’s grocery guru) has even mentioned some of the store issues and is typically rebuffed with “Gee when we shop the stores everyone is so nice. We can’t imagine any customer service issues.”
Feel free to reference this to corporate and any reader should feel free to contact Customer Relations. Maybe if enough folks come together, we can be a voice for change. Go, Mile High Cheapskates!
I’m also curious how the extreme couponers do it because with ecoupons on your Safeway and King Soopers cards now are great however both stores don’t allow you to use both! I’m not getting money back at all but they have both told me you can’t use both. Safeway’s system actually backed out the ecoupon from my purchase after the paper coupon was scanned. Just yesterday at Kings the same thing happened. The guy told me they can’t back out the ecoupon which was only .55 and my paper coupon was for $2.15. After some discussion someone did override it. However they told me to not put ecoupons on my card if I know I am going to use a paper coupon! Really! I usually just go online each week and load lots of various coupons not necessarily knowing what I might purchase.
You should send this blog entry to the crew at Kroger’s corporate office.
I’ve learned not to shop my closest King Sooper’s in the morning. They will have literally one guy covering customer service AND the self-checkout lanes (you know, where the machine almost ALWAYS throws an “An attendant has been notified” error).
Haven’t had any problems at King Soopers in Parker with coupons but the Safeway?!? OMG do they have attitude. Was on food stamps a few years back when I’d been laid off and the clerk applied my coupon for shampoo to my food purchase and tried to charge me full price for the shampoo. Then made a stink about the food stamps. Sometimes it just depends on the area and they people hired and not the store chain at all.
I have recently had two experiences with King Soopers not taking the buying multiple products to get $5 dollars off my bill when going through the check out. They have given me the discount when I go to customer service after, but now I have to watch carefully to make sure they are giving me the discount for buying the 10 products. I also have found my digital coupons don’t always apply when going through the checkout.
We have lived literally two blocks from that King Soopers for the past 13 years. THEY ARE ALWAYS AWFUL. The nicest thing I can say is if you have to run in for something real quick and self check out you are guaranteed not to be talked to, which is great if you aren’t feeling chatty. Each and every time I have ever been there I garner a new, more disappointing story. We stopped going with any regularity years ago but again every single time at least one thing worthy of reporting to corporate occurs. We refer to that location as “The King Soopers of the Damned” as we strongly suspect problem employees that cannot be let go are dumped there. I know I am not the only one, I have a friend whose husband asked her to stop going there for anything as he couldn’t bear to hear another frustrating story each time she went.
Try using the King Soopers weekly “free” coupons. Only once have I actually found the items advertised as free. Once, we got to the register and were charged 50% of the price and were told “free is not FREE”. We also had problems returning an unusable phone and related prepay card there. (225 and Parker). I only go to KS if I HAVE to. Their staff is unfriendly, ill-knowledgeable, and usually pretty unconcerned about the customers. I have also complained that they allow people to bring their dogs into the store and carry them in the shopping carts or hold them in their arms while they peruse the produce. Unsanitary and illegal (I believe).
I work at Safeway and I usually always manually put in the discount for the coupons if the register rejected them. I understand why people shop at Kings cause they usually have products safeway doesn’t carry, but I personally hate shopping there because it’s always crazy and finding parking, especially during the holidays is near impossible. It’s nice to hear someone being honest about their bad experience at Kings.
Hi Laura:
Understands how you feel, some clerks in Safeway and Kingsoopers tried to act like a coupon police, they tried to discourage consumers to use coupons, they didn’t realize that the stores are getting reimbursed from the manufacturers. If the items not move in the store, they will get toss into the trash as well. I had one Safeway head clerk actually said to me:”Spend money” when I wished her “Happy New Year” last month during checkout. Same as you, many times that I bought on coupons are donated to charities to help others. The clerks didn’t realize that once they are out of jobs due to costumers complaints, they will be on the other end needing helps. Once I even spot a Safeway cashier, went to different Safeway store that the one she worked to clear out shelves using coupons, and when I confronted her why she gave me hard times when she is using coupons herself, she said ‘talk to my manager’. Very arrogant.
I LOVE my King Soopers, and have NEVER had any issues with newspaper, printed or digital coupons. The only time it’s been an issue is if I am the one that picked up the wrong item, or didn’t get 2 of something if the coupon specified that. And they always make sure I get the doubled amount.
Frankly, other than fruits and veggies, I find that, even with double coupons, it’s worth my time to shop for groceries at Super Target. Using their online/phone coupons, their physical coupons, Cartwheel, and manufacturer coupons, I save a bundle, and, at least with the Target in Parker, they always override if a coupon doesn’t work.
As for Kings, I link my Kings card with their online coupons, so I get their physical coupon books as well. Those items on the coupons are really the only other things I buy in store, unless it’s an emergency.
Just my two cents. :)
Wow, I just read the comment about the King Soopers on Leetsdale and Monaco and totally agree. This particular store has become a “nasty place” to shop. Not only customer service issues, but the lack of cleanliness. One day I watched a cashier wipe their nose with their hand and proceed to check my items…needless to say I left without getting my groceries. King Soopers administration TAKE THESE COMMENTS SERIOUSLY!!
I feel for you! Most of us do not have the platform that you do to rant on. Right now I could write a very long rant about Directv bundles and all the “free” things they give you.
I must admit I have never had the kproblems you mention at King Soopers……..I normally shop at the one at MOnaco and Hampden……….sometimes Yale and Colorado Blvd. Have never been in the Leetsdale one…it always looked kinda seedy to me. The one at Leetsdale and Cherry (I think is overwhellming in size but seems to have everything.
Seriously would love you to investigate service packages….email me if you are interested.
I’m a retired Kings checker and always tried my best to make the customer happy. A happy customer is a returning customer. It is usually possible to override just about anything and those who say “I can’t make the computer accept them” either don’t know what they’re doing or are just on a power trip! I now shop at the Kings at 64th & Sheridan and very rarely have a problem….just about everyone there is friendly and helpful.
I have had lots of issues at the King Sooper at Pierce and Coal Mine and not over coupons but general issues including an item that rang up wrong – which you are supposed to get free and the clerk was told by her manager in front of me to give it to me free and she charged me $5.00! Also self check where it blue screened and I was practically accused of theft and everything reloaded in my cart and told “You have to recheck everything” Where I said “I don’t have to do anything” and walked out. I did complain about these instances and got a $25.00 gift card to King Soopers and my $5.00 refunded. So it pays to complain.
Wow, what a bummer. I live up in Clear Creek County though, and it’s the opposite up here. The King Soopers in Evergreen is amazing and given the choice, I always shop there rather than the Safeway in Idaho Springs, which is much closer. The KS staff is always friendly and helpful andyhe store is neat and well stocked. One of the best stores I’ve ever shopped!
The coupon policy is extremely broad and intentionally open to arbitrary rulemaking: https://www.kroger.com/topic/coupon-policy
Store Management has the right to accept, decline or limit the use of ANY coupon(s). Store Management has the right to limit the quantity of coupons and/or items purchased in a single transaction, by a single Customer, or in a single day.
Coupons will be limited to no more than five (5) paper manufacturer coupons for the like products, each coupon value considered one (1) coupon in the same transaction.
I have been shopping at King Soopers since I moved to Colorado in 2002. I originally started with the store in the old Villa Maria shopping center on wadsworth and alameda. When that was torn down I went to the new one across the street. I now live in Green mountain and shop at that store. King Soopers is and always will be my first choice. I have never had a problem with them accepting coupons !
Don’t go to the king soopers in Glendale that serves alcohol (I think it’s on cherry) the cashier made me wait 15-20 minutes while he ran around looking for his manager to ensure I could use 4 like coupons (they had the dole shakers in stock that were free after doubles; with a limit of 4) and I had a filler so I got the $5/5 discount. Finally the manager comes and just scans them all through it was just such a hassle it was as if the cashier had never saw a coupon before.
I have a King Soopers within walking distance (Iliff and Buckley) However I refuse to go there for the same couponing reasons. Before I went back to school last semester and now that I am on break I coupon as much as I can. Especially now that my husband may get laid-off. I too have asked for policies, have gotten mixed answers and it really depends on who is working. I understand each store can have different policies but its so frustrating that the store itself cannot be consistent.
Laura – Try the oldest KS at South Colorado Blvd. and Exposition. It is the easiest store with excellent customer service. I’ve used coupons on “Manager’s Specials” plenty of times at this store with no hassle. I avoid “Chaos Soopers” in Glendale like the plague. If I ask for help, I always receive nasty responses from the few floor staff. Even getting gas there is a nightmare. The floor staff at the Monaco & Leetsdale store are the dumbest of the lot.
Laura — THANK YOU for this post and THANK YOU for MHOTC and LOTC! They are the 1st emails I open every morning. And THANK YOU for using your coupons to help those less fortunate!
After working all my life and while not rich, certainly self-sufficient, I was hit with a genetic disease and forced to go on disability. Trying to live a decent life on less than minimum wage and with $15 (not a typo, thanks to our “friends” at Denver “In”Human Services) in food stamps is a challenge. Coupons combined with sales are the only way I can feed myself well. And when you’re also mobility impaired, hopping from one store to another is problematic, but have to do it.
This post is a great heads-up to your readers and hopefully to the King Soopers management. We are many voices, let’s make them heard!
The picture on coupon must match? That is stupidest thing I have heard in a while…I mess up the upc codes on my printed coupons so they get frustrated and just discount me.
Try the King’s on Colorado & Yale, if it isn’t too out of the way for you. They are always nice about coupons there, there is plenty of parking and it’s been remodeled. Definitely one of the nicer ones around.
I have stopped shopping at all King Soopers as their corporate policy supports open carry of all weapons, including semi-automatic rifles, in their stores. I will never shop in a store that supports that insanity.
I try to use coupons. But can’t figure out how some if you are able to get them DOUBLED. It used to happen, years ago, on a specific day of the week. Is that still the case? If so, how do I find out which day???
Thanks in advance for any help.
To those who have asked about digital coupons: It is true you can NOT combine a digital coupon with a print coupon. Loading digital to your loyalty card is easy. But be warned – a digital coupon is not doubled. So if you have a paper coupon for 50 cents, use it as it will be doubled to $1. Only load the specific digital coupons for which there is no paper equivalent and/or if the digital coupon is valued at $1 or more. This is true for both King Soopers and Safeway.
To those who have asked about double coupons: Most King Soopers and Safeway stores double all coupons (every day, all day), valued at less than $1 unless the coupon itself expressly states “DO NOT DOUBLE”.
Bryan is really the MHOTC coupon expert so likely he will jump in later today or tonight with additional advice. Feel free to post any other questions and we’ll try to get them answered.
I agree with Belinda. I will not shop at the Parker Safeway but do shop at the King Soopers at Lincoln and Jordan – it’s such a lovely place to shop – for many reasons!!!!
I also agree with Rachel about the Parker SuperTarget – best.store.ever. I love our Parker Sprouts, too!
I shop several different King Sooper’s in Arvada, and I have learned which cashiers have issues with coupons, I simply avoid those cashiers. Out of the four stores I shop at, I’ve only had an issue once and the manager took care of that quickly.
I’ve found the same kinds of problems at King Soopers in Boulder County – the employees don’t seem to care. Unfortunately, the Safeway closest to me seems to have very few employees and high prices on the items I need, so it costs me much less to go to King Soopers. Every week, I get a receipt with the survey, and every week, I take it and explain whatever bad problems occurred on that shopping trip (coupons not working, baggers putting everything I bought from a large trip in one bag, and on and on), and the response I get from corporate is that my comments are being shared with the store manager. But everything seems to get worse. And one time at the store in Lafayette, one of the checkers lied and told me that coupons printed off the internet were no longer being accepted at the store.
I totally agree with you on this Laura. It is frustrating when these supposed ‘policies’ are either not followed or different from store-to-store. I saw the Colgate coupons you mentioned and purchased 3 Triple Action brushes and 3 toothpastes in the same transaction. Thankfully didn’t have any issues at the KS on Smokey Hill & Himalaya.
I also agree with you regarding using coupons on clearance items. It’s a bummer because KS used to accept them.
First, I once had a checker reject my coupons (all current, all correct items) and when I told her to take all those items OFF, she refused to give the coupons back to me! I made a stink (don’t like to, but this situation demanded it!) and the manager made her give the coupons back (though with an attitude – trying to make me feel like a cheater).
As to the digital coupons (loaded on cards) I ALWAYS print out the page listing all of the ones I’ve loaded and take that page with me, as I have often had a digital coupon NOT work and, having no proof of it being on my card, the checker would just shrug and do nothing. NOW, I always have the proof printed out and go to the service desk. A pain, but at least I get the discount!
Laura – I used to get mailers from Kings with my “preferred customer” coupons. Now, they are only offered on their website. I would really like to get them in the mail, as then I can double them (the manufacturer’s coupons, not the “store” coupons). Is there a way to get Kings to go back to mailing them?! Or is this just another way for the store to reduce doubling?
BTW, I LOVE the PEOPLE (great service and always helpful with coupons and such) at the 9th & Corona Kings (my neighborhood store), but hate the store since the remodel a few years ago – to make room for an olive bar and other “premium” services, they remove a third of the center shelf items! Things I could get there for 30 years are no longer there. Not specialty items – ordinary staples. So, unless I’m in a real hurry, I go to the Glendale or south Colorado stores.
Laura,
Sorry you had this experience at King Soopers. As an couponer myself (I even teach couponing class) you did the right thing! It’s unfortunate these folks don’t even know their own store coupon policy and choose to treat you as if you’re trying to “pull one over on the store”. May I suggest having a copy of their coupon policy with you next time, to help avoid any further conflicts. Find a copy of King Soopers coupon policy here http://www.coloradocouponclub.com/king-soopers-coupon-policy/ Knowledge is power! :)
Not to mention how dirty and old most of the Kings stores are. The store near me is a test store with young inexperienced workers – so at least I know that going in…not to expect too much (I never have at Kings, in general). I prefer Safeway – they are clean, well stocked, have a better produce department than Kings – hands down, and always a positive check out experience…yes the lines are longer but I am willing to wait for the reasons of being appreciated and buying better produce! Take note King Soopers – you are not the only grocer out there!! Oh…and they didn’t distribute the Broncos yard signs to my local store.
Lynn –
I’m not sure about the Preferred customer and printed mailers. We’ve asked King several times about how one “gets on the list” and they say it “depends” on spending habits, frequency at a certain store, etc. So there is no clear formula. I have noticed the occasional freebie online as opposed to those in the mail in the last month or two. I don’t know if that is the direction they are moving or not.
To Colorado Coupon Club – Taking a copy of the policy is always fine. But often when the clerk digs in, it doesn’t matter what policy is or, as in my case, what the coupon says. You can make a stink, but who wants the hassle. And often the retort is “they changed the policy a week, or a month or whenever, ago. We just had a meeting about it, but they haven’t updated the info online.” As I’ve said, often the stores don’t even keep a copy of the policy.
Bottom line is grocery stores that accept coupons should be willing to treat every customer with respect and take that extra step to assure a quality experience. And, as another reader mentioned, stores are reimbursed with a bonus (4 to 6 cents per coupon) when they turn in these coupons, so they aren’t “out” any money. Four to six cents doesn’t sound like much but consider the millions of redeemed coupons. However, until clerks are told by corporate that responsible couponers are not the enemy and that sometimes computer cash registers make mistakes (garbage in, garbage out), nothing will change.
— Laura (Mile High on the Cheap)
Wow, what an unfortunate series of events. There are three KS in Highlands Ranch and each one has its own vibe. My favorite is the one that opened first at HR Pkwy and Univ. I have shopped there since it opened in the mid-90’s and it has been consistently excellent for me. There has been a solid core of wonderful staff there and the pharmacy team greet me by name. Wondering why you didn’t ask for senior manager or speak with management about the intent of your purchases from the outset. There has always been a strong commitment to community at our local stores, welcoming all the fundraising efforts of all our schools and clubs. I have completed the surveys that are mentioned on the receipt regularly and have experienced positive results. I also complete them for fuel points on a weekly basis. I have a real passion about great customer service. Store employees need kudos or criticism either way, to keep improving.
I’m not sure I can offer any additional insight or advice than what’s already been shared by our wonderful readers. As I’ve shared with Laura, my experience has been similar at King Soopers everytime I use coupons. There always seems to be confusion and frustration, even when I try to politely explain why my coupons are valid. In my opinion, King Soopers has some of the worst customer service, no matter the location. I’ve tried bringing a copy of its coupon policy before, but it always lands on deaf ears. It seems the ego of the clerks and/or managers always trumps common sense or just basic good customer service. I have cancelled entire transactions over “coupon misunderstandings” at King Soopers more times than I can count.
Tony is at the “unSafeway” at 20th street near downtown now.
I’m a produce manager at a king soopers. Literally just rolled out our newest program asking all employees to no longer be coupon police. This should be effective everywhere if not now, in the very near future. Also, you need to vent to management in store, we can fix problems. Obviously very few employees have a different agenda, and a lot of employees are making minimum wage, so talent can be hard to come by, but stick with kings, we are the leaders in the industry for a reason…
I believe it is all about the individual King Sooper store and staff. The KS at 104th and Federal has never given me any grief except when I have made the mistake. I love the staff there. It is important that we, as couponers, understand that other customers don’t appreciate us taking so much time. I try to let smaller orders check out before me or tell someone behind me that I do have coupons. Some people are happy to move and others want to watch and see how well I did.
There are so many “rules” to couponing and they vary at each place. I think our value will be increased if we use the same cashiers as often as possible. Sorry you had such a bad experience!
when I have a problem with the cashier and my coupons I take them right up to customer service and they will give me my money back. Yes it is a pain and more time spent but well worth it. Even when items have wrong price or sale are still posted they will give me free items. Thanks for your post. I will start checking clearance.
I shop at the local King Soopers in Broomfield and I have never had a problem with coupons there. I believe if the checker knows you, like you mentioned at Safeway, the process goes so much smoother. I would bet that is part of the problem since you go there mainly when you are using coupons and they do not know you well…should not be the case but people still do things we don’t agree with. If this store does not meet your needs then shop elsewhere…there are always other stores that want your business.
Hi Laura- – I was obviously disappointed when I read your posting, King Soopers goal is never to disappoint our shoppers. We are committed to providing all our guests with a shopping experience that makes them want to return, clearly we fell short in this instance. We know you have a choice of your shop and we will continue to work hard to earn your business. Thank you for taking the time to thoughtfully share your experience, it underscores a training opportunity for King Soopers. We have always valued Mile High on the Cheap and the information you share with your readers, please know we always have an ‘open door’ policy.
Kelli –
It is nice of you to respond. Hopefully you will read all of the comments posted by MHOTC readers. While many are lucky enough to have a great in-store experience, unfortunately, mine is not an isolated incident.
–Laura
I still get K.S. preferred customer coupons in the mail about monthly – lots of free stuff and great coupons on stuff I actually purchase.
I’ve had similar experiences with King Soopers. I now do everything I can to avoid K.S. and Kroger (I am in Dallas about 1/3 of the year). I even complained to corporate about it, the ‘response’ infuriated me. Safeway all the way!
The only thing correct the cashiers had told you was we cant use coupons on manager specials seeing as they are already marked half the price, sometimes more. That varies depending on store though, I know that it is in a policy I’ve read and signed many times, but some store managers set a higher example of customer service and will tell the associates to do whatever it takes to satisfy the customer, like mine. Looks like you’re just shopping at the wrong kings ;) I hope you give us another chance. It really is an amazing company.
I use coupons to, and had the simular experience at the king soo pers on chambers and illiff,the cashier wouldn’t let me use a coupon because she said I had used my king soopers card so I couldn’t use a manufacturer coupon as well.