Thanks to everyone for emailing me this as well as taking the time to take pictures and forwarding them to me! I’m using the pictures of a coupon policy from Sarasota, FL Publix. The Sarasota store was giving out this policy to people coming into the store. From the pictures of the policies others of you have emailed me, it looks like the policy is going to be the same from store to store. I’ll dissect the policy below. Feel free to leave comments with any questions you might have.
Okay – so the above competitor policy is going to vary from store to store. You can see that the Ringling Shopping Center will accept competitor coupons from the four stores mentioned. Again – this will vary from store to store.
Okay so the Publix Coupon Policy with the black background above is the consistent policy that all of you are emailing me. So, I’m going to go out on a limb and say that this is the new corporate policy. I’m going to dissect this for you so that I can hopefully help you if you have questions. The policy is in bold, black ink, my thoughts are in purple.
1) Publix accepts manufacturer’s coupons (limit one per item) This is nothing new. None of us should be using more than one manufacturer coupon on one item Publix coupons (originals only-no copies), my only concern or question is for Publix coupons that are printable coupons because it is impossible to tell if they are original printables or copied printablesvalid Internet coupons, no problem here – none of us should be using coupons that are fraudulent Internet coupons and coupons from nearby competitors identified by each Publix store. (Competitor names are posted at each Publix store.) The competitor names will be posted much like the example above for the Sarasota store.
3) We will not accept percent-off-items or percent-off-total-order coupons. No problems from me.
4) We will only accept coupons for identical merchandise we sell. No problems from me – we should only use coupons on their exact items. Otherwise, we are committing coupon fraud. You all know that already though. 🙂
5) Acceptance is subject to any restrictions on the coupon, and we reserve the right to limit quantities. For those of you, like myself, who have been able to use more than one of the same Publix store coupon in one transaction, I’m reading the policy to say that if the coupon limits one coupon per transaction, then we will no longer be able to use two or more coupons in one transaction. Regarding limiting quantities, I will be interested to see how this is enforced and what the “allowable” number will be.
6) Manager approval is needed for individual coupons above $5.00. No problem. This should help reduce the use of fraudulent internet coupons.
7) For a buy-one-get-one free (BOGO) offer, each item is considered a separate sale. If each item is considered a separate sale, we should be able to use two coupons on the two items.
8 ) We will accept a manufacturer’s coupon and either a Publix or a competitor coupon on the same item. No problem. I’ve never been able to use a Publix store and a competitor coupon on one item. This will be an adjustment for some of you.
9) Dollars-off-total-order coupons will be limited to one Publix and one competitor coupon per order. I’m actually very impressed with this. So, this is saying you could use a $5/$30 Publix coupon and a $5/$30 competitor coupon in one transaction.
10) The order total must be equal to or greater than the total purchase requirements indicated on the coupon(s) presented. No problem. This is saying that if you use a $5/$30 Publix coupon you need to purchase $30 of groceries in order to use it.
What are your thoughts? Truthfully, the policy above is exactly how my store has run things except that my store has allowed me to use more than one of the same Publix store coupon in one transaction – regardless of the coupon verbiage. This is beyond fair and will still allow us to get amazing deals! Would love to hear your thoughts/concerns/complaints/compliments/etc!
Thanks for coming to Addicted to Saving! Here’s a little bit about me so you can know who’s behind all these posts!
My name is Liza and I began my money-saving journey in the Spring of 2009 as a way to stretch a limited household income. I had lost my job and my hubby was self-employed. I launched Addicted to Saving in November of 2009 and it has grown by leaps and bounds. Since then, my hubby and I have struggled with the ups and downs of two failed adoptions and are now LOVING being parents to our little man Asher who we brought home from Ethiopia in August of 2013. I feel incredibly blessed to be able to help you save money. My goal is that you will have FUN and become empowered to save more and more money each week..
For your number 9 dissection! Does that not mean you would need $60 total worth of groceries to use both those coupons as that is how my Publix has always stated it needed to be done or do you read it as $30 total in grocies and you can use both since one is a competitor and one is a publix.
Taylor – great question – I was intentionally vague b/c frankly, the policy doesn’t state either way..
According to the staff training sheet store employees are being trained that the order would need to total $60.00 if you have a Publix and competitor q for $5/30.
I read it a little differently but I guess it’s all up the thr store. If it were the total of both coupons it should say.. somewhere in there.. “COMBINED TOTAL” I’ve emailed corporate just to ask that one. I want to be sure of it before I try to use any.. which will be a while because I don’t even have any right now.. lol
it seems that the order total will have to be the amount of BOTH coupons. so if you have $5/$30 PQ and $5/$30 Winn Dixie your total will need to be $60. I think thats what they mean by “the order total must be equal to or greater than the total purchase requirements indicated on the coupon(s) presented.” That is how I interpret it. (=
You could be right! 🙂 I wish it wasn’t subject to interpretation though. Maybe if enough of us email Publix with questions they will create a more specific policy?
All our publix in Dunedin area state that you can use use a publix and competitor $5/50 in same transaction= $50 before coupons not $100 or we can use publix $5/50 and $5/$30 competitor in same transaction= $50 before coupons not $80…will not take 2 competitor coupons in one transaction. You either have to use 1 $$off coupon competitor alone or you can stack 1 coupon competitor $$off coupon with 1 Publix $$off coupon.
This was incredible last week when I used Sweetbay $10/40 and Publix $5/$50 giving me $15 off my transaction in addition to all my overages. I only had to have subtotal =$50 (This was not in Dunedin either but at Gulf-to-Bay/Belcher)
Teresa – If they did that – they have not been rained yet and you probably will not be receiving that going forward. Per the training manual, you can use a Publix “dollars-off-total order” and one competitors – IF the order meets the criteria for EACH coupon. So if you have a Publix $5/20 and a competitor $5/25 – you would need to spend at least $50 to use both coupons. Also there is a max of 2 “dollars off total order” coupons per transaction – a Publix and a copetitor
I was able to get the 10 off $40 coupon THANK YOU LADIES! Where do all the $5 off $50 etc coupons come from? links or paper, because normally I do not see these.
The store I shop in Palm Harbor maintains that BOTH totals must be met. So if you have an Albertsons $5 off $50 and a $10 gift card when you purchase $50, you have to purchase $100 to use both coupons. The store I previously shopped at (19 & Curlew before they stopped accepting multiples) was the same way and that was strictly enforced.
thankful and relieved! Nothing new for me..not even the “one per transaction” part. my store in citrus park has been doing that for several weeks already. Kinda annoying but whatever. I usually just split the transaction.
My store will not even let me split the order they told 1 coupon his exact words were “1coupon per trans.per family per day” I hope that changes.
So now we can’t use target coupons? I don’t like only one coupon per transaction.
Karol – your Publix will provide you with a list of acceptible competitor coupons. Many Publix locations will still accept Target coupons so your store may still accept them. That said, since Target coupons state one coupon per customer, if your Publix accepts Target coupons, your Publix will only accept one of each Target coupon.
Each Publix will post a list of competitors each individual store accepts. This will be posted in a visible place – preferably the fromt windows so everyone can see it upon entering the store.
I am so happy we can still stack on Bogo’s. Now if eveyone will just stop clearing shelves…. We finally have a firm policy and I an glad about that.
Amen on clearing the shelves! I’m still looking for my rain check on Bic Razors!
I’m still waiting for the razors to come in, too!! The manager said it would be this past Monday but it wasn’t. 🙁 And I plan on getting the John Frieda w/ my overage on the razors, but the JF publix q’s expire Friday.
Me too! The coupon will be expiring soon 🙁
I just did a BOGO and was only allowed one coupon for the transaction, not allowed to place on coupon per item. Publix says it’t the manufacturers policy not there’s, Coupons read “Only one coupon is redeemable per purchase” so that now elimates placing 2 coupons on BOGO’s. This was a raincheck item that they are using the new policy on.
oops,. one coupon per transaction….now eliminates placing one/same coupon on each item for the BOGO
I spoke at length to the manager at public in Largo
Fl, he confirmed one manufacturer coupon per
Item including on BOGO. My store has always
done this. I am very relieved. It is looking like each store
are going to play it differently.
I don’t have a problem with most of these, but our Publix’s are spread out a ways. How do they determine who’s a competitor with the closest grocery store is another Publix.
I also don’t see many coupons for Pharmacies other than Target (Which happens to be next door to our closest Publix). Does that mean that they will give me a $10 store card when I purchase a Rx?
the people who are on shows like extreme couponing who are nothing more than hoarders and have OCD and abuse coupons are now making it difficult for the regular people who use coupons. This will be a trend which will be a policy with all stores in the future.
Except Walmart, and they are making their coupon policy even more friendly. Which is a good thing with so many others tightening the strings. Now if we could only talk Walmart into letting us stack store with manufacturing coupons. That would be awesome.
Thank you Publix! I know there were discrepancies from Publix to Publix within 2 miles from each other!
Everything mentioned in the black ad were standard at my favorite Publix!
Not too bad! I was afraid they were going to get ride of all competitor coupon! I can live with this.
this was always the policy here in ocala at the pearl britan publix….it will just make those “mean” publix cashiers at the other stores, who hassle coupon users, be more acceptable of their own coupon policy…
two thumbs up for publix~
No change for me! (= whew!! this policy is exactly what my Publix has been doing, so nothing has changed for me.
So what does this mean for BJ coupons and Target coupons? Will stores that are close to them still take them? I know that to be considered as a supermarket you need a deli and bakery, which both BJ’s and Target have. They should limit it to within 5 miles.
Colby – the Publix you shop at will have their own competitor list so you will know if BJs and Target is accepted at your store..
My understanding from Publix employees is that BJ’s, Costco, Sam’s, Ada’s, Aldi, CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid… are not being consider as competitors at any locations.
For a buy-one-get-one free (BOGO) offer, each item is considered a separate sale.
**I think that if each item is considered a separate sale, we are going to be told that it is only one per customer and therefore we can’t use a coupon that reads “only one deal per customer” on the second item.
I could be wrong, but one of my Publix lately has been enforcing this type of wording and I think that is what is implied here.
Millie – that is a good perspective of the wording! I think that both you and I are right! The problem I have with the policy is that there are still some “gray” areas that aren’t addressed. I am going to start focusing on the verbiage on the coupons while doing matchups. (To the best of my ability)
Thanks Liza,
Rumors are that they are in meetings this week. I guess there will be clarification for the employees as to what each item means..
Regarding the BOGO section…if each is considered a separate sale, does this mean a separate sale on a separate transaction? If my coupon is $1off 2 items and their in split transactions, won’t this make it where we can’t use coupons on such transactions?
I know you are speculating right along here with us, but this part is just really confusing me for some reason, maybe I’m over thinking it.
I just called my favorite Publix and they are not changing anything until Saturday and then it will be announced. My store has been very good with couponers and my guess is that they are choosing to handle this carefully not to lose store sales. I will be curious for Saturday …only 2 could be affected and that is possibly the use of Target coupons and the amount of Green/Yellow flyer coupons allowed per transaction. Keeping my fingers crossed – LOVE Publix!
Yes – May 14th is the launch date for handing out information. I think Publix is very cognizant of their customers and wants to make sure any changes go smoothly and with the least adverse effect on customer relations.
Just got back from my store in Boca Raton (palmetto & Powerline) and they will be accepting Albertsons, Doris, Target, Fresh Market, Whole Foods and Winn Dixie. The only change for me is no CVS or Walgreens. I’m ok with this and I’m glad the policy was changed too much! 🙂
I meant “wasn’t”…Oops!
Pretty much just as I was told my the mgr a while back…very smart move to still accept comp coupons, though. thanks!
Anyone who is an honest couponer should be more than happy with these rules. Although I’m a bit bummed about only being able to use one yellow/green advantage flyer coupon per transaction, those coupons are usually good for several weeks, so those deals will just have to be spread out over time. Saving money isn’t easy, but it’s so worth it. Thanks for the great breakdown!
I thnk the last line actually means that if the competitor coupon says the total needs to be after coupons, then you must abide by that.
Oh and also, my bf who has been a manager with publix for 28+ years said that in order to use a $5/30 publix and a $5/30 competitor, you would need $60 in groceries (and if the competitor says it has to be $30 after coupons, then you are having to spend WAY too much to use that coupon imo LOL)
This does have a change from our Publix here – they have always let us use 3 coupons per item – 1 mfg, 1 competitor and 1 Publix. They only double mfg though. I’ve stacked 3 coupons to get free hair color etc before. Everything else is the same as its always been 🙂
I called the Publix on Fortune Rd and they said that they are not starting the new coupon policy until the 23rd.
the last line does sound like it is after coupons. Tonight for the first time ever the cashier asked for all my coupons first before ringing up anything. After ringing the items she took off the coupons right then and there. This naturally put my total at 15.00 savings was almost 77, she would not use my 5 off 50 that I got in the mail last week. the other day I had a order total of 62.00 but 40 of that was for the gas card – they would not take the coupon then either. Oh, and tonight when she went to take my Winn Dixie coupons she was keying them “as just trained” and it was adding the dollar amount instead of taking off. So she voided it and “just did it the old way that works”
when does this policy change start?
They are going to start handng out the policy and information to customers on May 14th with the policy actually going into effect on May 23rd.
sounds good to me! this is pretty much what my publix does now, expcept I can use walgreens and target coupons. That is not a big loss though. yay!
I was told by a manager that you can use walgreens coupons as long as its a MQ coupon so i was thinking like the RR from walgreens, can someone double check that. Also i was told that your $5/30 no longer has to be after all coupons as that specific store had switch their policy a few months back and you could only use $5/whatever after all coupons.
I just asked my Publix in Lakewood Ranch about the coupon policy. I was told that it would go in to affect on the 24th. I asked if I would be able to have a copy, print a copy and was told, “I suppose so.”
@Michele A in Dunedin
Last Friday I made my weekly “big” trip to Publix and was getting my coupons out when the cashier said, “Oh you have coupons,” and stopped ringing items up until I handed over all of my coupons and he did the same exact thing. Looked through all of my coupons, pulled the items off the belt, rang them up then deducted the MQ and Publix coupons. All competitor coupons were done at the very end. It took almost three times as long to check out than it normally does.
Lynn, I just asked the Publix in LWR on University today. Is that your store? CS told me it would be in effect on May 23rd. I asked which stores would be considered competitors. It sounds like Albertson, Winn Dixie, SweetBay, and Target. I don’t think they will consider Whole Foods a competitor 🙁
The one on LWR/70 – CS did not seem very happy or open in sharing information. Thank you for the information – the two stores aren’t too far apart.
I only shop at the LWR on Univ. occasionally. I usually shop at Twelve Oaks. Very friendly there, but I haven’t asked yet about the coupon policy change.
My publix doesn’t allow overage. I can’t see where overage is addressed.
You will be very happy to hear that Publix will actual honor a coupon value that is greater than the price of the item AND give the customer money back on these items going forward! As long as you are following all the other parts to the policy – you will be able to actually get money back!
When I went to my Publix in Dothan, Alabama, this week, I had to go to the customer service desk and request a yellow flyer! I also noticed that some of the other “flyer stands” around the store had notes on them that said the coupons would be provided upon request at the CS desk! I’m guessing this is a result of people taking too many coupons at once! 🙁
Also, regarding #4, my store has allowed me to use a coupon for a Target brand item (e.g., Up & Up paper towels) on a corresponding Publix brand item (Publix paper towels). So the new policy will probably affect that for me. Although, not being able to use ANY Target coupons would be much worse! I’ll have to be on the lookout for a copy of the official coupon policy including the stores that qualify as competitors.
Today I went to use that $10 off $50 gas card when you spend $25 in groceries. I had a manager tell me that b/c I had a $5 off $30 (WD)coupon as well that I couldn’t use the $10 off gas card b/c my grocery purchase would need to be the total of the two ($30 plus $25 for $55 total in groceries.
So, I left and went to another store where they let me get the gas card with the coupon. So stupid! I was like the gas card coupon says “$10 off $50 gas card with any $25 grocery purchase”..it wasn’t a discount off my groceries. I flat out told the manager that it depended on what cashier you got on whether or not you could use the coupon.
Liza, I’m unclear as to #5. Does this mean that if I want to buy more than one of any item on sale, I can only purchase one in the same day? Will I no longer be able to buy, say five, whatever at a time? Thank you for your help!
Well I think #9 is a disappoinment for me, because I have been able to use multiple $5/25 competitor ooupons for one transaction – meaning that if my total was $75.00, I could use 3 of those coupons (from local City books) and get $15.00 off my total order. Unless I’m reading this wrong, I won’t be able to do that anymore. My Publix has been WONDERFUL about coupons and whenever the register says I have more coupons than items the managers don’t even bat an eyelash and override… Thanks to your site, I have saved SO much money @ Publix! I even had a guy behind me in line offer to pay me to coupon for him and he’d give me 50% of the savings! LOL! Thanks for the heads up Liza!
Question about #5: I’m looking at a Yellow Advantage flyer right now. The language on it is “limit one deal per coupon per customer.” Does that mean if I have twoYellow flyer coupons and I want to buy two items I can use both? Some of the comments seem to indicate that maybe this means one per transaction.
Karen, my experience, even before the coupon changes, have been that they want to accept only one yellow/green advantage flyer coupon per transaction. Example: I wanted to get Trident gum which was on BOGO for free a couple of weeks ago. I had 3 man. coupons for $/2 and 3 yellow advantage coupons for $/2. So, I could buy 6 packs of gum, I figured. I left with only two as the manager kept saying that “limit one deal per coupon per customer” meant the same as “limit one deal per customer”. I think that is what number 5 means now.
Stopped by and talked to our managers and got a lot of the same information as many others.
May 13/14- policy posted (biggest change in the store managers opinion is each store now gets to state who their “actual” competitors are)
May 23/24- policy in affect
She did clarify that now $$off coupons now have to be the actual amount on coupons if you are presenting 1 publix and 1 competitor $$off coupons, so $5/$50 publix and $10/$40 Sweetbay would mean I need $90 of groceries before coupons before we just needed the largest amount of the two which would have been $50.
I think this will be the most confusing # of all- yellow/green advantage flyers, she stated that they do not differentiate between those and regular publix coupons. Every item can use 1-publix/store and 1- manufacturer coupon- so buying 5 items or 1 items is no difference. She told me just to think that every item I can used 2 coupons.
I didn’t get that last part from my store managers. I was told that I can only use 1 publix coupon per item per transaction. In other words she said, I can’t use 2 publix couopns on the BOGO deals even though each item is considered a different sale. I am heading back over there today to see if they changed it again since last week. For the last 4 weeks, I have gotten a new “RULE” or a change from one of the rules they just told me about the week before. It was my favorite store but now.. not so much. I can’t wait for it all to level out and for them to just ALL know what the rules are because changing them on me every week for the last month has really hit my savings HARD!
The one yellow/green advantage per transaction is how many of the stores in my area have been interpreting that line. A lot of the stores close to me are getting very particular in the wording on the coupon. To these stores “limit one deal per coupon per customer” is exactly one of that type of coupon per transaction. And if they are treating these like many of the stores were treating the $X off $XX purchase, splitting transactions won’t get it either.
this is no what i was told at my publix i went in with 3 coupons from he green flyer…i was told i could use 1 thats it…i was shocked.. our manager stated from now on it would be 1 per CUSTOMER ???? he also stated it was up to his disscreation tell me how thta maked for all publix equal accross the board we have no doubles no gas not penny thing and now cannot use more than one coupon
I talked with the manager of the
Publix in Largo, Fl this morning. He was very helpful and gave me
a copy of the policy and what competitor coupons
I can use. He confirmed I can use a coupon per
Item on the BOGO’s and also stack with a competitor
coupon. There is very little change for me at
this store. They have always been coupon friendly!!
Sheila, which Publix store in Largo is this?
Tri city plaza. On the corner of US 19 and East
Bay. The managers are Chris and Jeremy. Two
very nice guys. This store has always been
very coupon friendly! They will take Target,
Sweetbay, save a lot and Albertsons competitor
coupons.
So this change doesn’t seem to unreasonable. I mean, you shouldn’t have been using coupons for items that were not same items anyway.
Maybe I am speaking from a different perspective, I have considered myself successful and content just capitalizing on the BOGO deals.
In regards to extreme couponing show, I must say I have become embarrassed to call myself a couponer as a result. I do find the show entertaining, but more in a – I feel sad for these people – kind of way. Clearing off shelves like that seems unfair to anyone else that may need to shop at the same store. Just my perspective. This show has definitely made stores more weary of people using coupons. Even honest ones.
Liza,
I am really disapointed that the Publix I shop in will no longer accept Target coupons as of the end of May. I live in Charleston, Sc. This is really going to affect my shopping personally and will probably do more at Harris Teeter. Some of there things are more pricey, but they double coupons up to .99 cents and have Super Double weeks where they double coupons up to $1.99.
I just think everyone is too in love with Publix. They had a Net gain of almost 400 million dollars in the first quarter of 2011 ( that’s right off their web site). They are not losing any money on coupons. I am often the only on using any couposn when I checkout. I will be shopping and using my coupons where they will save me the most and that is not Publix. It makes more work for me but I work hard for my money and if that means I have to shop in others stores to get the best price meat, veggies and pet supplies I’ll do it. I love Publix too, and this site but I don’t think Publix has done us any favors buy posting this policy. I love in a small town and any other stores are more than 30 miles away, so no Walgreens coupons, Food Lion flips and only one yellow/green flyer coupon will hurt me.
wow this is a huge change for me, The manager at my publix in spring hill is taking 1 publix coupon per customer…first he stated the coupon was written that way,then he stated it was part of publix new policy,finally he stated it was up to him and that was that ….crazy i spend 1200 a month a publix ,he lost a great customer over a 2 dollar coupon…???
Are you speaking of the publix in spring hill next to target …if so I will not shop their any longer either …The manager folloew people around the isles ,why do you need those? we have so many Publix in our area, all are reading the new policy differently …now their is more confusion then before ..we also have 3 walmarts they will take ALL your coupons without issue..how dare a manager ask what u are using a product for…i wish he had asked me..lol he would have gotton a colorful response
quick qeustion i have asked many times never a response here goes
if so many are worried about publix losing money how is it that here in florida we do not double we do not have gas savings or penny item..yet florida still complains over coupons? if florida publix is losing money how on earth are the other publix doing they must be broke…the manager in my store is always whining…i finally said to him what would you do if we could double like all the other publix…he just looked at me…no response…why is publix advertising a new coupon policy that makes it equal across he board…not for us? also managers discretion…not a good idea..if you have a solid policy that would not be needed