I know so many of you have emailed me and left comments on Addicted to Saving regarding your local Publix changing their coupon policies. I haven’t posted about your emails (or the comments you have lefted) for one main reason – each Publix location has their own coupon policy. So, if I write about a Publix located on Hwy 19 in Palm Harbor, Florida, that doesn’t mean that the other Publix locations in Palm Harbor will follow the same changes. I don’t want to type and post about Publix’s policy changes unless it is an “across the board” policy. Does that make sense? I do forsee that Publix will create a coupon policy in writing soon and if/once they do, I promise I will post about it. 🙂
In the meantime, if you all want to discuss the changes that are going on at your local Publix locations, feel free to leave a comment on this post with your store’s location and the changes you are experiencing. That way, everyone will stay in the loop and we can all decide which Publix locations are the most coupon friendly to shop at.
**If you are new to shopping or couponing at Publix, go HERE to read “Intro to Publix.”
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..
The best Publix, in my opinion, is the one on Gall Blvd in Zephyrhills. According to a manager, they will accept ANY competetior coupon, even if the store is not in the city (like Target, GFS, etc)… I’ve shopped at some in Tampa & Wesley Chapel and this one by FAR has the most flexible coupon policy!
I love the Publix at 19 and Curlew. It is the best to shop at for coupons. The worst is the Publix at 19 and Alderman across from Walmart. New manager there who hates coupons.
Hey Cyn….that used to be my favorite store. They have been very coupon friendly up until last week. I was informed once a week ago by the manager Karen and then again by my favorite cashier that they have changed their policy on the $5 off coupons and expired store coupons. They only allow one $5 off per person (and you can’t split your order unless you have someone else with you). Any employee found accepting anything they aren’t supposed to will be viewed as stealing and fired for it.
I also shop there (US 19 & Curlew) and Linda is the best (she only works weekends). She told me about the only 1 $5 off no matter how much your order and a few weeks back about the expired comp. coupons. Also they will be looking closely at the Publix coupons for 1 per person.
They are still taking Target as for now…
So now we’ll only be allowed one Publix store coupon per sale/item?
Confirmed tonight that the US19/Curlew Publix will implement coupon changes effective this Saturday. Seems they are under a new DM so no more expired PQ’s & only one $/$$ type of q per transaction regardless of subtotal. Still taking Target but apparently this store used to let you triple stack (1Mq + 1Pq + 1Cq per item) and they will no longer allow this. I never knew they did that! Like previous poster stated, this store has some really great employees so will still drive out of my way to go there.
That is the store I shop at too. I was told last night that they will only accept one $5 store coupon per person starting this coming Saturday. I have to say the employees and manager at this store have always been great.
Yes, My store as of a few day has stop taking the B1G2 free on meat from Albertson’s. As for anything eles, I don’t know.
The Publix’ in the greater Orlando area (Orange County, Seminole County, etc) adopted an area wide coupon policy. So wherever I go, they all have the same policies 🙂
I am in Witer Garden and my store has change.
Silvia and Thomasina – what are the changes? I shop at the Apopka and Ocoee Publix and I have not seen any changes yet. Actually, the store manager of the Fountains West is a couponer herself, so they are very coupon-friendly.
My post is two above!
The Publix on Gulf to Bay and Belcher in Clearwater no longer accepts GFS $5 off $50 coupons. I guess they’re not considered competition anymore.
Hi… this is Heather Urquides from the St. Petersburg Times. The stores all do have different policies. For example, the downtown St. Petersburg Publix won’t take GFS or Target. But if you just drive just a few miles to the Publix on Fourth Street North (the one that used to be Albertson’s) they will take Target coupons (not GFS or Save-A-Lot). I think that most Publix locations will take those Sweetbay coupons. I’ve never had any location reject that. After this morning’s article, I’ve had some readers contacting me upset about their store’s receipt policy change.
Hi Heather! I don’t have a response to your comment since I agree 100% but I did want publicly thank you for the article this morning! 🙂 Let me know if you ever want to go shopping together!
I just started couponing in August but so far the Publix we shop at (Orlando – corner of Dean/Young Pine and Curry Ford) hasn’t changed anything – in fact yesteday we saved about half – total bill $209.82, paid $100.40 after tax ($99.30 w/o tax).
Anyone know of any changes in the Tallahassee area? We’re getting nervous!!
I live in Panama City and my Publix stores are cracking down on Green Flyer coupons. If it says 1 per customer, they mean it! As fot the x/xx coupons, they are still accepting them. But I call ahead just to make sure.
Hi Gerrie, I am in Lynn Haven and our store is getting pretty finicky about the coupons they will take. I’ve found that the 23rd Street store is much friendlier in terms of coupon usage. LH told me that they are probably changing their policy effective March 1 so that target Q’s, Wal-Greens, etc. will not be accepted. I guess I’ll be driving to the beach!
The Westchase Publix in Tampa no longer accepts any competitor coupons except for Sweetbay, Target, Winn Dixie, Albertsons and USave. Still pretty generous but bummed about the Whole Foods coupons and GFS. I used those a lot!
the tarpon publix on us 19 does not take more than one $x/$xx anymore…you have to bring a second person in order to use two. No big deal for me. I LOVE Publix!!
I to go the US19 Tarpon Springs location – could you explain what you mean by a $x/$xx coupon?
It means a $ off a designated $$ amount purchased. For instance $5.00 off a $50.00 purchase. They are so many different ones out there ($5/$50 Publix or Albertsons, $3/$35 Winn Dixie, $10/$40 Sweetbay, $5/$25 Sav A Lot) that it’s hard to say the $5 off $50 coupons. She’s meaning those types of coupons in general.
The Publix on Bearrs and N. Dale Mabry will still accept Target, Save-A-Lot, Winn-Dixie, Sweetbay, and GFS coupons. However, they stopped accepting more than one $x off coupons from competitors in one trip. But you CAN still stack it with a Publix $x off. However, go less than two miles south to the Publix on Fletcher and N. Dale Mabry and they no longer allow overages. Goodbye to my favorite cashiers there!
Anyone know of changes for Publix in the Trinity or New Port Richey (FL) area?
I just went to Publix today and was not allowed to use a coupon that I had. Furthermore, the cashier was extremely rude and crumbled all of our money that she was giving back to us!! It will take a lot for me to go back to a Publix, so it better be a great deal!
I just want to add that I have used a similar coupon like I had today there before. Meaning I used it yesterday. Just an all around bad experience at Publix today.
I shop in South Tampa and there have been a lot of changes recently- some seem to change daily! I have had such bad experiences at the Britton Plaza Publix that I don’t even go there anymore. They used to have the nicest manager who was very coupon-friendly, but now have a manager that thinks that couponers are trying to scam the store (he actually said that at a meet-the-managers event a few months ago). I stopped going there when they started not allowing Publix coupons to be stacked with manufacturer coupons. Also, they are very weird with issuing rainchecks- they will call the stock manager, make you wait until they search the whole stock room for the item, and one time they even called a nearby Publix and made me go there to buy the item instead of issuing the raincheck.
The Gandy Publix also used to be very coupon-friendly, and is still ok. But they no longer allow more than one GAB coupon to be used per transaction- they say that people have been ripping them off (?). However, they do have a pretty good competitor policy- they take Target, Whole Foods, Sweetbay, etc. though they have really restricted whom they consider a competitor recently.
The Publix on Dale Mabry and Neptune is pretty nice to couponers, however, their policy changes constantly. For example, I was in there today and the cashier had to go check to see if they still took Whole Foods coupons (I had used one in there on Saturday, but she said she wasn’t sure if it had changed since then). While she was gone, the bagger told me that they get new coupon rules and policies all the time- the cashiers can’t even keep track of them! I asked what the most recent policies were and he said that they had modified the list of competitors (but it was the 3rd or 4th modification, which was why the cashier didn’t know if they accepted Whole Foods), that you could no longer use more than 1 $5/$50 coupon per transaction (even if the transaction was $100 and you had two coupons- not a big deal to me, I would just split them in two), and then he said there was another rule about Publix coupons that he couldn’t remember.
I would actually be happy about an official coupon policy- I am getting tired of never knowing what changes to expect when I go to the store!
I wonder if most people would like an area wide Publix store policy or would rather keep it the way it is?
There’s something exciting about finding the coupon-friendly stores, but then again, I could get used to the idea of knowing what to expect no matter where I went.
I think it’s exciting to find coupon-friendly stores too! It just feels lately that my friendly stores have become less friendly- and I hate going to the register with a bunch of groceries and coupons only to find that the policies have changed. At this point I would rather just know what I can do and what I can’t across the board 🙂
Doesnt the store get reimbursed for manufacturer coupons plus like 8 cents a coupon for handling charges, why would they ever have a problem with taking them, they are making money on them and if you use a Publix store coupon, they put them out there so they should not have a problem with you using them. my publix used to take surf & turf coupons and now they say they dont but every time my friend tries to use one they take it for her and not for me. so go figure. i hope they have a official coupon policy for all publix stores soon as i am thinking i am going to shop elsewhere.
How are you all getting the coupons for 5 off 30 from competitors? I have only gotten some from WinnDixie when I moved. I would love to use thoses at Publix.
Thanks, Dinae
I am in Valdosta, Ga. and was told a couple of days ago (by my coupon bestie) that our Publix was changing their policy. No Target (it is 1 block from the store…only the mall separates it). There is a Walgreens right at the corner and they said they will take theirs??? Only 2 like coupons at one time. The frustrating part is they said that they are not going to advertise this. I think that is a shame. I put A LOT of time preparing my list, it would be nice for them to give everyone a heads up. I do plan on calling or going by before I shop next week to get the rules. Thanks to each and everyone of you (esp you Liza) for all the time that goes into this blog. I learn bunches….
Thanks for the information. That store is the closest one to my mom so I’ll have to let her know. Can you keep us (well me really 🙂 ) informed of what you find out so I can pass it along to her? That’s crazy that they won’t take Target since it’s so close. The only thing I could reason is that it’s not a “Super Target” therefore not a “real” grocery store…maybe. Thanks.
If you go to http://www.iheartcvs.com they periodically have internet printable coupons for $3/$15, $4/$20, $5/$40 that my Publix in Panama City accepts.
Just an update on the Publix on 19 and Marine Pkwy (southgate) in New Port Richey..they are still accepting Target coupons. They haven’t made any changes yet…it’s coming but as of right now..no changes.
What’s happened to cause all of the changes?
I always get nervous before I check out and now I’ll be more anxious. I found that the younger cashiers are very accepting of the coupons and have even asked how I do it. One even told me about another coupon I could be using. The older cashiers make me feel like I’m a bother to them or the money is coming out of their pocket. I pray the changes will not be substantial changes. Through it all I love couponing and it has really helped my family. Thanks Liza
I am from Orlando and go the Winter Park, Publix they are saying they are having women come in and clearing shelves. They suspect they are selling the groceries. 🙁 it only hurts the honest ones trying to just feed family. I seem to always get the manager called with the amount of my coupons. Yet I will not stop it has help me to overcome the fear of Man..Yeppie keep it up ladies we rock an help our familes….
is there changes happening at publix w/ couponing?? i experienced the same at walgreens were u fell as if they own the store and they dont like u using coupons, or is it saving money?? it can be pretty annoying!
Went today and the cashier told me, “only one like coupon can be used in a transaction, excluding Manufactures coupons”. So if you had two $.40 butter coupons from target you can only use one. (This will really cut down on my Publix runs due to BOGO’s will no longer be a deal if I can’t stack (MQ and Target) for each item!). This was in Tampa on Erlich and Lynn Rd.
The Auburndale Publix has implemented the following changes: They are limiting the number of BOGO deals for each item to 5 deals/10 items per visit. They will only accept 1 competitor money off coupon (ie, $5 off $30 purchase). I called to ask if this included competitor cents off coupons for individual items and I was told that these were still accepted. I was told that they will NOT allow customers to break up their purchases into multiples transactions to utilize more coupons or to get around the 5 deal deal rule. I personally am glad they are imposing these standards because there are a few ladies in our area that clear the shelves the first day of the sale, which leaves nothing for other customers. I think these changes are for the good.
I haven’t heard of many changes yet at my local Publix. I hear some changes are coming, but it’s not going to be that big.
However, a friend of mine is in the Orlando area and she had a horrible experience the other day. The cashier tried to limit her to only one like coupon per transaction! I mean, come on people, one coupon per purchase means that you need to have one coupon for each item purchased. They were taking it as if it meant ‘one per transaction’ which was not written on the coupon.
I just hope that first Publix educates their cashiers properly and that each store would have their own written coupon policy that the consumer could just refer to. So, if we have questions it’s all spilled out on paper. I swear the ‘coupon policy’ at my favorite store has changed 6 times in the last 7 months. They need to get everyone on the same page!
Every Publix store I shop at has a different couponing policy, so I check it out at Customer Service before I shop. It is confusing, but it is still worth it for all the good deals at Publix.
Kris I’ve had the same problem. I just moved to West Palm Beach (from Broward county) and found what I thought was my new favorite Publix. I had a fantastic experience the first week I shopped there, the cashier was so sweet and she answered any of my questions knowledgeably and explained any q’s that weren’t working.
The next time I went I was greeted (or whatever the opposite of greeted is) by a grumpy cashier who seemed annoyed with me for using coupons in the first place, and the manager said that I couldn’t use 2 coupons on a BOGO. She said I could only use a coupon on a item that I was paying for, so the second BOGO item didn’t count. Has anyone else in Fl experienced this?
I am from Valrico (East of Tampa). My favorite Publix right now is at 60 (brandon blvd) and Valrico Rd. As of late I am still able to triple stack and use multiple x/xx coupons. At the Publix at lithia pincrest and bloomingdale I was able to stack a publix x/xx with a competitor x/xx a few weeks ago. I just started couponing in January and have really learned to love it and Publix, but this impending changes are really freaking me out…
I also live in Valrico (Hi, Sarah!) & after watching TLC’s Extreme Couponing, I’m totally in! It’s absurd that publix has a different policy for every store! Do they each have a PRINTED policy @ each location or am I going to have to ask for a manager for an explanation? I love publix but Sweetbay is a good one, too, & their store’s policy is easily found online & seems fair enough to me. I want to know what’s what going in.
Hi Sally! I’m glad you are join the couponing bandwagon! We have a lot of fun over here! With regarding to a Publix policy – sadly, they do not have a printed coupon policy. (That would make things SO much easier!) So, I always recommend that you go to your local store’s customer service and find out what competitor coupons they accept and how they view using multiple Publix store coupons! If you have a specific store that you shop at, a reader may shop there too and may be able to give you some tips.. Welcome and let me know how I can help! 🙂