King Soopers Coupon Policy
Official King Soopers Coupon policy as of July 7, 2011
Our coupon policy varies by division. The policy for stores in your area is as follows. Please note that this policy is our most current; however it is subject to change without notice.
The store manager has the right to accept, decline or limit the quantity of coupons or items used or purchased in a single transaction, by a single customer, or in a single day.
Double Coupons:
- Manufacturer coupons of $0.50 or less will be doubled.
- Manufacturer coupons of $0.51 – $1.00 will be redeemed for $1.00.
- Manufacturer coupons over $1.00 will be redeemed at face value.
o This does not apply to “Free,” KS, Catalina, Retail Food Store coupons, electronic coupons on the Sooper card, or items prohibited by law.
Pharmacy Coupons:
- Competitor pharmacy prices will be matched, but competitor pharmacy coupons are not accepted.
- Cannot use LCM or Competitor Coupons in conjunction with the $4 Generic Program
General Coupon Policy:
- Limit one (1) manufacturer coupon per item purchased.
- Limit one (1) store coupon per item purchased.
- One (1) manufacturer and one (1) store coupon can be used on the same item.
- A second or third coupon cannot be used on an item that is part of another coupon offer.
- Example: Coupon states: Buy 2 cereals and get a gallon of milk free. A customer cannot use another coupon on the cereal or the milk.
- Coupons cannot be used on “free” items.
- Expired coupons are not accepted.
- Amount refunded cannot exceed the cost of the item.
- There is a limit five (5) coupons for like items per customer.
{ 24 comments… read them below or add one }
I was blindsided by the new policy today. Went to the store with 6 coupons for Smart Balance Milk. With the coupon my price would be .99 each. We’ll, I had to give up three of them at the register because I was told that I can only use three coupons. Very very very bummed – not liking the new policy KROGER!!!
BumMER! I know it’s a pain, but you can always go back and get the other 3 milks. And I also wonder if they would have let you do two separate transactions in the same visit????
I know why they are doing it, and their theory is a good one. (See my article on Extreme Couponing.) It is a real pain in the ass for those of us that really do need to save money on the groceries that we NEED and use, ya know? Very frustrating.
now that you know this policy, you CAN organize separate transactions. I just did it with toothpaste. Since KS now only takes 3 coupons at a time, I had to separate them into 3 transactions as I had 9 of them and got all my toothpaste for free.
I went to KS yesterday and was told that I could not use a manufacturer’s coupon with a KS coupon. The cashier, her supervisor and the store manager told me this. They did use my coupons, but I was reprimanded that they would only do it this one time. Unbelievable that the store doesn’t even know it’s own policy. The 3 item limit is new….they told me that it has always been in place!
Interesting! I will contact them to see if their policy has changed. If it has not, all 3 of them are wrong and I would take a printed copy of their policy next time you go!
It’s actually a 3 coupon limit. You can only use 3 of the same coupon per transaction. It has been in place for what I wanna say is about 6 months. I call that new.
Cynthia, I was told the same thing too… that apparently the KS ecoupons and mfg coupon can not be stacked. I’m not sure about the KS paper coupon though. I’ve never tried that, but for me, usually a KS coupon is for a KS brand item. At any rate, I’ve found a trick around it so I don’t get hassled by the cashier. WAIT to run your KS card. Politely ask them to run your coupons FIRST than you’ll do your card. Technically my coupons have a higher dollar off amoutn than the ecoupon anyway, especially after they double it! Than I run my KS card. The funny part? The stupid cash register took off the ecoupon anyway, even though I had a mfg paper coupon for the same product.
I got hassled a lot for doing my card first. Apparently when they scan the coupon, the computer tells them that an ecoupon was already applied? But if they run your coupons first and the computer is stupid enough not to realize it, than it’s a bonus for you!
(It hasn’t failed me yet to do this, so I can get both paper and ecoupon together savings).
As far as I’m aware, it is not posted online. I had to get it through e-mail. I can forward you the e-mail if you’d like. Or, you can just go on their own site and request it from them.
Where did you find the offical KS coupon policy? I’ve looked on their website for it and can’t find anything about paper coupons, just digital. I know I will need it next time. I like to shop late at night when the crowds are gone and items are being re-stocked and the same guy is there everytime up front doing candy stocking and cashiering. He has rung my groceries up multiple times w/ no issues of doubling my coupons. Well, tonight, I went and tried to get some product and used a .75 coupon. He refused to honor my add’l .25! he said ‘no where on the coupon does it say I can double the coupon’. OMG really? I told him that coupons never say “yeah, double it will ya?” but rather that the coupon is either going to be ‘blank’ or will indicate ‘do not double/triple’. He disagreed w/ me. I asked to speak to a manager and he whistled some kid over that was stocking, that I knew couldn’t have been the manager. Going back tomorrow to see if i can get the doubling thru another cashier/register as well as hoping to have policy in hand too, but would like to bring something from their own site or something. Not sure if they will fall for your blog thread. thanks
On an episode of Extreme Couponing, one shopper explained that the first number below the bar code is either a 5 or 9. 9 indicates Do Not Double.
More info: In my coupon stack I found coupons with both 5 and 9 that said DO NOT DOUBLE. I found one web site that says that only the ones with 9 will actually not double when scanned. Here’s the web site for more info: http://projects.newsobserver.com/taking_stock/coupons_101_do_not_double
“In 95 percent of the cases, they will double regardless of whether they say DND or DNT. The 5 percent of times that a coupon does not double is because of a little technicality with coupons. If you look at the bar codes on your coupons, the very first number on the very far left is either a tiny little 5 or a 9. Most of the coupons in the Sunday paper begin with a 5. The coupons that come from those little “blinkie” dispensers in grocery store aisles often begin with a 9. It is the ones that begin with a 9 that do not double in stores’ register systems. As long as the bar code begins with a tiny little 5, it will double, regardless of what the coupon says. That’s the majority of coupons, so in general, you shouldn’t have to worry too much about it. Read more: http://projects.newsobserver.com/taking_stock/coupons_101_do_not_double#ixzz1cxNKQous“
Hi,
After several trips to my King Soopers in Aurora to find out the coupon policy (speaking to the cashiers and the customer service counter and receiving a different answer every time), I finally was able to see a printout of the policy. She [head cashier under instruction of the store manager] would not let me take a picture of it with my cell phone nor would they make a copy for me. What is the secret? I suggested that they post the policy in the store or at least have a copy at every checkout stand. We all just want to play by the rules, right?
I also asked if there was a line total per transaction and she said no. I asked if you could have separate transactions. She said it doesn’t matter because, “Your store card keeps track of it [couponing or purchases?].” I think that needs to be tested. Keep your fingers crossed.
Tonight I found a web site that has posted the new policy (dated 10/21/11) that I saw at the store: http://denverbargains.com/coupon-resources/store-coupon-policies/king-soopers-official-coupon-policy/#general. Why isn’t it on the King Soopers or Kroeger web site?
Also asked if there was tax on the free items and the head cashier said no. I think that needs to be tested. I don’t think the government will go without their money
You do have to pay tax on any free item that would have been subject to taxes prior to the use of the coupon.
I went into KS yesterday on the south side of Pueblo, Co. I had my coupons ready, the girl at the checkout started scanning my coupons, but after the first 3 or so she stopped and called another woman over, the other woman told me that I am only allowed to use one manufacturer coupon per item purchased, on like items? They then called the manager over, he told me only one coupon could be used on each item, of like items? I bought two items of the same brand, but they were different because they were different scented deoderants, at different prices? I was under the understanding that couponers could use 5 paper manufacturer coupons on each item per transaction, correct me if I am wrong because I ended up being extreemly embarrassed and treated very rude over coupons! I need some advice/ help here. Please!!
Katheryn, You are correct! In fact, King Soopers recently changed their coupon policy to state that you can use 5 like coupons. So, even if this were before their recent change you should have been able to use 3 like coupons. So, if you had had 3 of the very same deodorants – same scent, same price – you should have been able to use 3 coupons for those 3 items. It sounds to me like the staff at that store is unclear on their own coupon policy.
Thank you for responding Jill! When you say I can use 3 coupons on the 3 items, do you mean I can use 3 coupons per one item, or 3 coupons on all 3 items? I was told over and over again that I can only use ONE coupon per item? The store manager voided my transaction and also kept all my coupons, when I asked for them back he stated “I would be giving you money back if you used these, and they are no good now anyway, you don’t need them”. I was suprised at how unprofessional they all were. Anyway I appreciate the help, thank you!
Ugh, so sorry they were not nice! First of all, he should not have taken your coupons NO MATTER WHAT! I would have fought tooth and nail for those. LOL
You can only use 1 coupon per item (see the exception below). Example: if you have 3 coupons for $1 off of a Suave deodorant, you cannot use all 3 coupons on 1 deodorant you do have to buy 3 deodorants.
Exception: You can use a store branded coupon (with the King Soopers logo on it) with a manufacturer’s coupon (one from the newspaper or printed from the internet. So, using the deodorant example above: if Kings had a $1/1 coupon in their newspaper ad for $1 off of Suave deodorant and you also had a $1/1 coupon in a regular coupon insert you could use BOTH of those coupons on ONE stick of Suave deodorant. So the only time Kings accepts more than one coupon per item is when one is a store coupon and the other is a mfr coupon.
I hope this makes sense. If you have more questions let me know!
I would report that store manager to King Soopers and/or Kroeger. The Store Manager should be a shining example of customer service, and he was not. To my knowledge, KS is not allowed to confiscate customer coupons not being used. That sounds like stealing to me. He should have reviewed your items in your basket and assisted you with selecting the eligible coupons that you could use and return the balance to you for a future purchase.
Since King Soopers is so stash with posting their coupon policy, how do you know how to select and present your coupons? They’re just asking for trouble by keeping it so secret. See my post above that tells my story of how I finally got a copy of the latest KS coupon policy, and it wasn’t from KS. http://denverbargains.com/coupon-resources/store-coupon-policies/king-soopers-official-coupon-policy/#general
I have another question, does King Soopers accept competitor coupons? I did not see anything about competitor coupons in the coupon policy.
Nope. They do not accept competitor coupons.
I have a few problems with king soopers over the last few months. Since i have became more extreme in couponing,. There recently aired an episode on TLC from colorado King Soopers when i did the same thing they wrote up the cashier who checked me out. They have singled me out when I go into that store i get treated as a criminal. I did contact the district manager on few occasionals did seem to get better for awhile. I have been done that the policy changes daily. now going to place yet another call to the district manager who i have her direct number saved in my cell phone. I was blamed for King Soopers loosing out on money.. Please any feedback would be helpful. i DID CALL the manager she off at home i do have her cell phone
Eva, Are you within the coupon policy limits? What are you trying to do that they dislike?
I have to say that episode of Extreme Couponing I saw at a King Soopers (in Thornton) shocked me, but I will tell you I have heard that the lady that did the shopping had to get special approval from King Soopers to do what she did as it isn’t commonplace.
Even still, if you are couponing and within the Kings policy you should not be treated with any issue at all.
I am new to couponing and I’m starting to gather all the necessary info and after reading the above comments I am wondering if maybe KS isn’t the best store to shop at? Do you have any recomendations for more ‘coupon-friendly’ stores or are they all pretty much the same? Also, ideally I would love to buy mostly organic products – is that realistic to think that I might be able to get really good savings but not buy the top brand names? Any info would help! Watching the TLC show is a bit intimidating…:)
Thanks!
Hi Tonya! I actually coupon shop at Kings 98% of the time. I rarely have coupon issues. My #1 suggestion is to follow policy, and it really isn’t too hard to do. If you try to “slip one through” they’re gonna catch it.
In my opinion Safeway’s policy is similar. We don’t have any Albertsons close anymore and Target and Walmart don’t double.
My #2 suggestion is to stick with a store that you are comfortable shopping with. I do shop at other stores, but I know my way around my Kings.
Here are the parts of the KS policy that you really need to know…
They double UP TO $1.00. A $.50 coupon will be $1.00 off. A $.75 coupon will be $1 off. A $.25 coupon will be $.50 off.
They only accept FIVE of the same coupon per transaction. If you have 8 of the same coupon for toothpaste you will have to separate into two transactions.
They do accept a manufacturer coupon + a store coupon (that says King Soopers on it – those usually come through the mail) for the very same item. Example: Nestle bottle water is on sale for $3.99. If you have a mfr coupon for $1 off and you also have a store coupon for $1 off you can use both coupons on ONE case of water and your price will be $1.99.
As for shopping organic, there are more and more coupons becoming available for organic foods everyday it seems like although I think they are likely name-brands. But this is the case with non-organic items too now that I think about it. And many times the name-brands with a coupon are cheaper than generic. I’m not an organic shopper so I probably am of not much help on this one. The same couponing theory applies, I guess.
Feel free to let me know if you have more questions!
PS While the Extreme Couponing show is hugely motivating, it is extremely unrealistic. Those types of shops are “made for tv” if you know what I mean. Not to mention that I really don’t see the point of 250 bars of deodorant or 1,000 boxes of pasta, ya know? AND? They aren’t good for the rest of us that really want to coupon to help our families. You can read this post and its comments… http://singlemomonabudget.com/extreme-couponers-the-long-term-effects/