UPDATE: Publix has published its new coupon policy on its website at Publix.com. The policy is effective on Monday. Find it listed under the "Coupons" tab. It's identical to the policy the company announced via e-mail on May 18.
Click here to read it.
-- Doreen Christensen
Publix has adopted a written coupon policy effective May 23 at more than 1,000 stores, the company announced Wednesday.
Publix Coupon Policy - effective May 23:
"Publix accepts manufacturers’ coupons (limit one per item), Publix coupons (originals only—no copies), valid Internet coupons, and coupons from nearby competitors identified by each Publix store. (Competitor names are posted at each Publix store.) We will accept coupons from competing pharmacies for prescriptions only. We will not accept percent-off-items or percent-off-total-order coupons. We will only accept coupons for identical merchandise we sell. Acceptance is subject to any restrictions on the coupon and we reserve the right to limit quantities. Manager approval is needed for individual coupons above $5.00. For a buy-one-get-one free (BOGO) offer, each item is considered a separate sale. We will accept a manufacturer’s coupon and either a Publix or a competitor coupon on the same item. Dollars-off-total-order coupons will be limited to one Publix and one competitor coupon per order. The order total must be equal to or greater than the total purchase requirements indicated on the coupon(s) presented."
The move is designed to reduce customer frustration and create consistency among stores.
“For some time now, customers have been asking us what our coupon policy is,” said Kimberly Jaeger, media and community relations manager for the Lakeland-based grocery chain. They have asked for consistency among stores and guidelines for general coupon usage. However, the changes really should be minimal for our South Florida customers.”
For years, Publix has accepted $5-off coupons from competitors such as Winn-Dixie and Albertson’s (Publix purchased 49 Albertson's stores in Florida in 2008), but was not widely known to customers or uniformly accepted by all stores.
Beginning Saturday, stores will post a list of competitor-accepted coupons, which will vary by stores, Jaeger said. Now, customers will be able to use one competitor and one Publix dollar-off-total-order coupons of the combined purchase, Jaeger said. If you have coupons for an Albertson's $5 off a $50 purchase and a Publix $5 off $30 purchase, you would have to spend $80 to get $10 off.
Typically, Target and Walmart coupons are not accepted. The written policy will be available at Publix.com on Monday, Jaeger said.
Publix also is testing a new coupon scanning system designed to reduce check-out times.
“Our main priority is to take care of our customer by providing the best service, which includes shorter wait times at the register. The system is being tested in select markets. Its success will determine future roll-out,” Jaeger said.
The chain has 1,034 markets in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama and Tennessee.
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