Jill Cataldo

I stopped shopping at DOminicks years ago, too much of a hassel with all the reasons I could list for being frustrated shopping there, but the final straw was when I was a vendor for Sony and I called on several DOminicks locations, the employees, not all but more then any other accounts I called on, were nasty, mean and rude. I thought wow, they think they can treat me like this because I am a vendor and I am supposed to "suck up" to them. But I did not I held my ground and actually decided not to deal with some of the management and other employees. I then called DOminicks to complain about it and to say Im not just a vendor I am a customer too, and wanted to be treated with respect. needless to say I have not walked into a Dominicks since, it was very inticing with the Digornos pizza and ice cream deal yesterday, but deep in my heart i new I would get there, and it would be some kind of hassel, my prediction for the last few years has been Dominicks will go out of business at some point unless they "get with the program".....

the dominicks i got o tell me they don't take internet coupons, they take mine all the time...the only time i have had trouble is when i tried to use a coupon for money off a bogo product and tried to use the bogo coupon at the same time..they told me only one coupon per product , and that they will not take catalinas that had someone else logo on it like jewel...but they told me that before the new coupon policy came out a few days ago...does this mean you will not be writing about dominicks anymore?

Ok I am a new Super Couponing Junkie *giggle* and i have read Dominick's new coupon policy which does not say they still take expired coupons. I am running on faith that they do, but I am wondering if it is only exp. manufacture's coupons OR if they take their own exp. coupons too? Anyone?

I say this every time I go "I will not go back" and I do it again and again...
This time my just for "U" free eggs did not come off and the Customer Service was no help.
Thanks Dominick's but I will now shop at Jewel for now on.

Apologies if this has been answered somewhere else on the site, I've searched around on this scenario couldn't find it.
To my incident today:
Walgreens manager said he would not accept my .75 off catalina which clearly stated "manufacturer's coupon" at the top w/the UPC code b/c the Jewel logo is on it.

Is this correct or do I need to contact Walgreens corp?
Thank you for all the $ I've saved already Jill!

I find myself when shopping the few times I have at Dominicks that the lady at the register seems to not scan all of my coupons...then I end up going over to the customer service desk and trying to prove what coupons I had after they were already put in the cashiers register drawer. A couple of weeks ago I did get a good deal on diapers but that was it.

I've read all your comments on negative experiences using coupons at Dominicks. I'm not sure what is going on over at Dominicks but I stopped shopping there years ago. I noticed years ago that they overcharged me for some item nearly every time I shopped. If I didn't notice the overcharge as the cashier was ringing it up then they would tell me I had to go the service desk to get a refund- which to say the least is annoying and a waste of time. I got tired of their nonsense and wrote the store off completely. Jewel rarely rings up items incorrectly and if they overcharge you they automatically give you the item free. (I have not been overcharged for anything at Jewel for some time now so I'm not sure if they still have the same policy in place) So bottom line- if you choose to shop at Dominicks despite their ridiculous and apparently nonexistant coupon policy make sure you check your receipt for overcharges every time.

I have to admit jewel used to be my favorite store to shop at too, but i learned recently that they can be as fickel as dominick's was, but they redeem themselves if you go the right route! after an REALLY REALLY bad experiance at jewel My girlfriends and I called corprate and we were all given $25 gift cards for our trouble! I thought that's gonna be a lot of free stuff after coupons! And that sour taste in my mouth after that visit started to taste a little sweet, so if you have a bad experience, maybe report it, you never know how the store will react.

I found once a site that would have a list of items at a certain store and match them to a coupon. On the right side of the column it told how much of a discount that would be. you could click on the items you wanted and then print the list with the coupon look up info. I can't find that site now. Does anyone know which one it is? it is not coupongame as I never signed up for that and the list was not in colors.
Thanks,
Robbin

WoW!!! You are my kind of girl!!!! I am always fightin' with cashirs and store managers----and it is interesting that you mention Walmart---one day they will take internet coupons and one day they won't----but HEY! This is Alabama!!!! I often leave my full grocery
buggy at the store if they won't accept my coupons. My children have
stopped going to the store with me because they get so embarrassed
but they for get that it all adds up to the food on the table and the makeup on their face and the videos we buy, etc., etc. I like you go to the store manager , to the regional manager, to the CEO until I get an answer. If they print out coupons for us, I guess they want us to use them. If they don't, start lowering food prices!!!! Thanks for what you are doing. Sincerely, Miriam Armbrester

I went to Jewel ready to buy Clorox wipes today before the sale ended. They are buy 4 and get the $3 automatic savings at Jewel until 10/14. I rang them up and got my discount, and proceeded to apply my printable coupons for Buy 2 get 1 Free. In the self checkout lanes Jewel requires a clerk to put them through. She was about to scan them and then told me that any printable coupon with the word Free on them or anything over $4 will not be accepted. Why were they no longer accepted? She stated it was store policy and that it has been this way. I asked her when this went in to affect because I saw someone using the exact coupons the night before. She told me the clerk must not have know what to do. She asked if I wanted to talk to the manager, but I figured it was useless since she asked me and must have known the policy. I left the items there. Then when I got home, I was so irked, I emailed the company. I'm waiting for a response...of which I won't get until the sale is over. I did some searching on the web and found some blogs about how stores are being scammed with copied coupons and dummied coupons and that they won't accept those types of coupons any longer and that they might not take printables overall. Who's ruining it for the rest of us? In any case, if this is their policy, they should be posting it so the public can read it!

if you have a buy 2 save $1, how many do you buy and how may coupons can you use? also I shop at jewel.

I live in Florida and generally shop at Publix, Target, Wal-Mart, etc. I am new to the "super-coupon" experience, although I have used coupons for years. Before I took internet coupons to my favorite stores, I went to the stores' websites to look for coupon policies which were not always readily available. If I could not find the policy, I sent an email to customer service, and I have to say that Publix was the only company where my local store's manager called me personally to explain their policy. I took a couple of internet coupons with me on my first trip to Publix after the phone call, and had no problems with using them.

I go to Safeway all the time - in Hawaii we don't have Jewel or any of the other nat'l chain stores, and I've never had a problem getting them to take my printed coupons. And the cashiers usually laugh and chat with me when they see my coupons - last time the cashier pointed me out to another customer and said, "You should watch her - she knows how to get the best deal." I guess folks are just nicer in HI. And when you live somewhere so expensive everyone appreciates good deals.
Anyway, sounds like the local stores are rotten there, but not all Safeway stores reject printed coupons.

I totally agree with you. Last night I went to the Crystal Lake Dominick's. The staff was friendly enough and the store was clean, but they didn't even stock the items they put out coupons for! I specifically went there for the 25.5 oz box of Kellogg's Raisin Bran for .99 and I had a .70 coupon making it .29 I was sooooo excited. I got to the shelf and there was not even a space for that size box, just their store brand in that size. I also loaded a $2 coupon onto my FV card for Gillette Shampoo and again had a manf coupon for $2 off - THEY DON'T EVEN CARRY THAT SHAMPOO AT THIS STORE. I left so disappointed, I felt scammed that they put a coupon in their ad flyer and on the FV card for products that weren't even in the store. I'll never waste my time there again, don't care how good a deal might be. The Jewel is closer to my house anyway and I've always liked them better. Now I can afford to shop there instead of only at Aldi and Walmart thanks to Jill's amazing lessons. Too bad for Dominick's they are missing out on a whole new customer base. After people take this class I'm sure the local Jewel's see a bunch of new business coming in. Thanks again Jill you are amazing!

I called Dominick's (Wolf Rd. & 31st.) on Saturday night to find out if they accepted internet coupons. The lady on the phone hemmed and hawed before finally saying that they would have to see the coupons before they could answer my question because a lot of internet coupons are fraudulent. Great answer. So, I went to this Dominick's on Sunday to pick up a few things and I had 2 internet coupons. I was completely prepared for a fight! Went to the cashier, gave her my coupons (they were the only coupons I was using), and she scanned both of them. I honestly don't think that she even looked at them! But she didn't question me about it or give me a hard time so MAYBE you can use internet coupons here!

I was at Dominick's last night for the 5 for $5. I was going to buy the cereal and the Manager was bagging for the two girls at the registers. He told me he would only take one coupon per transaction. I not only had an internet coupon but two regular coupons and he was only going to allow the cashier to take one regular coupon per transaction. Needless to say, I was not a happy camper. I told him I didn't want the items and would not be back. When I returned home, I called Safeway Customer Service. I spoke with Judy and she was very nice and as confused as I. She called the manager at Dominick's and spoke with him. She called me back to tell me that the Manager states that since Safeway has a flexible coupon policy that the district manager and his managers decided they would only take one coupon per transaction not per purchase. Judy was confused and aksed if I was trying to double and I told her we don't have doubling in these stores. I guess their other chains do double and some triple. If they double or triple the store eats that cost. She said she was going to write a complaint to the district manager because she had no idea why they had institued this policy since they would be reimbursed by the manufacturer. I personally will not go back to Dominick's since there are so many other stores out there that will take my money and coupons.

Target has put up signs at each register and pictures of internet coupons like the pop tarts a couple of weeks ago saying they no longer can take them.

This Dominick's discussion has been fascinating. After I emailed the store about my experience there, this is what I received:

_____
Date: Thu, 18 Sep 2008 01:59:06
From: "web.comments"

Dear Ms. Cataldo:

Thank you for your recent correspondence regarding your local Dominick's store.

You expressed your concern regarding the acceptance of Internet coupons at the store. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience you may have experienced. At Dominick's, we strive for excellence. Communication with our customers like you enables our continued improvement. Thank you for taking the time to let us know how we can better serve you.

Upon receiving your email, we contacted the store and spoke with our Manager, John. He advised that they accept only one Internet coupon per order.

Your comments are important to us and have been forwarded to the Store Manager, Marketing Department as well as the other appropriate parties for further review. We appreciate your patience in this matter.

If you would like to discuss this further please reply to this email or call our toll free number at 1-877-723-3929 and reference contact I.D. XXXXXXXX. One of our associates will be happy to assist you.

We appreciate your business and look forward to seeing you soon. Thank you for shopping at Dominick's.

Sincerely,
Michelle Babel
Customer Service Center

_____

Okay, so this location (which is on the corner of Randall and Huntley Roads in Carpentersville) evidently takes one internet coupon per transaction. Or so they say. The same day, I also got this:

_____

Date: Thu, 18 Sep 2008 14:00:53 -0500
From: "web.comments"

Thank you for your recent correspondence regarding your local Dominick's store.

You expressed your concern regarding the acceptance of Internet coupons at the store. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience you may have experienced. We continually strive for the highest quality customer service and weigh options to provide the best shopping experience for our customers. Further, we request that you respond with the exact location of the store that you are referring to, so that we can research and assist you in the best possible way.

Additionally, in order to insure that we accept only legitimate printable Internet coupons, Dominick's has adopted the following store policies and guidelines. These policies and guidelines are company wide.

1. We will not accept any printable Internet coupons that do not have a manufacturer's bar code or manufacturer's redemption instructions.

2. We will accept any printable Internet coupons only if they scan properly at checkout.

3. We will not accept more than one "copy" of the same printable Internet coupon per customer.

4. We will not accept any printable Internet coupons for a Free Product (other than a "Buy One Get One Free Offer" that requires a purchase of the like item)

5. We will not accept any printable Internet coupons for more than a $5.00 value or for more than 50% of a product's retail price, whichever of the two is lower.

6. We will not accept any printable Internet coupons that do not have an easy to read expiration date or that extend more than 12 weeks. (Most printable Internet coupons may expire 30-45 days after you print them)

7. We will not accept any printable Internet coupons that appear out of proportion, appear blurry, or are obvious duplicates.

8. Any printable Internet coupons that appear to have been altered in any way may be rejected. (Printable Internet coupons are nearly always printed using the same technology and therefore have a standard format, with very specific security features, including a unique serial code.

If you would like to discuss this further, please reply to this email or call our toll free number at 1-877-723-3929 and reference contact I.D. XXXXXXXX. One of our associates will be happy to assist you.

We appreciate your business and look forward to seeing you soon. Thank you for shopping at Dominick's.

Sincerely,

Michelle Babel
Customer Service Center

_____________________

So, in the same day, the same person sent out two different responses. One, that this store will ONLY accept one internet coupon per transaction, and two, that the store will take one of "the same" internet coupon per item per transaction, provided the other characteristics are followed as well. But when you print two copies of most coupons online, while they are technically "the same" in that they both might be 50 cents off Cheerios, they do have unique bar code identifiers in the upper right corner, technically making them "different." So can I use two of those? One?

Dominick's, honestly... does this make ANY sense?

I hear you. I ave been shopping for years 10 to be exact at the schaumburg Dominick's on higgins. I am friend (or at least on first name basis with most :) because it is right by my house. ...however about three months no I started coupons. Thanks so much to Jill :) at her site. I have been able to save great. Well anyway. The first day I used the coupons at Dominick's ( and I did not even have that many about 8 or nine and spent over a 100 dollars. I know not big savings but it was my first time) well the cashiers face instantly changed when I handed over the coupons and I got a sigh...... I went back about 5 or so times at different times because this was my store. I have shopped at least a Dominick's all my life....well now when I go to the store no one talks to me like they did and I got the eye rolls and such when I went to use the coupons still. I also have a friend that the same thing happened to and guess what ...Now because of there actions on coupons. They just lost long time shoppers. Neither one of us go there any more. And I will not go back. Pretty sad that something so simple on their part, makes them loose long time customers.....Its like someone else said here. their attitude is clearly like they are mad that you are using coupons and they do nothing to hide it. .....Very sad on their part. Maybe Dominick's will read these and finally get a clue. I doubt it however :)

I'll start by saying I do NOT work for Dominick's ... I still shop there - the Palatine Dundee Rd being my "home" grocery store and the Northfield (FANTASTICALLY REMODELED with self-checkout now too!!!!!) Dominick's near my office for quick errands - neither have EVER denied a coupon. I used Internet coupons AND expired coupons at both just this week. No problem. Both are also clean & the staff is friendly and quite helpful when I've had questions. I shop periodically at the Arlington Heights Dominick's on Palatine Rd (while the Northfield one was closed from the ceiling cave-in), and they were also very liberal with the expired coupons and the internet coupons. I'm still a Dominick's shopper as I've never run into ANY problems at the Dominick's I shop at. These Dominick's are also the only stores around me that still use their child car-carts and with a 21-month old, they are a lifesaver.

I agree with Dirk. While shopping at the Dominicks at Randall Rd. & Huntley Blacktop in Carpentersville, we commented on how dirty that store is. You could write your name in the dust on the top of the canned goods. The only reason we TRIED to shop there was for the deals. I said TRIED because we got to the register and mean old Fran said no internet coupons. Then changed her story that they would accept ONE for the whole order, which was a full shopping cart.
Left that fully loaded cart in the shopping lane and walked out of that store forever. Dominicks has lost my business. Jewel , I am back.

Is it any wonder that so many Dominick's stores have closed? I live out by Midway airport and a lot of our Dominick's stores have shut their doors. The one store on Archer and Central used to do a lot of business but near the end you could hear a pin drop in that place. Gee, wonder why that could be?

Just wanted to say thanks for the comments guys and gals. I was actually going to make a special trip because of this week's sales. Glad I didn't do that.

Lastly, I worked for Dominick's in the 80's. I never met a group of people who despised their jobs as much as the employees of Dominick's. There used to be a joke about what they printed on the paychecks - Dominick's: A great place to work. A lot of the employees were even mean to each other!!!!