It’s frustrating when you’re trying to stick to a budget and the rules keep changing depending on who’s working or what system they’re using.
Honestly, it feels like some kind of secret club where the rules are made up as you go. I get why stores want to limit “double dipping,” but if the fine print says stacking is allowed, then the system should actually let you do it—otherwise, what’s the point? Reminds me of insurance policies with all those exclusions in tiny print... except at least with insurance, you can usually call someone and argue your case. At checkout, you just get a blank stare and a shrug.
Why can’t I use my points AND a coupon at checkout?
Reminds me of insurance policies with all those exclusions in tiny print... except at least with insurance, you can usually call someone and argue your case. At checkout, you just get a blank stare and a shrug.
That “blank stare and a shrug” is exactly it. You’d think after all the time we spend clipping coupons and racking up points, the least they could do is make the rules clear—and actually follow them. I mean, what’s the point of having a loyalty program if you’re not allowed to be loyal *and* save a few bucks at the same time? Feels like they want us to jump through hoops just to use what we’ve already earned.
Every time I go shopping for groceries or—worse—school supplies, it’s another guessing game. Is today the day my points magically work with that coupon I’ve been hanging onto for months? Or will I get told, “Sorry, system won’t let me do that”? Last week, I tried stacking a $10 off coupon with my rewards balance. The cashier scanned both, looked confused, then called over her manager who just said, “Yeah, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t.” Helpful.
I get that stores don’t want to lose money from people gaming the system. But if their own app or flyer says stacking is fine, why does it feel like rolling dice every time? Honestly, half the time I’m more frustrated than anything else—especially when you’ve got kids waiting in the car and you’re trying to get out before someone starts melting down.
Is this just a tech issue? Or are they hoping we’ll give up and pay full price because arguing at checkout is such a pain? Either way, it’s not exactly making me want to keep shopping there. Maybe if they made things less complicated we wouldn’t have to stand there reading fine print while other people in line start sighing loudly…
Is today the day my points magically work with that coupon I’ve been hanging onto for months? Or will I get told, “Sorry, system won’t let me do that”?
That’s exactly how it feels—like you’re spinning a wheel every time you check out. I swear, half the time the cashier is just as confused as I am. I’ve even had one tell me, “Yeah, it’s weird, sometimes it works for my mom but not for me.” Makes you wonder if their tech is held together with duct tape and hope. It shouldn’t be this complicated to use what you’ve earned... especially when you’re trying to keep your cool in a crowded store parking lot.
I had almost the exact same thing happen at the grocery store last week. I’d been saving up points for ages, and finally found a coupon that actually applied to something I wanted. Figured I’d walk out with a killer deal. Instead, I ended up standing there while the cashier poked at the register, then called over her supervisor, and then both of them just shrugged and said, “Yeah, sometimes it just doesn’t let you.”
It’s like the system is playing favorites or something. One time, I even tried using my points and a coupon on a smaller purchase, thinking maybe it was a total amount thing, but nope—still got denied. Meanwhile, the person in front of me used two coupons and a gift card without any issues. Makes zero sense.
What gets me is how unpredictable it is. Some days it works, some days it doesn’t. I get that there are rules about stacking discounts, but if the store’s own app says both are valid, shouldn’t it just... work? I’ve started just asking the cashier up front if it’s worth trying, but half the time they’re as lost as I am.
Maybe it’s just bad luck or maybe there’s some secret code we’re all missing. Either way, it shouldn’t feel like you’re taking a pop quiz every time you check out. At this point, I’d settle for a straight answer—even if it’s “no,” at least I’d know what to expect.
Honestly, I get the frustration, but I’m not totally convinced it’s just random. I’ve noticed some stores have super strict systems about what counts as a “coupon” versus a “reward,” and sometimes the fine print is buried in the app or on the website. One time, I actually dug through their terms and found a weird clause about “cannot be combined with other offers,” even if the cashier said otherwise. It’s annoying, but maybe it’s less about luck and more about confusing policies no one really reads. Still, you’d think they could make it clearer...
