You know these grocer discount cards? A few years ago there was no such thing. You wanted a discount you either waited for a sale or you used coupons. Then grocers and drug stores started to issue special cards and to encourage you to use the card by making it a requirement for all sale items. In Houston I have a Kroger’s Card, a Randall’s Card, a Rice Epicurean Card, and a CVS Card. I usually keep them in my wallet, but sometimes they end up in my shirt pocket through my own carelessness and naturally they stay at home with my shirt.
Now let’s say you picked out your items you made sure to select items that were “on sale”. Then you get to the checkout counter and you realize that you left your discount card at home. What do you do?[list=A]
[li]Just pay the extra $3.78 (or more).[/li][li]Borrow a card.[/li][li]Place the items back on the shelves and go home to get the card.[/li][li]Leave your items there and go home to get the card.[/li][li]Leave your items there and go to the competition, who doesn’t require a card.[/li][li]Leave your items there and come back when you are good and ready.[/li][/list=1]For the record, I’m an ‘F’
When they ask “do you have a card?” I say “no, but I want one”, they pull one out and scan it, telling me to fill the card out and bring it back, I leave the extra card in my truck.
The check-out lady always lets people use her card to get the discount. However, I never leave my card at home. It’s in my checkbook and my checkbook is in my purse, and my purse is always with me. Never leave home without it.
Ask for to use a “house” card. Usually a cashier will carry one for regulars who forget thiers at home.
Pay the normal price and then the next time you go shopping there have the reciept adjusted to show the savings. Bring in your card and they will give you a refund on all items that the card affected.
I’ve never forgotten mine, but I thought you could just give the cashier your home phone number, and they could trace back to your club card from their database that way.
Oh, I forgot. Krogers (and I assume some others) has these new fancy checkout lanes where you check yourself out. If you don’t have a card, then you are stuck out. What do you do when you DON’T have a card and the store doesn’t want to help you out?
I have the miniature ones on my keychain, so I always have one with me.
I don’t know what I’d do if I forgot it - likely get one from the cashier if need be.
If the savings are greating than $3, I would just go to the information desk and fill out a new one. That’s why I have about 3 for the food chain that I go to.
Some of the cards work for more than one store. They are either owned by the same company or they use the same data company to process the info. For example you can use your Safeway card at Vons and your Albertson’s card can be used at Kroger’s and Fry’s (grocery store, not electronics.) If you happen to be missing just one card, try the others. Both Albertson’s and Safeway let you use your phone number if you forget though, I think.
I simply never shop at a place that requires a card. They have plenty of competition around here that wants my business and does not require me to register with them.
Yes, at least one grocery store near me uses Surreal’s method. They’ll key your phone number into their register, then start ringing you up under your discount.
Most chains frown on using ‘house cards’ anymore-they’re offering these programs to try to track spending patterns and target their advertising, but they can’t do that if they don’t know who the shopper was.
Whenever I get a cute checker, I tell her I forgot my card. That gives me an excuse to give her my phone number.
I can tell you with authority that Publix does not require any card for any sales or savings. There are items marked “Advantage Buy”, but they do not require cards. Everyone at Publix pays the same price for their groceries.
They formerly required a card to use a personal check, but that is no longer the case. Now it’s just a driver’s license.
I used to have a Jewel Foods card of the type that goes on the keychain, but it broke and got lost. So now, I just say, Yes I have a card, but I can’t find it, so they scan a house card for me (not knowing that it’s been over a year since I could find it). If it ever gets to the point where they won’t, I’ll just leave all the groceries and walk out.
d_redguy and I have a few of those things. Most of the time we remember to use them. Sometimes we forget. I never saw it as a reason to leave all the stuff I just spent 1/2 an hour finding in the store. We only shop when we need stuff, so we just pay for it. We need it, and we are going to take it home. It’s not like we’re gonna be saving $50.00 or anything. Just 3 to 5 bucks. Maybe $7.50, if we buy a lot. Sometimes the cashier lets us use her card. Either way, we just pay and go home. No big deal.