Couponer or not- checkout is where your shopping trip can be derailed. It means your $20 cart of groceries could actually cost you a lot more- and not just in money- but time too! Here are the biggest mistakes I’ve seen- that cost BIG!
Not Double Checking your Cart
This is close to your last chance to avoid paying $2 for that slice of cake that you really don’t need or want…but looked so good. Or change your mind about buying that box of crackers you really don’t like- just because it is 75% off. Do a quick glance through your cart to be sure that what you are about to pay for is really worth it. I always walk the items I change my mind on back to where it belongs because I feel if I took it off the shelf…I should put it back (that’s when I actually appreciate bringing my older kids to the store- they can put any unwanted items back!) but most stores will do it for you.
Not Ringing Items Up In the Best Order
Cashiers grab into a cart, scan and move on to the next item. By the time you hand over your rainchecks, coupons or other discounts- the item it is for may be six bags deep in your cart. Put the items that may cause issues first. Any item you have a raincheck for should be put on the scanner first- and the cashier alerted that you have a raincheck. Any items with a “free” item coupon or a coupon you know may cause issues at the register. This way it can be taken care of with the item in hand- rather than digging around for it at the end.
Items with a digital coupon I have rung up and then subtotaled to ensure it comes off. It’s hard to catch that single line discount at the end when all the loyalty card discounts are applied!
Not Watching The Screen
Cashiers today are FAST at scanning and the machines are even faster. Watching the screen is probably the single most important thing you can do at checkout to avoid being over charged. The biggest culprit? Produce that needs a code entered. I once got charged nearly $5 a pound for 99¢ a pound apples because the code was 1 digit off! Be sure you weigh your produce yourself too! Scales can be WAY off! I once was charged for 10 pounds of apples – but i knew the scale in produce showed it was only 5 pounds. After checking another register they realized that scale had been damaged- overcharging who knows how many customers.
Be sure that the price you expected based on the ad or the shelf tag is what rings up- many stores have scan guarantee so if they charge you more- you get that item FREE!
Watch that items aren’t accidentally scanned twice and that the sale price you expected shows up.
If you are using coupons- watch that they are scanned and applied (or doubled at stores that double).
Not Correcting Problems Before Paying
Grocery store receipts are like trying to read code. All these numbers and lines and totals….. Trying to decipher the discounts is nearly impossible but it’s even worse if you have to bring it back into the store without the items and hope the store can decipher and correct any errors.
Fix it at the register- BEFORE you hand your money over. Let the people behind you roll their eyes. It’s your money. You work hard for it. Don’t pay out more than you should and hope to get the overcharges back. If you just can’t stand to have a mistake fixed with people waiting to pay for their groceries- at a minimum don’t leave the store. Push your cart straight over to the customer service desk and hash it out right away.
Not Getting Rainchecks
(most stores are not giving rainchecks with the current situation.)
Really wanted some of the cheap grapes in the sales flyer but found none in the store?? Ask for a raincheck – that’s a promise from the store to honor that sale when you come back in at a later date….after the current sale is over! Every store has their own policy on rainchecks- some stores’ rainchecks are valid for 30 days, other 60, some never expire. Some store won’t accept coupons when a raincheck is redeemed (Harris Teeter) and others will even accept a coupon that has now expired but was in-date at the time of the original sale (Publix).
Not Knowing your Total Due Before Checking Out
Are you ever shocked when the cashier asks you for $117.19? Or however much the total comes out to? This should NEVER happen. Using coupons or not- knowing what the cost of your cart is so important. Making a detailed list at home using our matchups or even just handwriting a list with prices after coupons or adding things up as you add to the cart- however you do it – know your total before you hit checkout! (We have a free excel spreadsheet you can download by signing up for our email newsletter!)
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