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Coventina

(28,768 posts)
Mon Sep 29, 2025, 08:29 PM Sep 29

Grumble: Anyone else sick and tired of the grocery store run-around for "deals"?

I just got back from the grocery store.

As usual, when I did the self-checkout, it didn't give me the proper discount on one item.
So I called for help.

The woman that helped me was pretty unkind about it.

"This is a digital offer. Did you put it in "my deals?"

No, I didn't know it was a digital offer.

She huffed and checked my app.

"You're not logged in properly, that's why it's not registering. I'll do it for you this ONE TIME, but from now on you have to log in properly."

She acted like she was doing me this HUGE favor, and I was some kind of dimwit.

So, now apparently you have to:

Register a membership, put in your phone number, AND be logged into your app in order to shop?
Good grief!

What next? Blood, urine and hair samples?

18 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies

Irish_Dem

(75,845 posts)
1. They need to give us a training session on how the use the damn self check out.
Mon Sep 29, 2025, 08:31 PM
Sep 29

I don't know how to weigh the fruits and veggies.

They should put us on the payroll of they want us to for the store's job
of clerking.

SheltieLover

(74,253 posts)
3. Kroger "digital deals" are even worse!
Mon Sep 29, 2025, 08:38 PM
Sep 29

Nobody knows how to access them to add them to your coupons.

Coventina

(28,768 posts)
4. I actually avoid shopping at Frys (Kroger) because of that.
Mon Sep 29, 2025, 08:41 PM
Sep 29

I don't want to have to jump through hoops like a show pony to shop at a store.

Gaugamela

(3,033 posts)
5. Often the "sale" just brings the cost down to a normal price. I expect what they're really doing is selling your data.
Mon Sep 29, 2025, 08:41 PM
Sep 29

Lifeafter70

(660 posts)
16. Yep
Mon Sep 29, 2025, 09:37 PM
Sep 29

I worked for Safeway in the late 90's. One of my jobs was price changes and sales tags. You always knew what was going on sale because the prices would go up a few cents over that month just to drop back down.

senseandsensibility

(24,015 posts)
6. Never use self checkout but the person monitering it
Mon Sep 29, 2025, 08:41 PM
Sep 29

does seem kinda rude. We want to help save actually UNION checker jobs at our local grocery store. So we always wait in the line with a checker. As far as deals, we have to "clip" them on our phone before we get to the checkout and it seems to work okay.

Coventina

(28,768 posts)
9. Sadly, we live in a right to work state, so no union cashiers.
Mon Sep 29, 2025, 08:47 PM
Sep 29

This grocery store only has one cashier on duty, so I almost always use the self-checkout, because they make it painful to wait in line.

RussBLib

(10,234 posts)
8. that happened to me today
Mon Sep 29, 2025, 08:45 PM
Sep 29

...was going to buy some frozen chicken strips which have been in the neighborhood of $8.50 per package of around 2lbs. I saw a big tag at the freezer case for this chicken which sure looked like $2 off the bag, so I bought two. Sure enough, it was a "digital ad," but I didn't pause long enough at the freezer case to read it carefully, so I paid full price. This store also has lots of paper coupons attached to the shelves for multiple items which you take to the cashier, and they also have a series of special tags that show a price reduction on the spot. At least THREE different types of discounts.

It's getting complicated.


https://russblib.blogspot.com

Totally Tunsie

(11,315 posts)
17. Be careful, too, with the digital coupons. Many times in the small print
Tue Sep 30, 2025, 12:59 AM
Sep 30

there will be a notice that the digital coupon is valid for one only of the item. If you purchase multiples, the second and subsequent items could be at full price. It comes down to a reading test. Be sure to always check for this. I see it more and more, and always at the warehouse stores such as BJs. Don't have a Costco membership, so am not positive about their rules - or Sam's either.

KentuckyWoman

(7,295 posts)
14. My fav for Kroger
Mon Sep 29, 2025, 09:01 PM
Sep 29

Fantastic sale on something non perishable that I like... but you have to buy 5 to get the saving. Mix and match but non of that other stuff is something I use. So I say, OK. I will buy 5 toothpaste. Get to the store. Empty shelf. Raincheck... 45 min waiting.

Tree Lady

(12,780 posts)
15. Both Safeway and Fred's (Kroger)
Mon Sep 29, 2025, 09:11 PM
Sep 29

Are like that. They stopped doing paper coupons and most elderly can't figure out all the online coupons.

I completely stopped shopping at those stores, I go to Trader Joe's, Costco, Co-op, Natural grocer has coupons but they make it easy to clip them, and shop sales without coupons. Costco has a coupon book no need to clip.

My husband shops at Fred's and plays the coupon game with them. He has learned which clerks will help him with digital coupons that never work, the clerks admitted they don't work for them most of the time.

Initech

(106,485 posts)
18. I'm seriously ready to tell them where they can go shove their apps.
Tue Sep 30, 2025, 01:08 AM
Sep 30

And also the damn feedback. I am sick of having to leave feedback for everything on the planet! Not everything needs an app, a login and a rating.

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