Problems with Meijer Catalinas

[Melissa]

So I was at Meijer last night around midnight, I did not have time to stop earlier in the week and I really wanted some of the black beans among other things. So I got 5 boxes of bc fruit snacks and 10 boxes of fiber one bars. I rang these items in three transactions in groups of 5 bc I was not sure if they were the same offer or not. There was a huge sign on the floor near the product display that made it look like they could be connected.

So after all three orders I should have had 3, $3.50 Catalinas OYNO. Well instead-- 3, $1.50 OYNO printed for each group. I explained to the cashier that was not right and that it should be $3.50, I expained and directed her to the huge sign on the floor. She immeditatly went to the computerized list and said that it said $3.00 OYNO wyb5 til 3-31. I told her it was supposed to be $3.50 and pointed to the sign. She went and looked and after some time came and hand wrote me three $3.50 off catalinas.

There are many reasons why a catalina does not print. Machine is out of paper, out of ink, could be jammed and so on. I am sure you will encounter a problem like this at least once and I want you to be prepared if it happens. All in all, it all worked out and it usually does. I was grateful that the sign was there as the computerized list was wrong.

I wanted to post about my experience and make a thread for any problems that may arise when your catalina does not print, or prints for a different dollar amount than expected. Lets put any issues we have with the Meijer Catalinas so we can help eachother and help new people who might not know what to do if a catalina does not print.

Unfortunately most of the time we have to rely on the store signs for proof of a Catalina but then people remove the sign to show proof and it doesn’t get replaced and so on, but have them look it up for you. They have a list on the computer and they CAN look it up at Customer Service. Or they can talk to the grocery manager or store manager I am sure they are aware of the promotions.

What should I do if my Catalina does not print?

1. Make sure you have purchased the correct product(s).
2. Tell the cashier. Many times the cashier can remedy the issue if the machine is not functioning properly.
3. Always ask to speak to the manager or customer service if you are not successful with the cashier. They will make all attempts to correct the situation.
4. If not successful at the store, you can also save your receipt and call the Catalina Company 1-888-8coupon or email coupon@catalinamarketing.com.

[K - Ohio]

My big "beef" with the catalinas is the cloak of mystery that sometimes surrounds them. Often the only "notice" I see of them are on blogs.

Without a printout in hand (from a previous shopping trip) or a sign to point to in the store, I have not had much luck with customer service. Most of the time I get the shrugging of shoulders.....
Occasionally someone at CS thinks I look honest enough and will hand write a replacement.

Why the secrecy? Why can't Meijer (et al) just post them clearly on their website for EVERYONE to easily reference?

Although I haven't followed the directions in this link, http://couponkim.com/2010/01/did-you-hav...-get-help/

there may be recourse with the catalina company:
coupon@catalinamarketing.com

[Melissa]

If not successful at the store, save your receipt and call the Catalina Company 1-888-8coupon. They are open M-F 7am-8pm EST and Sat-Sun from 8am-5pm.

So you can email or call catalina if the store will not give you what is owed.

[Melissa]

(02-21-2010 10:53 AM)K - Ohio Wrote:  Why the secrecy? Why can't Meijer (et al) just post them clearly on their website for EVERYONE to easily reference?

We are working on this, and hope to have something sooner than later.

[K - Ohio]

One can dream.....

[Melissa]

There is a lot of red tape. We hit a few bumps, something about competition and such but I am prepared to follow any rules that they set forth. So, this is why the secrecy, competitive reasons. But I don't understand that completely so, I will keep everyone posted...

[bethaliz6894]

i dont understand the competitive reasons, arent they the only ones that has this service? i would love to have a list available too.

[Melissa]

My thought is that competitive for the manufacturer. But nowadays there are just a few companies that own the entire food industry so......

[kittygirl3]

Today I went into my Meijer (in Illinois) to get 5 Edy's ice creams, for a total of $12.50. This is all that I purchased. I had some coupons which brought the price under $12.00. I did not receive the $4 Catalina for OYNO. The ad states that you buy $12 and get $4 back.

I questioned this at customer service, with the manager and corporate. I was told that for the catalina to print, I needed to spend $12.50 on Edys' AFTER all coupons were applied.

I did the Betty Crocker deal several weeks ago, and had coupons on everything, and it worked. But I did have other groceries which would have brought my total basket price to around $50.

Has anyone else experienced anything like this? Any advice? I'm worried about even trying the GM deal this week now. Thanks in advance.

[Melissa]

What do you mean the manager and corporate?

You were given the wrong information. You may use coupons and the Catlaina will still print.
The value has to be reached B4 any coupons or discounts unless otherwise specified in print.

Here is an example of depends who you have: If you call your credit card company to get your interest rate lowered and they tell you there is nothing they can do even if you threaten to cancel. You can hang up and call right back and speak to someone else and get your rate lowered by 10 % w/o having to threaten to cancel. Actually happened to me, a few times. Even after they insisted there is nothing they can do

I suppose if this happened to me I would kindly explain that it does not say in the ad that you only get the OYNO if the total meets $12 after coupons. They would have no argument and would have to write you a OYNO or you could return the ice cream, in that case they wouldve probably wrote the OYNO. I know that it was an inconvenience to do either and sometimes we have to go to battle and stand our ground against uninformed cashiers and even managers.

I had a Meijer manger argue with me for over 20 minutes that the Catalina list on the computer at CS does not exist and there was no way to look it up. After talking with 4 other people who said the same thing, an employee just came on her shift showed everyone where it was and how to log in. Yes an employee had to show a manager! They were all dumbfounded and curious how I knew

It really is inconvenient sometimes when we don't get what is expected, especially with the ad as proof and then when we trying to rectify the situation we are then met with more resistance but always stand your ground and all the good times far out way the bad times. To this day I still have issues once and a while.

I went to a wags the other day and tried to use a b1g1 and another coupon for the one I was buying and it was a no go, manager said so. I visited the SAME store a few hours later and the Store Manager waited on me and didn't say a thing, everything went beautifully! The register is programmed to accept it that way but sometimes certain cashiers won't even scan your coupons. They like to be boss? I donno. I have had a lot of cashiers that act like if I use coupons that the money is coming out of their pocket not realizing that the stores actually make MORE money when we use coupons.

It is unfortunate that sometimes the store employees like to make up their own rules and yes it is frustrating. The best thing is to remain calm and keep your composure. There are many many different reasons why Catalinas do not print. You might have suggested being re-rung at a different register, of course making sure there is a green light on cat machine and all that to see if it would print.

Always go up the chain of command. The store directors usually are very good at making things right.
I know this is long but I hope it helps. I am a chatter