Save More by Checking Your Receipts
posted by Andrea | 08/31/2011
Have you ever left a store, gotten home, looked at your receipt, and realized you were over-charged?
I’m guessing that you have… and if not, it’s probably because you never look at your receipts!
Over the past few weeks, I’ve been doing some MAJOR grocery shopping to stock up our new deep freezer, our pantry, and our fridge in preparation for the two International Students who arrived earlier this week and will be living with us all year long.
I’ve spent significantly more than our normal $25 per week grocery budget, but now we’re stocked up on the basic essentials for several weeks, if not months.
And you better believe that whether I’m buying a huge cart-load of groceries from the supermarket, a few things at the drug store, clothing from the mall, or even dinner at a restaurant…
…I always check my receipt before I leave!
!
I know this might sound overly “cheap” but I’ve been burned too many times. And once I’m home, a few dollars doesn’t really seem worth a trip back to the store.
However, when I’m right there, only a few steps away from the service counter, it is worth it for me to explain the errors and collect my well-deserved refund!
Just this week I saved almost $12.00 by checking my receipt!
!
I saved $0.52 on a $2.00 purchase from Walgreens = 26% savings
I saved $1. 10 on a $4.50 purchase from RiteAid = 24% savings
I saved $10.34 on a $33.26 purchase from Meijer = 31% savings
All of these savings were simple cashier mistakes, items that didn’t ring up according to the advertised price, and coupons that didn’t process correctly.
I didn’t have to wait long, I didn’t get any grief from the people at the service desk, and I didn’t even look like a “cheapskate” {I don’t think!} I simply explained the issue and my money was promptly returned.
So you can see, it really DOES pay to check your receipts!
Have you had similar experiences with being overcharged? Did you catch it… and did they refund your money?
Filed under: Frugal Living • Living Simply
Margaret
31/08/2011I have often found errors and always ask that they be corrected. The other day I was almost “cheated” (inadvertently) from $4 in rebate from a grocery store purchase. I asked the cashier about it and was told to go to the service desk. They were quite gracious and happily gave me my $4.
Sometimes I have been thanked for bringing the problem to their attention so they can fix it.
Once, I got some free food because the shelf price reflected the last week’s sale. They not only gave me the sale price, but some free because they made the error! It always pays to ask and one should never, ever worry about looking cheap.
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Andrea Reply:
August 31st, 2011 at 3:38 pm
yes, those rebates are tricky! you have to be on-top of your game to make sure you don’t miss those!
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cassie
31/08/2011This has happened to me too! So, now I always check the receipt before I leave. It may only be a couple of dollars one way or the other, but in today’s economy, every dollar counts. =D Great post!
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Julia
31/08/2011As usual, I love your blog posts. They’re always quite timely (God works that way, doesn’t he?) Anyhow, I wanted to say that I watch the register ringing up like a hawk. My MIL actually got free groceries the other day because at Albertsons they give you the merchandise if it rings up incorrectly. Interesting policy, no?
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Andrea Reply:
August 31st, 2011 at 10:25 am
Julia, I too have gotten free food by pointing out a wrong price. At the store I shop at, they have a policy that if the item is marked wrong, you get the difference plus $5 — which means some items have been free!
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Ann Reply:
August 31st, 2011 at 8:57 pm
That is Michigan State law, not the store you shop at!
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Stacey
31/08/2011On several occasions I did not get the coupons for money off my next trip with the “get $x if you spend $y on such and such products” promotions from Meijer. At the service desk they ended up giving me more than i was supposed to get because they used a generic code for printing off the coupons. Works for me:) The service rep said this happens a lot of Sundays (my normal shopping day) since it is the first day of the advertised sales.
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Kalyn
31/08/2011Just today, I was actually under priced – the cashier didn’t scan one of my items. When I got out to the car I looked at my receipt and found the mistake. I honestly debated whether or not to go back in, but I realized that if it was the other way around (overcharged), I wouldn’t hesitate to ask for my money back.
It was a good lesson learned!
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Lindsey
31/08/2011Andrea, the store policy about giving you an extra $5 for when it’s marked wrong ends tomorrow.
sad day. It made for some really great deals!!
It was called the Michigan scanning error and Rick Snyder signed to end it September 1t
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Gloria
01/09/2011I use to work at a grocery store (won’t mention the name) part time. They did not give me much training as a cashier, directed me to the cash register and told me to start scanning the items. I know I made so many mistakes, scanned things twice, didn’t always have the right code for vegetables and fruit, so please always check your receipts.
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May
11/09/2011In Canada, don’t forget about the “scanning code of practice”, it’s pasted on most tills at grocery stores. If the item does not ring up at the right price you are entitled to that item for FREE! (up to a value of $10 and only on the first item if you bought more then one) It’s a great way to get free stuff!
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Andrea Reply:
September 11th, 2011 at 9:11 am
oh wow — that is a good reason to watch as your items scan and check your receipt!
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