This is post #1 of our new Coupon Policy series, go here to learn how to make this series more effective for you and to find the other store policies. Remember, the red text is my notes and is not part of the original policy. It will not be in the copy you can download.

Safeway (Vons) Coupon Policy

All Manufacture's coupons will be accepted subject to the terms on the coupon with the following exceptions:

1. All coupons will be redeemed at face value. They do not have to double your coupons, although some stores choose to.

Only one manufacturer's coupon will be accepted per item. If you are buying 10 deodorants, you cannot have more than 10 manufacturer's coupons for those deodorants. It does not mean that you can only buy one deodorant with a coupon. It also does not prevent you from using one manufacturer’s coupon and one store coupon on one item.

Manufacturers' coupons duplicated in any form will not be accepted. They will not accept photocopied coupons. It is illegal to photocopy a coupon. A coupon printed on your computer from a legitimate online source is not a photocopy.

2. Liquor, tobacco, fresh fluid milk products, competitors' manufacturer, in-store demo and free coupons (including "buy one, get one free; or free groceries with a specified purchase) will be redeemed at face value. They do not have to double your coupons, and most store do not double these coupons.

3. Limited to sales in retail quantities only. They can limit how many of a certain item you are allowed to buy to what an average consumer would be expected to buy. Most stores do not place a limit on you unless their stock is low. However, you should know that they can. This does not mean they can limit the number of manufacturer’s coupons you can use. If you are buying 10 deodorants and have 10 coupons, they can tell you that you can only buy 5, but they can’t tell you that you can buy 5 with a coupon and 5 without. The manufacturer is giving the discount, not the store. The store will be reimbursed for the full value of each coupon they accept. They can however, limit the number of store coupons you can use, and they number of coupons they double. This is because with store coupons and doubles, the store is giving the discount, not the manufacturer.

4. Any requests to redeem competitor coupons are left to the discretion of the store management. Each individual store manager can decide if he wants to accept a competitor’s store coupon. This is considered price matching with a coupon. It usually depends completely on the situation. If you would like to try and have Vons match another store’s coupon, you should probably call first and speak with the manager.

5. Applicable sales tax will be charged on all manufacturers' coupons. Even if a coupon is for a free item, or the coupon and a sale combined make the item free, you will still need to pay any applicable sales tax.

6. We reserve the right to accept, limit or refuse manufacturer coupons issued by other supermarkets. You will often get coupons from a catalina or in the mail that say “manufacturers coupon” on it, but also have the name of a specific store. They are issued by both the manufacturer and the store. Each individual store manager will decide if his store will accept manufacturer’s coupons issued by another store. Most do accept those that are mailed, but do not double them. Most do not accept other store’s catalina coupons.

7. NO CASH BACK. You cannot make money by using a coupon. If a coupon is worth more than the price of the item, the coupon will be adjusted down to make the item no more than free.

NO RAIN CHECKS. While you can get a rain check for sale that the store is having (unless stated otherwise), you cannot get a rain check for a coupon that may expire soon.

8. We reserve the right to correct ad printed errors. If a coupon printed in the ad is incorrect, they do not have to honor it.

The official disclaimer is as follows: This is the response I got when asking about their current double coupon policy. This policy changes every so often, but is posted in the check stand.

• Coupons are doubled up to $.50 for a total of $1.00. Any coupon less than or equal to $0.50 is doubled. Any coupon between $0.51-$0.99 is worth $1. Any coupon over $1 is worth its face value.
• Vons/Pavilions Double Coupon Program effective in all Vons/Pavilions stores excluding Nevada, Fresno, Bakersfield, Bishop, Mammoth, Catalina and Central Coast stores.
• All manufacturer coupon doubles are subject to the contract of the manufacturer and expiration dates. Make sure you understand the fine print on your coupon. Read tip #1 adn #3 from this post, and the "1 per ________" section at the end of this post.
• Double coupons exclude all liquor, tobacco, fluid dairy products, pharmacy prescriptions, U.S. postage stamps, lottery tickets, gift cards, gift certificates, commuter passes, money orders, free coupons; coupons marked “Do Not Double”.
• Coupons that exceed the value of the items can only be doubled up to the actual retail value of that item. See #7 above
• Except as advertised, coupons that require the purchase of multiple items are excluded. This means coupons that require the purchase of 2 or more different items. A coupon that says $0.50 off two deodorants will be doubled to $1. However a coupon that says $0.50 on one deodorant and one toothpaste will not be doubled.
• A limit of 1 coupon for each like item coupon will be doubled per Household. Additional Coupons for same like item will be redeemed at face value. If you are buying 10 deodorants and have 10 coupons that state $0.50 off one, you may use all ten coupons. However, only the first coupon you use will be worth $1. The rest will be worth $0.50.
• Vons/Pavilions store coupons and any other in-store coupons, are not to be doubled. They do not double their own coupons. This includes their own blinkies, catalinas, uploads and mailers.
  

If you would like to discuss this further, please reply to this email or call our toll free number at 1-877-723-3929 and reference contact I.D. 15062513.

Joshua Omundson

Isaac Malcolm

Customer Service Representative

Date: 7/10/2009 1:14:14 AM