Krogers New Coupon policy for our region :(

HAPPY APRIL FOOLS!  Not sure if that was Kroger's intent or not, but this policy was sent to me on April 1st.  Sorry to just now be getting to posting this but as you might know by now real life work got in the way and I had to be away for a week on a company retreat.  AND I have to admit ALL of my free time has been devoted to the Kroger Couponers facebook group to FIGHT this change!
I have spent so much time over there, I didn't even realize I posted the new policy changes over there and NOT on my blog (yes, shame on me!)  BUT for those of you that have not joined our cause, PLEASE do so NOW!!!!  Numbers will speak volumes in our fight.  And we don't ask much, join and see what we are about.  We are a peaceful group that wants to keep saving at Kroger and living within a budget.  Kroger has already stated to me over and over that Houston is the MOST competitive grocery market in the country.  Ok, if that is what they believe, then guess what?  If they actually succeed in doing away with doubles and triples HERE what region do you think is next?   You think if they succeed in squishing Houston they will stop there?  Have you seen the art of war?  They will not stop.   Houston is their toughest competition and they are just preparing for the fight.  If they succeed here,  I know the rest of the Southwest region will be easily obtained and they will be on to the next battle.  Join us NOW and fight before it is too late or you will see THIS as your new reality:

Kroger Southwest Coupon Guidelines(but mainly Houston???)

This policy is intended as a general guide to using coupons at Kroger Southwest stores located in Texas and Louisiana.
1. Coupons are redeemed for face value unless otherwise advertised at your local Kroger store.
2. Coupons must be presented at the time of transaction.
3. Coupons may only be redeemed for items, brands and sizes as specified by the verbiage requirements of the coupon.
4. We accept all valid, current manufacturer coupons. We do not accept expired coupons.
5. We accept valid, current online, internet and print-at-home coupons.

• 5.1 Online and other Printable coupons should be valid, legible and have a bar code that scans.
• 5.2 Printable Coupons having value more than 75% of the item price are not accepted.
• 5.3 Free product printable coupons are not accepted.
• 5.4 Buy-one-get-one-free coupons are accepted.
• 5.5 Printable coupons will not be accepted if they appear copied or altered in any way
• 5.6 The printable coupons should be printed directly from the website or email in which they were offered.
• 5.7 Printable coupons have unique serial numbers and follow an industry standard format; they are non-transferable and should not be copied, scanned, sold, traded or otherwise distributed.

6. We accept all valid, current Catalina Manufacturer coupons and Kroger Catalina Coupons.

• 6.1 Kroger Catalina coupons printed at the check lane may be used on your next shopping trip.
• 6.2 Catalina messages are not redeemable coupons.
• 6.3 Kroger and Competitor Catalina Manufacturer coupons may be accepted.
• 6.4 Competitor Catalina Store Coupons may not be accepted.

7. Competitor Manufacturer and Store Coupons

• 7.1 Pharmacy competitor coupons and Competitor Catalina Manufacturer Coupons are accepted.
• 7.2 All other competitor’s coupons are not accepted. Competitor Catalina Store Coupons are not accepted.

8. Coupon Stacking: A manufacturer coupon and a Kroger Store Coupon may be use on the same item. Two or more of any other type of coupons may not be used on the same item.
9. If a Manufacturer coupon exceeds the price of the item, the excess will be applied to the basket purchase. If the excess is greater than amount due on the total order after the coupons are redeemed, the excess will be given in cash. WIC or SNAP items in a WIC or SNAP transaction are ineligible for cash back or application to the basket purchase.
10. Coupons may not be combined with certain special pricing programs, including $4 and $10 generic prescription pricing.
11. The Coupon may not be applied to any free item received in any offer.
12. The Coupon must have a scan bar that scans and applicable “bill to” information.
13. Items returned will be refunded at the after coupon price. The coupon will not be returned to the customer.
14. Sales taxes will be applied in accordance with the law of the applicable state, regardless of any coupon or other discount that may apply to the purchase transaction.
15. Coupons may not be applied to items restricted by law. Coupons may not be applied to services such as but not limited to Gift Cards, Money Orders, Utility Payments, Postage Stamps, Event Tickets, Lottery or Phone Cards.
16. Kroger Store Management reserves the right to accept, decline or limit any coupon.
17. A Kroger coupon policy retrieved from any other source does not reflect the coupon policy at Kroger Southwest stores.
18. Our Coupon policy is subject to change without notice at any time.

Locations Effected by New Kroger Coupon Policy

The coupon change does not apply to Bryan-College Station, Dallas-Fort Worth, East Texas or Louisiana. The listing below indicates where the stores effected are located.

Alvin, Angleton, Baytown, Beaumont, Clute, Conroe, Crosby, Cypress, Dickinson, Friendswood, Galveston, Hedwig Village, Houston, Humble/Kingwood, Huntsville, Katy, La Porte, League City, Magnolia, Missouri City, Orange, Pasadena, Pearland, Porter, Richmond, Rosenberg, Seabrook, Spring, Sugar Land, Texas City, The Woodlands, Tomball, and Willis

*You may be interested in knowing that as part of the revised coupon policy, if a manufacturer coupon exceeds the price of the item, the excess will be applied to the basket purchase. If the excess is greater than the amount due on the total order after the coupons are redeemed, the excess will be given in cash.
If you are a Kroger shopper and live in the affected area of the new coupon change this change will take place on Wednesday, April 13, 2011.

Ok, and here is the FAQ to follow the coupon policy (yes I admit even I am perplexed as to why Kroger would choose to answer completely different questions than are discussed in the coupon policy.  My argument would be, if they are truly frequently asked questions WHY ARE THEY NOT raised in the initial document especially considering they were published at the same time??????

These questions and answers support the coupon guidelines for the Texas and Louisiana Kroger store locations effected by the new Kroger Coupon Policy.
1. Q. Does Kroger offer digital coupon redemption?
A. Yes. Digital Coupons may be loaded to a customer’s Kroger Plus Card. You may find these offers at www.kroger.com. Digital coupons redeem automatically when the Plus Card is swiped. Once the system redeems the digital coupon, another coupon on that same item may not be redeemed. The digital coupon redeemed may not be reversed in a transaction. For assistance with Digital coupons, please see our Customer Service desk at your local Kroger store.
2. Q. How many coupons may be redeemed in a single order for the same item type?
A. So all our customers may enjoy the coupon offer, Store Management reserves the right to accept, decline or limit any coupon.
3. Q. How many coupons may be redeemed on a single item?
A. A manufacturer coupon and a Kroger Store coupon may redeemed on one item. Any other type of Coupon stacking is notallowed. Two or more of any other type of coupons on one item are not accepted.
4. Q. Does Kroger accept and redeem individual coupons for more than the price of the item?
A. If a Manufacturer coupon exceeds the price of the item, the excess will be applied to the basket purchase. If theexcess is greater than amount due on the total order after the coupons are redeemed, the excess will be given in cash.WIC or SNAP items in a WIC or SNAP transaction are ineligible for cash back or application to the basket purchase. Cashback is not given on Store Coupons.
5. Q. If the total amount off from coupons is more than the total order does Kroger give cash back to the customer?
A. If a Manufacturer coupon value exceeds the price of the item, the excess will be applied to the basket purchase. If the excess is greater than the amount due on the basket purchase after the coupons are redeemed, the excess will be given in cash. WIC or SNAP items purchased in a WIC or SNAP transaction are ineligible for cash back or application to the basket purchase.
6. Q. May the customer use coupons on mark down items?
A. Yes.
7. Q. If the sale is Buy-1-Get-1-Free, may the customer use a Buy-1-Get-1-Free coupon?
A. Yes, the customer may use the coupon. Two items must be purchased to meet the purchase requirement. The customer would receive one free from the Buy-1-Get-1-Free sale ad and receive the 2nd item Free from the Buy-1-Get-1-Free coupon.
8. Q. If the sale is Buy-1-Get-1-Free and the customer purchased two items, one at the retail price and the one they receivedfree, may the customer use 2 coupons?
A. No. The coupon may not be applied to any free item received in any offer.
9. Q. If the coupon is for “Get X amount off Product A with the purchase of Product B”, may the customer also use a coupon onProduct B? i.e. The customer has two coupons. The first coupon is for “Twenty cents off chili with the purchase of hot dogs”. The second coupon is for “Fifty cents off hot dogs”. May the customer buy one can of chili and one pack of hot dogs and use both coupons?
A. No. The first coupon required the purchase of both products the chili and the hot dogs. The customer must buy an additional pack of hot dogs to meet the purchase requirement of the second coupon.
10. Q. Does Kroger know where I can find internet coupons?
A. Many product websites offer online/print-at-home/ internet coupons. There are also many coupon websites such as www.smartsource.com, www.redplum.com who also offer online/print-at-home/ internet coupons. For our online, internet and print-at-home coupon policies, please refer to our Kroger Southwest Coupon Guidelines.
11. Q. What does the coupon sign at the check lane state?
A. We gladly accept valid Manufacturer Coupons, Kroger Store Coupons, Catalina coupons, Print-At-Home Coupons, Internet Coupons and Digital Coupons loaded to the Plus Card. Restrictions and limits apply. Please see the Customer Service Desk for our coupon policy. The Kroger store manager reserves the right to accept, decline or limit any coupon.


SO, for all of you Kroger shoppers who have not stopped by Kroger Couponers, please join and take a peek!  You might like what you see and stay awhile!   There are certainly other stores to shop and as long as Kroger insists on not doubling or tripling I encourage you to do so.  There is now ZERO incentive to shop Kroger.  Walmart, Kroger and HEB are more often than not cheaper without the double/triple coupon advantage.  And guess what Sugar Land!  HEB is building a brand new store on 90A and Hwy 6!!!!!!!!!