Do you cringe when you have a coupon that says “Do Not Double or Triple”? Are you afraid that your store will not double it even when they have a double coupon policy? Well you are certainly not alone. Here are a few things you should know about doubling coupons.
If a coupon has the number 5 as the first number in the UPC code of the coupon, then the coupon will double at the register. If a coupon has the number 9 as the first number, then it will not double at the register as it’s coded not to do so. Coupons with the first number of 9 are usually found on blinkie coupons which are the coupons that are in that little red box that hangs off the shelf in your store.
So now you have a coupon with the number 5 (will double at the register) but it clearly states “Do Not Double” on the top (similar to the one pictured above). What happens?
First your store has to have a double coupon policy for any coupon to double. You must know your store coupon policy. Sometimes the same chain of stores, like ShopRite, may have different double policies such as only deduct up to $.99 or like mine, double all coupons that are up to $.99.
Now, onto the “Do Not Double” stamped on top of that coupon. If your store doubles a coupon, the doubled portion of the coupon is considerated a “store coupon”. Meaning that the store covers the cost of the double portion, not the manufacturer. Now there are some cases where deals have been made with the manufacturer that they (the manufacturer) will cover that extra double portion. For example,
$.50 coupon <----manufacturer covers cost of coupon
$.50 doubled <----store covers cost in most cases. sometimes a manufacturer will cover this cost as well.
Total coupon price deducted: $1.00
In some cases the manufacturer will cover the full $1.00 if that is something that has been agreed upon between the manufacturer and store. When a coupon says “Do Not Double” it simply means that the manufacturer will not cover that second $.50, so it’s at the stores discretion whether or not they will still double it.
What does all this mean to you as a consumer. Honestly, nothing. If your store doubles, then they should still double this “Do Not Double” coupon as the store is offering that extra $.50 (as in the case of the example I gave) as a store coupon whether they are being reimbursed or not.
My suggestion, now that you understand why a coupon states “Do Not Double”, is to stop by your customer service counter and have a chat with them about their policies. If they don’t know, ask to speak with a manager so you can be sure you have the correct information.
