Update: This was posted back in May, but it is still a relevant post about rain checks – except the Mike & Ike and Sucrets deals are no longer valid.
I popped into our local Rite Aid last evening because I wanted to score my free Sucrets and free Mike & Ike’s candy. I went right to the Sucrets and picked up the 4 boxes (I had4 printable coupons and they are free with coupon/Up Reward. )
Then I went to find the theater size boxes of Mike & Ike’s (or Hot Tamales if you prefer). They are on sale 2/$2 and when you buy 2 you get a $2 Up Reward. They are free. You can get 4 UP Rewards, so that meant I could get 8 free boxes of candy. Sweet – in more ways than one!! The kiddos love our treat drawer at our house and when they come to visit they always peek to see what is new. We try and teach them our thrifty ways, so we like to point out all the snacks were either free or cost very little.
Anyway – no boxes of Mike & Ike’s to be found anywhere. As I headed up to the check out area the manager spotted me and asked how I was doing. She knows me by sight because we are in there often using our coupons; she is always pleasant and accomodating. I asked her if they had any more Mike & Ike’s and she said no. I asked if I could get a rain check and she said that I could. She said the rain check could be for however many I wanted at the 2/$2 price but if I wanted the free deal then the limit is for what is stated in the ad (4 offers). That was perfectly OK by me – I only wanted the 8 free boxes anyway.
I proceeded to the check out area where another store employee was working. She rang up my transaction that resulted in 4 free boxes of Sucrets and then I said I needed a rain check for the Mike & Ike’s. “Oh, we can’t give rain checks for free items” was her response to me.
What? I explained to her the conversation with the manager I just had 30 seconds ago and she looked at me in a bewildered fashion. She was going to have to check with the manager; “yes, please do” was my thought.
She buzzed the manager who came right up to the register and smiled at me as if to acknowledge the conversation we just had. I kept quiet and allowed the cashier to ask “we can’t give rain checks for free items, right?”. I waited for the answer – and it was YES. The manager explained to the casher, just as she had to me, that you CAN get a Rain Check for free items but only for the amount stated in the ad. The cashier was kind, and acknowledged she was wrong. I wasn’t looking for that, I was just happy that the matter was settled and we were all on the same page. It was pleasant the way it played out, no one was nasty or rude. I was a nice couponer!
I wanted to share this with you in case you are ever in a similar situation at Rite Aid. It is important for you to know their policy, in case you encounter a cashier that does not.
Happy shopping
