When a store is out of a particular item that is on sale, you can ask for a rain check. A rain check is basically an in store coupon that allows you to return to the store to buy the item at the sale price when it is back in stock. With all the interest in Extreme Couponing, we are noticing the frequency of needing rain checks increase.
That is OK, because it is not a big deal to request on or to use one. Just ask at check out for the rain check; they will usually ask what quantity you want it for so don’t be shy! Today is an example of us wishing we had requested a higher quantity on our Crest toothpaste rain checks!
A couple weeks ago Kroger had Crest on sale for 10/$10. With the coupons we had and Kroger’s doubling policy, the toothpaste would have been free! We knew Stamp Out Hunger was coming up so we were excited to score this free toothpaste to donate. Well, the sold out really quickly, so we both requested rain checks for 10 (each). Fast forward to last night, when we went back to Kroger to use the rain checks for the Crest. Score! They had oodles of it in stock, at least 100 boxes, so we were in no way shelf-clearing. Since the original sale we had actually acquired more Crest coupons so we would have had enough to get about 40 tubes of toothpaste for free. (The coupons were $1 off two tubes, and our store doubles $1 coupons to make them $2).
The drawback? We only had the 2 rain checks for 10 each! So, instead of being able to score 40 tubes we only scored 20. Now 20 free tubes of toothpaste is nothing at all to sneeze at, we know. We are NOT complaining at all; but you can see here that if we would have asked for a higher quantity on the original rain check then the area food pantry would have really benefited two fold.
That’s our little story of the rain check; we are so glad we had them & are thankful that 20 free tubes of toothpaste are headed out the door today for Stamp Out Hunger! What are you donating?
