Coupons, Deals and More

This is a guest post from Jay at ROC Coupons who will give us the male-shopping-with-coupons perspective.

Just over a year ago I was laid off from my profession as a radio broadcaster. Since that time I have been a stay at home parent to my son who is now 3 ½ years old. I dove into the couponing world hard core when it became time to stretch the family dollar as far as it could during this difficult economic time for our family and our country as a whole. Through the help of great blogs such as Coupons Deals & More and a few others out there I’ve been able to save a significant amount of money on groceries and other household necessities.

This story isn’t new. There are many others just like it. What makes my story unique is that I am a proud coupon using dude. There aren’t many men out there doing their best impersonation of Michael Keaton at the poker table in the movie Mr Mom. Aside from pizza coupons, it’s not considered very cool to get caught using them. I’ve saved tons and no longer care what my friends say. Let me tell you though shopping with coupons for me isn’t as easy as clip and hand to the cashier.

I was unaware of the troubles I would run into as a couponing dude. Three out of four shopping trips a cashier gives me a difficult time using 100% legit coupons. I don’t know why exactly this happens but I have theories. Is it because I shop during the day when most men my age are working? Is it the way I dress as a Western New York redneck in his best denim, thermals, and flannel? Or is it simply because I’m a man and since men don’t normally use coupons one who is must be up to no good?

Unfortunately I can’t answer this question. I have however developed a system by which I can cut down these unfortunate disputes with cashiers. Doing so however violates most known man rules of the checkout.

Let’s say for example the grocery store has three lanes open. Lane #1 has 5 customers in it, Lane #2 has 3 customers in it and Lane #3 has only 1 customer in it? Which do you choose?

The answer isn’t as simple as it seems. A woman would choose #3 because it is the shortest. A man all by himself chooses the most attractive cashier. In the absence of one he then selects by shortest line size. Amendment to that is if he is with his wife or girlfriend, he then chooses the shortest line except if that line has an attractive cashier.

Now couponing dude has to throw all the above rules out the window. I try to always choose a male cashier, preferable younger. They are the best because 9 times out of 10 hate their job and are very apathetic towards it. Standing and scanning food isn’t cool work. No girls are impressed when you tell them you’re a cashier. The chances of them arguing about coupons with you is slim and none.

The next best choice of a cashier is anyone who could have been on the show Golden Girls. A friendly Betty White type would be my ideal cashier. They think it’s adorable and cute and whatnot that a man and his little boy are saving big on groceries with coupons. I always get complements on the savings. They are pleasant as the day is long.

Other than that I try and void all other women cashiers. My age, younger, older, it doesn’t matter. Why must they always give me a hard time? I’m out to save money, not scam the stores. Why act like they personally own the store and I’m trying to rob their family. They adjust their glasses multiple times, give me looks, dig through the just bagged groceries to check for “something”, re-read the coupon with their finger, accuse me of photocopying internet coupons because I have 2 like coupons. Oh there’s tons more.

So what happens when confronted? Be polite and try and explain the coupon dispute as calmly and as slowly as possible. If they still choose to be obstinate then ask to speak with a manager. Most of the time the manager will see things more logically. If they don’t then ask to void your entire order (they hate that) and come back another day. Chances are there will be a different cashier working. Look for a dude or someone from St Olaf.