My Publix Trip & George Jenkins Award

I'm sure striking out with deals this week. I missed the Poise last Saturday and haven't seen it all week. When I checked back on my special order from a nearby store, someone had put the product onto the shelf and it was sold, and now there are the dreaded green tags on the shelf meaning the warehouse is out. I may just go to Sweetbay and see if I can get some there since they'll accept Publix, SaveALot coupons and the MQ. I also missed the Nutri Grain Crunch deal, but eventually I'll get it because they will issue rainchecks for that. In my opinion that's just as good. Both stores I checked were out of the Nutri Crunch bars but had plenty of the fruit cereal bars. And of course all the Alka Seltzer, Sundown Vitamins and Nivea deals are out of stock too.

 

I did manage to get some of the last Mueller noodles and also some Yakisoba noodles. To get my order up to $25 I threw in some of the Old Wisconsin Beef Summer Sausage 6 oz packets that were marked at $3.69, but they rang up at $3.99. So, I got one free for the Publix Promise so that actually put my order negative, which totally freaked out the young man who was my cashier this time.

 

14-Feb	27		38.96	15.42	26.25	tax	-2.71	32	-106.96%
Product	qty	price	subtl	B1G1	-Q	0.00	total	Q#	Q details
cucumber	1	0.75	0.75				0.75
bananas	2	0.35	0.70				0.70
green pepper	1	1.09	1.09				1.09	2
carrots matchsticks	1	1.89	1.89				1.89	10
Muellers spaghetti BOGO	10	1.57	15.70	7.85	7.85		0.00	5	BOGO MQ 2-10ss
Yakisoba noodles BOGO	8	0.97	7.76	3.88	4.40		-0.52	8	0.55/1 MQ 2-3ss
Old Wisc Beef sumr sausg	3	3.69	11.07	3.69	9.00		-1.62	6	$2/1 PQ 1-27RP + $1/1 12-9ss
Save A lot FB	1	0.00	0.00		5.00	0.00	-5.00	1	$5/30 print

 

Anyway, I also wanted to mention that despite my occasional frustration with shopping at Publix, I do love my neighborhood store. In fact, so do a lot of people since the Store manager, David Tapia was awarded the George Jenkins Award. I also have had the pleasure of meeting and successfully resolving a customer issue with the District Manager John Campbell. Both of these men really enjoy their jobs and will do the customer right. 

David Tapia, the manager of the Terrace Ridge Plaza store in Temple Terrace, was one of five managers to earn the 2012 George W. Jenkins Award, named after Publix's founder. John Campbell, district manager of 10 stores in Lutz, Tampa and Temple Terrace, received a President's Award.Tapia joined Publix in 1990 as a part-time front-desk clerk in Tampa and was promoted to store manager in 2004. He has led the Temple Terrace store since 2010.

"It makes me proud to hear so many customers say, 'That's my Publix,' " he said. "I have a great group of supportive associates, and we're the face of Publix. It's up to us to make sure every customer enjoys their shopping experience."

Campbell began his Publix career in 1976 as a part-time grocery clerk in St. Petersburg. He became store manager in 1988 and a district manager in 1993. Publix president Todd Jones described him as consistent and dedicated to helping store associates be successful.
via

My Publix Trip - Paid $1.52, Saved 94%

I waited this week til the new Green Advantage Flyer came out with the deals for Poise, Sunlight and Alka Seltzer. I knew it would be important to get to the store early on Saturday, but alas we didn't make it in time to get the MM Poise product. In fact we went to four different stores in four different towns during our travels of the day, and all stores were out. I suspect that every single store in the state was out of Poise cooling wipes ($3.49).

 

The stocker guy at the store near my house, offered to order some for me to come in on the Wednesday truck. I would recommend if you want to take advantage of the deal ($3/1 MQ 2-10 SS + $3/1 PQ GAB) you get your store to order some before the warehouse runs out. Otherwise you might not ever find this product for the next 3 weeks. No rainchecks since its a GAB deal, except maybe at the end of the sale around March 1, 2013.

 

I did get a couple other items and will have to go back later this week.

 

9-Feb	19		26.70	1.83	24.00	tax	1.52	18	-94.31%
Product	qty	price	subtl	B1G1	-Q	0.65	total	Q#	Q details
cantaloupe	1	2.50	2.50				2.50
bananas	2	0.35	0.70				0.70
Dunc. Hines cake mix BOGO	2	1.83	3.66	1.83	2.00		-0.17	2
Sunlight dish soap 10oz	10	1.00	10.00		11.00	0.65	-0.35	10	$1/1 or $1.25 MQ print
Mt Dew 2 L	2	1.33	2.66		1.00		1.66	2	$0.5/0/1 MQ print
Vit B6 Sundown	2	3.59	7.18		10.00		-2.82	4	$3/1 PQ + $2/1 MQ print

 

 

My Publix Trip - Spent $6.20, Saved $140

When we received the sweetbay coupon in the mailer weekly ad, I started planning a big enough trip to be able to use it. I also know that last month when this coupon was available I was turned down at all stores because my total was never over $50 after coupons. So, I messaged Publix on facebook and asked them to confirm that they considers coupons a form of tender and not a discount. Here's what I asked: 

Hi Publix - I just received a new ad from Sweetbay that has a $10 off $50 coupon that states "minimum required purchase amount of $50 after all discounts are applied". Can you please clarify that to use this competitor coupon in Publix the total must be $50 before coupons and not after coupons, since coupons are a form of tender? I hate the drama at the cash register when no one agrees on how this is interpreted and I don't want to use it incorrectly. Thanks

 

On January 30, 2013 6:23:04 AM PST, Publix wrote:

Hi, Marie. You are correct. "Discounts" does not refer to coupons, as they are a form of tender. So, you may use this coupon as long as your total reaches $50.00 AFTER all other discounts, but not after all coupons have been taken off. Hope this helps! ≈ Kandi

So, if you want to use this coupon, I would recommend messaging them so you have their response right on your smartphone with you in the store. I clarified the situation before I shopped and they wanted to deny it at the store, but the store manager finally agreed to let me use it and signed his approval. It is pretty obvious they don't want to do it, and I told him I didn't care what he did for others, but that I would be glad to call the district manager if he required further confirmation.

Anyway, I did a pretty big shop with heavy stuff since we were in the car and not one the motorcycles. I decided to turn in my grapefruit juice and grapefruit to pay for the soda. I also had a couple coupons that expired 12/31/12 and this store accepts expired MQs for 30 days, so I had to use them up. I've heard there are peelies out there for free eggs wyb al fresco sausages, but I didn't see any. My total was higher than I thought it should be at $6.20, and when I reviewed my receipt I noticed they missed a $2 coupon, and then I noticed the Qtips charged $2.75 rather than the shelf price of $2.65. So, I'll have to go back and get an adjustment. So, my shopping list doesn't match my actual shop, but its close.

 

I spent $6.20 and saved $140.66, saving 96%.

 

31-Jan	56		145.15	53.25	91.30	tax	5.34	46	-96.32%
Product	qty	price	subtl	B1G1	-Q	4.74	total	Q#	Q details
avocado	4	1.00	4.00				4.00
green pepper	1	1.58	1.58				1.58
bananas	2	0.35	0.70				0.70
Breakstone sour cream BOGO	2	2.45	4.90	2.45	2.00		0.45	2	EXP 1/1 MQ
SB Milk 1/2 gal	2	3.25	6.50		3.25		3.25	1	EXP BOGO MQ
Al Fresco chick saus  BOGO	2	3.49	6.98	3.49	2.00		1.49	1	$2/2 MQ print
Eckrich smkd saus BOGO	2	2.99	5.98	2.99	1.10		1.89	2	$0.55/1 MQ print
Qtips	1	2.75	2.75		1.05	0.18	1.88	1	$0.30/1 MQ + 0.75/1 TQ print
grapefruit 5lbs	5	3.49	17.45		34.90		-17.45	10	RCfree PQ ad + free MQ tearpd
OS grapefruit juice BOGO RC	10	2.99	29.90	14.95	20.00	1.94	-3.11	10	RC BOGO + $2/1 MQ print
Birds Eye Veg Froz 50% off	4	2.37	9.48	4.74	4.00		0.74	4	$1/1 MQ print
Pillsbury Pie Crust	1	1.00	1.00				1.00
Suave Lotion BOGO	8	2.39	19.12	9.56	8.00	1.24	2.80	8	$1/1 MQ print
Frenches Mustard Dip Sauce	4	1.00	4.00		3.00		1.00	4	$0.75/1 MQ 1-6ss
Diet Mt Dew 12 pk B2G2	4	5.29	21.16	10.58		1.38	11.96
Nabisco Wheat Thins BOGO	2	4.49	8.98	4.49	2.00		2.49	2	$1/1 MQ print
Publix drinking water 1 gal	1	0.67	0.67				0.67
Sweetbay $10 off $50	1	0.00	0.00		10.00		-10.00	1	$10/50 swt by weekly ad

 

 

 

My Publix Trip - In Pajamas

 

I don't actually have a shop to share yet, since I'm waiting for Sat & Sun for the Kelloggs 50% cereal sale. But I thought I'd share this picture I snapped last time I was at Publix. The lady is wearing her pajamas! It was after work so a busy time, and she looked like she just rolled out of bed. I almost forgot where I was, Walmart?

My Publix Trip 103% saved

This was a pretty small trip, I just needed to get some salad stuff and then use up some coupons I had printed for the bread and ice cream. The baby food was a moneymaker and will be donated to my neighbor. It must have been shift change when I shopped because my only choice of cashiers was three different guys that I never go to, so we had a newbie coupon cashier. He was so nervous and didn't know what to do with the Rudi's bread coupon because it wouldn't scan. I thought this would have been an easy transaction since I wouldn't need numbers - but when the Altoids rang up at $2.19 and they gave it to me for free, it put me in the negative - and then required manager approval for numbers. They paid me $1.53.

 

Also the Best Meals Happen at home coupon displays are up in the stores now, the same coupons are on the back page of the ad. Get some extra because they are valid through Feb 6.

 

Don't forget to print a $5/$25 Save A Lot coupon from facebook

 

17-Jan	22		45.69	19.41	27.81	tax	-1.53	14	-103.35%
Product	qty	price	subtl	B1G1	-Q	0.00	total	Q#	Q details
lettuce	1	1.49	1.49				1.49
Rudi's GF Bread BOGO	2	3.99	7.98	3.99	4.00		-0.01	2	$2/1 MQ print
haagen daz ice cream pint BOGO	4	3.91	15.64	7.82	7.82		0.00	2	BOGO MQ print (NLA)
mushrooms	1	1.50	1.50				1.50
carrots	1	1.89	1.89				1.89
Chili Seasoning BOGO	2	1.25	2.50	1.25			1.25
Nabisco soup cracker BOGO	2	2.39	4.78	2.39	1.00		1.39	1	$1/2 MQ peelie
Beechnut Fruities BOGO	8	0.99	7.92	3.96	8.00		-4.04	8	$1/1 MQ print
Altoids mints	1	1.99	1.99		1.99		0.00		Rang up wrong $2.19 publix promise
Save A Lot $5 off $25		0.00	0.00		5.00		-5.00	1	$5/25 facebook print