Couponing 101: Getting a Raincheck

It’s the final day of an exceeding sale at a particular store and you have your coupons clipped. However, when you go to the store no items are on the shelf. You inquire in regards to the inventory with a worker and find out the store room is also empty and that absolutely no items are in stock. Store inventory can make anyone go out of their mind with true frustration; however you should remain calm and request a rain check for the item. Rain checks can give the shopper the upper hand to maximize saving profitability, in many cases.

Some stores provide commitments to sell items that are depleted in their inventory at the advertised price when the item is restocked; these commitment slips are referred to as product rain checks and are good at a prior sale price. If you are holding a rain check the item could take up to six weeks to come in stock, typically items are in stock prior to this maximum amount. Couponers should be aware that not every store will give sale price rain checks to buyers, you should always check with the store policy. In addition many items placed on sale will be advertised that no rain checks will be provided, which occurs for various reasons; such as store policy, price discount, or failure to sell the specific product in the future.

If you need have coupons for the item you have obtained a rain check for always insure that it slip is for the maxium number of coupons possible, this maximizes your profits and lowers the price as you have additional time to discoverer coupons for the product. Normally, a store will only issue one rain check to a consumer for one item making a bulk purchase impossible. However, always remember that the item will be put on sale again; perhaps at a price that is a bit more but still a savings value. The store does reserve the right to refuse the rain check based on the actions of the consumer which is why you should never cause a scene. The store can always get more of a product if the product will be sold in the future. It is recommended that you research the store policies and have this printed out before shopping the aisles.

Personally, I have only felt justified to receive two rain checks in the last ten years, both were for technological products that was on a extreme discount. There is not a whole lot of items that I feel a great need for or products I can justify waiting with a slip of paper to pick up. I usually do not opt for rain check purchases as I know another sale will come or other stores provide additional shopping options. Do remember that if rain checks are the store policy you can always provide your information for one but again make sure you get these for the maximum allowed number of coupons.