Great and Not So Great Giant Trip

I was super excited for my trip to Giant this month with a long list of things that I wanted to get with my $10 monthly credit from being part of the Giant online community.  In addition, I got a $10 gift card for winning a recipe contest that they had online so I was all set to go and would be spending no money out of pocket.

My basic list was ham and turkey lunch meat, milk, and eggs.  I looked at the ad for the week and decided to do the deal where you bought four fruit snacks and got the milk for free.  I pulled up the coupons for the Betty Crocker fruit snacks which made them $1.40 each (or $5.60).  I also saw that they had frozen pancakes on sale and my son loves them so I figured that I would add that to the list so that I made sure that I had my minimum of $10 or else my credit doesn't come off the account and/or I can't use the coupons for the items that I have.

I went with everything prepared and my coupon basket just in case I saw any other deals.  I grabbed four small packages of ham for $0.99 each less $1/4 coupon.  I found a big package of turkey with a $0.55 coupon on the front!!  I decided to find the fruit snacks next just in case they were out then I wouldn't need the milk.  I got two Dora snacks and two Gushers.  I went back to get the milk.  My total was getting high on the scanner but I quickly figured out how much it would be when everything was said and done and it was only a few cents so I grabbed the pancakes just to be sure.

I went to the only cashier open because you can't use self check out anymore and get the bag credits, as well as I usually have problems with the computer accepting coupons.  I waited for two people to go in front of me and then it was my turn.  I used uscan so I scanned the barcode and all of the items came up.  My Giant community credit came off, all my coupons scanned, and that was it. 

Umm, where is the $4 milk credit for the promotion.  "Customer service to aisle 8 please, Customer service to aisle 8."  Customer service comes over and asks to see the items that I bought.  I bring up the bag with them in and she tells me it is because I didn't buy anything else.  What?  I bought ham, turkey, and pancakes.  Oh well then, something should print out at the end.  Nope, it says specifically in the ad that you have to buy them in the same transaction.  I did and I want the $4 to come off now just like it says. Well, just pay for it and then I will bring you over to customer service and give you the money if it doesn't print out.  Okay fine. 

Total Spent on gift card $7.44

I walked over to customer service and she is standing at the other end of the counter talking to another employee and writing something on a paper.  I am trying to peek around to see if she is waiting for me to come over to her but she doesn't look up and acknowledge me at all.  I walk over to see that she has written me a rain check to get $4 off my next order at Giant.  Umm, nope!  I don't want $4 off the next time I come that I am going to have to fight on what to use, you told me that if I came to customer service that you would give me $4 cash. 

Then, she gives me an attitude about how the milk is $3.99 and not $4.  She puts it in the computer at $3.99 which then adds the tax to a total of $4.09.  She pulls out $4 and counts it into my hand and says, "There is $4" (but hear it with an attitude like she was doing me a favor giving me $4 instead of $3.99).  In my brain I was thinking umm,  you gave the biggest attitude about the value and the computer says you owe me $0.09 more.  But in reality, I just left the store and when I got to the car and said out loud, "And you wonder why I don't spend more money at Giant!" 

Total Cash Back $4.00

I now only have only $2.56 left on my gift card so I am a little bummed about that too :(  I should be happy because I have money in my pocket but I never remember to count that back towards my free money total.

For the really observant eye, I didn't get any eggs because they were $2.59.  I couldn't do that for a dozen store bought eggs.  Good thing too because then I would have had no gift card left.  Still need to get eggs since I don't have any more in the house now which is near a crisis in our house and also means that I have to stop on my scone habit!!

Total Savings $19.35+4.00 cash back= $23.35

Value of not having fight to get the advertised deals PRICELESS!!! Here is hoping for next time :)

What do you think?  Great or not great??  Lots of stuff I needed for no money out of pocket- Great!  Fighting to be able to get the deals- not great!!