All about rainchecks

by Jody Connolly (Benjaminna) | More from this Blogger

23 Aug 2006 10:30 AM

How many times have you planned your shopping trip, traded for coupons and got your coupons and shopping list together, and then headed for the store, only to get there and find they are out of what you had planned to purchase? You then leave frustrated and empty-handed.

No more!

Welcome to the world of rainchecks. Rainchecks are your friend! A raincheck is a certificate from the store promising that, when the items are back in stock, they will sell it to you at that same sale price. You can either ask the cashier for a raincheck or go to the customer service desk and ask them. They will ask you how many of the product you want, and usually write that amount on the raincheck.

If a store is out of one flavor or type of something, you can request a raincheck for that item. Therefore, if Ken's Dressing is on sale for $2, and they are out of the Ranch Dressing, even if they have other kinds, you can request a raincheck for that particular item.

Rainchecks allow you more time to look for coupons for that product. If something is on sale for a good price, but you haven't found the coupons to match the sale item, a raincheck will buy you more time. With most stores the best time to get rainchecks is the last day of the sale, because everyone else has already been there to exhaust their supply.

Some rainchecks will have a time limit on them. Sometimes it's 30 days, 90 days and even better, and some stores rainchecks never expire. Additionally, some stores will allow you to use expired coupons with your raincheck, as long as the coupons were valid at the time the raincheck was issued. Check with your store to see what their raincheck polices are.

Some stores might also adjust your raincheck if you go back and they don't have the amount to fulfill your raincheck. So, if you have a raincheck for 10 Ken's Dressings, and they only have four, ask them to adjust your raincheck for the remaining quantity.

For more information regarding rainchecks, go to: Federal Trade Commission.

Learn more about Jody Connolly (Benjaminna)

I am a married SAHM of five (and one cat)! My oldest daughter is 12, a diva ready to take over the world.

View Full Profile | More from this Blogger

DianeScraps (4230) 25 Aug 2006 01:46 PM

Thanks for the reminder! I always forget to ask for Rainchecks! Can you recommend stores that are better about rainchecks then others? IE I remember getting a raincheck at Dicks and only having 24 hours from their call to pick the item up (and of course I couldn't get there in that time)

Jody Connolly (Benjaminna) (21169) 27 Aug 2006 02:02 PM

I know what you mean! Remembering to get the rain checks is the hardest part!

24 hours isn't much time at all to go and pick up an item. I've personally never heard of a store that did that, but there are all kinds of stores, with all kinds of policies, and ways of doing things. I don't really think any one chain of stores is better or worse than anyone else regarding rain checks or coupons. Because of where I live, I have two or more of almost every store within 10 miles of me. What I have found, in my experience, is that it depends on the individual store. Some stores will bend over backwards to make you happy and to keep you coming back, while that same store, but in a different location might act as if they could care less if you ever came back. It all depends on the people and manager of each individual store.

I hope this all helps.