Couponing: Knowing Your Winn-Dixie Store

I'll be the first one to tell you that I have not mastered the art of couponing at Winn-Dixie. The last trip, I spent $89 (w/o tax) and saved $67. It's a great savings, but I haven't managed to get over the 50% savings mark and percentage is how I measure my success. :-) I can give you some guidelines though, so that you can have greater success than I did.

As always, check with your store's manager to find out what their coupon policy is before shopping, as it is different in each store!

1. Winn Dixie ads run Wednesday through Tuesday, just like Publix.
   
   
2. Get their rewards card! It's free and you can sign-up online or in the store. I've had mine forever and have saved over $400 since getting it. You don't have to have the card in hand when you go; they can search for it by using your phone number.
   
   
3. You should also sign up for their Baby Club if you are expecting or have a kiddo that's under two. You can sign up for this card online too, but you will need to have your reward card with you (it requires that number). The Baby Club will get you other discounts and more coupons.
   
   
4. W.D.'s BOGO's work differently from Publix. At Publix, you can just buy one and get it for half price. At Winn-Dixie, you buy the first one and full price, then get the second one for free. You can generally use two coupons with them.
   
   
5. Winn-Dixie doubles all manufacturer coupons up to 50c everyday (except in Florida).
   
   
6. On the 10 for $10 promotions, you do not have to buy 10 of any item. You can purchase just one and it will be $1.
   
   
7. When you check out, you should receive some coupons. These are catalina coupons and they are manufacturer's coupons. They coupons you get will depend on what you buy they most of.
   
   
8. The registers also print out $/$$ coupons (ie: $10 off a $50 purchase). These should print once per week per reward card. But they are not valid until the next week. (The one exception to this is your $10 from getting 200 Baby Club points, which is treated like cash and is $10 off any purchase exceeding $10).
   
   ***Give the cashier your $/$$ coupon FIRST before all other coupons, Baby Club Rewards second. If you have other coupons that make your total lower than the amount to qualify for the $/$$ coupon, then you can’t use it.
   
   
9. Overage is generally allowed if you have a coupon for $1 off a product that’s only $.99, $1 will still be taken off of the total. The store won't give you money back from overage, but at least you aren't paying for it. :-)
   
   
10. Winn Dixie does not ad match or take competitor's (other store's) coupons.

I will go ahead and tell you that a lot of Winn-Dixie stores are not known for their hospitality. Not all stores are this way, but there are tons of discussions board topics where people have had very negative shopping experiences (some to the point of leaving whole buggies full of groceries at the check-out). I've personally had experiences where they are just down-right rude. Almost as if they forget that customers are the only reason the store is in business. I try my best to always be nice in return, but this is one of the main reasons that I don't frequent W.D.