This is part of the ABC’s of Couponing Guide

This topic dives deep and stores policies may vary; I can’t guarantee your experience will be exactly as outlined when working with Buy One, Get One Free coupons and sales, but at least I can help inform you on how they should work.

Common question:

I’m confused by the BOGO sales when they are matched up with BOGO coupons, how do the items come out free?

Let’s start with the background info on how stores work.  As I explained in my first ABC’s of couponing post, stores get paid the full price of a scanned manufacturer coupon. But if a store has a sale or coupon that it releases, this is called a store coupon.  This coupon doesn’t get reimbursed – it is a form of advertising for the store.

If a store has a Bogo free sale (or store coupon), they are “taking the loss” so to speak on the free item.  If you hand them a manufacturer coupon for a BOGO free item during their BOGO free sale, it doesn’t affect the amount of money the store makes.  Because the manufacturer reimburses them for the coupon.

True BOGO Free Sales:

At most stores, if a sale is buy one get one free, you purchase one and the other is free.  So if you use a BOGO free coupon on top of the sale, both products end up free. The store gets reimbursed for the manufacturer coupon and the transaction is still profitable for the store! Even though you didn’t pay money out of your pocket.

However, not all stores ring up BOGO free store sales (or store coupons) this way.  Some insist that you must pay for one item in order to use your BOGO free coupon. Rather than giving you both items for free, you buy one and then receive two free (one free for the coupon and one free for their sale).

Rite Aid and Walgreen’s are store that do not take a BOGO coupon on a BOGO sale, but CVS will!

Non-True BOGO Free Sales:

Certain stores have BOGO free sales, but you don’t have to buy 2 to get the sale price.  You purchase one, and it rings up half price.  Some examples of stores that work this way are Publix (except Florida locations, which are true BOGO sales), Bi-Lo, and Harris Teeter to name a few.  If you use a BOGO free coupon with a BOGO free sale at these places, you will pay half price for one item and get the other item free.  YMMV – do not count on working, but if it does then you can be happy!

Can I use two BOGO Free Manufacturer’s coupons for two items?

No – if you have two BOGO free coupons, you’d have to purchase 4 items to use them both.

Can you use two manufacturer coupons on a buy one get one free store promotion?

Yes!  Even if the store is giving one away for free, you can still use a coupon on it! So if you have two $1 off one item coupons, you could use both of them on a BOGO free sale! You just couldn’t use two BOGO free coupons. Exception:  you can’t do this at Rite Aid and Walgreen’s.

How does using a BOGO free coupon on BOGO half off sale work?

If you purchase two items that are $4, the store would ring up one item as $2.  Then when the cashier scans your BOGO free coupon, it may only take off $2 for the cheaper item you bought.   Other stores will take off the full $4.  It depends on how your cashier rings you up.

Can I use a BOGO free coupon and a $1/1 off product coupon on two products?

Short Answer: No.  Not at most stores.
This is the most tricky question of them all!  If you have  a BOGO free coupon, but you have another coupon for $1/1 on the same product, can you use the both coupons?  If done on certain coupons, this is called “piggybacking” and is not how the coupons were intended to use.  Now I don’t promote coupon decoding (the practice of using coupons on items they weren’t intended to be used on) so I won’t go into too much detail, but you can tell be the coupons codes whether you can use a BOGO coupon with another coupon or not.  Most of the time you can not – if the number 14 is in the area circled in the barcode below, the coupon is attached to both products. You can’t use another coupon on your purchase for either product.   If the numbers are different, some stores will let you use a BOGO free coupon and a $1/1 product coupon when you buy two items.

Comments

• rebecca shockley(becca33) writes: I have learned so much from your postings and videos today, my head is starting to hurt, lol.
• Rebekah S. writes: Thank you this is very helpful. This is what I had orginally thought but the lady at Walgreens told me…
• Gena writes: Here is another question, may sound dumb but..... Say you have a coupon for $4 off the purchase…
• lisa writes: Thanks for the info. Very helpful
• deidre writes: If you have a coupon that is $4 off of 2 items, then those two items have a coupon "used…
• Patricia Mohl writes: I'm finally getting a better understanding of BOGO stacking. Free stuff who would imagine?
• Liz writes: One of my friends was just asking about this the other day. I will have to send her the…
• Cheryl K writes: I love your helpful posts. For people who have been doing this even for a little while some things…
• ceis8009 writes: Wow, you can understand how a cashier or even a store manager might get confused.
• lisa writes: walgreens was having a buy one get one half off on razors, i had a buy one get one free…
• April writes: hi I have a quick question, if i want to purchase an item that comes in a 2pack (axe deodorant),…
• ingrid writes: hi i have a question too - What is the difference between: Can…
• deidre writes: the difference is the first one - using two coupons on a BOGO store promotion is that you aren't using…
• ingrid writes: thanks! makes total sense now
• Lucy writes: What about B2G1? Can I use two coupons in addition to a B2G1 coupon? Three items three coupons, but I'm…
• Anne writes: Can you use a Manufacturer's BOGO coupon and a Store coupon?
• shelly writes: I cant wrap my head around this one. I have a coupon for bygo on candybars,the store sale is buy…
• Wenjie writes: Thank you for a very well defined explanation. It happened to me at Ralph's where i used a BOGO and…
• Raescje; writes: In responce to the exerp below at Tom Thumb they will not allow you to do this. The Register…
• Katherine writes: Hello! I'm kind of new to couponing and have a question I hope someone can answer for me! I…
• Tambra Coons writes: so much info!!
• Morgan writes: Whoa! I had no idea! That's a super helpful tip and will come in handy when I question if I…
• Catrina writes: Thank you :)
• Lisa Moffett writes: I never knew that the bar codes could determin the use.
• Helen writes: This is so helpful. I will spend a lot of time reading and studying this information. I need to save…
• Cathleen writes: Safeway refused to let me use 2 manufacturers coupon on BOGO item. I had 2 $1 off manufacturers coupons,…
• Debs1956 writes: I'll try and explain the question I need to ask and hope you will understand it. I have a BOGO…
• Debs1956 writes: Hope I can explain the question Im about to ask. I have a BOGO FREE Hershey's Air Light candy coupon.…
• Chicora76 writes: I hope I can explain the answerer.  You would buy 4 Candy bars use 2 BOGO Coupons =…
• Beautifulthang81 writes: ok will i'm new on couponing how does this work... I have a manufacture coupon says buy 1 facial cleanser…
• Deidre writes: no you can't, that coupon "covers" both coupons and not other coupons can be used on them that are manufacturers…
• Aca_36 writes: cvs is having a buy 1   get 1  50% off on razors ..i have (2)   $3/1 coupons  can i use…
• TANIA writes: YES YOU CAN...I JUST BOUGHT 2 RAZORS AT B1G1 50% off AND USED 2 $3 off...PLUS I GOT UP REWARDS…
• Sid writes: Yes, bc you are buying 2 items, so 4.19+2.08=6.27-2cpns=.27 for 2 items. Now idk if they will let you for…
• cecilia writes: what it means BOGO COUPONS ??
• HelperJen writes: Buy One Get One, you can read more about coupon lingo here:http://www.cuckooforcoupondeals.com/training/coupon-lingo-101/
• jackie writes: Im completely new to couponing ( i opened my first insert last sunday haha) if I have a coupon that…
• HelperJen writes: One coupon per 3 boxes.
• tinabee writes: I went k-mart the other day and found razors B1G1 and I had a coupon for B1G1..the cashier rang up…
• HelperJen writes: Yes, you still have to pay tax even thought the items ring up Free.
• Deidre writes: yes, you will still have to pay taxes
• Stephanie Baier Gunn writes: can you use a b1g1 at cvs or walgreens when they have b1g1 items already so it would make it…
• HelperJen writes: Yes, here's the wording from their policy: Buy One, Get One Free promotions may be combined with Buy One, Get…
• twins mom writes: If a sale was 2/$7 could I use 2 b1g1f coupon nd a $3/2 coupon since im saying 4
• Deidre writes: No the BOGO free coupon "covers" both items so you can't use other coupons with it
• tesni writes: hi. target had a deal with hot pockets b4g1 and I had a coupon b2g1. how many would the coupon…
• HelperJen writes: Buy (7) Hot Pockets One will be FREE w/Target promo Use (2) B2G1 Coupon (each coupon covers 3 products) Two…
• Bonnie writes: went to walmart yesterday and pm publix dog food BOGO and on the 2 bags there were $1.00 off 1…
• Deidre writes: I don't know what their policy is on this, but my walmart won't even price match BOGO free items.
• Miss T writes: Hi I have a question. My store is getting ready to run a BOGO on soap but I have a…
• Deidre writes: You'd buy 6, get 3 free from store promo and use 2 coupons and get another 2 free, so paying…
• Miss T writes: Okay...I get that but my fear is that the cashier will have to manually make the change because my store…
• Deidre writes: They may scan and take off only half price for the free ones since they rung up half price, so…
• Brenda writes: If CVS has a body was for buy 1 get 1 for 50% off and I have a coupon for…
• Jodi Luzio writes: How would this work with a B1G1 for a penny sale?
• Kristi Thompson writes: Wow! This is excellent information. Thank you!