rainchecks

I thought I'd better post another post tonight, and since I promised I would talk about rainchecks, I'll go ahead with it. 

Rainchecks are a couponer's friend!  If the store has an awesome deal, but they sell out of the item before you get your products, ask for a raincheck.  A raincheck guarantees that price for you, even after the sale is technically over, and many do not expire.  Say an item goes on sale, and you notice that just one flavor sells out.  You can get a raincheck, then go about gathering coupons via ebay, a clipping service, or trading coupons, so you can get as many of that particular deal as possible to add to your stockpile.  The only time a raincheck becomes discouraging is when the item does not come back into stock before any coupons you do have expire.  Be patient, more coupons are probably coming. 

In most instances, the law requires that a store give you a raincheck, the only exception being when the ad specifically says, "limited to quantity in stock" or other similar wording. 

Of our local stores, Hy-Vee is always ready to offer a raincheck, and it doesn't expire.  Fareway will give you a raincheck, but may limit the quantity you can get with it, and they are good for 15 days.  CVS readily offers rainchecks and they do not expire.  They even include the ECB's on their rainchecks.  Walgreen's rainchecks are useless for RR items as they won't include the RR, but are good and unexpiring on other sales.  Target doesn't give rainchecks on grocery items USUALLY, but ask...you never know.  They do expire, but I can't remember how long.  Wal-Mart will tell you they don't offer them and do not even appear to have any in the store, but their ad says they do, so they'll probably offer a substitution.