I get asked this question a lot. So, I thought I would take the time out and explain/show you all what a Catalina is, if you are not quite sure what one is.
-A Catalina (a.k.a. CAT/Cat/cat) is a coupon put out by a manufacturer at the end of your transaction at the store for purchasing certain items. Not all stores have Catalina machines. To my knowledge some of the stores include: Safeway, Albertsons, Yokes (local), Target, Fred Meyer/Kroger, Kmart, just to name a few of the "bigger" stores. There are different types of Cats, usually the one we are referring to is dollars off of your next order of ANYTHING, except there are some exclusions like beer, wine, cigarettes, such things like that. You will have to check yours. But, for the most part, you can use it just like cash for dollars/cents to come off of your next order. Anyway, Catalinas are our friends, especially if we can roll them. (Roll= Use them on your next order to take money off and then get another one back if you are buying the same thing or whichever way you choose to use them).
-A Catalina is a manufacturer coupon, though many will state at the top where you got the coupon from. Like if you get it from Safeway, it is going to have the Safeway logo and name up at the top. Cats are manufacturer coupons so you "should" be able to take it ANYWHERE that accepts manufacturer coupons. Some stores have a problem if there is another store name up at the top of the coupon, so you kinda do this at "your own risk." Unless, you have a store that takes competitor coupons, like we have Yoke's.
- Cats do have an expiration date, so you need to make sure that you use them before they expire so you don't lose out on that coupon. I have done that way too many times. :(
-Cats can come in many different values. I have seen them from $0.50 up to $5.
-Another form of a Cat is a specific coupon for dollars or cents off of a specific item. I got one recently from Safeway for a FREE cleaner by the brand of Bright Green. Now, I'm not sure if that is a Safeway only brand, but they carry it and I picked it up yesterday and used my FREE Cat coupon.
So for example, here is my Cat that my husband got yesterday. Keep in mind that I had already been to Safeway earlier in the week and got a Cat from my previous purchase of Betty Crocker Fruit Snacks.
He bought 6 Betty Crocker Fruit Roll-Ups at Safeway...(There is a Catalina running from 12/27 to 1/23 for Betty Crocker Fruit Snacks from General Mills) See sample below....
So, we started out with having a $3 Cat already, in-hand. We are going to, what is called, ROLL my previous Cat.
Betty Crocker Fruit Roll-Ups X5 at $0.99 each, which equals $4.95
Now, I have a coupon for $1 off of three ($1/3) AND I have a coupon for $0.50 off of two ($0.50/2) that I printed out from
here ($1/3) and
here ($0.50/3).
So, minus my $1 coupon and my $0.50, we are down to $3.45!
Now, this is where I ROLL my previous Cat. Now, I give them my $3 Cat that I got from my previous order!
Okay, so NOW my total is ONLY $0.45!!!! THAT IS HOW MUCH I PAY OOP (Out Of Pocket)! ONLY $0.45! Okay, so now I wait, while I am still at the register, for my NEXT Cat for $3 to print! Now, I have another Cat in my hot little hands to replace the one that I just paid with. Now, I can turn around and do it AGAIN and only pay $0.45 AGAIN, and then ROLL it again, and again, and again, and again..............., if I want. Of course, without clearing the shelves and doing too many transactions. ;) Each time only paying $0.45 or EVEN only $0.40. If you take your own bag to Safeway, they will give you a $0.05 credit toward your purchase! :) Not all stores give you credit for your own bags, but a few do. I have actually made money doing this. Yep, there have been a couple of times that I have left with an extra nickle, literally, in my pocket for bringing my own bags (not Safeway).
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Sometimes there are problems and your Cat doesn't print. This may happen because you didn't purchase EXACTLY what was required in order to get the Cat. That does happen. Sometimes there is a malfunction in the system, sometimes it just doesn't print. Now, Catalinas are from a different company than what store you are at. It is actually the "Catalina" company. You can contact them with your info. They will need your name address and information from your receipt. Usually they will mail you out a Catalina in the mail if you were supposed to get one and did not. They are really good about this. You can even e-mail them.
Here is the phone number...(888) 826-8766.
Here is the e-mail.
coupon@catalinamarketing.com
Some information to include would be....
Your name
Mailing Address
Store info like: Name, address, and store number. (This is all on your receipt)
Make sure to include the time and date of your transaction too. (This is all on your receipt)
If you are at a store that has a "store card," like your Club card, make sure you include that.
You will need to include the total amount of your purchase from your receipt.
Make sure you tell them what Catalina promo you were expecting to get back. You really do need to be specific in telling them what promo you were going for like you were expecting a certain amount back, from the specific brand/company, because you bought ......
I hope this helps explain the Catalina a little better. Good luck!
Any questions, suggestions, comments, let me know. I will do my best to help you out! :)
Thanks!
Cheryl
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