Taking Time to Say Grrr to Norton!

Norton stinks! And up until yesterday I was clueless to this.

Why did I have Norton? Because it was on the computer. Period. Free trial ended, I renewed. Simple as that. Hindsight, I should have taken the time to research buying something else.

Here's what happened yesterday that made me say GRRR...

Norton isn't compatible with some new software that I will be purchasing. OK. Well, I'll get something different. I did. Now, at this point things are supposed to be simple. A. Uninstall Norton. B. Install new program. C. Wrong! ~ I uninstalled Norton and lost internet. What?

I'm going to spare all the details of everything that went wrong because I am so sick of what happened and things still aren't entirely fixed but here's the skinny.

I spent almost 9 solid hours, seriously, working round and round on the phone with different technicians trying to get my internet back. Now, I can access IE partially but with errors and let’s not even talk about FF. Uggh.

Apparently if you don’t uninstall Norton using their specific download tool you could experience issues. Well, now I know that but how do I fix my problem. “Mam, we’ve taken all the diagnostic steps that we can on the phone we will need to send someone to your house.” Huh!?

Now, this is all well and good that they are going to send someone to my house, which is covered under my warranty, but…”It could take up to 7 days to have someone there.” 7 DAYS!? Oh, great!

So, here I sit, with a half working computer and a really tired brain! I think I’ll go to church and do some shopping afterwards. Toodles…

Follow-up To Walgreens Complaint

So, here is the deal of today’s shopping trip and the follow-up to my Walgreens complaint I wrote about here.  This was an impromtu shopping trip as to the deal the manager worked out for me.  I think I did pretty good.

The store manager that I complained about called me while I was in town today, literally a mile away from his store at the Co-op with my mom.  I was so ready to be defensive…let’s go!

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Manager: Ms. Wilson, This is Mr. Charles Lundy at the Walgreens near the mall.  I would like to speak with you in regards to your notification (complaint) to call you.

Me: Sure, now correct me if I’m wrong.  You’re actually the manager who denied my coupons, correct?  (It was THE snotty one who teed me off not someone else).

Manager: Yes and I apologize for the problem in regards to your coupons from last week.  Our policy had changed to no printables before you came but a few days after you left it was changed back.  (Me: Eyeroll - Whatever!)  Things have been very confusing lately and I apologize again for any misunderstanding.

Me:  That’s fine.  (Being nice to hear what else he had to say)

Manager:  Now here is what I would like to do.  I would like for you to come in so that you can make your purchase from last week as well as $30 worth of merchandise of your choosing.  We will honor your Dimetapp printable coupons as well as any others you bring in the future also.

Me: I really do appreciate that because I even stated to you last week that I would give you the website address they were printed from to prove they were legitimate if necessary.  I think it is very nice of you to honor the promotion this week and offer me the $30.

Manager: I do apologize again for what happened last week and we would like to make sure you are always satisfied shopping at Walgreens.  When do you think you might be in?

Me: I’m actually in town now so within the hour.

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So, I quickly game plan a $30 shopping trip for some awesome deals I remembered that were producing Catalina’s.  (Coupon binder is always with me so I was prepared – notes and all) 

I’m in the store filling my buggy with shampoos and head over toward the candy aisle.  And I run into none other than Mr. Lundy!  He greets me by name (knew who I was) and lets me know he has already pulled the Dimetapp for me to purchase at the Prescription counter.

How funny, I think!  He not only wants to get me out of the store quickly he wants me to check out in the back so no one can see me.  Ha ha!

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So, here is what ended up in my buggy from his store (I went to another after I left):

The manager had picked up two special 12oz bottles w/free 4 oz for me to help even more to get on my good side saying “Look what I found for you, this is last two we have”

2 Dimetapp 12oz & 2 free 4oz AND…

3 Dimetapp 4oz = $4.00 - $2Q = $2 + get $10 catalina for buying $20 worth

6 Aluminum Foil = $.99 - $1Q = FREE + .01 overage

1 Electrasol = $3.49 - $2.50Q = .99 + submit for $2 rebate = $1.99 PROFIT

4 Flinstone & Scobby Vitamins = $5 - $1Q - $1 IVCQ = $3 + get $10 catalina for buying $20 = .50ea + then submit for Bayer rebate for $3 x 4 = $10 PROFIT

8 Sunsilk = $2.29x2 - $2/2Q = $10.32 + get $10 catalina for buying 8 Unilever’s = $.32 total

4 Garnier Fructis = $2.99 - $1Q - $2ESC = FREE

No Reese’s whips here because the manager distracted me in that aisle

Total: $83.91 + $6.82 tax - $48.70Q’s = $42.03 - $10 catalina - $30 store credit = $2.03 OOP + earned $30 in catalina’s from my purchase.

So, not only did he give me $30 in store credit and honor an expired catalina…I walked out with $30 in catalina’s. WAHOO!

(Plus he honored an expired catalina because I was unable to use it in the store last week when I flew mad and forgot it was expiring last weekend)

 

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Store #2:

6 Aluminum Foil = $.99 - $1Q = FREE + .01 overage

1 Electrasol = $3.49 - $2.50Q = .99 + submit for $2 rebate(for mom) = $1.99 PROFIT

4 Flinstone & Scobby Vitamins = $5 - $1Q - $1 IVCQ = $3 + get $10 catalina for buying $20 = .50ea + then submit for Bayer rebate for $3 x 4 = $10 PROFIT

1 Mott’s Apple Juice = $1.79 - $1Q = .79 (only one in stock)

8 Reese’s Whips = 2/$1 - $1/2Q = FREE

1 Scrunci hairbow for my new haircut = $2.59 (filler to use for catalina too)

1 Chapstick for my hurting lips = $1.69 (filler to use for catalina too)

Total: $44.57 + $3.63 tax - $25.56Q’s = $22.64 - $10x2 catalina’s = $3.63 OOP MY SUBTOTAL WAS ZERO … HA!

(You have to use filler items for catalinas if you aren’t purchasing anything without coupons because they are technically considered coupons)

I emailed corporate a complaint

Update: I tried to shorten this post with some HTML code to (click here for more) but it didn’t work. The code would have “hidden” the letter until you were ready to read it. Sorry it is so long.

I wanted to share with you a complaint I filed with Walgreens.

Now, I’m not trying to school everyone on how to send out horrible complaint letters because I’m just sharing my story. I am normally a meek person but I was very embarrassed when I left the store that day and I took my revenge out when I got home.

I emailed a complaint to Walgreens last week when I wasn’t able to do the Dimetapp deal asking about their coupon policy change and didn’t get a response. I had been told they were NO LONGER taking any printable coupons! Now, I knew better because I read blogs all day long about how people were buying Dimetapp & Robitussin days after I tried.

So, I filed another complaint with Walgreens this week with a copy of the letter I emailed to the Wyeth corporation, the maker of Dimetapp. Here’s how it went.

Dear Walgreens: I have sent the below letter to the Wyeth corporation. I am very upset in regards to the way I was recently treated in your store.

COMPLAINT TO WYETH:

To whom it may concern:

I would like to bring it to the attention of the Wyeth Corporation that I was DENIED the use of your printable coupons at a very reputable Company this past week. This occurred at a Walgreens which is a company that my family and I shop at on a somewhat regular basis, and to me it was a disgraceful display of ignorance by a very large company.

I have used many, many of my legally printed coupons at this particular Walgreens store before, as well as other stores in my area such as Kroger, Wal-Mart and Target for a long time. I take pride in my ability to seek out the best value that I can, while living within my family's budget in today’s economic recession. For this, I thank companies such as Wyeth's, whose products I do consider to be of great value, to offer their manufacturer's coupons for printable use.

I was told this past week when buying your Dimetapp brand, that the store no longer accepts ANY home printed manufacturer's coupons. Long story short; the employee at first said she needed to get approval and the manager came to the checkout and I was told that they don’t accept printable coupons. Having used a printable coupon within days of this visit at their store I questioned the Manager when the change happened and was told the day prior, which I find strange. Looking at them with a bewildered look the manager just said Sorry because they have had too many problems they can’t take coupons anymore. I felt like the manager was pointing me out to be a thief in front of his employee as if I was trying to steal from them.

To be up front and honest here is why I think I was denied the use of your coupon. The Dimetapp was on sale at Walgreens last week for $4 as well as a Catalina offer which is why I wanted to use the coupons then. The Catalina promotion was on certain items to get $5 Register Reward when you buy $10 in products or get $10 Register Rewards when you buy $20 in products. (If you’re not familiar with Walgreens Reward program you can use Register Rewards like cash.) I had printed two coupons, my sister had printed two and my mother in law had printed one. We have seven kids between all of us and I was going to be purchasing five boxes for us to stock up and divide.

Based on my frugal math my purchase would have been:

Buy: (5) Dimetapp for $4.00 = $20.00

Use: (5) $2 printable coupons (2 mine, 2 sisters, 1 moms)

Pay: $10 & get $10 Register Rewards back

I feel like they simply refused the printable coupon because I would have received a Catalina for combining my families’ purchase thus getting the products for a very frugal cheap price. I left the store with my coupons, did not use them and have not made my purchase elsewhere yet because of how emotionally upset they made me feel. I will continue to use my coupons but I am very hurt by this ignorant incident.

I am appalled and hope that you are, too! I will certainly be wary about bringing my good money to an establishment that has made me feel like a fool for trying to use a legitimate company offered promotional coupon! The unfortunate thing for me is that this happens to be the closest 24 hour store to my home, and I will be paying more in gas to shop elsewhere. I will also be contacting the store's corporate office to try and get to the bottom of their new policy.

The Walgreens store is located at 220 In My Town, Back Woods, TN.

If this is of particular concern to your company, then I would urge you to contact the Walgreens Corporation with your grievance. I am only one person, but I not only plan to send correspondence to the main headquarters, but I will also be reporting this incident to any blog, forum, agency, newsletter and website that I can find that generates business for Walgreens by pairing the company's in-store prices with the promotions being offered regularly online by companies such as yours. I am someone who makes being a frugal shopper a big part of my daily life, and they have not heard the last of me tonight!

I would be interested in hearing from you regarding this matter too as I am very passionate about my frugal and HONEST coupon shopping! Thank you in advance!

Coupon Mommie

2 Far Out There

Back Woods, TN

I may have went a little overboard but I did nothing wrong and the manager himself thoroughly embarrassed me directly in front of his employee and who knows how many customers.

Want to know the follow-up to my story? I’ll be posting it in a little bit so check back!