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All about B1G1 free coupons – the rules

One question that we are always asked, is how to use B1G1/BOGO coupons. Sales, store coupons, cents/dollar off coupons… how does it all work? What is the right way to shop with these types of coupons and sales?

B1G1 Free Coupon Rules

Buy 1, get 1 free coupon

This is the easy one – how to use a B1G1 coupon. When a coupon states “buy 1, get 1 free”, it means exactly that. You can use the one coupon to buy 1 item and get another item for free.

Dawn Dish Soap @ $2 x 2 = $4
– B1G1 Free Coupon
Final Price: $2 for 2 bottles ($1 each)

2 Buy 1, get 1 free coupons for 2 items

This would be considered stacking, and since most stores and manufacturers do not allow coupon stacking, this is not okay to do. Each B1G1 Free coupon attaches itself to 2 products. If you want to use, for example, 2 B1G1 Free coupons, you need to buy 4 items.

Dawn Dish Soap @ $2 x 2 = $4
– B1G1 Free Coupon
– NO Other Coupon Allowed
Final Price: $2 for 2 bottles ($1 each)

Buy 1, get 1 free coupon + buy 1, get 1 free store coupon

Some stores, including Rexall and Target, offer store coupons to their customers. These coupons are not offered by the manufacturer, but by the stores themselves. So at both of these stores, you can use both 1 manufacturer coupon and 1 store coupon per item.

Dawn Dish Soap @ $2 x 2 = $4
– B1G1 Free Store Coupon
– B1G1 Free Coupon
Final Price: 2 bottles for free

Buy 1, get 1 free coupon + cents/dollar off store coupon

This is similar to the example above, except we are using cents/dollar off coupons instead of a B1G1 Free coupon. Since both Target and Rexall allow 1 manufacturer coupon and 1 store coupon for 1 item, this transaction would be okay.

Dawn Dish Soap @ $2 x 2 = $4
– B1G1 Free Coupon
– $0.50 Store Coupon
Final Price: $1.50 for 2 bottles ($0.75 each)

Buy 1, get 1 free coupon + buy 1 get 1 free sale

This one is really confusing to some people (especially store workers), and it’s easy to understand why. The good news is that you can combine a B1G1 coupon with a B1G1 store promotion to get 2 items for free, unless the store policy expressly prohibits it.

Dawn Dish Soap @ $2 x 2 = $4
– B1G1 Free Coupon
– B1G1 Free Sale
Final Price: 2 bottles for free

Buy 1 get 1 free sale + 2 cents/dollar off coupons

This is another tricky one. A store is offering a B1G1 Free sale – can you use 2 coupons on the 2 items you are buying, even though 1 of them is free? The answer is yes, unless the store policy expressly prohibits this practice. Since the store will be reimbursed for the coupons they accept, most will allow you to do this.

Dawn Dish Soap @ $2 x 2 = $4
– B1G1 Free Sale
– 2x $0.50 Coupons
Final Price: $1 for 2 bottles ($0.50 each)

Buy 1, get 1 free coupon + cents/dollar off coupon

This is the one that is misused most often. Can you buy 2 items and use a B1G1 Free coupon plus a cents/dollar off coupon? The answer, I’m sorry to say, is no. Like I mentioned earlier, a B1G1 Free coupon attaches itself to 2 products, so if you also want to use a cents/dollar off coupon, you will need to buy another product.

Dawn Dish Soap @ $2 x 2 = $4
– B1G1 Free Coupon
– NO Other Coupon Allowed
Final Price: $2 for 2 bottles ($1 each)

I hope this helps with all of the B1G1/BOGO confusion! The best thing you can do when trying to get the most bang for your buck with coupons, is to abide by all of the rules set by both the stores and the manufacturers.

When it doubt, call your local store to find out what their policy is. You can also check out our Canadian Coupon Policies page. Happy couponing!

Comments

  1. Louise

    I am still confused about the scenario I was in a few weeks ago at target. It’s the reverse of the scenario you described above. I have a. Target b1g1 and a manufacturer cents off coupon. Was that ok? They let me do it but the cashier seemed super skeptical.

    • Cassie Howard

      Yes, because you were using 1 target coupon and 1 manufacturer coupon, which is allowed. 🙂

      • Louise

        I thought so! I have to get my glade coupons out, found some stuff on clearance that I think I can pick up lair free later today.

  2. Donnita

    Safeway will no take B1G1 Free coupons and they will no longer take printed coupons (i.e. SmartSource / Websaver). Is that just my local Safeway’s policy or is that a corporate-wide policy?

    • Cassie Howard

      That’s definitely just your store.

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