Rainchecks 101

Rainchecks are a great way to save money on products that are on sale. When a store runs out of an item that is on sale you can get a raincheck on that product to purchase in the future. Target does not do rainchecks on many items, but most other stores do.

An example of savings with a raincheck would be from Harris Teeter. Two weeks ago Harris Teeter had their frozen chicken breasts on sale Buy 1 Get 2 Free. In case you didn't know HT raises the prices of many items before they put them on sale for Buy 1 Get 1 Free or Buy 2 Get 3 Free or Buy 1 Get 2 Free. This is the case with their frozen chicken. During B1G2 sales the chicken is $9.99, but if you get a raincheck you can get the chicken for $7.99 a bag, saving you $2 for every 3 bags of chicken. You can also save money buy using your rainchecks at triples--making something free at triples that otherwise would not be.

The best time to find stores low on merchandise is in the evenings (especially on weekends) after they have had shoppers all day and before the trucks come in to replinish their supplies. But, you also have to go early enough that the Customer Service desk is still open and you can get a raincheck. Drugstores have rainchecks behind the counters, so that is not an issue. CVS will now issue rainchecks that include ecbs and the sale price something that Walgreens can't do with their Register Rewards. When in doubt about a raincheck-- ASK. Stores want to get you in their stores, so be polite, friendly and ask.

Keep your rainchecks--most stores' rainchecks are good indefinitely, but once again ask. Also keep in mind you can't get a raincheck on using coupons for triples. If you have a coupon you want to triple and they are out of that item they will not triple it in the future if triples is over. You are just out of luck.

So, good luck and happy rainchecking...