Publix has officially joined the ranks of grocery stores with eCoupons!  The digital coupons are now active in all areas. We’ve loaded them into the Southern Savers coupon database (search Publix eCoupon to see them all). I am also matching them on the Publix Ads and Advantage flyers. Here’s an example of what to look for in matchups:

I’ve gotten a few requests for details on making the most of the program, so here is all the info in one place! The most helpful details I found about the program is the FAQ at the bottom of their page. There is no way to link directly to it, so I’m going to summarize it here:

Loading Coupons

To load Publix Digital Coupons, head to the Publix Digital Coupons page.  Create a login and then clip the offers you think you’ll use. There are 94 coupons available right now. Many are offers that we see printable coupons for, but some are rare and high value like a $2 off any one Boboli Pizza Crust and B1G1 Crystal Light.

There is no lag time, so you can use the offers as soon as you clip them. There is also no limit to the number of offers you can choose. All coupons appear with an expiration date and can be used one time unless otherwise indicated.

Redeeming Coupons

To use the coupons that you have selected, head to the store and remind the cashier when you are checking out that you have digital coupons you want to use. You or they will enter your 10-digit phone number into the keypad to access the offers you saved.

What everyone wants to know…

Can I use a paperless coupon and a paper coupon for the same item?

“No. Savings are limited to one coupon per item purchased. Should a paper coupon be accepted for an item, the digital coupon will not be accepted and will remain in your account for future use.”

What do I do when a coupon does not redeem at the register?

“You can call 866-486-4292 (Mon-Fri, 8a-9p) or email PublixSupport@inmar.com to resolve any issues. You will need to include your Publix Digital Coupons phone number and transaction information.”

Like most eCoupon programs, you can’t stack these with manufacturer coupons and they won’t double. If you use a paper coupon, the digital coupon will just stay in your account, so it’s nice that you can easily choose which one to use without having to delete the eCoupon before checking out. In the Gevalia example above, you’d want to use the $1.50 coupon from the paper instead of the $1 digital coupon.

I’ve heard reports that there have been a few issues. One in particular is that some folks have had trouble redeeming eCoupons on B1G1 items.  You may also find that if you are trying to purchase 3 items and use (1) ecoupon and (2) paper coupons that the register might reject your paper coupons thinking you are trying to stack. If you have these issues, you can always do one small transaction with just eCoupon items to make it easier to keep track of.

Do you have any other questions about the new program?  Have you used the Publix Digital Coupons yet? What did you think?