6 Food City Checkout Traps That Often Catch Tennesseans

A coupon can feel like a sure thing, right up until the cashier scans it.

Food City has rules for how savings work, and Tennesseans who shop there can get tripped up by the details.

Here’s what to know so your total matches your plan.

1. Discounts Lost on Returns

Food City treats a discount as used even when you return the item it came with.

You can’t reuse the discount offer the next time you shop.

2. One Coupon Per Item

Food City limits coupon savings to one coupon per item you buy.

Its coupon policy bars you from combining a digital coupon with a printed coupon for the same item.

Food City may reduce your coupon’s amount when you combine it with other discounts or coupons.

3. Multiplier Coupon Rules

Food City requires you to use a digital coupon with a multiplier, such as 5x, in one transaction.

Plan to use a 5x coupon more than once, and you’ll need to do every use in the same transaction.

4. Rain Checks and Coupon Savings

A Food City rain check doesn’t apply to your digital coupon savings.

If Food City is out of an item, it can give you a rain check for that item.

Rain checks generally are good for 15 days.

Food City will renew a rain check if getting more of the item takes longer than that.

5. Tax on the Full Price

Food City calculates sales tax on a manufacturer coupon item from its full value, not the price you pay after the coupon.

Tennessee's Department of Revenue says sales tax is due on the price before a manufacturer coupon comes off, since the manufacturer reimburses the store.

Tennessee taxes a store-funded coupon the other way, on the price after the coupon comes off.

You owe the sales tax on manufacturer coupon items and on digital coupon items.

6. The Zero Floor on Coupons

Food City won't let a coupon take the amount of an item you buy below zero.

Use a $2.00 coupon on a $1.50 item, and the extra 50 cents doesn't come back to you.

A Food City coupon has no cash value.

Digital Coupon Limits

Food City lets your account hold up to 250 loaded coupons.

Food City accepts digital coupons only at its store locations.

You can't redeem them at Super Dollar Discount Food Stores.

Fuel Bucks Terms

Your Food City ValuCard earns one Fuel Buck for every dollar you spend on groceries.

Food City's fuel page says you don't earn Fuel Bucks on tobacco, lottery tickets, fuel, stamps, money orders, sales tax or Food City gift cards.

Your ValuCard must be scanned at the pump or shown to the cashier at the time of purchase to receive or redeem Fuel Bucks.

The 2x Fuel Bucks bonus on gift cards takes a purchase of $50 or more in qualifying shopping and dining gift cards.

It leaves out Food City store gift cards, along with Visa, Mastercard and American Express gift cards.

Prepaid wireless phone cards and reloadable prepaid products don't count toward the bonus either.

If a transaction is voided before it finalizes, you can still use the Fuel Bucks discount on a future trip.

Fuel Bucks Expiration

Food City Fuel Bucks you earn in one month expire on the last day of the following month.

January Fuel Bucks that you haven't redeemed expire on the last day of February.

Food City automatically redeems your oldest Fuel Bucks first.

It takes 150 Fuel Bucks to get one fuel visit at a Food City Gas 'N Go fuel center.

At Food City stores without a Gas 'N Go fuel center, you can redeem Fuel Bucks for 5% off groceries.

Paper Coupon Fine Print

Food City won't accept your coupon if it looks distorted, blurry, altered or copied.

Manufacturer coupons need the words Manufacturer Coupon printed on them and a valid remit address.

A cents-off or free item coupon works only on the brand and products stated on the coupon.

The manufacturer sets how many times you can use a coupon, and most coupons can be used only once.

Advertised offer limitations and other product limitations apply to your coupons too.

Food City doesn't take part in double or triple coupon offers.

The store reserves the right to refuse any coupon you hand over.

Weekly Ad Fine Print

Advertised prices at your Food City change every Wednesday at 12:01 a.m.

Food City reserves the right to limit quantities and to correct printed errors.

If you buy a single BOGO item, Food City sells it at half price.

Pickup and Delivery Orders

Food City removes any alcohol from your pickup or delivery order if an adult over 21 isn't present at the time.

It removes tobacco items too if the buyer is under 21 or lacks valid proof of age.

Food City sets a $10 minimum on all orders.