7 Big Y Policies Employees Wish Bay Staters Used More
Saving money at the grocery store doesn’t always mean switching stores.
Sometimes it just means knowing the rules at the one you already shop at.
Here are the Big Y policies that employees wish more Bay Staters used.
1. The Lowest-Price Rule
Big Y’s policies page spells out what happens in Massachusetts when the checkout price is higher than the lowest price shown.
State code 202 CMR 7.07 requires a food store to charge you that lowest price, whatever pricing system it uses.
You don’t pay for one unit of an item whose lowest price is $10 or less.
When the lowest price is more than $10, you pay that price less $10 for one unit.
Say a $4 box of Ritz crackers rings up at $5, and Big Y’s rule makes that box free.
Exceptions to the State Price Rule
The state price rule behind Big Y’s policy has a gross-error exception, and state code defines the term.
A gross error means the lowest price is less than half the checkout price, and the seller didn’t intend to sell at it during the previous 30 days.
The rule doesn’t cover you either if you ask for the discount again on items you already bought within 24 hours.
Any additional units of the same item ring up at the lowest price.
State code requires food stores with price scanners to post the rule at each register.
2. Returns Without a Receipt
Lost your Big Y receipt?
The return policy still gives you an option.
Big Y’s policy says merchandise is sold with 100% satisfaction guaranteed, with two exceptions.
If you aren’t satisfied and you have the receipt, you get a full refund.
Without one, you get a credit for the lowest selling price from the past six months.
3. Check-Cashing Fees and Limits
Cashing a check at a Massachusetts Big Y costs 99 cents.
Big Y waives the fee if you spend at least $5.00 or write the check for the exact amount of your purchase.
Returned checks cost more.
Big Y charges $20 for each returned check, so you’ll want yours to clear.
If your Big Y Membership account is new, the policy limits you to checks for the exact amount of your purchase, up to $250.
A new account can’t use payroll checks or checks for cash back.
Big Y’s list of checks it won’t cash includes two-party personal checks, pre-dated checks, starter checks, money orders and out-of-state checks.
You need photo ID to cash a government or payroll check.
4. Coupon Doubling
A manufacturers’ paper coupon with a face value under 99 cents doubles at Big Y.
Digital coupons, store coupons and coupons marked “Don’t Double” aren’t doubled.
Free-item coupons don’t double either.
You can’t combine a digital coupon or offer with a manufacturer’s coupon.
Your coupon, doubled or not, can’t be worth more than the item.
The doubling offer excludes coupons on tobacco products, alcohol, lottery tickets and other items prohibited by law.
Big Y caps redemption of identical coupons at 5 per customer each ad week.
You can use only one coupon on each item.
Psst! How much do you know about Big Y? Take our quiz and see if you can ace it.
Quiz
Big Y Pop Quiz
Answer these questions on Big Y and its policies. We bet you can’t get them all right. Prove us wrong?
Which two items can’t be returned, refunded or exchanged under Big Y’s posted return policy?
5. Gift Card Purchase Rules
Buying a gift card at Big Y comes with conditions.
You need your Big Y Membership card to buy a prepaid cash gift card, the Visa and Mastercard kind, or any gift card you pay for by check.
A purchase of $500 or more in gift cards has to be processed at the Customer Service Desk.
If you pay by credit card, Big Y requires valid identification, and the name on the card has to match it.
Gift cards can't buy more gift cards, lottery tickets or non-merchandise.
Big Y can deny the sale if you don't meet those conditions.
6. One-Membership Limit
Big Y allows each authorized account holder only one membership.
If you already have a membership, Big Y says an additional one tied to you may be terminated or consolidated at its sole discretion.
Big Y's online contests are open to Membership account holders only, so you need your membership to enter one.
If you win, Big Y reserves the right to post your first name with your town and state, and a picture only if you provide one.
7. Flyer Limits
Some items in a Big Y flyer aren't available in all stores, the advertising policy says.
So the sale you plan around may not be at your store.
Big Y also reserves the right to limit sales of any item it advertises.
Flyer artwork is for display purposes only, so the picture you see doesn't necessarily show the item on sale.
It isn't responsible for typographical errors.
Accepted Payment Methods
You can pay at Big Y with Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, Visa, Mastercard, American Express or Discover, according to its policies page.
SNAP and WIC are both named.
Big Y also accepts many college meal plans.
Opting Out of Mailings
Big Y's privacy policy says the relevant information it may gather will only be used for internal company purposes.
If you want to opt out of mailings, you can call toll free 1 (877) 914-BIGY or write to Big Y Foods, Inc. at P.O. Box 7840 in Springfield.
The Inspections Behind the Price Rule
The Massachusetts price rule on Big Y's policies page comes with state inspections.
The state's Division of Standards says it conducts thousands of random inspections across Massachusetts.
Each year, the stores you shop at have to meet the state's 98% accuracy standard, based on a random sample of at least 50 items.
If an item scans higher at your Big Y than the lowest advertised, marked or shelf tag price, the store may be fined $100 for it.
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