4 Times Florida Publix Shoppers Outsmarted the BOGO System
Your Publix BOGO can get a boost from another store’s coupon.
It’s one of the moves budget-savvy Floridians use to stretch the deal.
Here’s how you can outsmart the BOGO system without breaking a single Publix rule.
1. Two Coupons on the Paid Item
In Florida, you must buy two items for the BOGO deal to apply.
Publix’s coupon policy treats each item in a BOGO offer as a separate purchase.
Each item can take two coupons, a manufacturer coupon plus either a Publix or a competitor coupon.
Say a cereal BOGO has a $5 box, and a $1 manufacturer coupon and a $1 Publix coupon go on the paid box.
The two boxes then cost $3 together.
A manufacturer coupon can be combined with a Publix coupon or a competitor’s coupon, but not both.
Where BOGO Terms Differ
Publix’s FAQ says BOGO terms differ by state.
In some states you may buy one item at half price, and in others you must buy both items, one of which is free.
Which states fall on which side isn’t named.
2. Competitor BOGO Coupons
A competitor’s BOGO coupon can work at Publix, which accepts BOGO and buy-one-get-two-free coupons from competitors’ stores for identical merchandise.
Say you have a competitor’s buy-one-get-two-free coupon for a $3 box.
Three boxes then cost $3 in all, or $1 a box.
Publix posts a list of the competitors whose coupons it accepts in each store, and Customer Service can share it with you.
3. Rain Checks for BOGO Deals
Publix’s rain check policy uses a BOGO 12-pack of sodas as its example, where 4 deals come to 8 items.
Rain checks are issued only for items advertised outside the store at a reduced retail price.
You request one at the Customer Service counter.
A rain check covers up to 8 single items, or up to 4 deals that don’t exceed 20 items.
It must be redeemed within 30 days of the issue date, at the retail price in effect when it was issued.
Publix will accept the coupon that was valid on the date the rain check was issued.
Publix doesn’t issue rain checks for Publix, competitor or manufacturer coupons.
Say that soda BOGO ran at $8 for a 12-pack, so your 4 deals fill 8 packs for $32, or $4 a pack.
Psst! How much do you know about Publix savings? Take our quiz and see if you can ace it.
4. Eight Coupons a Day
Publix limits coupon redemption to eight of the same coupon per day, per household.
Publix’s policy doesn’t spell out how the limit works for BOGO pairs.
But it treats each BOGO item as a separate purchase, so eight pairs could each carry that coupon on the paid item, within the eight-a-day cap.
Say a cereal BOGO has a $6 box, and you have eight $2 coupons.
Eight pairs put 16 boxes in your cart for $48 before coupons, and the eight coupons bring that to $32.
Publix also reserves the right to limit purchase quantities.
Digital Plus Paper on Store Brands
Publix lets shoppers combine digital and paper coupons for private label items on the same item.
If a Publix-brand item turns up in the BOGO ad, you may be able to use that pairing on the paid item.
Say a Publix-brand box is $6 on BOGO, and a $1 digital coupon and a $1 paper coupon go on the paid box.
The two boxes then cost $4 in all.
On a name-brand item, savings are limited to one manufacturer coupon per item purchased.
If a paper coupon is accepted for a name-brand item, the manufacturer’s digital coupon stays in your Club Publix account for future use.
BOGOs Through Instacart
Most BOGOs, as well as Club Publix perks, are redeemable through Instacart.
The printed and digital coupons you have clipped to your Club Publix account aren’t.
Publix says the increased prices online cover Instacart’s costs.
Coupons Publix Won’t Take
Before you build a BOGO pair around a coupon, check what Publix refuses.
Publix doesn’t accept percent-off-item or percent-off-total-order coupons.
All coupons must be originals, so Publix turns down copies.
A coupon shown on a phone or device isn’t accepted either.
Your clipped digital coupons apply when you enter your 10-digit phone number at checkout.
Individual coupons over $5 need a manager’s approval.
Money due back to you after a coupon transaction comes on a Publix gift card only.
Cash and the Final Total
Publix rounds cash transactions to the nearest multiple of five cents.
A cash total ending in 1, 2, 6 or 7 cents rounds down, and one ending in 3, 4, 8 or 9 cents rounds up.
Say your two BOGO boxes plus tax come to $3.07, and you pay cash.
Publix rounds that total down to $3.05.
The App’s BOGO Tab
In the Publix app, you tap Savings, then Weekly Ad, then BOGO to view the BOGOs.
Tap the plus sign to the right of each item you want to save.
Publix features at least 30 deals every week.
Club Publix, a free loyalty program, lets members sneak a peek at the weekly ad a day early.
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