6 Rouses Policies Louisianans Often Miss Before Checkout

Planning a Thanksgiving dinner with wine on the table? Rouses offers same-day pickup and delivery, but you’ll need to check its holiday hours first.

That’s one of the policies worth knowing before you check out, and it isn’t the only one.

Here are the Rouses policies Louisianans often miss before checkout, and what each one means for your trip.

1. Money Order Payment Limits

Participating Rouses locations sell money orders for a $1 fee each, in amounts up to $1,000.

You can pay in cash or with a chip-based debit card.

If you pay by debit card, you insert the chip, enter your PIN and have the card with you.

If you were planning to tap your phone, Rouses doesn’t take Apple Pay or Google Pay for money orders at this time.

If a money order goes missing, Rouses’ research request form carries a $25 non-refundable fee.

2. Clearance and Return Windows

You can return or exchange Rouses store merchandise within 14 days with a valid ID and receipt.

For perishable items, Rouses considers a refund or exchange within 7 days.

Rouses may refuse opened or damaged items, and items without a receipt.

If you bought an item on sale, you get the sale price back.

You need a receipt with a valid transaction number to get sales tax back on a returned item within the allowed time.

All sales on close-out and clearance merchandise are final.

3. Coupon Face Value

Rouses accepts coupons for face value only.

Internet coupons and soft drink container caps are among the types it accepts.

Only one coupon is allowed per item, and you have to buy the quantity the coupon states.

Other retailers’ coupons, expired coupons and coupons for a percent off your total order aren’t accepted.

Check before you clip.

4. EBT and Online Orders

Rouses accepts Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards at all store locations.

If you order online, EBT now works for curbside pickup and Instacart delivery.

Fruit, vegetables, meat, cereal, whole wheat bread, grains, canned fish, juice and milk are foods you can buy with EBT.

Federal rules from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, not Rouses, decide which foods qualify.

Those rules exclude foods that are hot at the point of sale.

5. Alcohol Pickup and Delivery

Rouses sells wine, beer and spirits in its Louisiana stores, but only wine and beer in Alabama and only beer in Mississippi.

You have to be 21 or older to buy it, and restrictions may apply.

Rouses offers same-day alcohol pickup through curbside pickup and same-day delivery through DoorDash and Instacart.

If you can't find a bottle, the store can order one for you.

6. Gift Card Terms

Rouses gift cards are redeemable at any Rouses Market on the Gulf Coast.

You pick the amount, with a minimum of $5.

Gift card sales are final, with no refunds or exchanges.

If you order a physical card online, shipping fees apply, while an e-gift card needs no shipping.

School and club fundraisers can buy cards at a 5% discount, sell them at full value and keep the 5%.

King Cake Shipping Limits

Rouses lets you ship a king cake through a link on its bakery page, but gourmet king cakes aren't available for shipping.

That includes the Dr. Pepper king cake, which carries a Rouses Exclusive label.

Prices listed on the page are in-store only.

If you want a special cake or dessert, stop by or call.

Hot Line and Muffalettas

Rouses' prepared foods page lists fried chicken and fried pork chops on its hot line every day for lunch and dinner.

Each day of the week brings a different special.

Under the hot line heading, hours run 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. for breakfast where available, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. for lunch and 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. for dinner.

On Tuesdays, there are $6 fresh sushi specials.

In Houma, you can use the Da Chicken Drive Thru from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. or shop in store from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Freret Faire, the restaurant at the Rouses on Freret Street in New Orleans, is open 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day, with breakfast and lunch made to order.

You can pick up Central Grocery muffalettas at select Rouses Markets in Louisiana, with stores listed in New Orleans, Mandeville and Metairie.

Donation Request Timing

If you're organizing an event, Rouses asks for sponsorship proposals to be submitted electronically at least eight weeks before it.

Donation requests from nonprofits, schools and churches go on a request form that you return to your local Rouses store at least eight weeks before the event or project begins.

Feeding the hungry is the store's number one giving priority.

The store contacts you if the request is granted.

Butcher and Seafood Counters

Rouses' butcher shop page says the counter can custom-cut to the thickness you want.

The butchers hand-cut and hand-trim their steaks and make fresh sausages in store.