The Value of Saving Receipts

SUSSEX COUNTY, NJ – These days, with the effort to “go green” many businesses are skipping receipts. Sometimes, they will suggest that your receipts will be emailed (which I’ve opted for in some cases and the receipts have never come), or if you pay cash or if you have a small order, the cashier or gas attendant may either not give you a receipt assuming you don’t want one…they may begin to even pitch it in the trash for you.

If you’re a penny pincher and even if you’re not, you’ve got to stop them and ask for your receipt.

If you like the opportunity to save money, you may be missing your opportunity at the bottom of your receipt.

First, there can be rebate offers that you may be able to garner some cash back from some of your purchases, and with that you’ll need your receipts plus UPC codes from the products. And of course, if there’s an issue with an item you purchased, such as if there is a defect, the receipt is typically necessary for your return.

Additionally, however, there are often some special messages that we might overlook at the bottom of our receipts…that is the offer from the merchant for the opportunity to give our opinions.

Businesses, especially larger ones, look for the opportunity to get your opinion, and reward you for it. Sometimes, those rewards offer immediate gratification, and others, may be an opportunity to be entered into a larger drawing and the potential for a larger prize.

For example, if you shop at Weis Markets, have you ever checked your receipt at the bottom to determine that Weis is seeking your opinion? Yes, you read this correctly. And Weis will pay you $2 in return, which you can apply towards a future order of $40 or greater (only one money back offer per order). So before you throw out your receipt, use it to take the short survey and answer a few questions about your shopping experience there. At the conclusion of the survey, you will receive a special number, which can be written on the receipt for your $2 off.

Another proponent of this money back system are some of the fast food giants, and locally both Burger King and McDonald’s ask us for our opinion about the service we have received in their establishments. They’d like to know if they are up to par or not. In return, for example, at McDonald’s, the survey must be completed within seven days of your visit to a McDonald’s location, and like the receipt from Weis, pertinent information must be entered in for the offer of something in return to be valid. Once all of the information is entered, a validation code is given at the conclusion. The current offer for McDonald’s, which must be redeemed within 30 days of the receipt date, there is a buy one get one free Quarter Pounder with Cheese or Egg McMuffin for completion of the survey.

A program that offers you an opportunity to be entered into a sweepstakes is with Dollar General’s survey. Dollar General offers a $1,000 prize through its sweepstakes, with three winners chosen monthly. When one makes a purchase at Dollar General, and the receipt is given (again, another important reason to obtain and then save your receipt), there is a special source code on the printed receipt. From there, entrants will need to go to the company’s website as quickly as possible following their visits. Once a survey is completed, then it will be a matter of waiting for notification if you’re the winner or not.

And if you’d like to shop again at Dollar General, there is typically a $5 off coupon for a $25 or more order for in store purchases or online on the receipt…though these tend to expire quickly, so plan to shop there soon after your visit if you’d like to use this.

Another Sweepstakes giveaway for your opinion is with Quick Chek. Quick Chek offers its “Quick Chek Listens” program. Within three days of your visit, take your receipt to your computer, and fill out the survey. From there, you will be eligible to enter for a $250 gift card. You can see this message on all receipts from there, whether you purchase gasoline, or items from within a Quick Chek Store.

These are just a few special offers that are offered in our area for your opinion. If these are places that you regularly shop at, be sure to take advantage of these offers the next time you visit any of these places…and be sure that you receive your receipt.

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