Just got back from Jewel…will take pix later, but wanted to let you all know to:

Check your Avenue before you leave the house; people have been reporting that the PF Chang and HC Fresh Mixers have disappeared from their preferred card without being used, even though the expiration dates are next week.  This happened to me, so here is what you do: Take your Dominicks, Speedway, anything loyalty card with a bar code of 12 numbers and register that on the Avenue site.   Print out what your deals are, so you don’t forget – they will all show as a preferred card – so make a notation about which tag to scan.  Obviously, this is at SCOT.   Today’s transaction was on a Speedy Rewards tag with both items showing (although the Chang discount was only $2.25).  Score!!  My Dominicks’ cards don’t have the PF Chang, but do have the HC Fresh Mixers.  Buy your limits NOW, don’t wait until Monday or you can be sure they will be pulled.  Buy now and return in the next 60 days with your receipts and coupons.  Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Vendors are apparently asking Jewel to yank the Avenue deals when the volume purchased becomes more than anticipated.  This has to be a customer relations nightmare for Jewel!  Imagine the person who checked his/her card the evening before and printed out the offers, then went shopping first thing…can we say majorly pissed when nothing comes off?

Second item of note:  Jewel corporate has had meetings with store management making them aware of the number of “extreme” couponers out there (my choice of words).  Corporate is aware of the sheer volume of business that couponers bring to each and every coupon-friendly store and is now trying to ensure that all stores maintain a coupon-friendly attitude.  Mind you, this doesn’t mean anyone ever has the right to act rude or throw things or in any way attempt to demean the poor schnook who has to take the abuse.  and yes, these things have all happened to cs and cashiers… so don’t even go there…

Here’s the deal:  Picked up six of the $6.99 PF Chang because that was the maximum on my preferred card, then added “stuff” to come up to the ten needed to discount $5.00.  Obviously I don’t need any more cake mix, but this is a case where it’s cheaper to throw them into the basket to get the discount on the other stuff.  Vanity Fair napkins are a total rip-off at $2, but when you don’t have any and your family balks at using toilet paper…what’s a mother to do?  The Macaroni Grill product was thrown in to get up to $30 to use a 3/30 coupon I found – don’t worry, I had a free coupon!

Just cooked up a few packages of the PF Change – the general consensus is that it’s right up there with take out:  I agree.  Wish I had more preferred cards…

Update here:  I cooked 3 of the bags which state “Meals for Two.”  There is not one bit of food left over, people.  My take on this?  Extremely fine quality, but very expensive:  the regular shelf price is $10.99, but even the sale price of $6.99 is too high (it you’ve gotten the price down to $1.99 or free with RRs, then it’s a great deal and I wish I had like a zillion preferred cards).  If you’re going to spend that kind of money, might as well go out and have tons of doggy bags.

See sticky for coupon info 8 Healthy Choice Fresh Mixers, 2 PF Chang and 1 package of Gonnella rolls (for the Papa Charlie’s)  for a total of $1.12 OOP.  Note that I used a $3 RR from the Kleenex deal, so if you’d like, add the 3 bucks back into the equation…still cheap, huh?