There are two new Uncle Ben’s coupons available through webSaver.ca at the moment:

• Save $1 off select Uncle Ben’s brand rice

• B1G1 FREE – Buy One Uncle Ben’s Rice & Curry Thai or Indian Curry & Get One Bistro Express Free

Click here to order your coupons by mail.

Visit the Doritos Canada Facebook page to stop the Guac Clock! You could win one of 10,000 instant prizes of  an FPC for Guacamole Doritos, and you will be entered to win one of 100 cases. Cut the wires in the correct order within the time limit to stop the clock. You will get 5 chances per day and if you are successful you will receive one entry. Click here to try your luck! Contest ends February 22nd 2013.

Get a FREE pair of Skechers GOrun or GOwalk shoes with 6 PINS from specially marked Astro Zero Packages. You will also be required to pay $4 for shipping. With every PIN, you will also be entered for a chance to WIN an unforgettable trip through the Rocky Mountains, and FREE Astro yogurt for a year! Click here to register and get started.

Ever been shopping and the item scans higher than advertised? You could be getting that product free!

The Scanning Code of Practice is a voluntary code (although many stores do participate) through the Competition Bureau and Retail Council of Canada.

If the scanned price of a non-price ticketed item is higher than the shelf price or any other displayed price, the customer is entitled to receive the item free, up to a $10 maximum. When the item has a price tagged, the lowest price applies. When identical items are incorrectly priced, the second one will be sold at the correct price.

The Code covers all scanned merchandise at participating retail outlets where the sign shown above is displayed at the store entrance or checkout. You have probably seen it before and never read it, but it can save you money.

What is a non-price ticketed item?
A non-price ticketed item is any bar coded merchandise that does not have a price affixed to the merchandise.

What happens if two or more identical non-price ticketed items are incorrectly scanned?
Customers are entitled to the first item free (up to a maximum of $10) and the subsequent item(s) at the correct price.  If the items are different flavours/scents(different PLU or UPC numbers) they are classed as different items and you can get them free.

Do you need to do anything to get this discount?
Simply ask, often the cashier will try to just put the item in at the corrected price – politely point out the sign and ask if you should not be getting it free (or $10 off).  They may need to get a manager’s approval and will usually send someone to check the price.

What if the item has been put back in the wrong place?
Most companies list the item details on the price tickets, but on occasion there will be a big sign with just a price.  If there are many of that item you can likely argue for it, but if it is a single item with others not like it – probably not.

What if the ticket price shows a date that has expired?
This one is a judgment call, the date shows that the price is no longer valid but they have to show pricing as part of their agreement.  They will usually honour it in this case but you may need to point out that it is their responsibility to take down the old tags and that small print is just a false advertising attempt.

Do all stores take part in this code?
No, it is recommended to stores but not required. Quebec does have price accuracy laws but they are not covered by this voluntary code (although the terms are very similar)

What if they won’t give me the discount?
First ask for a manager and explain the situation.  If you are still dissatisfied, register a complaint with the Scanner Price Accuracy Committee, by calling 1-866-499-4599 (toll free).

What is the best item you have ever got with SCOP?

This blog is part of our New to SmartCanucks series, click here to read more blog posts in the series

From Jan 9-12, buy any drink at Starbucks and get a tall Blonde Roast for free, until 11am each day.  Starbucks Blonde Roast is a lighter roast with a mellow, easy-drinking taste.

Make 2013 your healthiest year yet and get off to a great start with discounts from well.ca.  Now through January 13th, save 35% on fitness equipment and supplements and 20% on healthy food brands.

• 35% off Natures Bounty
• 20% off Dymatize Nutrition
• 25% off Adult Essentials Gummies
• 20% off Everlast
• 15% off Gaiam
• 20% off Sportline
• 15% off Salter scales
• 20% off selected deodorants
• 25% off select Atkins products

Click here to shop online at well.ca, shipping is free when you spend $25 or more or $2.99 if you spend less.  If you are a new customer to well.ca, enter 2013ALREADY to save $10 when you spend $40 or more

A $1 coupon valid on any OXY product is available to be printed through the OXY Facebook page. Coupon is valid until January 31st 2013. Enter your name and email address here to claim your coupon.

Watch for specially marked boxes of Post Shredded Wheat containing PINS for a free red scarf. Offer is valid until May 31 2013, or while quantities last. 27,000 scarves are available to be claimed. Click here to register and enter your PIN.

There is a new coupon available from GoCoupons.ca for $1 off the purchase of Allegro Cheese. Coupon is available to residents of Quebec and Ontario only. Click here to order your coupon by mail.

It’s a new year and there are new mail in rebates for thirteen different Physicians Formula products. Thank you salady for posting this in our forum. Rebates are available for the following products:

1) Organic wear® 100% Natural Origin FakeOut™ Mascara $6 Mail-in-Rebate
2) Super BB All-in-One Beauty Balm Cream $7 Mail-in-Rebate
3) pH Matchmaker pH Powered Powder $9 Mail-in-Rebate
4) Youthful Wear™ Youth-Boosting Powder $9 Mail-in-Rebate
5) How-To-Wear™ Bronzer & Bronze Booster Airbrushing Bronzing Veil $9 Mail-in-Rebate
6) Sexy Booster™ Sexy Glow Bronzer $9 Mail-in-Rebate
7) Endless Color™ Nail Polish Trio $5 Mail-in-Rebate
8) Super BB All-in-One Beauty Balm Concealer $5 Mail-in-Rebate
9) Super BB All-in-One Beauty Balm Powder $9 Mail-in-Rebate
10) Youthful Wear™ Youth-Boosting Dark Circle Corrector + Concealer $5 Mail-in-Rebate
11) Happy Booster Baked Bronzer & Illuminiting Bronzing Veil $9 Mail-in-Rebate
12) Sexy Booster™ glow Blush $7 Mail-in-Rebate
13) Sexy Booster™ Sexy Glow Glossy Lip Stain $5 Mail-in-Rebate

You must include:

• The REBATE which was affixed to your Physicians Formula product.
• Your original sales receipt with purchase price circled

These labels are affixed to specially marked products available in limited quantities while supplies last. Click here for more information on qualifying products and to download rebate forms.

Save 50% on George R. R. Martin’s A Game of Thrones 4-Book Boxed Set from Amazon.ca. It is currently selling for $21.98 and includes A Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings, A Storm of Swords, and A Feast for Crows. Shipping from Amazon.ca is free on orders of $25 or more. Click here to order.

Foxy Originals Canada is now offering 50% dozens of pieces of jewellery in their sale section. Shipping is free on orders over $75, and $8 flat rate on orders under $75. Enjoy a free pair of Wisteria earrings with orders over $100. Click here to shop the sale.

Chapters-Indigo Canada is currently selling the Leapster GS Explorer for $55.96, a 30% savings off the regular price of $79.95.  The Leapster GS Explorer has a built in camera and video recorder, 2 GB of memory, and comes with three apps: Pet Pad, Escape of the Sillies–an exclusive LeapsterGS game and one app of your choice. Additional apps and games sold separately (over 300 LeapFrog Explorer downloadable apps and action-packed educational games available!) The Leapster GS Explorer is recommended for ages 4-9, and 4 AA batteries are required. Click here to order from Chapters-Indigo Canada.

There are so many misconceptions to couponing in Canada, from people thinking you must be poor or on welfare to coupon to people who have watched Extreme Couponing and think it is that easy to get hundreds of items for free at one time.

Canada does not have the same rules as the US, few stores allow store coupons with manufacturers’ coupons, double and triple coupons are a special event that may happen a few times a year – if that and most of our grocery stores do not give you coupons on your receipt.

That being said, you can save a lot by couponing if you are willing to give up your brand loyalty and spend the time doing it – and for some, the time just is not worth the savings.

If you are brand new to couponing, my first piece of advice is don’t go crazy. It can be so tempting to buy things just because they are cheap. By couponing, you can build a stockpile when items are cheap (or even better, free) but if you won’t use them – why buy them?  Don’t buy stuff you do not need just because it is cheap with coupons.

My second – no coupon is too small. Ever seen a coupon and thought it is only $0.50 off a $3 item and not bothered picking it up? If you buy that item anyway, why pay $3 when you can pay $2.50. You by one every week, you save $26 over the year – do that on 4 items and you have an extra $100 by the end of the year.

Getting Coupons – you will need coupons to start, you won’t start saving until you build a stash of coupons.

• Check your stores – now is the perfect time as many people are finding the newest coupons in stores (don’t bother with Loblaws banner stores or Walmart – they rarely carry manufacturers’ coupons). The ones I found this week include $2 off any fruit or produce when you buy 2 loaves of Dempster’s bread which we buy regularly anyway.
• Many traders on SmartCanucks will trade ‘newbie packs‘ with an assortment of coupons, others will trade based on your wishlist or if you see coupons you are interested in, you can contact that trader to arrange a trade (I will cover trading in-depth later this month)
• Online coupons – check our coupon page to find the coupons you can order. Many come from sites such as save.ca, websaver.ca, smartsource.ca, or gocoupons.ca – you will need to sign up for these sites – one per address (smartsource is a limit per computer). Some will be available to print, others will be mailed to you. Many companies offer occasional coupons on their sites or from their facebook pages.
• Check your newspapers – occasionally there are coupon inserts in newspapers, this weekend was one of them!
• Contact companies and ask – tell them you love their products and ask if they have any coupons available. Be polite, many will say no but ones sent directly from the companies are often great coupons that can be used on any product they sell.
• Check packaging for coupons, cereal often has coupons in the box and this will be advertised on the box.

What you will need

• Scissors: Many mailed coupons and coupon inserts require the coupon to be cut out.
• Some type of coupon organizer – many of us started with an envelope, then a little accordion file from Dollarama then moved up to binders or coupon organizers. I will cover organizers in-depth soon too.
• Paperclips (great for sorting coupons and holding stacks together – never staple coupons)
• The simple stuff (paper, pen, envelopes (great for throwing a few coupons in for a small shop or mailing trades) and a calculator (use it on your phone or computer if you don’t have one)

You can get all of these at a dollar store if you don’t have them.

• Printer – if you don’t have one, it can be a bit of an expense but many coupons are now printable and are time limited so you can miss out if you need to wait for someone else to print it for you. It is best to get a colour printer as cashiers may claim they are photocopied if black and white.
• A mailing address (easy right) Some coupons will not be mailed to a PO Box though.

While you are building a stash of coupons, start working on a price book. Make a list of all the items you usually buy (including competing brands) with their prices. Many stores put items in their flyers that are not really on sale, they just hope people buy them because they are advertised. Couponing is most effective when you know your pricing.

Once you have some coupons, you are ready to start.

• Check store flyers for prices that are lower than usual (we do this for you, check our coupons to use with flyers thread in the deals & flyers forum each week).
• Make a list of items you want to buy and clip your coupons to your list (I find it easier to put my list on an envelope for each store with the coupons in the envelope)
• Bring your extra coupons with you in case you see clearance deals while shopping.
• Sort your items when checking out to make sure you can give the cashier the coupon for that item – ask them how they prefer the coupons. Watch to make sure all the prices ring up as advertised.

Some tips

• Unless it is a really great sale you will make the most of your coupon by buying the smallest size you can. If you only have one of a coupon, it may be worth buying the bigger size (If you need 10 of something, buying a cheap pack of 4 but still needing to buy 6 more may not be economical).
• Check what your local stores’ policies are on printable coupons and coupons over the amount of an item – they may not accept it. Many couponers favour Walmart for their generous coupon policy.
• Make sure you read the terms of your coupons carefully. Many exclude certain products or sizes or are only available on a certain size.
• Some cashiers do not like couponers, you will eventually get to know the coupon friendly ones.
• If you have a list of items that are cheap at various stores, you can save time and money by price matching at one store (Walmart, RCSS, FreshCo or No Frills plus some smaller ones).
• If you live in Western Canada, certain stores allow the use of more than one coupon per item (stacking).
• If you are new to couponing, and especially if you want to trade coupons, I recommend signing up to Adopt-A-Newbie (which you can find here). You will be paired with a senior trader who can help you on your couponing journey. When you sign up, let them know if you live in Western Canada so you can be matched with someone who can teach you about stacking.

Over the coming weeks, we will cover some of these points more in-depth but this should give you an idea of whether couponing is for you.

For the couponers reading – what is the one piece of advice you would give someone starting out?  Feel free to sign up as an adopter in our Adopt a Newbie thread too.
This blog is part of our New to SmartCanucks series, click here to read more blog posts in the series

Request your free sample of Nikwax Waterproofing Wax for Leather by completing the short quiz. Answer correctly, and a free 50ml sample of Nikwax Waterproofing Wax for Leather will be on its way to you. Click here to order your sample.