One GIANT let down...

So these days I find myself without a paycheck (hmmm maybe because I quit my job!). I have found the need to be creative in ways to "earn" money. So now rather that recycling all the circulars, I actually read them first to try to find the best grocery deals. I am also a fan of http://www.coupons.com/ because you can print coupons for free without having to give out all your personal information. (Thanks Lisa for that one!)



So I recently made a trip to Giant, a large grocery chain in our area. My mom was watching the kids because I was suppose to be volunteering at field day - which was rained out. It's a rare treat for a mother of three to go grocery shopping during the day... alone. So I must say that I was generally happy. And, I decided to go to Target first which always puts me in a spectacular mood! I even treated myself to a Grande Java Chip Light Frappacino to sip while I did my grocery shopping. With circular and coupons in hand, I was determined to save money and earn gas points. Hah! Yeah right.



First of all the store is huge. Seriously, when a grocery store sells lawn furniture you have to wonder... Needless to say, you just hope that you don't forget something because retracing your steps will add at least 10 minutes.



Secondly, the circular reads like a scavanger hunt that is not meant to be won. Go and buy 3 items from this column, 4 items from this column, and 3 General Mills Cereals (select varieties only!) and then you can earn 400 extra gas points. Attempting to find those items and make sure that you do indeed have the value pack pictured is no easy task. One that a novice shopper would easily fail.



So anyway, an hour and 20 minutes later I reach the check out.... where I wait of course. It's finally my turn and I start to load up my conveyor belt. It is quickly filled because there is no one in sight to bag the groceries so we have grid lock. Now I must shimmy around my still full cart in order to start bagging so that I have more room to go back and load the belt! This routine must happen two more times before I can finish loading all the groceries. Finally, I can pay.



I quickly scan my three mile long receipt expecting to be gleeful of the extra gas points I worked so hard to earn. WHAT.... seriously.... they are not showing up. Calmly, I now proceed with a very heavy cart to customer service. I show the gentleman all the items that I bought which according to the circular should earn me the magic gas points. "Oh", he says,"did you have them scan the coupon, because sometimes it doesn't show up without the coupon?"



AHHHHHHHHHHHH.... so now I must study the paper, search the store, read the fine print, purchase the correct items AND show the coupon.



I wait patiently while he fixes the mistake and credits my points. I proceed outside in the pouring rain to load up the car and then attempt to shove my cart into and already overloaded cart return.



Needless to say, had I not had free babysitting this experience would have been even more frustrating.

1. I'd never be able to sip on the Frappcino b/c Owen and Ella would drink it.

2. The likelihood of finding all my coupon items and the magic gas point items would verge on impossible b/c who can spend an hour and 20 minutes shopping with kids.

3. Even if I found the items, the chance of me looking at the receipt and realizing the error after bagging all my own groceries while Owen is stealing all the gum and candy bars... you get the picture!



Now I must say that the only redeeming aspect of this incredibly frustrating trip was that I walked out with all my items in my Hennings reusable grocery bags. So hah - take that Giant you big, impersonal, annoying store. Honestly, I wish they said "I'd rather be shopping at Hennings" - but alas they just say Hennings. Which if you aren't from the area, is a lovely local market where you don't need a sillly plastic card to get a sale price, you don't need to be Nancy Drew to earn gas points, you NEVER have to bag your own groceries, you OFTEN are asked if you need help out to the car, and if it is raining Brendan is usually in the parking lot helping moms! You might spend a few more dollars... but I am beginning to think it is worth it. And when you are all done you can sit in a leather chair upstairs and ENJOY your coffee because you actually have time to spare.



The irony of all this is that the closest Giant gas station to even redeem my points is 20 minutes away. Maybe I should just go back to work - it's the easiest way to earn money. Hmmm... maybe I'll work at Hennings!