How Rainchecks Really Work (and the Nine Stores That Still Offer Them)
You may have noticed how expensive life has become lately. While inflation on items such as food has fallen from a tragic high of 13.5% a few years ago, prices for a wide range of goods are still much higher—and likely to remain so .
This has made bargain hunting, coupon clipping , and sales essential aspects of everyone’s budget planning . But all the planning in the world fails if you actually can’t get the products you’re looking for. In other words, if the grocery store is offering a great price on one of your pantry staples, it won’t do you any good if it’s sold out when you get to the store; you’ll either have to buy a more expensive alternative or go home empty-handed. Unless you shop at stores that still have rain checks.
What is a rain check?
The term ” rain check ” dates back to the late 19th century, when baseball teams needed a way to reassure fans that they would not lose money spent on tickets if it rained at a game . Fans were given rain checks that allowed them to attend the next game at no additional cost. The term is still widely used in this context and has become a common phrase used whenever you have to postpone or cancel a social event or other meeting.
In the retail industry, receipts are issued when an item for sale is sold out. In 1989, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued the ” Availability Rule ” which required grocery stores to have a reasonable inventory of items for sale. This rule is designed to prevent “bait and switch” sales, which lure you into a store with a low price and then try to get you to buy a more expensive option. The rule does not literally require a store to offer rain checks, but rain checks are often the easiest way for stores to avoid being sued when a promotional item runs out. Other retailers also frequently inspect non-food items.
There are some exceptions to the availability rule (and other retailers may have their own unique screening policies). Generally, any item that is described as having a “limited supply” (and the notice of sale usually states that no receipts will be issued) is exempt, as are clearance items that are discounted specifically to clear out unwanted inventory. And items that will be delivered later, such as furniture or appliances, are usually never inspected.
Most Raincheck policies give you about a month or two to pay off the sales price. So, if you go to the grocery store because they have a certain brand of chips on sale at a deep discount, but they’re already sold out when you get there, you can get a receipt (physical or digital) and come back when the store has those chips in stock. back in stock and still receive the sale price, even weeks later. Sometimes, if you ask, you can extend the review period – a kind of test for review. If you stick to stores that offer rain checks, you can guarantee that you will always get a discounted price.
Stores that still offer rain checks
The key to taking advantage of Raincheck’s capabilities, of course, is to focus your purchases on stores that offer them. For local stores, you’ll need to contact the store directly to find out if they offer rain checks and what their policies are. Some networks that have published rain check rules include:
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Albertsons/Safeway offers checking on any item with a qualifying coupon that is valid for 90 days, so if you have a coupon that saves $1 on cereal, you can get that dollar checked if they sell out.
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CVS will offer checks on “regularly carried items” if a replacement is not available. These rain checks never expire.
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Best Buy offers testing on select items for in-store purchases only (anything purchased online is not eligible).
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Hobby Lobby will offer inspections of specific items that go on sale.
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Sears stores may offer rain checks, but you’ll have to contact the specific location to find out.
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Target will give you the ability to check for items on sale that are out of stock at a specific location. They last from 30 to 45 days depending on where you live.
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Walgreens will issue 60-day receipts for in-store purchases only.
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Publix stores will offer inspection of items “advertised outside the store at a reduced retail price.” The rain check is valid for 30 days.
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Shop Rite offers 60-day inspections.
It’s worth checking out which stores in your area offer rain checks, because they make it much easier to get great deals, even on popular items that are selling out. It’s a small advantage, but these days we all need every penny we can squeeze.