If you live on the West Coast, you've probably been to a WinCo grocery store. This employee-owned, no-membership-needed supermarket is based in Boise, Idaho with locations also in Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona, Utah, Texas, and Nevada.
WinCo has awesomely low prices, an admirable bulk section, and friendly employees who never fail to say hello as they work throughout the store. They compete with other local grocers as well, so expect fluctuating prices.
Keep on reading and I'll show you some tips on how to maximize the value of your WinCo coupons.
When it comes to WinCo coupons, you can use one manufacturer coupon per item.
Before you start looking for WinCo coupons and deals to take advantage of, I'll give you the basics of the WinCo coupon policy:
Yes, WinCo takes manufacturer coupons—both newspaper and digital!
Cashiers will only accept one manufacturer coupon (no competitor coupons) per item
If you're printing internet coupons, make sure the barcode is clear and bold so the register doesn't have scanning issues
There's no overage or cash back for coupons with a higher value than an item's purchase price
You also can't use an online coupon for a freebie that doesn't require a purchase
Keep track of Winco deals and news with the official KCL app.
Get WinCo digital coupons directly from their website.
When you're shopping on WinCo.com you can "clip" (basically just tap) digital coupons that'll be automatically applied at checkout. All you have to do is create a WinCo account and verify your phone number.
Once your phone number is verified, it will act as your official ID number to use at checkout.
Here's a few of the digital coupons I saw:
$2 off Old Spice Dry Spray
$2.25 off Rachael Ray Nutrish dog food
$3 off Tide Pods 32 count
$5 off Crest Whitestrips kit
WinCo only allows one coupon per item, so don't expect to stack.
According to the WinCo coupon policy, you can only use one coupon per item, so stacking is not an option. This is likely a reflection of their focus on digital manufacturer coupons on their website. As we all know, only one manufacturer coupon is ever accepted on a single item, at any store in the universe.
Use rebate and cash back apps for better WinCo savings.
You can combine WinCo's sales prices with Ibotta rebate offers and take advantage of even better prices. Here's an example I saw for RxBars:
Submit one $0.75/1 - RxBar, Ibotta Rebate (ibotta.com) - limit 3 Pay $0.98, submit for $0.75 Ibotta credit Final Price: $0.23
And there's plenty more Ibotta WinCo rebates where that came from, like $4 back on Lumify eyedrops or $5 back on Dewar's Whiskey.
Here's some other rebate apps you can take advantage of with WinCo:
Get to know WinCo tags so you know where to look for savings.
WinCo's differently colored tags make it easy to find exactly what you're looking for. Here's what each tag means:
Yellow tags indicate regularly priced items.
Green tags mean the item is on sale.
Blue tags mean the item is organic.
Pink tags are for gluten free items.
Buy bulk products by the case or sack and save as much as 50%.
Ask any employee working in the bulk foods section if a certain product is eligible for the case discount, and they'll place an order for you when you need it. Some of the best items to get in bulk are honey, tea, baking supplies, spices, candy, and nut butters.
I just checked with a WinCo store that was selling a bulk 10-pound bag of paprika for $37.34, or $0.23 an ounce. In comparison, the store brand in 2.12-ounce containers costs $0.98, or $0.46 an ounce.
It's a lot of paprika, but hey, nothing a smart shopper likes more than half off!
PRO TIP: Keep an eye out for the "Wall of Savings" area of the store for super-cheap items available in bulk.
Plan to pay with cash or debit–no credit cards accepted.
Because of the transaction rates, WinCo stores don't accept credit cards. You'll have to stick to your debit card, cash, checks, EBT, and WIC payments.
Keep an eye out for WinCo coupons in-store.
Some WinCo locations will even have their own paper coupons available. If they're not available by the entrance, check by customer service or ask a manager. I saw dollar off coupons for items like salsa, bread, and oatmeal.
These coupons are pretty rare, especially in light of the pandemic. They're also only available in-store.
Bring your own reusable bags for a possible $0.05 discount per bag.
Some WinCo stores offer a $0.05 reusable bag credit per bag that you can use towards your total. Not only does this help with your bill, but reusable bags are better for the environment and typically roomier than plastic or paper bags.
Check with your local WinCo store to see if they offer the reusable bag credit. (At WinCo you bag your own groceries.)
Sign up for WinCo mailers so you don't miss coupons and special savings.
WinCo doesn't send out too many mailers, but when they do, it's worth it. They generally send them out for big events like store openings and big sales. These mailers can include major savings like $10 off a purchase of $50 or more.
Use the WinCo contact page to make sure you don't miss a single flyer.
General Tips for Shopping at WinCo
Before you begin using your WinCo coupons, let's go over some of the basic shopping tips you should know about the store:
Organize your cart for easier bagging. You have to bag your own groceries at WinCo, so group your items by frozen, refrigerated, produce, etc. to speed up the process.
Look elsewhere for toiletries. The toiletry, makeup, and medicine selection at WinCo is limited, with less competitive prices than other stores. You're better off stacking multiple coupons at Target, price matching at Walmart, or using store rewards at a drugstore.
Don't shop on the weekends. Avoid shopping over the weekend and during rush hour on weekdays (4 p.m. – 7 p.m.) unless you're prepared to fight your way through the crowds.
Check for case lot sales. Some WinCo locations hold case lot sales, where you can stock up on your family's favorites (canned foods, cereal, oats, pasta, and more) at extraordinary discounts. Ask your local store if they participate.
