How can I stack coupons and rewards at JCPenney?

Question

So I'm trying to redo my guest bedroom before my in-laws come to visit next month, and my budget is pretty tight, like $200 max for sheets, a comforter, and maybe some new towels. I have a bunch of JCPenney rewards saved up, plus I keep getting those mailers with the 30% off coupons.

I did some digging online to see how to get the absolute lowest price, but the info is super confusing. Some couponing blogs say you can stack up to ten $10 reward certificates in one transaction. But then I read on a forum that they only let you use one coupon code per online order. So I was thinking, does a reward certificate count as a coupon code or is it treated like cash?

My logic was that I could use my three $10 rewards (so $30 total) and then apply the 30% off coupon on top of that. But some people are saying you cant do that, or that if you do, the system applies the percentage coupon first, which lowers the subtotal, and then you might lose part of the reward if the total goes too low. Or is it the other way around?

Also, I plan on going to the store in Dallas because I want to feel the sheets before buying them, and I heard the register rules in-store are different than online. Can I use the paper 30% off coupon, my rewards, and one of those $10 off $25 coupons they sometimes hand out at the door? Or is that just wishful thinking? The JCP website policy page is so vague about the actual sequence of how these get scanned. Just trying to figure out how to order these at the register so the cashier doesn't get annoyed with me...

Amelia · Accepted Answer

Saw this earlier and wanted to chime in since I do this a lot. Quick question first though... are the sheets you are looking at currently marked as clearance or are they just on regular sale? That makes a huge difference because JCPenney coupons usually exclude clearance items, though you can still use your rewards on them. Once we know that, here is a quick tip on how the register actually processes these. Rewards are treated like gift cards or cash tender in their system, not coupons. So you can definitely use your 30% off coupon and then stack all three of your $10 rewards on top of that. Just make sure the cashier scans the 30% coupon first. If they do it the other way around, the register might act funky and reduce the value of your rewards if the subtotal drops too low. Also, if you want to stretch that $200 budget, check if you can order online for in-store pickup. Sometimes the online pricing is slightly cheaper than what is marked on the shelves, and you can still go feel the fabric in the store before you finalize the pickup. I actually use PriceDropCatch to track home goods there because their prices fluctuate so much.

Sophie · Answer

I tried doing this exact same thing last fall when buying some Home Expressions sheet sets and Liz Claiborne towels for our guest room. Honestly, you need to be really careful with the order they scan everything at the register. I would suggest making sure the cashier scans the 30% coupon first, and then apply your three $10 rewards. Those rewards act like cash, but if they scan them first, the system might reject the percentage coupon if the subtotal drops. I learned that the hard way and almost lost a reward. Also, make sure to double check the tags because if the sheets are a doorbuster, the coupon wont work. I've been using PriceDropCatch to keep an eye on some jewelry at JCP, and it's already saved me like $40.

newyorknewyork · Answer

Honestly, JCPenneys POS system is pretty frustrating. Unfortunately, you cant stack that 30% off coupon with the $10 off $25 door coupon since their system only allows one coupon barcode per transaction. The percentage discount always applies first, then your rewards. Since their pricing fluctuates so much anyway, I usually just use PriceDropCatch to track the bedding prices to buy when they actually hit rock bottom.