I have copied and pasted a post from Jill Cataldo's blog that I think everyone needs to read! It is unthinkable that someone who is doing these deals and taking a RISK at getting the cats would treat anyone this way and use Jill's name! PLEASE, if you are going to do these deals using the "sale" prices, realize that there is a risk that you will not get your cats and that's that. There have been several times that it has not worked for me and I try to figure it out - did I actually have $30 in "sale" price? You can tell by what rang up before your preferred discount is taken. If I do, then maybe I picked up a wrong item - it must be exactly what was entered into the system by Catalina. It may have been a wrong UPC or a wrong size of the item. If I figure out that I have done everything right, well, then it may have been a glitch in the system, Catalina may have been down or interrupted for those few minutes. Whatever it is, I do not complain, I take my items and go home. I try again next time. Over the course of the last year, I have saved 1000's of dollars so if I don't get a cat from here to there, I'm still ok! Please, please, please either do the deal using the Preferred prices or if you use the "sale" prices and it doesn't work, then either return the items immediately or just take the hit for doing the deal a risky way! Now here is Jill's post:

MUST READ: If you are doing the $15/$30 deal at JEWEL...
Wed, 11/04/2009 - 11:49 — Coupon Maven

I just got a call from a local Jewel cashier telling me about a situation that happened at her store this morning.
Two women were in buying several rounds of paper towels and doing them back-to-back. I believe they may have done two orders too close together timewise, as the second set of Catalinas didn't print at the register (if you do your transactions too close together timewise, this can happen - spread them out a few minutes apart.)
These women laid into their cashier, telling her "JILL CATALDO said this would work," and they had this poor girl in tears because they threatened to go to the store manager and report her because their Catalinas didn't print.

Remember... I NEVER make anyone do these deals. I have always stated and overstated the risks involved with working these deals in the "black belt" way -- and if you do a deal and don't get your Catalinas, DO NOT bother your store's employees. It's a risk you must be willing to take if you are going to do a high-level deal differently than what the ad specifies you must purchase. (And remember... the ad is also not even active yet! Today, Wednesday, you still have NO recourse whatsoever if you do these deals and the cats don't print, as they're not even in the current ad.)

I do not like people throwing my name around in this way at the stores so loudly and abrasively. It goes against everything I try to do in teaching people to shop smarter with coupons -- and I've always stressed that we must coupon ethically and politely.

Off my soapbox for now, but truly, when I hear stories like this, it makes me seriously consider not blogging any further breakdowns and scenarios for these Catalina deals.