Archived Handing out rainchecks?

[antivibe]

One of my stores TLs recently showed me how to print rainchecks using the registers. The thing is he didn't tell me about the guidelines or how to know if something is eligible for a raincheck. I worked in toys today and I was asked for rainchecks for sale and tpc items. I think all of these items were in the Weekly AD. Am I allowed to print rainchecks for TPCs? The register let it go through but I'm not sure if that makes it okay.

Also, am I supposed to set up those raincheck pads (if something is on sale but out of stock) or is that someone else's job? I work in Hardlines but I never learned anything regarding rainchecks.

 

[Retail Girl]

Before printing rain checks (without a sticker given to you), always check the ad to be sure it is rain check eligible. There are a lot of items in the ad (not this one specifically but in general) that are not eligible for a rain check and the register won't stop you from doing it.

 

[StaticSun]

If you aren't allowed to do rainchecks, the register won't let you! That's the beauty of it.

You should check with a TL regarding raincheck pads. Every time you do one via the register, it dings your raincheck score. Try partnering with an instocks TM or a Sales Floor TL regarding putting up pads to avoid doing manual rainchecks!

 

[Retail Girl]

During BTS, a GSA had me do a rain check on something. The next day, another guest asked for one, and the GSA on that day pointed out the ad said no rain checks. So I apologize for giving out incorrect/incomplete info. I wonder what was up with that....

 

[TheManInRed]

We don't raincheck TPCs.

 

[Darikona]

One of my stores TLs recently showed me how to print rainchecks using the registers. The thing is he didn't tell me about the guidelines or how to know if something is eligible for a raincheck. I worked in toys today and I was asked for rainchecks for sale and tpc items. I think all of these items were in the Weekly AD. Am I allowed to print rainchecks for TPCs? The register let it go through but I'm not sure if that makes it okay.

Also, am I supposed to set up those raincheck pads (if something is on sale but out of stock) or is that someone else's job? I work in Hardlines but I never learned anything regarding rainchecks.

TPCs are not to be rainchecked, as they can be unique to your store/distric only. We are also not to Raincheck items on the ad saying no rain check, as they are generally seasonal or limited item product and it's not wise to give a rain check if replenishment is questionable within a reasonable time frame. Otherwise, go for it.

Raincheck pads are generally put up by the IS team.

 

[Rarejem]

Raincheck pads are generally put up by the IS team.

Making rainchecks and substitutions is the responsibility of everyone that works in the store. If you see a sale item is not stocked and you do not know how to make a raincheck, let your LOD, IS team member or lead know so that one can be made.If a guest is asking for one it is quicker and more guest friendly to make them at the register, but a pad should be tied as soon as the guest has been taken care of. Rainchecks and substitutions count toward the salesfloor scores. Most tm's think that it is the IS team's job as it is something that is prompted during scans. It is not exclusive to the IS team, though, and the more that are put up throughout the day the fewer RIGs there are the next day and scans will take a lot less time. This has been a big focus at our store recently and more tm's have been learning how to do it. The tricky part is making sure that all salesfloor locations are checked for product before making the raincheck-the product should not be available anywhere in the store before making one.

 

[antivibe]

Every time you do one via the register, it dings your raincheck score

Must everything be scored?

Bat. I rainchecked two TPCs so does that mean when the person tries to buy the item it won't work?

Thanks Rarejem, I will ask a TL or someone to show me how to set up those pads.

 

[mrknownothing]

Rainchecks may only be used for items with a sale price. They can't be used for TPC, BOGO, or gift card offers.

Generally, Instocks sets up rainchecks, but the whole sales floor team should be familiar with the process. When I trained in Hardlines, one of my trainers walked me through the process. However, the one time I actually tried to set one up on my own, it kept telling me the item needed to be researched (which Instocks does, not sales floor). How does one handle such a situation?

 

[pellinore]

Before printing rain checks (without a sticker given to you), always check the ad to be sure it is rain check eligible. There are a lot of items in the ad (not this one specifically but in general) that are not eligible for a rain check and the register won't stop you from doing it.

In last weeks ad there was a sale of buy 2 Starbucks coffees and get a $5 gift card. On that ad page (page 27), nothing is said about limited quantities or no rainchecks. However, on page 26 the ad (and a different item) does state limited quantities and no rainchecks. Since page 27 didn't actually SAY no rainchecks, the guest insisted on getting a raincheck. The register wouldn't let me do a raincheck. So what I did was to give the guest a $5 gift card....of course he insisted on having the sale price, too....that was another issue.

The problem here is that page 27 says nothing about rainchecks. The ad itself does not say no rainchecks....or no rainchecks for items with a gift card. Well, if there's nothing to show the guest that there's no raincheck, what is our option?

What written proof do we have to show the guest that we can't raincheck a gift card item or food item?

 

[Hardlinesmaster]

It is suggested to check the ad sign.to. You may luck out & it will say no rain check.

 

[Hardlinesmaster]

As rarejem says, ck all possible locations for that item first! Ask your tl or tm who knows where everything is. Those folks would say do rain check & should show you how to do it(I do).
To do a rain check, go to rf apps, hit rain or 8 for specialized, hit 1 rain check, then scan item that is out. Hit toggle for stand alone research, scan the item, hit zero for qty. scan the pad & find a sub for it too. Print the sub sign & put it up.
Don't do rain checks on limited or seasonal items!
I hope this helps.

 

[TheManInRed]

In last weeks ad there was a sale of buy 2 Starbucks coffees and get a $5 gift card. On that ad page (page 27), nothing is said about limited quantities or no rainchecks. However, on page 26 the ad (and a different item) does state limited quantities and no rainchecks. Since page 27 didn't actually SAY no rainchecks, the guest insisted on getting a raincheck. The register wouldn't let me do a raincheck. So what I did was to give the guest a $5 gift card....of course he insisted on having the sale price, too....that was another issue.

The problem here is that page 27 says nothing about rainchecks. The ad itself does not say no rainchecks....or no rainchecks for items with a gift card. Well, if there's nothing to show the guest that there's no raincheck, what is our option?

What written proof do we have to show the guest that we can't raincheck a gift card item or food item?

The written proof will be on the sale sign. Most of the time special offers will say no rainchecks. Read the fine print at the bottom. Never raincheck seasonal merchandise because it is not carry forward and quanities are limited based on your stores volume.

 

[artforoxygen]

In last weeks ad there was a sale of buy 2 Starbucks coffees and get a $5 gift card. On that ad page (page 27), nothing is said about limited quantities or no rainchecks. However, on page 26 the ad (and a different item) does state limited quantities and no rainchecks. Since page 27 didn't actually SAY no rainchecks, the guest insisted on getting a raincheck. The register wouldn't let me do a raincheck. So what I did was to give the guest a $5 gift card....of course he insisted on having the sale price, too....that was another issue.

The problem here is that page 27 says nothing about rainchecks. The ad itself does not say no rainchecks....or no rainchecks for items with a gift card. Well, if there's nothing to show the guest that there's no raincheck, what is our option?

What written proof do we have to show the guest that we can't raincheck a gift card item or food item?

If the sign doesn't say it I usually spew the "14 days to price match to the sale" spiel. That usually makes them happy.

 

[buliSBI]

There are strict guidelines to raincheck making. First, you must check all floor and backroom locations. If there is absolutely no stock for it anywhere in the store. Then it must be in the current ad with the word Sale beside the item and it must not be a special promotion (free giftcards) and it cannot have any raincheck restrictions. And finally for floor TMs, it must be determined if a substitute can be allowed.

 

[Darikona]

Making rainchecks and substitutions is the responsibility of everyone that works in the store. If you see a sale item is not stocked and you do not know how to make a raincheck, let your LOD, IS team member or lead know so that one can be made.If a guest is asking for one it is quicker and more guest friendly to make them at the register, but a pad should be tied as soon as the guest has been taken care of. Rainchecks and substitutions count toward the salesfloor scores. Most tm's think that it is the IS team's job as it is something that is prompted during scans. It is not exclusive to the IS team, though, and the more that are put up throughout the day the fewer RIGs there are the next day and scans will take a lot less time. This has been a big focus at our store recently and more tm's have been learning how to do it. The tricky part is making sure that all salesfloor locations are checked for product before making the raincheck-the product should not be available anywhere in the store before making one.

I said generally. Also, I typically don't bother putting them up if it's past noon simply because 90% of the time the PDA is telling me to do a single item research. Has that time limit finally been lifted?

 

[pellinore]

In last weeks ad there was a sale of buy 2 Starbucks coffees and get a $5 gift card. On that ad page (page 27), nothing is said about limited quantities or no rainchecks. However, on page 26 the ad (and a different item) does state limited quantities and no rainchecks. Since page 27 didn't actually SAY no rainchecks, the guest insisted on getting a raincheck. The register wouldn't let me do a raincheck. So what I did was to give the guest a $5 gift card....of course he insisted on having the sale price, too....that was another issue.

The problem here is that page 27 says nothing about rainchecks. The ad itself does not say no rainchecks....or no rainchecks for items with a gift card. Well, if there's nothing to show the guest that there's no raincheck, what is our option?

What written proof do we have to show the guest that we can't raincheck a gift card item or food item?

Regarding the raincheck and checking for inventory....the guest had already checked the three areas where the coffee would be sold....guest also said he'd had a TM check the inventory and there was nothing in the backroom. Generally speaking, I would have done the inventory check-up using the merchandise look-up..however, our merchandise look-up on many of our registers doesn't work or crashes the register. Usually the merchandise look-up is quite helpful.

OK....regarding the ad sign and it saying "no rainchecks available" does make sense.....but not if you're in GS and the signs are somewhere else in the store. Of course, now I know to have the TM getting a DPCI for me to tell me what the ad sign says.

Anyway, I'm still wondering what and where (besides the ad sign) there is written proof to show the guest that we can't do a raincheck. I do know that in the printed flyer it often says that conditions apply to gift cards, but that usually has to do with returning a product.

I'm looking for a specific place to read this info....where the guest can read it, too. You see, next time this guest comes in I want to be able to tell him "No, we can't do a raincheck" and be able to tell him where to look to find this info.

This guest is a pain in the neck (or lower) and I want to be able to stop him in his tracks and stop him from getting away with rainchecks that shouldn't be given....or getting giftcards when he doesn't deserve it.

 

[Hardlinesmaster]

I think there is a sign about it at gs?

 

[Rarejem]

I said generally. Also, I typically don't bother putting them up if it's past noon simply because 90% of the time the PDA is telling me to do a single item research. Has that time limit finally been lifted?

The time limit is so that the CAF pulls will not be affected by late research pulls which could generate too much being pulled and creating backstock. If you are doing a single item research on an item that we are out of it will not affect this, so you should be fine doing this.

 

[TheManInRed]

The time limit is so that the CAF pulls will not be affected by late research pulls which could generate too much being pulled and creating backstock. If you are doing a single item research on an item that we are out of it will not affect this, so you should be fine doing this.

The time limit is also to prevent zeroing items out that may have been pulled for CAFs that may be sitting in the backroom.

 

[DoubleGreen]

Regarding the raincheck and checking for inventory....the guest had already checked the three areas where the coffee would be sold....guest also said he'd had a TM check the inventory and there was nothing in the backroom. Generally speaking, I would have done the inventory check-up using the merchandise look-up..however, our merchandise look-up on many of our registers doesn't work or crashes the register. Usually the merchandise look-up is quite helpful.

OK....regarding the ad sign and it saying "no rainchecks available" does make sense.....but not if you're in GS and the signs are somewhere else in the store. Of course, now I know to have the TM getting a DPCI for me to tell me what the ad sign says.

Anyway, I'm still wondering what and where (besides the ad sign) there is written proof to show the guest that we can't do a raincheck. I do know that in the printed flyer it often says that conditions apply to gift cards, but that usually has to do with returning a product.

I'm looking for a specific place to read this info....where the guest can read it, too. You see, next time this guest comes in I want to be able to tell him "No, we can't do a raincheck" and be able to tell him where to look to find this info.

This guest is a pain in the neck (or lower) and I want to be able to stop him in his tracks and stop him from getting away with rainchecks that shouldn't be given....or getting giftcards when he doesn't deserve it.

It should say something in the Guest Service training guide. We keep copies of this in each drawer at the service desk for reference. Gift card promo items are not raincheckable.