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11 Secret Store Policies That Will Save You Money

These little-known perks will change the way you shop.

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Exeter, Devon, United Kingdom - August 18, 2016: Outside Aldi supermarket in Exeter. Aldi is a leading global discount supermarket chain with almost 10,000 stores in 18 countries.
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ALDI: More than just your money back

If you get home from ALDI only to realize one of its private-labeled items is moldy, you’re actually sort of in luck. The grocery store’s “Double Guarantee” promises not only to refund your money, but also to give you a replacement product to make up for it. Just don’t assume every return will qualify; employees report it doesn’t apply when you decide you just don’t like the taste.

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DENVER, USA - JUNE 25, 2014: Detail of Athleta store in Denver. Athleta designs athletic clothing for active women and is founded at 1998.
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Athleta: Return after wearing

You don’t always know that your leggings aren’t comfy in yoga until you’ve actually worn them in class, and Athleta gets that. The store’s “give-it-a-workout guarantee” lets you do just that: wear it for exercise, then bring it back if you aren’t happy. Oh, and no rush: There’s no limit on how long you can wait to make your returns. Here are 14 more stores with the best return policies.

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Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada - February 24, 2018: Staples storefront. Staples, Inc. is an American multinational office supply retailing corporation.
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Staples: Not just price match, but price better

It’s not uncommon for a store to have a price-match guarantee to make sure you buy it there instead of from a competitor, but Staples will do you one better. If you show proof of a better price at another store or online, the store will drop its price to match it, plus take another 10 percent off. If you’re working on home improvements, Home Depot has basically the same policy.

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Muncie - Circa April 2018: Kohl's Retail Store Location. Kohl's operates over 1,100 Discount Stores II
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Kohl’s: Senior discount

You don’t have to wait for a coupon to get a discount at Kohl’s. If you’re 60 or older (or have a loved one who is and wants to go shopping with you), you can enjoy 15 percent off in stores. Every. Single. Wednesday. It can’t be combined with any other percent-off coupons, though so don’t try to combine it with that coveted 30 percent off. Here are some more senior discounts to score if you’re above 55.

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Fairfax, USA - November 30, 2016: Wegmans grocery store facade and sign with people and Christmas wreath decorations
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Wegmans: Double the coupons

Extreme couponers will love this store policy: Bring in a manufacturer coupon worth 99 cents or less to Wegmans and the grocery store will count it twice. Your 30-cents-off discount just got upgraded to 60 cents. Sweet!

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RUSSIA - JULY 13, 2016: A sample of the interior in IKEA store. IKEA was founded in of Sweden in 1943, IKEA to have large chain stores around the world.
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IKEA: Free coffee

The free IKEA Family loyalty program has quite a few perks (e.g. exclusive discounts and 90-day price protection), but there’s one you can enjoy every single time you visit: free coffee. Flash your loyalty card at the restaurant and you’ll get a free cup of Joe or hot tea.

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Indianapolis - Circa April 2016: Target Retail Store. Target Sells Home Goods, Clothing and Electronics I
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Target: Rewards for reusing

Skip the plastic and bring reusable totes to Target, and the store will reward you with 5 cents off for every bag. It’s not a ton, but it adds up! Some Whole Foods locations give up to 10 cents back per bag, and at Trader Joe’s, you might be entered in a drawing if you BYOB(ags).

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Trader Joe's discount retailer storefront, shopping carts - Saugus, Massachusetts USA - February 27, 2018
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Trader Joe’s: Free samples

No, we aren’t talking about that prepared sample station—you can try almost anything before you buy. Grab an employee and ask if you can taste a new product instead of bringing it home to find out you don’t like it. Unless the food requires cooking (like raw meat or frozen products), they can reportedly open the package so you can literally get a taste of what’s inside. Whole Foods and Wegmans are said to have similar policies. Don’t miss these other 11 things Trader Joe’s employees want you to know.

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BANGKOK - MARCH 17, 2016: Unidentified people choose goods at the Bath and Body Works store in the Siam Center. It was built in 1973 and was one of Bangkoks first shopping malls.
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Bath & Body Works: No time limit on returns and exchanges

Bath & Body Works’ 100 percent satisfaction guarantee doesn’t give any limit for its returns, so you can return or exchange months after your shopping trip. Take advantage of those buy-three-get-three winter sales, then come back in the summer to exchange for a season-appropriate scent.

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ST. PAUL, MN/USA - MAY 7, 2017: Whole Foods Market exterior and logo. Whole Foods Market Inc. is an American supermarket chain.
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Whole Foods: Chop it how you like it

Buying a whole chicken is cheaper per pound than getting a package of breasts or thighs, but the prep work is a big drawback. Enter your friendly neighborhood Whole Foods butcher, who will happily do the dirty work of quartering, spatchcocking, or removing the bones from a whole chicken, free of charge. Here are 20 other shopping secrets from America’s top grocery stores.

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TAYLOR, MI-OCTOBER, 2015: Customers leaving a Best Buy store in this Detroit suburb. Note the glass roof which allows natural light into the store.
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Best Buy: Money toward your upgrades

Before shelling out at Best Buy, scour your house for any old electronics that you aren’t using (bonus points if it’s the one you’re replacing!). The store’s trade-in program offers store credit for some old electronics, and might even give you a coupon if you recycle other devices. Make sure you know these 50 insider secrets for saving money at all your favorite stores.

Marissa Laliberte
Marissa Laliberte-Simonian is a London-based associate editor with the global promotions team at WebMD’s Medscape.com and was previously a staff writer for Reader's Digest. Her work has also appeared in Business Insider, Parents magazine, CreakyJoints, and the Baltimore Sun. You can find her on Instagram @marissasimonian.