Big Lots now taking those expired Bed Bath & Beyond coupons

Bed Bath & Beyond's competitors are coming to the rescue of customers looking to use expired coupons issued by the failed retailer.

Big Lots said Thursday that it's "assisting shoppers nationwide" by accepting expired Bed Bath & Beyond coupons until May 7. Customers that bring one of the iconic blue-and-whites into one of its stores, including the 116 locations In California, will receive 20% off a purchase of $50 or more. The offer is only valid in stores.

"At Big Lots, our mission is to help people live big and save lots, which means we're always thinking of ways to step up and deliver even more value to consumers," said CEO Bruce Thorn in a press release

Similarly, the Container Store said Wednesday it is offering a 20% discount on any single item to customers "who bring a competitor's blue coupon to any store location," with the offer ending May 31.

Earlier this week, Bed Bath & Beyond filed for bankruptcy. The company gave customers until Tuesday to use its ubiquitous coupons. Now, the retailer is offering "deep discounts" on its products as it winds down operations. The store will stop accepting gift cards on May 8, and the brand's Welcome Rewards points will stop being accepted on May 15.

History of Bed Bath & Beyond's coupons

Bed Bath & Beyond introduced its oversized coupon for 20% off a single item three decades ago.

The "Big Blue" coupons became a pop culture reference as celebrities and late-night talk show hosts popped it into their on-air conversations.

Rumors swirled on various social platforms that Big Blue coupons never expire, even though the weekly coupon does feature an expiration date.

Then the pandemic hit and walloped the retail industry. With stores closed for months, and consumers rethinking their nonessential purchases, Bed Bath & Beyond sales and profit took a hit. In late 2020, the retailer said it was scaling back on its popular coupon program to boost its business.

Two years later, company executives called the move a 'big mistake," admitting they had misjudged how much shoppers had come to embrace the regular cadence of the Big Blue coupons.

Now that the company is going through a liquidation process, Bed Bath & Beyond said it's the end of the road for the coupons.