Drug Stores

National Drug store chains CVS, Rite Aid and Walgreens all use a rebate system that when combined with coupons and sales frequently results in items being Free after the rebate and sometimes you will actually make money purchasing them.  In addition CVS and Walgreens have a system of bonus dollar Catalina Coupons generated by specific purchases. Read the details in the individual store details below. Mastering the deals of the "Drugstore Game" is the fastest way to build up stockpiles of toiletries, over the counter medications, cleaning supplies and cosmetics with minimum out of pocket expense.

CVS / Caremark :

 

Company Overview: 6300 retail locations in 40 states. They are continuing to expand with a focus on building their West Coast presence. They recently offered to purchased Long's Drugstores - a California based chain - these stores may or may not convert to CVS in the coming year assuming the deal goes through it is expected to close before the end of the year since Walgreen's abandoned their rival attempt.  The compay said they plan to keep the Long's name on their Hawaiin stores. With or without a name change it is likely Long's Drugs will convert to the same type of rewards and promotion strategy as CVS stores.  CVS has expanded rapidly over the last few years buy purchasing other regional chains like Sav-On and OSCO.

CVS.com : Offers online shopping, Extra Care rewards information including account management. Store circualars can be viewed.Extra Care Bucks the heart of their loyalty rewards program can be earned and redeemed via online shopping.

Customer service Phone: 1-800-SHOPCVS

Coupon policy: CVS accepts both Internet Printable and traditional insert coupons.CVS has exclusive coupons in their circulars and in store booklets. They do not accept competitor coupons ie Walgreen's ad coupons as a corporate policy but some forums report they accept them in fiercly competitive markets.

You may combine one CVS coupon and one manufacturer coupon per item ie stack. Coupons may be used on clearance items

Extra Care program: This is the CVS loyalty program. You must begin by applying for a CVS card - similar to a grocery store club card. You will need the card to earn the Extra Care Bucks.  Click HERE to access the CVS Frequently asked questions.

Extra Care Bucks: Similar to Walgreen's Register Reward system these are $ value coupons consumers earn when purchasing specific promotional items. CVS also awards ECBs for a % of total dollars spent 2% of every $25 per quarter of actual dollars spent. So for the hard core couponer who is paying little money out of pocket this is not likely to be a large amount.  These earnings will post on a cash register receipt once every three months. They print out on the bottom of the CVS cash register tape rather than as a seperate Catalina coupon.  ECB's expire one month after printing. Like Walgreen's RR system you can purchase promotional items with previously earned ECB's and earn more ECB's - Roll one set to the next set of deals and keep your out of pocket expenses low. ECBs can be earned and redeemed for online purchases.

Extra Care Bucks are like cash and can not be replaced if lost or stolen and are invalid once they have expired.

ECB restrictions -  Coupon may only be redeemed once. Limit one coupon per customer. Excludes prescriptions, alcohol, tobacco, lottery, stamps, gift cards, money orders and pre-paid debit cards.

ECB promotions vary by region so double check your store ad circular when using scenarios from blogs or forums in case they are using different ads.

Extra Care Rewards: Free products given to loyal shoppers monthly.

Walgreen's

Company Overview: Founded in 1901 by Charles Walgreen the company is publicly traded and has 6000+ stores nationwide. Store location available HERE.  Walgreen's battled with CVS briefly for the purchase of Long's Drugs and if Rite Aid goes up for sale in 2009 as many speculate you can expect a fierce battle.

Walgreen's.com : Offers online shopping, prescription refill services, view weekly ad circular and montly easy saver catalog of discounts and rebates.  You may submit your easy saver rebate information online and save after each purchase then submit at the end of the month.

Customer Service Phone: 1-800-WALGREENS / 1-800-925-4733

Register Rewards: Walgreen's primary promotional tool.  The Register Reward ( RR ) is a coupon that prints from a small machine seperate from the register. Catalina marketing is the company that administers the program and so these are commonly refered to as Catalinas.

Register Rewards are sponsored by the manufacturer's - certain purchases will produce these rewards. For example buy Colgate toothpaste for $2.99 get back a reward of $2.99 making the item FREE after reward.

When an item is Free after rewards you can make a profit if you have a manufacturer coupon for the item. For example Colgate toothpaste $2.99 - .75 cents off = $2.24 get back a $2.99 register reward = .75 cents profit for you.

IMPORTANT: When using a register reward DO NOT buy the same promotional item with a register reward received from that item. I.E. if you buy the toothpaste in the example above and then buy a second toothpaste paying with the reward from transaction one you will NOT receive a second reward.  You can buy a different item that is producing a reward and use that reward to buy another toothpaste. This is know as "rolling" your rewards, the goal is to spend as little cash out of pocket as possible.

Register Rewards do have expiration dates - two weeks from printing and most stores will not accept them after expiration. Expert Walgreen's shoppers use one reward deal to purchase the next reward deal spending very little money out of pocket once you've made the initial purchase. However the worst case scenario is having a reward expire so if you don't see something you want the following week I strongly advise using the reward on basic items you'd buy anyway - milk, eggs, tissue etc.

Register Rewards CAN NOT be used to pay sales tax so your total purchase before taxes must exceed the value of the reward or the register will "beep" and reject it. Remember to factor in the value of any coupons as these effect the subtotal. I.E. your item is $3 - .75 cents off and a .09 cent "filler" - $2.24 if your reward is $2.25 it won't work.

These rewards can be used much like cash as payment for most items in the store. They can not be used for alcohol, tabacco, stamps, or prescriptions. Walgreen's registers are programmed to accept these as a manufacturer coupon. The Walgreen's system requires one item for every coupon redeemed so if you buy an item and use a register reward you will need at least one additional item without a coupon. This is commonly refered to as a "filler" I often find very inexpensive items in clearnance or small pieces of candy, single pencils etc. to use as fillers.

Coupon Policy: Walgreen's accepts Internet printable coupons and traditional manufacturer coupons. You may combine a Walgreen's store coupon printed in their weekly advertisement or from booklets with a manufacturer coupon for the same item.

Individual stores can and do enforce coupon policies at their discretion which can be frustrating but I have had very few issues - I am fortunate to live in an area with 3 Walgreen's in good proximity and only one has ever proven "coupon unfriendly".  Walgreen's registers have been updated in most regions to no longer allow "overage" meaning the value of coupons exceed the cost of the item.

The coupon or item can be adjusted but not all cashiers are aware of this policy.  In general if you present the manufacturer coupon first and the Walgreen's coupon second you will have fewer problems. 

Walgreen's Store coupons: Primarily available in each weeks ad circular these can also be picked up at the front of the store.  Walgreen's releases coupons via email and their website on occasion.  In store booklets - usually at the pharmacy or at the front where ads are displayed.  In addition there is often a Kids Coloring and activity book available in the toy department that includes a number of in store coupons.

LONG'S DRUGS:

Purchased in late 2008 by CVS / CAREMARK stores are being converted to the CVS system. Many still have Long's signs but use the CVS card and Extra Care bucks rewards system.  California CVS store ads do not include all of the same deals as the national version at this time and some of the private logo merchandise advertised is not yet available in all stores. I have been able to get substitute brands in each case so be sure to ask if you can't find something.  See the CVS details above for details on the Extra Care rewards programs.

 

 

 

 

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