Questions about Walgreens and CVS deals?

**my4littlebuffaloes** · 10-06-2006, 09:02 PM

I see all over that people get great deals at these stores. Lots of free products and also earning some sort of bucks when they buy at CVS? How does that work? Also how does the rebates at Walgreens work? I have seen where people just have it put onto a giftcard? Is that better or do you get more of a rebate or is it instant at the store? How much of a pain is filling out all the rebate forms? Both stores just seem so complicated, but I think it might be worth it for me to start figuring it all out. If anyone can answer my questions that would be great! Thanks!

**kabin63** · 10-06-2006, 09:04 PM

I don't know about walgreens, but at CVS they give you a store card and it keeps a record of how much you spend on what and it spits out coupons for either rebates, money off, and free merchandise to a certain amount of money.

**PrairieRose** · 10-06-2006, 09:14 PM

At Walgreens you get 10% more if you put it on a gift card. That's what I usually do.

They work great, the rebates that is......lots of great stuff for free.

**Cricket1** · 10-06-2006, 10:05 PM

I love the Walgreen's easy saver. I do it just about every month. I don't put it back into a g.c., though. I get a check mailed to me. I only buy the "free" stuff--stuff that I will get reimbursed fully for. It's rare to have to actually buy hair products, lotions, etc. in this house because of Walgreen's.

**Neeley** · 10-06-2006, 10:47 PM

Also you can access your CVS bonus Bucks by visitng the website & printing them at home. You are awarded one bonus buck for every two precriptions filled, plus you get 2% back on almost everything you spend in the form of bonus bucks. They award these quraterly. But every week in the sale circular they will list how many bonus bucks you get for certain purchases. These usually take two days to hit your account and then you can access them.

Walgreens, is great! I always do all of the free stuff too. I get mine back on a gift card since I know I am going to shop there every month for the freebies. Our sales tax is 10% and the 10% bonus they give you for putting on the gift card makes mine truly free, plus your card is credited quicker than if you wait for a check. You just give them your gift card number on your rebate form and they put your rebate amount on it.
But check or gift card is just a matter of personal taste, either way free is still GREAT!! I have not bought shampoo, conditioner, hairspray, hair mouse, body soaps/washes, toothbrushes/paste, pads/tampons, or deodorant in over a year.
Rite Aid has a great program too!!!

**starsapphire** · 10-07-2006, 12:09 PM

As we speak they are building our Walgreen's and I am interested in finding out how how all the free rebate stuff works because I keep hearing about it.

**Telephus44** · 10-07-2006, 04:47 PM

I like both Walgreens and CVS, but their programs are different.

At Walgreens, they put out a rebate book every month. They usually have between 2 and 5 items that are free after rebate (e.g. you buy the items for $3.99 and the rebate amount is $3.99). They will also let you use coupons, so if you bought the items for $3.99 minus a $1.00 off coupon, you can still get the full $3.99 rebate. You don't have to cut off UPCs, you can just use your receipt. So you can save all your receipts and mail it in once a month. You can choose to get your rebate as a check or as a Walgreen's giftcard - if you choose the giftcard, you will get a 10% bonus.

The rebate book also has some coupon in it, and you can combine these with manufacturer's coupons (you can use both coupons on the same item). You can go to Walgreens.com and pull up the current rebate book (Look for EasySaver somewhere on the website).

At CVS, they offer deals where if you purchase certain items, they will give you ExtraCareBucks (ECBs). These print out on the bottom of your receipt. They cannot be used for prescriptions, giftcards, and few other misc. things (tobacco products, I think). For example, this week they have a deal on Dove Shampoo - buy the shampoo for $3.99 and get $3.99 in ECBs. So if I buy the shampoo today, two days from now the next time I go into CVS I'll have $3.99 in ECBs print on the bottom of my receipt. They also run deals like get $10 in ECBs if you buy $20 worth of Proctor and Gamble products, of $5 in ECB if you buy two different L'Oreal items.

You can also access your ECBs online and print them out before you get to the store.

Next week CVS is supposed to be running a lot of "free after ECB" items. Here's a list - this is copied from a RefundCents newsletter, hope that it is ok for me to post here (if not, please delete the list) (this is for 10/8 - 10/14)

Colgate MaxFresh Toothpaste 4.6-6oz $2.77, get $2.77 ECB. Limit 1.
- .75 c/o (S 10/1) profit

Purell Hand San Orig or w/Aloe 8oz $3, get $3 ECB Unlimited while supply lasts.

Playtex Sport Tampons 16-18 ct $4.97, get $4.97 ECB Unlimited while supply lasts.
- $2.50 coupon print on-line profit

Oral B Cross Action Power Toothbrush $5.97, get $5.97 ECB Unlimited while supply lasts.

Kotex Ultra Compact Pads 16-20 ct $3.97, get $3.97 ECB Unlimited while supply lasts.

Pantene Ice Shine Shampoo or Conditioner 13.5 oz $3.97, get $3.97 Unlimited while supply lasts.
- $4/2 c/o (P&G 10/1) profit

VO-5 RED: Hair Spray, Mousse, hairdressing, conditioning spray or hot oil treatment $3.77, get $3.97 ECB Unlimited while supply lasts.

Reach ACT Restoring Mouthwash, assorted flavors, 18oz $4.77, get $4.77 ECB Unlimited while supply lasts.
- .75 c/o (V 9/24) profit

Samy Hair Care, Shampoo and conditioner 12 oz or styler 1.7-10 oz $5.97, get $5.97 ECB Unlimited while supply lasts.

Bic Comfort 3 Advance Shavers, 4 ct $5, get $5 ECB. Limit 1.
- $1.50 c/o (S 9/17) profit

Caress Body Wash 12 oz assorted types, $3.99 get $2 ECB's
- $.70 c/o (V 8/13 -- expires 10/8) profit

Fructis Hair Stylers 2-8.5 oz starting at $3.59, get $3.99 ECB
- $1 c/o (V 9/17) profit

Buy Keri lotion, 15 oz assorted types, $7.99, get $5 ECB's (limit one)

Spend $20 on any Nivea Products, get $10 ECB's, limit 1

Buy any 3 Neutrogena products, get $5 ECB's, limit 1

Spend $15 on any Cristophe get $5 ECB's, limit 1

Spend $10 on select stomach remedies, (pictured are Maalox, gas-x, Ex-lax and Benefiber) (prices starting at $2.89) get $10 ECB's, limit 1
- $1 Maalox c/o (S 7/23)
- $2 Benefiber c/o (S 9/24)

Buy Theraflu or Triaminic for $4.99, get $2 ECB's, limit 1

Spend $20 on Futuro products starting at $6.99, get $10 ECB's, limit 1

Spend $20 on select PepsiCo items, get $10 off your purchase of 'Over the Hedge' DVD beginning 10/17.

**marie_squared** · 10-07-2006, 04:52 PM

i worked at walgreens for FIVE years and spent the last year of that as a manager. i dont think enough people really know how much they can get for free because of the EasySaver Catalog. its available online too. besides being their rebate form, it also includes monthly store coupons that you can use in addition to their weekly coupons, and you can STILL use manufact. coupons on top of that!! several times have i had customers walk out with bags of stuff and us giving them a few cents owed. -- not very many people in my store ever took advantage of the great deals. if you watch the sales ad enough, you start to know when something is a really great deal. add coupons from the paper, and before you know it, we're paying YOU money.

just today i bought gillett deoderant for DH, regular $3.29, on sale for 99 cents. manuf. coupon for $1.00 off each! i had four, and bought four and it cost me nothing! now he's set on deoderant for a good while

**kabin63** · 10-07-2006, 05:40 PM

Think I need to check out walgreens too. Haven't been there in a while and didn't know about the program...Thanks

**my4littlebuffaloes** · 10-07-2006, 08:31 PM

Thanks for the info everyone! I really appreciate it.

**Sari** · 10-07-2006, 09:24 PM

Marie, I did the deodorant thing too this past week, LOL.

**dcompton** · 10-07-2006, 11:04 PM

The added 10% you get with the gift card at Walgreen's is really great. I nearly always get enough additional to cover the sales tax (high here) and postage, so freebies are REALLY free. And sometimes still clear a little profit!

**Goodwin17** · 10-08-2006, 05:04 AM

I love my Walgreens supersaver deals. So far this month I'll be getting free
Mylanta Ultimate, Garnier Frucitis (had coupon so $1 profit), Vital Radience foundation. It's not just free items you can get, but you can combine offers to get discounts and a little money back on something your buying. For example I bought 2 Thermacare wraps price was (2/$12) I had coupon I think for a small amount, and then I will also be getting a $3 rebate. I'm giving these are Christmas gifts, so it's nice not to have to pay full price.
I don't find it hard at all to send things in. I keep my receipt with my Easysaver book. As soon as I can after I get home I circle my purchases that qualify (you put the corresponding number from the book next to the item on the reciept. When it's time to send in the form (it's in the book), just check off what you bought that qualifies on the form, and add up all your rebates. Total at the bottom and then if you get the Gift card, you add 10%. Pull out the form from the book and add the reciepts. It took me almost a whole month to get my card, and I was worried I wouldn't get it before the next month. Everything worked out good though. I'm really racking up the rebates this month.

**Stella** · 10-08-2006, 01:18 PM

I shop at Walgreens alot but stupidly do not take advatage of the easy saver catalog. My question is, on the items where you get them free after the rebate, do you have to buy the item the week that it is advertised or is the offer good for all month? Can I still buy the Garnier products this week even though they were advertised in last weeks flyer?

**koolchica** · 10-08-2006, 04:16 PM

Originally Posted by Stella

I shop at Walgreens alot but stupidly do not take advatage of the easy saver catalog. My question is, on the items where you get them free after the rebate, do you have to buy the item the week that it is advertised or is the offer good for all month? Can I still buy the Garnier products this week even though they were advertised in last weeks flyer?

You can buy the item any time during the month. Unless there are certain dates that are stated. So since there is no date listed for the Garnier you can buy it this week.
Tracie