justusseven
11-07-2008, 02:50 PM
Hi! My name is Lori and I'm the WALGREENS Store Expert here at TCC. I welcome your question and input.
Here is the lowdown on some great savings. There are lots of ways to save at Walgreens:
Weekly Sales - If you don't get a Walgreens insert in your Sunday paper, you'll find them in a rack near the entrance of the store. You can also find them online HERE (http://www.walgreens.com/default.jsp). In this circular, you'll also find another way to save:
Weekly Walgreens Coupons - Located in the weekly sale circulars mentioned above. Usually there is a limit on how many times you can use the same coupon so check the fine print.
Walgreens EasySaver Coupons - In the same rack near the entrance of the store you'll find these little booklets. They contain even more Walgreens coupons, only these are redeemable all month long. They also contain a list of all the items available for rebates (we'll talk about that in a minute). You can view the EasySaver catalog online HERE (http://www.walgreens.com/store/rebateclub.jsp).
Manufacturers Coupons - You can always combine a Walgreens coupon with a manufacturers coupon for the SAME ITEM. This can mean big savings.
Where to find them:
- The Sunday paper. Each week the number of coupons will vary. You can go HERE (http://www.thecouponclippers.com/coupons/home.php?partner=GroceryPriceBooks&bid=6) to get a preview of the coupons that will be included in next weeks paper. Just Click on Tracker at the top. They usually post this list on Thursday or Friday. If you live in a small town or suburban area, your local newspaper may not have the best selection of coupons. You can go to PGEVERYDAYSOLUTIONS.COM (http://www.pgeverydaysolutions.com/pgeds/en_US/jsp/EDS_Page.jsp?pageID=FSCI)to see which newspapers carry their coupon inserts. This will give you a good idea which paper to buy since they tend to put their inserts in the "best coupon" papers.
- By emailing manufacturers. I usually spend 20-30 minutes per week emailing my favorite brands, complimenting their products and asking for coupons. The ones they send are usually very good ones (often for a free product).
- Online printable coupons. Some Walgreens do not accept internet printables. Call your local store to find out.
- In the store. Look for peelies or hangtags on the product itself, or on tearpads near the product. Don't forget to stop and try a food sample when it's available, since there is often a coupon for that product offered as well.
- AllYou magazine - Available exclusively at WalMart. It is always chocked-full of manufacturers coupons. Well worth the money. Get two free issues HERE
- Misc. - Inside packages, in-home mailers, and occasionally in other booklets and magazines.
Rebates - Walgreens has a great rebate system. Begin by looking in the EasySaver booklet for all the rebates available this month. You can see it online HERE (http://www.walgreens.com/store/rebateclub.jsp). Here are the best tips and tricks for rebating:
- If you use a coupon to purchase the rebate item, it doesn't affect the amount of the rebate. For example: If Pert Plus is $4.29 and there is a rebate for the purchase price, I can use a $3.00 off coupon & pay $1.29, and I'll still get $4.29 in rebates.
- If you opt to receive your rebate on a Walgreens gift card instead of a check, you get 10% more. In the example above, I will pay $1.29 out of pocket for the Pert Plus, but my rebate will be $4.29 + $.43 = $4.72.
- You can submit your rebate online HERE (http://www.walgreens.com/store/rebateclub.jsp). They will ask for your receipt number and then give you a list of rebates available for the month. You are asked to place a check mark next to the ones you are requesting. When you're finished filling everything out, select SAVE. You are able to make more purchases and enter more receipts throughout the month, so long as you don't exceed the maximum number of rebates available for each item. When you are sure you are done rebating for the month, log on and select SUBMIT. Walgreens will process all of your rebates together. It usually takes 2-4 weeks. Once you submit your rebates you may not add more items for the current month so be sure you are finished rebating! Only one submission per household per month. You will not need to send in your receipt, but it's a good idea to hold onto it just in case.
- When your gift card comes in the mail, don't throw it out after using it. Walgreens will "reload" the same card with next months rebates which will save you having to wait for another card to come in the mail! (you'll still need to wait for them to process your rebate - 2-3 weeks)
- Sometimes one purchase qualifies for two rebates (one from Walgreens and one from the manufacturer). Check your Sunday paper. This is when submitting Walgreens rebates online comes in handy. Since you get to keep your receipt, you are able to send it in for another rebate! Remember to ask for a duplicate receipt at checkout to retain for your records.
Register Rewards - Register Rewards are coupons for dollars off your next purchase. These print out at checkout along with your receipt. Check the Walgreens sale flyer to see which purchases will qualify. Items usually change from week to week, although some will qualify all month long. Many times the RR's require a QUANTITY purchase. For example, "buy 3 Robitussin products, get $10 in RR's". The key to the RR system is to try and find coupons that make your purchase lower than the RR's you'll get back. During the Robitussin deal (week of 9/7/08) there was a printable coupon for $3 off any Robitussin. We were able to get 3 products for under $3, and then get a $10 RR - for an overage of $7!
Be Aware:
- You can never use a RR to get a RR for the same product - or for any other product made by the same manufacturer. In the above example, I couldn't take my $10 RR, buy more Robitussin and get another $10. Also, I couldn't use that $10 to purchase something else made by the manufacturer of Robitussin and get more RR's. Be sure if you are "rolling" your RR's into another deal you know who the manufacturers are!
- If you are due a RR but it doesn't print, you can speak with the manager if you like. Occasionally the extra nice ones will give you a gift card in the amount you are owed. But you can always contact Catalina (the company that manufactures and programs the machines). Here are three ways to contact them:
1) The store will give you a form to fill out and mail in to catalina
2) Call them yourself at 1-888-8coupon, option 3
3) Use the online form HERE (http://www.catalinamarketing.com/contact/).
Subscribe to Walgreens.com - Every so often Walgreens will email a great coupon just for subscribers: $10 off a $40 purchase, $5 off a $25 purchase, etc. Go to WALGREENS.COM to sign up for sweet deals!
Pharmacy Coupon Booklet - Ask the pharmacist about their "Prescription Savings Club". Just for asking, they'll give you a "$50 Savings" booklet that contains coupons you'll only find here! They are good until 12/31.
Here's the lowdown on the Prescription Savings Club - remember, you DON'T NEED TO JOIN in order to get the coupon booklet - you just need to ask about it:
The cost is $20/person or $35/individual. After joining, you get generic prescriptions for $1 per week. Choose from a list of over 400 generics! When you join, you also get a 10% Reward on all Walgreens brand products, to be redeemed on future visits. Talk to your Walgreens pharmacist, or learn more at Walgreens.com/rxsavingsclub
A FEW MISCELLANEOUS NOTES:
Don't be shy about contacting the corporate office (http://www.walgreens.com/contactus/default.jsp?foot=contact_us) with comments, questions or suggestions! Every couple months, I email them to ask for their coupon policy in case there are any changes. I ask things like:
* B1G1 FREE sales - can I use a B1G1 free coupon on this sale and get both for free? (answer - yes)
* B1G1 FREE sales - can I use TWO coupons when buying B1G1 free items even though one of them is free? (answer - yes)
* Can I combine a Walgreens coupon with a manufacturers coupon on the same item? (answer - yes)
* Other things to ask about: rainchecks, rolling RR's into another RR purchase, etc.
* If you decide to email them, it doesn't hurt to keep a copy of their reply in your coupon organizer in case you run into difficulty. Many times the management and cashiers are not very familiar with the couponing rules for their store! I have a copy of Walgreens corporate response to my coupon questions HERE (http://www.scribd.com/doc/6947163/Wags-Coupon-Policy)and HERE (http://www.scribd.com/doc/6964045/walgreensfollowup).
- I have had occasions when the cashier or manager would not allow me to use a coupon that I should be able to use (eg B1G1 coupon on a B1G1 sale). It's a little frustrating, but whenever I can, I just go to another Wags in town to do the deal in order to avoid an unpleasant conversation. I try to remember to be kind, even if they are being unfair because I know I'll be seeing a lot of them! I also carry the email reply from Corporate with me just in case.
The corporate office (http://www.walgreens.com/contactus/default.jsp?foot=contact_us) is very interested in good customer service so if all else fails, give them a call and let them know about any negative experience you've had.
Here is the lowdown on some great savings. There are lots of ways to save at Walgreens:
Weekly Sales - If you don't get a Walgreens insert in your Sunday paper, you'll find them in a rack near the entrance of the store. You can also find them online HERE (http://www.walgreens.com/default.jsp). In this circular, you'll also find another way to save:
Weekly Walgreens Coupons - Located in the weekly sale circulars mentioned above. Usually there is a limit on how many times you can use the same coupon so check the fine print.
Walgreens EasySaver Coupons - In the same rack near the entrance of the store you'll find these little booklets. They contain even more Walgreens coupons, only these are redeemable all month long. They also contain a list of all the items available for rebates (we'll talk about that in a minute). You can view the EasySaver catalog online HERE (http://www.walgreens.com/store/rebateclub.jsp).
Manufacturers Coupons - You can always combine a Walgreens coupon with a manufacturers coupon for the SAME ITEM. This can mean big savings.
Where to find them:
- The Sunday paper. Each week the number of coupons will vary. You can go HERE (http://www.thecouponclippers.com/coupons/home.php?partner=GroceryPriceBooks&bid=6) to get a preview of the coupons that will be included in next weeks paper. Just Click on Tracker at the top. They usually post this list on Thursday or Friday. If you live in a small town or suburban area, your local newspaper may not have the best selection of coupons. You can go to PGEVERYDAYSOLUTIONS.COM (http://www.pgeverydaysolutions.com/pgeds/en_US/jsp/EDS_Page.jsp?pageID=FSCI)to see which newspapers carry their coupon inserts. This will give you a good idea which paper to buy since they tend to put their inserts in the "best coupon" papers.
- By emailing manufacturers. I usually spend 20-30 minutes per week emailing my favorite brands, complimenting their products and asking for coupons. The ones they send are usually very good ones (often for a free product).
- Online printable coupons. Some Walgreens do not accept internet printables. Call your local store to find out.
- In the store. Look for peelies or hangtags on the product itself, or on tearpads near the product. Don't forget to stop and try a food sample when it's available, since there is often a coupon for that product offered as well.
- AllYou magazine - Available exclusively at WalMart. It is always chocked-full of manufacturers coupons. Well worth the money. Get two free issues HERE
- Misc. - Inside packages, in-home mailers, and occasionally in other booklets and magazines.
Rebates - Walgreens has a great rebate system. Begin by looking in the EasySaver booklet for all the rebates available this month. You can see it online HERE (http://www.walgreens.com/store/rebateclub.jsp). Here are the best tips and tricks for rebating:
- If you use a coupon to purchase the rebate item, it doesn't affect the amount of the rebate. For example: If Pert Plus is $4.29 and there is a rebate for the purchase price, I can use a $3.00 off coupon & pay $1.29, and I'll still get $4.29 in rebates.
- If you opt to receive your rebate on a Walgreens gift card instead of a check, you get 10% more. In the example above, I will pay $1.29 out of pocket for the Pert Plus, but my rebate will be $4.29 + $.43 = $4.72.
- You can submit your rebate online HERE (http://www.walgreens.com/store/rebateclub.jsp). They will ask for your receipt number and then give you a list of rebates available for the month. You are asked to place a check mark next to the ones you are requesting. When you're finished filling everything out, select SAVE. You are able to make more purchases and enter more receipts throughout the month, so long as you don't exceed the maximum number of rebates available for each item. When you are sure you are done rebating for the month, log on and select SUBMIT. Walgreens will process all of your rebates together. It usually takes 2-4 weeks. Once you submit your rebates you may not add more items for the current month so be sure you are finished rebating! Only one submission per household per month. You will not need to send in your receipt, but it's a good idea to hold onto it just in case.
- When your gift card comes in the mail, don't throw it out after using it. Walgreens will "reload" the same card with next months rebates which will save you having to wait for another card to come in the mail! (you'll still need to wait for them to process your rebate - 2-3 weeks)
- Sometimes one purchase qualifies for two rebates (one from Walgreens and one from the manufacturer). Check your Sunday paper. This is when submitting Walgreens rebates online comes in handy. Since you get to keep your receipt, you are able to send it in for another rebate! Remember to ask for a duplicate receipt at checkout to retain for your records.
Register Rewards - Register Rewards are coupons for dollars off your next purchase. These print out at checkout along with your receipt. Check the Walgreens sale flyer to see which purchases will qualify. Items usually change from week to week, although some will qualify all month long. Many times the RR's require a QUANTITY purchase. For example, "buy 3 Robitussin products, get $10 in RR's". The key to the RR system is to try and find coupons that make your purchase lower than the RR's you'll get back. During the Robitussin deal (week of 9/7/08) there was a printable coupon for $3 off any Robitussin. We were able to get 3 products for under $3, and then get a $10 RR - for an overage of $7!
Be Aware:
- You can never use a RR to get a RR for the same product - or for any other product made by the same manufacturer. In the above example, I couldn't take my $10 RR, buy more Robitussin and get another $10. Also, I couldn't use that $10 to purchase something else made by the manufacturer of Robitussin and get more RR's. Be sure if you are "rolling" your RR's into another deal you know who the manufacturers are!
- If you are due a RR but it doesn't print, you can speak with the manager if you like. Occasionally the extra nice ones will give you a gift card in the amount you are owed. But you can always contact Catalina (the company that manufactures and programs the machines). Here are three ways to contact them:
1) The store will give you a form to fill out and mail in to catalina
2) Call them yourself at 1-888-8coupon, option 3
3) Use the online form HERE (http://www.catalinamarketing.com/contact/).
Subscribe to Walgreens.com - Every so often Walgreens will email a great coupon just for subscribers: $10 off a $40 purchase, $5 off a $25 purchase, etc. Go to WALGREENS.COM to sign up for sweet deals!
Pharmacy Coupon Booklet - Ask the pharmacist about their "Prescription Savings Club". Just for asking, they'll give you a "$50 Savings" booklet that contains coupons you'll only find here! They are good until 12/31.
Here's the lowdown on the Prescription Savings Club - remember, you DON'T NEED TO JOIN in order to get the coupon booklet - you just need to ask about it:
The cost is $20/person or $35/individual. After joining, you get generic prescriptions for $1 per week. Choose from a list of over 400 generics! When you join, you also get a 10% Reward on all Walgreens brand products, to be redeemed on future visits. Talk to your Walgreens pharmacist, or learn more at Walgreens.com/rxsavingsclub
A FEW MISCELLANEOUS NOTES:
Don't be shy about contacting the corporate office (http://www.walgreens.com/contactus/default.jsp?foot=contact_us) with comments, questions or suggestions! Every couple months, I email them to ask for their coupon policy in case there are any changes. I ask things like:
* B1G1 FREE sales - can I use a B1G1 free coupon on this sale and get both for free? (answer - yes)
* B1G1 FREE sales - can I use TWO coupons when buying B1G1 free items even though one of them is free? (answer - yes)
* Can I combine a Walgreens coupon with a manufacturers coupon on the same item? (answer - yes)
* Other things to ask about: rainchecks, rolling RR's into another RR purchase, etc.
* If you decide to email them, it doesn't hurt to keep a copy of their reply in your coupon organizer in case you run into difficulty. Many times the management and cashiers are not very familiar with the couponing rules for their store! I have a copy of Walgreens corporate response to my coupon questions HERE (http://www.scribd.com/doc/6947163/Wags-Coupon-Policy)and HERE (http://www.scribd.com/doc/6964045/walgreensfollowup).
- I have had occasions when the cashier or manager would not allow me to use a coupon that I should be able to use (eg B1G1 coupon on a B1G1 sale). It's a little frustrating, but whenever I can, I just go to another Wags in town to do the deal in order to avoid an unpleasant conversation. I try to remember to be kind, even if they are being unfair because I know I'll be seeing a lot of them! I also carry the email reply from Corporate with me just in case.
The corporate office (http://www.walgreens.com/contactus/default.jsp?foot=contact_us) is very interested in good customer service so if all else fails, give them a call and let them know about any negative experience you've had.