CVS Deals Discussion - Sept '10

[freesia39]

ALL discussion about CVS deals, coupons, and promotions for the month will take place in this thread. Please do not start a new thread, as they will promptly be CLOSED and you will be directed to post in the new thread.

 

Welcome to the joys of CVS Shopping! Here are some quick details to help you out:

 

What is the CVS Extra Care Program?

The CVS Extra Care program is CVS’s shopping card. You can sign up for a card in store or online at https://www.cvs.com/CVSApp/cvs/gateway/registerextracare?LOGINMSG=XTRACAREMSG

With this card, you will have access to their weekly and monthly sale prices. If you do not present your card, you will not be given these sale prices or qualify for the Extra Care Bucks rewards.

 

The greatest benefit of this program is the Extra Care Bucks portion.

 

What is an Extra Care Bucks?

Every month, along with every week, CVS runs sales on particular items where if you buy that item, you will receive a coupon at the end of your receipt with Extra Care Bucks (aka ECBs) that you can use on your next purchase.

 

For example, let’s say Garnier Fructis shampoo is on sale for 2.99 with $2.00 in ECBs. This means you will have to pay the 2.99 upfront for the shampoo, but at the end of your receipt, you will receive a $2.00 ECB that you can use on a future purchase at CVS. It’s like you only paid $0.99 for a bottle of shampoo!

 

At the end of each quarter, CVS will also add up all your spending, and give you a rebate in ECBs based on your spending, which is 2% of the total amount. That’s EXTRA money just for buying items at CVS!

 

Can I use manufacturer’s coupons?

Certainly! Using the example above with the Garnier Fructis shampoo – there are regularly coupons for 1.00 off your purchase of one (1) bottle of their shampoo. The item will ring up at 2.99, then you can use your coupon for 1.00 off, so you wind up paying 1.99 for the item. You STILL get the $2.00 ECB reward – so it’s like getting it for free!

 

Wow! Can I do this over and over?

Unfortunately, there are limits to all the sales. Check the weekly ad and the monthly sales books for the limits. When we post the sales here, we will also list the limits.

 

Can I have more than one CVS card?

The answer in general is no. However, if you have access to another address/name/phone number, you may be able to get a second card.

 

What about prescriptions?

Whenever you fill a prescription, make sure the pharmacy scans your card! Each prescription is 0.50 in ECBs that will be paid out at the end of the quarter.

 

Can I use the ECBs I earn to pay for prescriptions?

Unfortunately, no. They can only be used on store purchases.

 

CVS and Coupons

CVS has a great coupon program. When you sign up for your card, make sure to check that you want CVS to email you coupons and offers. This will put you on their mailing list for future coupons!

 

Most of the CVS coupons are for a certain amount of dollars off a minimum dollar purchase. For example, to start, CVS will email you a coupon to save $4.00 on a $20.00 purchase.

 

When entering your store, look for the CVS card scanning/price checking machine. Scan your card upon entry every time for additional coupons and incentives! Sometimes it's 3.00/10.00 of CVS products, or something FREE!

 

Stacking coupons - I am sad to report the end of coupon stacking, but you can read the details below in the spoiler.

 

Please note, your store may have a different policy regarding the stacking of coupons. IN ADDITION CVS has not been issuing as many e-mail coupons as in the past. Most stacking has been done via CRT coupons, which are the coupons that are generated at the end of your CVS receipt, or from the card scanning machine (if your store has one.)

 

Always make sure you give the cashier your CVS card to scan before you get to the total and start handing over coupons to make sure you get any sale prices.

 

CVS will sometimes have coupons for $3 off a $15.00 purchase, or $2 off a $10.00. The theory regarding CVS purchases are:

Your PRETAX amount is 30.00. You have a coupon for $4 off $20.00, $3 off $15.00, or $2 off $10.00. Hand to the cashier the coupons in this order:

1. The $4 off $20.00 coupon

2. The $3 off $15.00

3. The $2 off 10.00

As long as your total is more than the amount on the coupon, you can keep using coupons.

 

NEXT, give them your manufacturer coupons.

 

FINALLY, give them your ECBs.

 

Hopefully by this point, your out of pocket (OOP) amount is a small number. It may not be at the start, but with constant shopping and deal searching, you’ll build up a good amount of ECBs to use on future purchases.

 

We have come across some stores that will not allow you to stack their money off coupons unless your total equals the amounts of the coupons. For example, if you want to use a $4 off $20 coupon along with a $3 off $15 coupon, some cashiers may say that your total must be $35.00 before you can use the coupon. This rule varies from store to store and from cashier to cashier. We cannot say that CVS will always stack, because the policies are always changing.

 

 

What do they do about B1G1 (buy one, get one free) coupons? I have 2 coupons for the B1G1 covergirl lip product. If I got 2 lip products and used the two coupons would I get both for free or do the B1G1 coupons ring stuff up for 1/2 price?

 

CVS rings up the first item at full price and the second item rings up free. So if you have a BOGO free coupon, you would get both items free.

 

PLEASE NOTE: YMMV (your mileage may vary.) Some stores may not process it, some cashiers may be confused, but in general, the above should happen.

 

 

How to use your ECBs

Please note that you cannot use your ECBs:

- on pharmacy co-pays

- on the purchase of gift cards

Also, ECBs are tied to YOUR card. You will not be able to use the ECBs that are earned by other people. You must also present your card in order to use your ECBs.

 

Please note that your ECBs do have an expiration date and to be mindful of it. If they do expire, you may be able to have customer service reactivate them. Please contact CVS customer service at 800-SHOP-CVS.

 

ECBs can only be used on the PRETAX amount of your purchase. If your pre-tax purchase is 3.99 and you only have a $4.00 ECB, you will not be able to use that ECB – you must use smaller denominations.

 

I bought something that comes with ECBs but it didn’t print out. What gives?!

Check to see if you had previously hit the limit on the offer. It will print on your receipt. Also make sure you bought the correct item or version of the product. If you had not hit the limit, please contact customer service at 800-SHOP-CVS and they will add it to your card to print the next time you are in store.

THE GROUND RULES:

1. Post your experiences shopping at CVS, the deal combos you have found, and the unmarked clearance/ECB deals you have found at your store. Also post your general location if you are comfortable.

2. Do not post links to non CVS authorized coupons. They will be edited out. Authentic CVS coupons come from cvs.com or are located at akamaitech.com.

3. Keep non CVS chatter to a minimum. This is first and foremost a deals discussion. Anything going too far off topic will be deleted.

 

If you have links to printable coupons for items on sale this week at CVS, also post those for others to share.

 

Play nice!

[freesia39]

Monthly Deals - Sept.

The monthly deals now are called "Clip free coupons" Is this the end of the monthly free ECB deal in the monthly book?

 

 

Weekly Deals:

Check your Local CVS for your weekly deals, as the deals are regional:

http://cvs.shoplocal.com/cvs/default.aspx?citystatezip=%20ZIP%20Code

[freesia39]

ERGH.

 

This week they had earphones for free after ECB (get 6.99 when you pay 6.99). My store only had the pink one left. The ad didn't SAY only black and silver, but the picture in the ad does. Frickity. I bought them hoping it would work, but no. Now I have to figure out if I exchange it, will it generate my ECB. Has anyone done this before?

 

This morning, even with the unfortunate 9.99 charge:

 

Crest toothpaste: 3.97

Oral B toothbrush 3.79

Oral B Toothbrush 3.79

Oral B Toothbrush 3.79

Oral B Toothbrush 3.79

Bio-True Contact Solution 2.99

Earphones 9.99

 

- 4.00/20 coupon

- 2.99 CVS coupon for the Bio-True I got from the machine that morning

- 3.79 for Oral B BOGO Free Coupon

- 0.75 Oral B Toothbrush (exp 8/31)

- 0.75 Oral B Toothbrush coupon (exp 9/30)

- 0.75 Crest Pro-Health toothpaste coupon (exp 8/31)

- 2.00 ECB

- 5.00 ECB

 

OOP 14.68, got 7.50 back, but it should have been OOP around 13.50, get 14.49 back.

 

Also, the Oral-B is limit 2 per household this week. Going to the dentist today, and I'm hoping he has more Oral-B toothbrush coupons. I have 4.80ish more to go towards another 5.00

[AndreaInNC]

It's been my experience with CVS, they don't really do exchanges - but you can return it and get your money back. If your store doesn't have the color in the ad - get a raincheck. You can get the correct ones when they come back in stock.

[Gator Pam]

Do rainchecks work for getting ECB once an ad expires? I thought they were only good on sale prices. I had no idea you could get them for ECB after the offer ends!

[AndreaInNC]

yeah - they changed last year. The raincheck forms have a code on them now that corresponds with the promo. When you redeem the raincheck, they have to key something into the register that makes the ECBs print.

 

I always make sure I get a raincheck for those free after ECBs items if they aren't in stock!

[Rockfordmom]

CVS does exchanges. It wouldn't hurt to ask, the earphones only have ECB until today, Tuesday.

[freesia39]

CVS does exchanges. It wouldn't hurt to ask, the earphones only have ECB until today, Tuesday.

Not in my CA ad.

[HansieDZ]

CVS does exchanges. It wouldn't hurt to ask, the earphones only have ECB until today, Tuesday.

Tuesday here too. After today, $6.99 with NO ECBs.

Fortunately,I went and got mine on Sunday.

[Rockfordmom]

I was worried they'd be out of them and with all the mp3 players... in the house those are always nice to have around, I went sunday around noon to get mine.

[nelsanbor]

Got my yesterday and they still had approx. 5 left - sweet :)

[AndreaInNC]

and I knew that I could get a raincheck .. so I stopped on my way home last night. Got my raincheck, they'll get more in on Friday

[smiler]

Don't forget to do the CVS receipt surveys. I have gotten the offers for doing them. Never the 1000 dollars. Yet...

[Rockfordmom]

Summer clearance was 75% off today and some things were 90% off! I got summer and pool toys and charcoal for 75% off, off bug spray 2 packs were $1.09 and I had $1.50 off 2 coupons so I paid .68cents for 2 2-packs! Some of the topsy-turvey things were 90% off and saw some citronella candles. I went to 3 CVS's today!

[txsupermom]

Thanks for the heads up on clearance! Been waiting to see when it would go 75%. Not nearly as much this year, but still managed to get the Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ sauce (.57), Lawry's marinating sauce (.82), Vlasic Dills (.82) and Weber Grill seasonings (.49). Also found the topsy turvey tomato plants for 2.49. I got tons of stuff last year at 90% off, but none of the stores are stocked like they were last summer, so didn't want to wait. Walked out with 4 stuffed bags for 14 dollars and change, so pretty happy.:)

[txsupermom]

Went to another CVS this morning and found Nerf guns for 75% off and all the Toy Story 3 toys were 75% as well. Anyone interested in Ben 10 and Iron Man, they were also 75% off. So glad I stopped by! Knocked out some serious Christmas shopping today.

[Rockfordmom]

some of the toys here were 75% off, but some of them were still at 30 or 50% off, even the summer stuff

 

I won't have to buy charcoal for a very long time, and all the pool toys that I got will go with the pool I got on clearance over 75% off at Target

[KC-Traderbear]

I found an Extra Care coupon in the CVS store today for a $25 prescription transfer. I happen to need one and I wondered if I could use that coupon even though it wasn't obtained through my own CVS card. Does anyone know?

 

TIA!!

[Rockfordmom]

What type of coupon was it? Was it one that printed out of the machine when someone else scanned their card that's linked to their account? I had 2 mailed to me recently and those ones I think anyone could use (if I didn't use them already).

[KC-Traderbear]

Yes, it was one that printed from the machine in the store.

 

Many times when I print those coupons from the store's little red box, they come out with my name on them. This particular coupon did NOT have anyone's name on it though. It just said "valued customer" at the top. However, it did appear to have the last 4 digits of the person's Extra Care Card printed on it. That's why I'm wondering if they would give me any problems.

 

I would think CVS (and other stores for that matter) would start to come out with some $25 transfer/new presc. coupons now that it's fall, but I just thought if I was allowed to I would just use the one that I found laying on the shelf. Do you think they'd let me?

[txsupermom]

Yes, it was one that printed from the machine in the store.

 

Many times when I print those coupons from the store's little red box, they come out with my name on them. This particular coupon did NOT have anyone's name on it though. It just said "valued customer" at the top. However, it did appear to have the last 4 digits of the person's Extra Care Card printed on it. That's why I'm wondering if they would give me any problems.

 

I would think CVS (and other stores for that matter) would start to come out with some $25 transfer/new presc. coupons now that it's fall, but I just thought if I was allowed to I would just use the one that I found laying on the shelf. Do you think they'd let me?

I would give it a try. My Mother was visiting from Florida over the summer and had some print out with her name at my local CVS and gave them to me. I used them without a problem. I used them in conjunction with my CVS ExtraCare card and the clerk took them no problem. Don't remember if they beeped, so not sure if she had to "override" the system. Maybe if you have a clerk that knows you, that might help? Good Luck. I feel less of a sting when I'm forking out money for my prescriptions and get a gift card worth a few $$!

[Rockfordmom]

I agree, it couldn't hurt to try.

[AndreaInNC]

ugh .. so much for my very special customer 20% off coupon! It wasn't good for anything already on sale .. so off my $55 purchase a whopping 80 cents was taking off my total. I was ticked! I would have used one of my $5 off $20 coupons instead!

[KC-Traderbear]

I so infrequently post in the CVS deals page because, well, I never find anything good that most of the posters find!! LOL. Today, strictly as a time kill before my gym class, I snooped around my local store.

 

FINALLY, I struck some gold. They had an entire end cap of lotions, etc. for 90% off. At first it looked like mostly junk, but I dug a bit and found Neutrogena Soothing Wrap Body Lotion that was $8.99. It was priced at 89 cents. I got 4 of those. They had 2 big tubs of Lubriderm Advanced Therapy Cream that was $10.99 on sale for $1.09 and 2 bottles of Vaseline Intensive Rescue Clinical Therapy lotion down to 79 cents (from $7.99).

 

They also had 1 bottle of Clorox Green Works glass cleaner for 42 cents. They had several Green Works all purpose cleaner also for 42 cents, but I didn't get any of those.

 

So that put a little spring in my step for the rest of the day.

 

Big stuff for someone who NEV-AH, EV-AH finds the really good bargains.

[HansieDZ]

Awesome KC!

It surely makes your day when you find good things at 90% off.

[Rockfordmom]

awesome KC!

[freesia39]

I'm so jealous. What a score!

[KC-Traderbear]

I saw the most amazing thing at CVS today.... (I went again after my fun 90% off finds last week. I felt drawn back.. although to a different store this time. :) LOL

 

Anyway, there was an entire end-cap of Huggies diapers in all sizes for 90% off. I don't know what the hey diddle diddle CVS is doing, but OMG!!! I just stood there in amazement. I have no kids in diapers, so I had absolutely no need for them, but there was a woman there beside me in just as much amazement furiously loading her cart. I just giggled and said "GOOD FOR YOU!!!" What a find. They were the huggies that look like denim jeans. If my girls were still in diapers, I wouldn't have cared if they had space ships and bull dozers on them. I would have loaded up. She got all those diapers for $1.19 each. They were regularly priced at $11.99 according to the sign.

 

I just don't understand why CVS wouldn't have started them out at 1/2 price or 75% off. They would have certainly sold at that price, wouldn't they? Or, maybe there is something quirky about that particular denim looking style that I'm unaware of.

 

In hindsight, I should have gotten 3 packs for my kids to give during the birthday party for Jesus that Sunday School classes participate in every year at Christmas. Kids are asked to bring a baby item to donate to the church hope chest. They get cupcakes and sing happy birthday, etc. That probably would have been a good idea. Rats.

[alexusrydr]

Now I can't wait until 8am to run to CVS to see if I can find these @ this price. I'd still be happy with 75% but 90% is sooooo awesome! (Yes, I still have 1 in diapers.)

 

 

I saw the most amazing thing at CVS today.... (I went again after my fun 90% off finds last week. I felt drawn back.. although to a different store this time. :) LOL

 

Anyway, there was an entire end-cap of Huggies diapers in all sizes for 90% off. I don't know what the hey diddle diddle CVS is doing, but OMG!!! I just stood there in amazement. I have no kids in diapers, so I had absolutely no need for them, but there was a woman there beside me in just as much amazement furiously loading her cart. I just giggled and said "GOOD FOR YOU!!!" What a find. They were the huggies that look like denim jeans. If my girls were still in diapers, I wouldn't have cared if they had space ships and bull dozers on them. I would have loaded up. She got all those diapers for $1.19 each. They were regularly priced at $11.99 according to the sign.

 

I just don't understand why CVS wouldn't have started them out at 1/2 price or 75% off. They would have certainly sold at that price, wouldn't they? Or, maybe there is something quirky about that particular denim looking style that I'm unaware of.

 

In hindsight, I should have gotten 3 packs for my kids to give during the birthday party for Jesus that Sunday School classes participate in every year at Christmas. Kids are asked to bring a baby item to donate to the church hope chest. They get cupcakes and sing happy birthday, etc. That probably would have been a good idea. Rats.

[alexusrydr]

ok, I went and the diapers were still full price $11.99 and I did scan them to be sure. I was so excited that I forgot my purse at home but I keep $20 cash in the car for emergencies (and 90% diapers would have qualfied...lol)

And I learned CVS opens at 7am, not 8.