Understanding drug store deals can be complicated at first. Each store has their own sets of rules, coupons, and rebate systems. Walgreens and CVS use an instant rewards system, whereas Rite Aid uses the mail in rebate system.
Walgreens drug store deals often include Register Rewards. Register Rewards or RR’s are Walgreen’s form of an instant rebate. The Register Rewards are often used in conjunction with store sales. Many times items are free after the Register Rewards or can be free with the combination of coupons and Register Rewards. The down side to Register Rewards is that they generally cannot be used on the same product. For example, if you buy product xyz and get a $5 Register Reward, you cannot use the Register Reward to buy xyz again or you will not receive another $5 Register Reward. Register Rewards expire two weeks from the time they are printed.
Walgreens also allows customers to use a Walgreens coupon and a manufacturer coupon on the same item. Walgreens coupons are most often found in their monthly coupon book or in the weekly sales ad. These are called instant value coupons. The Walgreens cash register does limit customers to one coupon per item. This means if you are using a total of 10 coupons including Register Rewards, that you must buy 10 items.
CVS drug store deals include Extra Care Bucks or ECB’s. Extra Care Bucks are printed right on the cash register receipt after purchasing eligible products when using your Extra Care Card. Most items that produce Extra Care Bucks are limited to one item per card. Extra Care Bucks are used just like cash to purchase other items. They expire one month after they are printed.
CVS customers can use CVS coupons and manufacturer coupons on the same item. CVS coupons can be found in their monthly coupon book or occasionally in the weekly sales ad. CVS does not limit the number o coupons you can use. For example, if you are buying 5 items, you can use 5 manufacturer coupons, 5 CVS coupons, and Extra Care Bucks on your order.
Rite Aid drug store deals include the Single Check Rebate. Customers submit their receipt information either online or by mail to receive their rebates on eligible products. Rebate checks are then requested at the end of the month and come through US mail, generally by the middle of the following month. Most items eligible for the Single Check Rebate are limited to one per customer or rebate.
Rite Aid allows customers to combine Rite Aid coupons with manufacturer coupons on items. Rite Aid coupons can be found in their weekly flyer, on the Rite Aid website, or occasionally they put out a special coupon booklet. Rite Aid does not limit the number of coupons customers can use. If you are buy 10 items, you can use 10 manufacturer coupons and 10 Rite Aid coupons on your order.
All the drug store listed above occasionally offer coupons that are off of a certain amount spent. The most common for all three stores is the $5/$25. Walgreens requires that their coupon is use after all other store or manufacturer coupons. Rite Aid and CVS both allow their coupons to be used before any store or manufacturer coupons.
Alexis Paige has been a long time bargain shopper.
