CVS information

CVS accepts CVS coupons, MF coupons, and some take competitor coupons. Usually, they just price match with Rite Aid or Walgreens, but do not take the coupon. This requires a managers approval. Overage on coupons is not allowed, and the register will beep. They will manually adjust the coupon down. Calls to corporate have not fixed this, as I feel this is unfair to the consumer. However, their customer service hates unhappy customers, so they have given me credit towards future purchases to make this 'better'

CVS has a loyalty card program similar to many other stores. Make it the first thing you do to get one because if something is listed as on sale, it will not ring up that way unless you scan a loyalty card! This could mean a serious price difference at the cash register.

You should also register your card online at their website for a couple of reasons. First, they will send you a thank you coupon just for doing that. Second, they send out random coupons to you off of this, such as $5 off $25 or similar. Third, they will also send short surveys out that also give coupons at the end. These coupons are a super way to reduce your OOP (out of pocket expense) when you are buying things even with coupons.

Another thing to note- they have a price check machine located front and center of every CVS store. Its not just for that! Every day you can scan your loyalty card for a coupon or two of the day. Sometimes they are great, sometimes not, but you never know what it is until you try it. And occasionally they will also do a coupon for a free item from there as well. I do not make special trips to stop in and print these, but I always make it the first thing I do if I am already there anyway.

Another great thing about CVS, at the end of every quarter, they will print an ECB (Extra Care Buck) for 2% of what you have spent in store after coupons. So far I have spent around $30 in tax so far this year, so I will get 2% of that back when the quarter is over. And thats almost all tax! So its great to get some of that back. :)

And lastly- ECB's are basically CVS coupons good for that dollar amount off your next visit. They expire one month from date of print. Often you will see sales that say, "Buy this item, get this amount in ECB's." Almost every week, there will be something free this way. Lately its been a lot of school supplies- "Buy a composition notebook for $0.99, get an ECB for $0.99" which is good off your next purchase. Keep these! You can then use them to get essentials you need or you can "roll" them. Keep getting more free items just by using the ECB's that printed from your previous purchase!

And sometimes, there are the money makers!! These are sweet deals. This week, Poise brand pantiliners are 2 for $4. When you buy 2, you got $1 in ECB's back, limit 5 deals. If you did this with no coupons, you would spend $4 for 2 packs of pantiliners, and gotten $1 in ECB's. However, there are/were $2 off 1 Poise printables online. So I used those to pay nothing but tax on the two packages of pantiliners, and get $1 back in ECB's. I did all 5 deals, resulting in a $5 money maker (in ECB's) for my next trip to CVS.

Get good enough playing this 'game' at CVS and you will have tons of ECB's to spare. Two weeks ago I had to use some of them up, so I spent about $30 worth getting half off summer stuff, including lawn chairs, and flip flops that I wanted, laundry detergent, etc. I would not have bought this stuff with actual cash because it was just a want, not a need, but it was fun to get them with my ECB's. Its also a great way to get the Sunday paper without using cash if you have many extra.

Lastly, always check your receipt. Its not often, but sometimes the ECB's do not print. Its no biggie, just show the supervisor on duty and they can force them to print using the receipt and your loyalty card. Again, it doesnt happen often, but you never want to miss out on those free bucks for next time.