I have received a number of requests to post a Walgreens beginner's guide, and would appreciate some input from you, my readers. What questions do you have about shopping at Walgreens and working the deals? What was confusing to you when you were just beginning--terms, techniques, etc.? What have you learned that you'd like to pass on to someone else who beginning to shop Walgreens?
Thanks in advance for your input! :-)
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My main question is how does everyone get their OOP (ooh, i'm learning the terminology!) so low? Is Walgreens very leniant about using several different coupons? What is stacking coupons? Is that using several different ones? If so, has anyone ever been told no about this? Does everyone plan their purchases before they go?
I went to Walgreens tonight (my first real savings purchase, i'm so excited!) I bought 10 toothpastes and spent only $11.63 w/coupons and deals. My total savings were $24.90 and I got $20 RR's back. I'm now trying to plot how i'm going to spend the next $20. And I plan to do another deal tomorrow to get another $20!
How can you use the RR's in conjunction with coupons? My Walgreens will never let me, even if I have more items than coupons.
I think as long as you go through all the steps (which is always hard to think about!) people will get it. Walgreens seems quite easy to me. The absolute basic is to buy only FAR things each month and re-load your card. Then you can work up to things like RR. Combining ES coupons with manufacturer's is a GREAT tip. ALways find deals that way!
The biggest issue that I've had is that Walgreens does not allow you to roll RR of the same deal. AKA you can't use a RR for the P&G deal this week to do the deal again. You have to find other RR deals to roll your RR. So I've been doing the Zantac/Venus razor deal and then using those RR to do the P&G deal. Then using the P&G RR to do the Zantac/Venus again.
I messed up this week twice- first I couldn't use the P&G RR for Gillette and then I couldn't use the RR to buy Similac. I think where I messed up is not having enough items since the RR are treated as a MQ. Soo I guess its really trial by error at WAGS and don't forget rainchecks if they sell out of the great buys. I was in on Sunday and all the toothpaste and Cascade were already gone. I am hoping I can sneak back in on Sat when they get another shipment.
Hello! I don't think I've commented before, but I've been following along for a few months and trying to learn the Walgreens system.
My question is the same as Ashjamesgav's. My Walgreens, at least, won't let me use multiple RR in the same transaction, so I end up having to pay more OOP there than at CVS, which lets you use as many ECB as you want. Is the secret many small transactions, or building up your gift card balance?
They wouldn't take my RR's that I had received from the Venus and Zantac deal when I was trying to do the P&G deal. I couldn't figure it out, but I just realized now that it might have been b/c I had a man. coupon for each item and it wouldn't let me use my RR's b/c I would have too many coupons...could this be why!??! Thanks for all your help. I thought I had this all down, but every once in awhile I run into problems! Oh, and the new online Easy Saver Rebate system is AMAZING!! Thanks for alerting me to that.
I am new to the whole WAGS thing as well. I guess you could say that I'm learning "on the job". I've made some mistakes, but all in all, am having a ball! all of the wags employees seem to be very patient and cooperative. Thank goodness! I was told that you could only use 1 RR per transaction. (That's a bummer!) I have been to WAGS more this week then I 've been in a while. I really appreciate everyone's advice! Keep it up!
I would say that the most important thing to do is to build up your gift card by buying all the Free After Rebate items, using coupons with those items and watching for sales within the same month that make other rebates "free" when you combine the sale, coupons and the rebate. This takes some money out of pocket for the first 2-3 months. But, once you get enough money on that gift card, you can start really growing it.
I have about 60-70.00 on the card. This allows me to use the card when there are great RR deals and spend nothing out of pocket. Then, in turn, I use the RRs to either roll into other RRs OR purchase the FAR items so that the RR money will go directly back to my giftcard.
It's a little more complicated to get the hang of than CVS, BUT once you get going, I think the deals are better.
Different stores have different policies. I didn't understand what "rolling your RR" meant at first. There is also some confusion about being able to do two RR deals at once. Is it true that it won't print both? It's not quite the same as CVS. Also, be sure to tell people that they can only submit their rebate online once a month. Once you do it, that's it for the month, so don't submit it until you are finished shopping the deals for that month. Sometimes my man. q's won't go through, even though they should. I found out that the cashier can manually make the register take the coupon. So always be nice and friendly to the cashiers and they will be more likely to help you if your coupons don't work. Also, if your cashiers are not friendly and helpful, find another Walgreens.
UGH! I just tried deals at Wal-Greens yesterday and what a bummer! Overall I did fine. I spent $8.38 for CoverGirl foundation, blush, pressed powder, concealer, eyeliner & nail polish & 2 Cascades. But I was very disappointment when making my second purchase (the cascade, eyeliner & concealer) to learn that if you pay any part of your order with the register rewards you don't get anymore register rewards. I am sold on CVS, don't think I'll try Walgreens again.
Hmmmm....I used a $3 RR to pay for part of my recent shopping trip, and I still got the $6 RR for the ladies shaver (with the $4 coupon from the paper, woo hoo).
There's definately a learning curve. I tried a Rite-Aid trip though, and had to return three items because they weren't EXACTLY the right ones to get rebates. That was frustrating. Lesson? Learn one drugstore at a time.
I'd like more tips on how to find the manufacturer's coupons to make the deals even better.
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