Can someone explain CVSing - I dont get it!

[SnowWhite607]

You brought up another good point about the CVS "game". You need to stock up a little when there is a good ECB deal because when you need an item (like you run out of deoderant), you will have it in your stash. So, right now, you are stocked up on deoderant and you got it free. So now when your DH runs out of deoderant, you won't have to hope for an ECB deal.

Maggie

I love it when my DH says "I am out of deodorant" and I tell him "go look in the back bathroom in the drawer" where I have his 5 deodorants from the last CVS ECB deals!

 

[oldbay]

When you go into the store there are TWO sales promos by the door: one is a monthly ECB booklet, the other is the weekly store ads. I don't think so.

Actually there can be 'hidden' deals that are not advertised. Then, someone usually finds out about it and posts it on the weekly thread on the budget board and other online sites. It makes it even more fun! Some of the hidden deals are easier to find since they are not so highly advertised so the casual shopper at CVS will not see a tag and know it is on sale.

Some of the deals are not as obvious either. For example, Hawaiian Tropic was buy 2 get 10 ecb's a few weeks ago. Well, their lipbalm worked and 2 only cost $3.99. An easy ecb profit of $6.01!

 

[TinkOhio]

I'm going to give CVSing a try, too. Did I just not catch it, or did the PP who asked if CVS accepts Walgreens coupons get her answer? I had the same question.

TIA!

 

[global_mom]

Actually there can be 'hidden' deals that are not advertised. Then, someone usually finds out about it and posts it on the weekly thread on the budget board and other online sites. It makes it even more fun! Some of the hidden deals are easier to find since they are not so highly advertised so the casual shopper at CVS will not see a tag and know it is on sale.

Some of the deals are not as obvious either. For example, Hawaiian Tropic was buy 2 get 10 ecb's a few weeks ago. Well, their lipbalm worked and 2 only cost $3.99. An easy ecb profit of $6.01!

You guys are goooood!

 

[maggiew]

I'm going to give CVSing a try, too. Did I just not catch it, or did the PP who asked if CVS accepts Walgreens coupons get her answer? I had the same question.

TIA!

It is YMMV. Just ask at your store. I think in areas where there is high competition between Walgreens and CVS (maybe other stores), they are more likely to take the competitor's coupon. If you live in a small town with one drug store, maybe not so likely. But it never hurts to ask! Also ask about expired coupons while you are at it. Some stores take expired coupons too.

Maggie

 

[MrMarv]

I don't how I forgot to mention how much free pain/allergy/cough medicine related products I've gotten; not only does some form and/or size of Tylenol, Bayer Aspirin or Excedrin appear to be on sale almost weekly, but CVS always has their own generic brands on sale all the time, regardless of whether or not it's B1G1F (Buy One Get One Free) , Buy 1 Get 1 @ 50% off, or buy $20.00 worth of CVS generic vitamins/pharmacy/cold/pain/allergy products and get $5.00 off on the spot!!

 

[FormerFLresident]

On the bottom of my cvs receipt it says

ExtraCare Card balances as of 5/31

Spring 2008 spending: 10.52


What is this??

 

[tngramma]

On the bottom of my cvs receipt it says

ExtraCare Card balances as of 5/31

Spring 2008 spending: 10.52


What is this??

At the end of each quarter CVS gives back 2% of your quarterly spending. This is the balance they uee to calculate that bonus. It will print at the begining of the next quarter just like an ECB.

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

Subscribing! I just did my first CVS trip this weekend. Lots of ECB's...hopefully I'm doing this all right!

 

[global_mom]

So I have made my first attempts at the CVS "game". It was OK I think.

There was one mess up yesterday with the advertised Swiffer/Febreeze products. I bought what I thought were the right products as the "assistant manager" siad that I was correct. The $5ECB did not print at the end of the transaction. So they wrote out a "raincheck ECB" for me to use on my next trip. Well I went to our other CVS today (the first CVS was out of the items that I needed) and the manager at that store said that it was not possible to do the $5ECB. It became such on ordeal that I decided that it is not worth my time to pursue. I have the feeling that what happened was that the clerk told me I was buying the right products when in fact that product did not qualify for the ECB even though it fit the description of the ad. Whew - sorry for rambling.

So yesterday I spent $58 and got things that I needed including Claritin for DH. I got $18 of ECB including the now defunct $5ECB. So those $18 ended up only being worth $13. Today I got Bounty, bandaids, mouth wash and some additional Swiffer products. I used my $13 of ECBs toward this and I paid $32. I received $20.48 worth of new ECBs.

Even though I spent money, I got the items that I needed for the month plus I ended up with $20.48ECB to use in a few weeks.

For me, I have to be very careful that I only buy products that I really need and not just buy random products b/c they have the ECBs. As long as I buy what I need, at fair/good prices, then I do think I will come out ahead. Today was just so frustrating b/c I could not use that $5ECB form the Swiffer mistake.

Thanks for listening!

 

[Colinsmom]

There was one mess up yesterday with the advertised Swiffer/Febreeze products. I bought what I thought were the right products as the "assistant manager" siad that I was correct. The $5ECB did not print at the end of the transaction. So they wrote out a "raincheck ECB" for me to use on my next trip. Well I went to our other CVS today (the first CVS was out of the items that I needed) and the manager at that store said that it was not possible to do the $5ECB. It became such on ordeal that I decided that it is not worth my time to pursue. I have the feeling that what happened was that the clerk told me I was buying the right products when in fact that product did not qualify for the ECB even though it fit the description of the ad. Whew - sorry for rambling.

Why not save that "raincheck ECB" (never heard of that - if my ECBs don't print, they give me cash or a gift card) to use at the store that issued it? I wouldn't throw it away!!

 

[amshowers]

To those who are new to CVSing this is a great week to start. There is a buy20get10 ecbs deal with P&G products. Here's my scerario I bought 3 charmin, 1 bounty total 20.96- 4.00mfr coupons= 15.96 which I paid for with ecbs and got back 10.00 ecbs that I will roll into buying the free ecbs products for the month. I can't stress enough the importantce of couponing along with your cvs shopping to maximize your deal savings. At the beginning the month cvs puts out a month long ecbs book and there are always things that are free after ecbs, which is great way to roll your ecbs from month to month. There is usally coupons on free after ecb items so you will be paid to take them out of the store.

 

[Colinsmom]

MrsPete: Here's one little thing that would have "fixed" your scenario:

Pay for one deodorant at a time.

Transaction #1:

Deodorant 4.99

pay 4.99 cash, earn 4.99 ECB

Transaction #2:

Deodorant 4.99

Pay with 4.99 ECB from prior transaction, earn 4.99 ECB

Transaction #3:

Pain reliever $7

Pay with 4.99 ECB from prior transaction plus 2.01 cash

So, you've spent $7 in cash (the same $7 the pain reliever would have cost on its own) and walk out with two deodorants and your bottle of pain reliever (and no ECBs in your pocket). You had the right idea paying for the deodorant first, just take it one step further next time!

 

[global_mom]

Why not save that "raincheck ECB" (never heard of that - if my ECBs don't print, they give me cash or a gift card) to use at the store that issued it? I wouldn't throw it away!!

I have it saved in my waller but the manager was really adamant that they would not do anything. She said that I could call the number on the receipt and try to get someone to understand the situation but that she was not able to ever process ECBs w/o the actual ECB receipt. The only other option she gave me was to drive back to the original CVS (about 8 miles out of my way) and try to get that manager to give me credit for it. It was one of those things that really gets your blood pressure up!

 

[jmpellet]

Some tips for CVSing...

Be careful doing back to back transactions expecting to get extra bucks as sometimes they don't print out.

Lower $ value ECBS are better as you want to get to the lowest OOP. So, if a monthly item is limit 3 you probably don't want to purchase them all at the same time. For example, the toothbrush deal for June is limit 2 at 6.99 -- buy them separately so you don't end up with a 13.98 ECB. This all goes out the window on the last day of the month when you need to get them. Just yesterday I bought one of each of the free items this month (Listerine, bandaids, toothbrushes) along with bread, water, donuts, mini muffins and paid $11.37 in ECB and got back 12.47.

Spread out the free after ECB purchases throughout the month so all your ECB don't expire at the same time.

Typically you want to do lower $ deals as to take most advantage of the XX of XXX coupons such as a $4/20, $3/15, or $5/15.

Keep careful track of the ECB items you have purchased -- the details will show at the bottom of your receipt. It will tell you when you have reached the limit for an offer.

Be careful to purchase the exact item that gives ECBs -- this can especially happen with the million toothbrushes available!

Roughly plan out you trip but know that a good amount of time the items you want (especially free after ECB) might be OOS.

Donate, Donate, Donate! I donate all the extra toothbrishes, etc. Animal shelters will take glucose meters!

Some areas of the country will allow you to use multiple CVS XX of XXX coupons, others will not.

 

[girli565]

Bumping... I love this board! My TP will be $0 soon! I'm going to make my first trip this Friday. Wish me luck!

 

[tngramma]

You guys are doing great. Here is a link to get a CVS coupon good for $3 off a $15 purchase. (3/15) http://wikisend.com/download/582734/3off15_exp061408_cropped.pdf click on download file

Also check out the CVS thread each week on the budget board. Here is the link to this weeks thread.http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1837285

We are a pretty friendly bunch and will help you as much as possible.

 

[global_mom]

You guys are doing great. Here is a link to get a CVS coupon good for $3 off a $15 purchase. (3/15) http://wikisend.com/download/582734/3off15_exp061408_cropped.pdf click on download file

Also check out the CVS thread each week on the budget board. Here is the link to this weeks thread.http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1837285

We are a pretty friendly bunch and will help you as much as possible.

Thank you for the coupon link!!

I did my first CVS "free" shopping yesterday! it was a success.

I have been needing to buy an extra razor to keep in my travel bag. Good razors are expensive so I have made do with some disposables (yuck). When I was at CVS 2 days ago I happened to notice that the Gillete Fusion razor had $4 of ECB. I knew that I had a manu coupon at home for $4 off the Fusion. So I got my coupon from home and went back to CVS yesterday afternoon.

I had some ECBs already. The razor was $9.99. I used the manu coupon to bring it to 5.99 and then used a $5ECB and a $1.99ECB. With the extra ECB money I got a cold diet coke (it was 97 degrees outside). I paid only .65 for the whole transaction AND got $4ECBs. Yea!!!!! I still have $19 of ECBs but am waiting for next week to use those b/c there is not really anything else that I need to get this week.

Did I do it right? Suggestions?

Thanks!

 

[jmpellet]

The key now is to use $$ of $$$ coupons to make the deal even sweeter. If you need to get to a higher $ amount to reach the $ required (usually $15 or $20) throw in one or more of the free after ECB deals -- like the toothbrushes this month.

 

[Tarah14]

Thanks. You guys inspired me to try this, I stopped in to my local CVS on Tues. and got an Extra Care card and picked up this weeks sale ad as well as the monthly ECB ad. I read the posts here and carefully studied the ads. I was pleased with my first try. I bought:


Pantene 3 for 10 3 ECB
2 Dawn 2/2 1 ECB
2 Purell 2/3.99 2 ECB
2 Smart Rinse 2@3.49 -$2 coupon 6.98 ECB
1 Oral B 2pk 6.99 6.99 ECB
1 Sting Eze 1 ECB
5 Chex Mix 5/5 - 5 1.00 off Coupons
2 Colgate BOGO 3.59
2 Irish Spring Deo BOGO 2.99
$4 off $20 CVS Coupon -4.00
tax 2.16
OPP Total 38.18
ECB Total 20.97

Purchase #2
Charmin 3@4.99 14.97
Bounty 1@5.99 5.99 10
Oral B 2pk 1 @6.99 6.99 6.99
27.95
tax 1.68
$4 off $20 (reprint) -4.00
ECB's from purchase 1 20.97
Total OOP 4.66
New ECB's for Next Time 16.99

That was Fun!