Can someone explain CVSing - I dont get it!

[puffkin]

Ok, I am trying to CVS after all the GREAT tips on here. Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge.

Notes: I live near 2 CVS's so it is easy to run between the two. Also, I don't have a lot of manufacturer's coupons stockpiled yet, so my savings weren't as good as they could be. I also will only buy products I use/need and not just because of the ECB's....All prices approx. since I left my receipts at home:

Trip 1
23.97 3 pkg. Pampers at 7.99 each
-4.00 CVS coupon
-2.00 MF coupon
17.97 OOP cost (this is almost exactly what I pay for that amount of diapers at BJ's, so not bad)
5.00 ECB earned

Trip 2
7.99 Coppertone (we needed this anyway)
2.79 Zest soap (also needed this)
9.49 Razor (my DH will definitely use)
-4.00 CVS coupon
-2.00 MF coupon
-5.00 ECB
9.27 OOP cost
8 .00 ECB earned

Trip 3
11.00 4 coke products (I go through soda like water)
3.49 Smart Rinse
.88 Candy (treat for the DH )
-3.00 CVS coupon
-8.00 ECB
4.37 OOP
6.49 ECB earned

Trip 4
21.16 4 Duracell batteries at 5.29 each (good price as is)
-4.00 CVS coupon
-1.00 MF coupon
-6.49 ECB
9.67 OOP
10.00 ECB earned

Total OOP was a little high....$41.....but I sat down than and added up everything if I just would have purchased those things normally just using the MF coupons and it came out to $75. The only extra thing I came home with that I didn't need was the candy. I still have $10 ECB to use, and I am going to do the cereal deal today. I figured out my OOP for that will be $5 plus I'll get another $10 ECB for next week, so that makes my savings even greater! Not too bad

 

[SnowWhite607]

I did another Oral B toothbrush and the razor

toothbrushes 6.99
Razor 9.49

total = 16.48 minus 3/15 Q and $2 Man Q - 11.48. I paid with 10.98 ECb and paid .05 OOP! Got back $5 ECB from razor and 6.99 from toothbrushes for a total of 11.99 back! So in essence I made $1! LOL!

DH still thinks there is a trick to all this.

 

[global_mom]

Ok, I am trying to CVS after all the GREAT tips on here. Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge.

Notes: I live near 2 CVS's so it is easy to run between the two. Also, I don't have a lot of manufacturer's coupons stockpiled yet, so my savings weren't as good as they could be. I also will only buy products I use/need and not just because of the ECB's....All prices approx. since I left my receipts at home:

Trip 1
23.97 3 pkg. Pampers at 7.99 each
-4.00 CVS coupon
-2.00 MF coupon
17.97 OOP cost (this is almost exactly what I pay for that amount of diapers at BJ's, so not bad)
5.00 ECB earned

Trip 2
7.99 Coppertone (we needed this anyway)
2.79 Zest soap (also needed this)
9.49 Razor (my DH will definitely use)
-4.00 CVS coupon
-2.00 MF coupon
-5.00 ECB
9.27 OOP cost
8 .00 ECB earned

Trip 3
11.00 4 coke products (I go through soda like water)
3.49 Smart Rinse
.88 Candy (treat for the DH )
-3.00 CVS coupon
-8.00 ECB
4.37 OOP
6.49 ECB earned

Trip 4
21.16 4 Duracell batteries at 5.29 each (good price as is)
-4.00 CVS coupon
-1.00 MF coupon
-6.49 ECB
9.67 OOP
10.00 ECB earned

Total OOP was a little high....$41.....but I sat down than and added up everything if I just would have purchased those things normally just using the MF coupons and it came out to $75. The only extra thing I came home with that I didn't need was the candy. I still have $10 ECB to use, and I am going to do the cereal deal today. I figured out my OOP for that will be $5 plus I'll get another $10 ECB for next week, so that makes my savings even greater! Not too bad

Good job! Like you, my OOP was a little high the first week but I still saved a good bit of money since I only bought things that I would have bought anyway at Walmart.

What works for me is getting only what I will really use and saving a good bit of money. I figure that I will almost always have some OOP and that is OK with me as long as my "net" is less than purchasing the items at another store. I did have one "freebie" trip which was for a razor with a CVS coup and a manu coup. That was a thrill.

Some of you guys have tons of ECBs that you roll each week. A previous poster mentioned having almost $100 of ECBs. Can you guys explain how you got so many? Thanks!!

 

[skhess415]

I have learned so much from this thread. I will be making my first CVS / ECB trip tomorrow......I am very excited!

I have a question, that has probably already been addressed, but does CVS double mfg. coupons?

Thanks Everyone!!!!

 

[LanaJae]

If I have already printed and used the $3/$15 can I print another one?

I was going to get the Folgers but they did not offer decaf. I am probably the only person on earth who only drinks decaf!!

Thanks for the encourgement, this is sooo much fun

Sure, you can use one $/$$ coupon for each transaction. I would call the CVS and see if they can order decaf for you, most managers are happy to do it and if there is another truck coming this week, maybe s/he can get it in before Saturday.

DH still thinks there is a trick to all this.

Mine did too, but for 2008, my "savings" is over 3K and my spring out of pocket is $31. I probably spent the same for winter quarter too, so I'm at 98% savings for this year so far. The savings total is calculated by the amount off for sales and the coupons (including ECBs) used so it's not an entirely accurate figure (because their prices are high on some things), but the spending total is accurate, that's how much money I've actually paid of my own. I do get our prescriptions at CVS too, and they aren't counted in that total.

Some of you guys have tons of ECBs that you roll each week. A previous poster mentioned having almost $100 of ECBs. Can you guys explain how you got so many? Thanks!!

I've never had that many and it sure hasn't been easy to do lately, especially the last 3-4 weeks because the deals have not been as good. There were several free-after-ECB items in the May monthly book so it was a lot easier to build up a pile of ECBs to carry through the rest of the month - not so easy in June. It's also easier when there are better $/$$ coupons available, especially a $5/15.

Some people might have multiple cards and count those ECBs too.

The easiest way to build them is to buy free-after-ECB items and use mfg. coupons on those items, plus a $/$$ coupon, AND (most importantly) paying with ECBs too (so you're not spending actual money). This is when you get into the whole buying things you don't need area.. I only buy things I don't need/want when I am profiting (in ECB form) from them, then I give the stuff away. I use the overage to buy things I do need.

The biggest way to save is to keep all your transactions close to the amount of the coupon you have - right now all I have is $3/15, so I try never to go over $15. If I can get $12 worth of items that produce ECBs or are free after coupon (or I need and are a better price than somewhere else), the other $3 (free) is used for a gallon of milk.

 

[LanaJae]

This is an example of building ECBs during a monthly sale:

Last month, men's Adidas deodorant was $4.99 and you received $4.99 for each one in ECBs and could buy 5.

The "All You" magazine (costs $1.77 at Walmart) had a coupon for a free one so even if you bought 5 magazines, the ECB profit on each one was $3.23, for a total of $16.15 in ECB pure profit - PLUS whatever was saved using $/$$ coupons. Of course the magazine had many other coupons too.

There was also an internet printable coupon for $2.25 off Tum's Quick Pak (another free after ECB item), with a limit of 5. If you could arrange to have 5 coupons printed, that was an $11.25 profit in ECBs.

This month it's not so great because the best coupon so far for a monthly item was $1 off SmartRinse.

 

[global_mom]

Thank so much LanaJae!

 

[Mouseless2Long]

I have been to CVS twice in the last 2 weeks and both times my stores have been out of the Oral-B toothbrushes. I just realized I can probably ask for a raincheck and if I do, do you get the ECB's when they do come in?

 

[rumblytumbly]

Sorry if this has been asked already I have only read through the first couple of pages. There are no CVS stores in my area. Can the same type of thing be accomplished in the Pacific Northwest (Seattle) at Walgreen's or anywhere else around here for that matter? Thanks!

 

[global_mom]

Sorry if this has been asked already I have only read through the first couple of pages. There are no CVS stores in my area. Can the same type of thing be accomplished in the Pacific Northwest (Seattle) at Walgreen's or anywhere else around here for that matter? Thanks!

A few people have mentioned Register Rewards at Walgreens but it seems to be a pretty week savings plan compared to CVS. You can also shop CVS online and they do free shipping specials. I am not sure if they do ECBs when you order on-line. One of the pros might know how that would work.

 

[JustMickey]

Some of you guys have tons of ECBs that you roll each week. A previous poster mentioned having almost $100 of ECBs. Can you guys explain how you got so many? Thanks!!

I was the poster who mentioned almost $100 in ECBs. I think my all-time high was $87 in ECBs at one time, that was just a few weeks ago (now I have $82). I only have one card. My trick is, I go after every single deal that will be a moneymaker or make things free. Yes, I have a ton of stuff that I don't need, but honestly I got every bit of it for free and a lot of it made me more money in ECBs, so really I could throw it all away and be fine. I also spend a lot of time on hotcouponworld.com and the Budget Board's CVS thread. I know not everyone has the time for that--the only reason I do is I'm a student and I'm out for the summer! Also, this is my one hobby, I put a lot of my free time into it and I can't remember the last time I had this much fun doing something.

I make sure I always have a $/$$ coupon to use. It used to be 4/20 (I get one every time I scan my card at the scanner) but recently there have been 5/15 and 3/15 out that are better. (Man, I sure do miss that 5/15! ) I also strategically buy ECB items to print ECBs in the lowest denominations possible--this makes it easier to pay for my entire transaction in ECBs (except maybe a few cents) so I'll only lose about $1 OOP total for, say, a whole month of CVSing. Also, I've lately been using a money card that I got for returning an item to cover those OOP costs, so I haven't been paying any of my own money at all. In fact, the last time I paid over a dollar at CVS was May 2nd (and that was only 2.12! )

I usually buy 2-3 papers on Sundays, sometimes 4 if the coupons are good. I clip every single coupon in case there is a good ECB deal on that item in the future. I've never ordered coupons online, but I know that's an option if there's a really great deal on an item with a manufacturer coupon.

Honestly, I don't remember doing anything special to have so many ECBs. I started doing this in March and I've just paid close attention to the deals and I take advantage of them whenever possible. I've got it down pat now, I even got free milk last week (2 gallons!) and free cereal today. Now if only CVS had a gas station!!!

 

[JustMickey]

A few people have mentioned Register Rewards at Walgreens but it seems to be a pretty week savings plan compared to CVS. You can also shop CVS online and they do free shipping specials. I am not sure if they do ECBs when you order on-line. One of the pros might know how that would work.

I tried utilizing Register Rewards last month...there was a great sale where you could buy several products for a very low OOP using coupons (sometimes $0) and get $20 in Register Rewards back. BUT it was such a hassle, I hated doing it and I didn't even try to roll them into more RRs. There are so many limitations on the RRs, along with each Walgreens store making their own rules for accepting them. I MUCH prefer CVS ECBs to RRs. Walgreens also has a Mail in Rebate program, but that's been just as much of a hassle. I sent my form for the March Mail-in Rebate items on April 5th, and I still have not received my rebate!! Anyway, I stay away from Walgreens these days. CVS makes me much happier. Also, I've never shopped online but I do know that there is no ECB program for online and they do not accept ECBs as payment either. They do sometimes have 10 off $50 order and free shipping, but that's not really worth it without the ECBs.

 

[rumblytumbly]

A few people have mentioned Register Rewards at Walgreens but it seems to be a pretty week savings plan compared to CVS. You can also shop CVS online and they do free shipping specials. I am not sure if they do ECBs when you order on-line. One of the pros might know how that would work.

OK, thanks for the info!

 

[LanaJae]

I tried utilizing Register Rewards last month...there was a great sale where you could buy several products for a very low OOP using coupons (sometimes $0) and get $20 in Register Rewards back. BUT it was such a hassle, I hated doing it and I didn't even try to roll them into more RRs. There are so many limitations on the RRs, along with each Walgreens store making their own rules for accepting them. I MUCH prefer CVS ECBs to RRs. Walgreens also has a Mail in Rebate program, but that's been just as much of a hassle. I sent my form for the March Mail-in Rebate items on April 5th, and I still have not received my rebate!! Anyway, I stay away from Walgreens these days. CVS makes me much happier. Also, I've never shopped online but I do know that there is no ECB program for online and they do not accept ECBs as payment either. They do sometimes have 10 off $50 order and free shipping, but that's not really worth it without the ECBs.

DITTO DITTO DITTO!

I did the same deal at Walgreens and it was nerve-wracking and then hard to spend the Register Rewards (they expire in 2 weeks as opposed to ECBs that last a month). Many stores will only let you use one RR per transaction, so even if you earned $20 in one transaction (two $10 RR), they only allowed you to spend $10 of it in another transaction. My last 2 Easy Saver rebates have been denied and their customer service people are nasty on the phone. They finally put my April one through, but I am still waiting on May (submitted online the middle of May). The last time I spoke to CS, the woman said, "looks like you are only buying things that are free after rebate," so I replied, "well do you want me to enter the receipts every time I shop at Walgreens so you know that I buy other things?" Duh! You only enter receipts that belong with the rebate.

The reason my April rebate was denied was because I bought 3 Soy Joy bars instead of 1 (had coupon for B2G1). Their system rejected it because I purchased more than the limit for the rebate. There's no explanation as to why my May one was rejected. Submitting online is much better, but it's still a wait for your money.

I still do Walgreen's deals, but it's not nearly as good as CVS. Another issue is that many people have experienced clerks trying to keep their Register Rewards and also the Catalina printers sometimes malfunction, go offline or are purposely shut off. You have to watch very closely that all your coupons are scanned and that you get both your receipt and the register rewards.

 

[skhess415]

This is such a great thread, as I am a CVS newbie! Can someone please tell me if CVS double mfg. coupons? Thanks everyone!

 

[puffkin]

Ok, took trip 5 yesterday. I drive by a CVS on the way home from work, so no gas wasting to make multiple trips

I got 6 boxes of cereal (3 HN cheerios, 1 Total, 1 Cinnamon Toast, 1 Lucky Charm).

20.00 3/10 x 2
-3.00 CVS coupon
-1.00 MF coupon
-1.00 MF coupon
-10.00 ECB
5.00 OOP

So I got 6 boxes of cereal for $5 (should last us about a month). Not too bad plus another $10 ECB. Hopefully I can continue to do even better now that I know how this works and can start doing a better job of clipping coupons.

 

[LanaJae]

This is such a great thread, as I am a CVS newbie! Can someone please tell me if CVS double mfg. coupons? Thanks everyone!

They've never done it as long as I've been CVSing. Many stores will take competitor's coupons (Walgreen's, Target, etc.). All stores let you use a store coupon and a mfg. coupon on a single item, but store coupons are becoming few and far between.

Competitor coupons and $/$$ coupons are a loss for the store so it's an area where individual stores can deny them. ECBs and mfg. coupons are reimbursed by the manufacturer.

 

[skhess415]

They've never done it as long as I've been CVSing. Many stores will take competitor's coupons (Walgreen's, Target, etc.). All stores let you use a store coupon and a mfg. coupon on a single item, but store coupons are becoming few and far between.

Competitor coupons and $/$$ coupons are a loss for the store so it's an area where individual stores can deny them. ECBs and mfg. coupons are reimbursed by the manufacturer.

Thanks! I guess I can ask if our local store accepts comp. coupons, couldn't hurt to ask.

 

[MinnieForMe]

Okay, will someone help me get started? I have my circular in hand. We need or could use coffee. Do I go into the store and ask for a rewards card? Then, I purchase 2 Folgers coffee cans at $10 each and I'll get 10 extra bucks for my next shop? I'm guessing I should look for a folgers coupon. Where do people find "get $5 off $20 purchases"?

Thanks for any advice.

 

[staticgirl50]

This weeks flyer if you want coffee and have coupons do the coffee and cereal deal.
Look for coupons for both. You can find them at coupon surfer.com usually or your Sunday paper.
You can have as many coupons as product as well!
So buy the cereal with coupons
and coffee with coupons
and get $10 ECB

THEN the fun starts!
Use those $10 ECB to get more!
There are great June deals for ECB on CVS brand band aids and Q-tips