Can Someone Explain the New Walgreens Program?

[GOOFY4DONALD]

I have been an avid CVS and Walgreens customer. Walgreens was always a bit more complicated because of all the coupon/RR rules. Once I finally figured it out it was easy. Now Walgreens has cards, points, and Register Rewards. It sounds way too complicated. In fact I haven't been since they started it 3 weeks ago. Can someone explain it to me please?

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

I have been an avid CVS and Walgreens customer. Walgreens was always a bit more complicated because of all the coupon/RR rules. Once I finally figured it out it was easy. Now Walgreens has cards, points, and Register Rewards. It sounds way too complicated. In fact I haven't been since they started it 3 weeks ago. Can someone explain it to me please?

No. I don't get it either.


I do know that Duane Reade in NYC had a rewards card, and Walgreens bought them. I think I've figured out that the DR reward card has been replacd by this Balance Rewards thing and it's being used at both Duane Reades and Walgreens.

I think you need the BR card to get the sales prices, but there are also points you can get by buying certain amounts of things. I was confused because the first time I used it, I got the sales prices, but 0 points.

I prefer Walgreens to CVS or Rite Aid, so I hope I still like them after I get used to their card program. They are closest to me and tend to have their merchandise in stock. I like their employees too; they are friendly at least at my store.

 

[rapmarks]

you need the card to get the sale price, and certain items come with reward points. those items are listed in the ads, or on the shelves below the items. When you earn 5000 points, you can get $5 off your purchase and the opportunity to use them will be presented when you pay. i am waiting ffor 18000 points which will give me $20 off my purchase. Sometimes if you need something and you don't prefer a certain brand, buying the ones that comes with points is beneficial. sometimes you get no points.

 

[maggiew]

I haven't figured it out yet, either.

I ordered some contacts online at Walgreens.com and it prompted me to sign up for a Balance Rewards account because they were having some special points promo that day. Anyway, I got I believe 5,000 points for that order. When I went to Walgreens the next time to pick up some pictures, I noticed that when I checked out, the touchpad screen gave me the option to use my points to pay $5 towards my purchase total. (I think 5,000 points is worth $5. This is from memory, though.) I didn't have to do anything to prompt this except enter my phone number that was attached to the card.

Maggie

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I'm undecided on the rewards card. So far several of the things I've bought had no points and I forgot to use my card last week. Luckily I wasn't buying anything major. I wish the cashiers would remind me.

I signed up online so mine is digital rather than a physical card.

I think I like just the register rewards the best and now you pretty much can't get those without using the card.

 

[starwood]

I signed up online but can't figure out how to get a card to use in the store. It said something about getting the card in the store but I haven't been to walgreens since to ask about it.

 

[cluvsdisney]

I have no clue! I originally had the Duane Reade Flex Rewards cards which was transferred to the Balance Rewards card in the store the first day of the switch over. I don't think I have earned a point since the switch since I usually just stop in to pick up drinks to have at work and my beverages havent awarded points. I also have two accounts - one with the card and one online so I can't register my physical card since the online account doesn't permit. I don't know - I started going to CVS more frequently now.

 

[maggiew]

I signed up online but can't figure out how to get a card to use in the store. It said something about getting the card in the store but I haven't been to walgreens since to ask about it.

I asked in the store and she told me to just enter the phone number that I used when I signed up online.

Maggie

 

[cluvsdisney]

I asked in the store and she told me to just enter the phone number that I used when I signed up online.

Maggie

That didn't really work for me. When I was in the store they referenced my phone number but there's another member number assigned to my phone number online. So weird. I tried their online chat to figure it out but they said I had to call and speak with someone and I just dont care enough to pursue it further, especially since my purchases don't seem to earn points.

 

[pilesoflaundry]

You only earn points if it's listed in the ad, not like rite aid where you earn points on everything. You can spend points only at 5,000 or more, it's $5 and so on. If you redeem points to pay for something you don't earn points in that transaction (so make sure you burn it on something that doesn't earn points) and you have to spend the whole $5 a once. If you redeem $5 worth of points on a $3 purchase, you lose $2.

That's about all I know. I don't like it. For now there are still RRs but they are phasing them out. You can use points to pay for RR items and pay with RRs to earn points, you just can't earn points if you pay with points.

 

[nowellsl]

I signed up on-line and when I went in the store she put in my phone number and gave me a card to use.

 

[angwill]

I have no clue! I originally had the Duane Reade Flex Rewards cards which was transferred to the Balance Rewards card in the store the first day of the switch over. I don't think I have earned a point since the switch since I usually just stop in to pick up drinks to have at work and my beverages havent awarded points. I also have two accounts - one with the card and one online so I can't register my physical card since the online account doesn't permit. I don't know - I started going to CVS more frequently now.

There are only supposed to be one account. If you sign up online you need to tell the cashier at Walgreens who connects the card with the online account by starting up a new card and then having you put in your phone number on their pad that will connect the two.

HTH

 

[cluvsdisney]

There are only supposed to be one account. If you sign up online you need to tell the cashier at Walgreens who connects the card with the online account by starting up a new card and then having you put in your phone number on their pad that will connect the two.

HTH

I did give them my phone number in the store along with my Duane Reade card to transfer my account to the balance rewards. The card I received in the store has my DR points. A few days later I received an email from balance rewards stating my account was transferred from flex rewards. I thought it was linked to my new Walgreens card since I took care of it in the store but it's for a different account all together. I only ever had one Flex Rewards account with one phone number and one email address so I have no idea how I ended up with two walgreens numbers.

 

[mini22]

The Balance Reward card must be used to get the sale price that is posted on the shelf and in the add flyer.You still need to use any coupons in the flyer that have a bar code in addition to using you card.
You DO NOT receive bonus points on all items purchased.
To receive bonus points you must purchase the items that are advertised in the weekly add flyer. These items will also be marked on the shelf. These items will change weekly.
Once you have accumulated 5,000 points you can start redeeming them.
5,000=$5.00
10,00=$10.00
18,00=$15.00
As you can see it is to you advantage $$ wise to wait until you have 18,00 points.It is very easy to redeem points,just follow the prompts on the touchpad.
Your account can always be accessed just by using your phone number if you don't have your card or just choose not to use one. If you signed up online it is very easy to "attach" a card to your phone number. If the salesperson does not know how to do it please ask "nicely"to speak to a manager.Please be patient with us because this is new to us also.We had very little training on this and many of us are learning as we go.
More than one card can be attached to an account (one phone number). Example: wife/mom what to share one account with husband/child so points will accumulate faster but they each want to have a card instead of using phone number.In my case I chose to just get one card and my DH and DD will just use a phone number.It is also a good idea to decide ahead of time if you have a preference as to who you want to redeem the points if you are sharing an account. In my case I don't care if I am the one accumulating most of the points and my DD redeems them but some people might.
ARRP cards can also be "attached" to your Balance Reward card and then you can just use one card.
Someone mentioned liking the Register Reward program better but we had many people complaining that the rewards expired and were asking for something like the Balance Reward card.Hopefully as you all get used to it you will like it better.
To address cluvsdisney. Sorry I do not know how to show quotes. I would go back to a store and ask to speak to a manager. I had the same thing happen to a customer yesterday. My manager was able to help her out. I can't explain what he did but it worked,we think! Here is another
idea. Put in a bogus phone number,set up account and just use the card all the time unless you do a simple number that you can remember.Example 333-333-3333. There is really no reason they need you real number. It just used to reference your account.
Hopefully this helps answer some of your questions.