CVS ECB Deals ~ Sales for Week 3/1-3/7

[puffkin]

Welcome to the thread! I will do my best to answer......

You guys are all such an inspiration. I am going to try to get started with this, as DH and I have both been laid off and need all the help we can get! I’ve read through, but there is so much information here. I have some questions just to make sure I am getting it.

Do you buy every single item that is free after ECB, whether it is a product you use or not?
I try to buy everything Free after ECB. Once you get going at this for awhile, you will build a nice stockpile of products, and the Free after ECB items are an easy way to "roll" your ECBs so they don't expire. I try lots of new things I never would have bought because it is free, or I donate or give it away.

What about items that give you ECB, but will not be free...
Do you only buy them if you have a coupon?
Only if the coupon will bring the price to free?
Yes, I do try to buy all items that end up being free after ECB and coupon. If there will be a cost involved, I determine if it is an item I use/need, AND if it is a better price than getting it somewhere else like Walmart or Target.

When a coupon prints on your receipt, do you buy all of these items, or only what you would normally buy?
Again, I only use the CRTs if when combined with coupons/ECB deals I can get the item for free. Again if I need/want the item, I only buy it if it comes out cheaper than another store.

Do you save every coupon you get in the papers?
Yes....but everyone has a different system
Where else do you get your coupons? Sunday inserts, All You magazine (Walmart) and online
Do you look specifically for the coupons that match CVS items?There are tons of websites that match the coupons to the weekly deals. I just decide what I want/need to buy and then pull the coupons
How do you organize all these coupons?Everyone has their own system. I am sick and like to cut mine and file alphabetically. It is very relaxing to cut coupons

How much time do you spend on this….finding the coupons, etc? I spend about an hour/week researching the deals and printing/pulling the coupons I need
How long are you in the store? Depends on the week and deals. It can be anywhere from 20 minutes to a few hours in the stores. I like to shop though, and this allows me to do it for free!

I am sorry for all the questions, but am trying to get this to all sink in.

Also, I get very frustrated with my CVS, because they always seem to be out of the sale items (I cannot go on Sundays).

 

[4fosterkids]

Am I crazy? I bought a bunch of robes and the Wet/Wild nail sets to give DD's teachers and therapists for Christmas next year. DD is disabled and attends a school run by UCP. There are so many people that work with her that if I don't buy things on sale (75% or 90%) I can't afford to give them anything.

My DH thinks that it's stupid to give them to the school staff as gifts. He even laughed at me when I told him about them.

What do you think.

I think its a great gift. My son is disabled and also has alot of teacher's, aide's and therapists, so I totally understand where you are coming from. I think the robe with some body wash, lotion, scrubbie, excedrin or anything useful like that is a wonderful gift. I usually put a little note saying something about "your so caring to my child, so now take some time to be caring to yourself, you deserve it" etc.

I figure...would I love getting this from somebody? heck yeah I would!

 

[4fosterkids]

Nothings wrong with you just getting cvs burnout. I get like that when I have to work so hard for a deal..just isnt any great deals lately.

WOW I have to scan my card some more...didnt get this coupon. is the popcorn in a box or bag?

I found the robes tonight they were 90 % off I got 6 of them..they only had white. I also got the wet and wild manicure sets for 49cents I feel so excited to be part of the Robe Club

LOL....Robe Club!!! That is so funny!

 

[4fosterkids]

I've been lurking on this thread for a while, and I have to say, this looks very helpful to me! I'm still struggling with getting started, and this plan makes sense to me -- and does indeed involve a lot of products we use. My only question is, where are you getting the coupons? Newspaper inserts, online? That's one of the main problems I've been having: getting coupons that match up with the deal.

I only get the weekend paper, so I get mine from the Sunday paper, some online coupons and I find some here and there from the little blinkie machines in the grocery store. When the Sunday paper has GREAT coupons, I will go to the 99cent store and buy 3 or 4 more papers. The girls at my work also clip coupons so we will swap 'em sometimes.

 

[RobinFabulous]

Okay after all of my for the Lumene I decided that I have 3 hours to kill while the baby is in preschool. I dropped my sister off at school and took posession of her card, came home & dressed the baby while printing 7 lumene coupons & off I went. Now let me preface this all by saying I live in AL, but very close to the GA border (literally 1/4 mile) and I was counting up in our area there are 6 CVS and another soon to open. One was just moved and remodeled (in GA) so I decided to run to it first. Today I hit the mother load. This CVS had a scanner with PAPER! I scanned both mine & sister's card & got the CRT for nuts, now I sometimes forget to pay attention to the CRT coupon talk because I never get them, so I wasn;t sure on the popcorn, and I looked all over that store and couldn't find anything like it, but I did find a Hello Kitty camera for $2.99.. And Squid soap for $1.
Card 1 Transaction 1 Lumene cream, 2 packs cashews (.99) and I used the Lumene coupon & the nut crt = FREE
Card 2 (Mine) Kitty Cam, 2 cashews, & a squid soap used nut CRT= $4.13
Card 1 Transaction 2 Squid Soap, Lumene Cream, used Lumene coupon = Free

So I was feeling pretty happy, and off I went to store #2. Just used card 1 did two seperate transactons
1.) squid soap & lumene cream used lumene coupon = .24
2.) squid soap & lumene cream used lumene coupon = free
Now why one was free & I had to pay the tax on the other I have no clue, but I really don't mind. It's a big store so I walked around between purchases, as i did have a problem with the register catching up on my card the other day. CVS customer service said to allow another transaction to keep it from happening, so that's what I did

Onto store number 3 THE BIG HAUL!!! I walked in and got my stuff and did what I did with the other store, buy your stuff take it to the car, come back wander around. Card 1 my sister ACT, Lumene, and a .50 antibacterial (CVS brand on clearence) used the coupon paid .51(and got the $1 ECB for the ACT) Went to the car came back got another Lumene cream & a clearence chocolate coverd graham cracker (1.35) used the lumene coupon & paid 0.35. Went to car came back, I was getting really excited cause I knew this would hit the mark for the Lumene deal..... I looked up and there were all these lovely perfume gift sets above the cashiers head, I said are those on sale? She scanned and THEY WERE!!!!! They had a Sean John, a couple Red door, a white diamonds, a believe (britney spears) fantasy (britney spears) a few more mens and two drakar. So I used my sister's card to finish up her deal, got the Lumene cream, an ACT, and a caramel (.33) used the coupon & oop was .32. Then I used my own card to get the believe, the fantasy, and the two drakars, all were $1.99... I used ecbs of $5 (my own Lumene deal) and a $2.... paid $1.02 oop.... I went to my car, and came back with my friend on the phone to see if she wanted any, I ended up getting the Mediterranian for my cousin (who keeps the baby some days for me to go to school) for $2.99.... total $3.17 ...... And I have almost $7 on my sister's card for the coke deal next week. I feel like a real CVS ninja now I think I'm going to use her card as a backup when there are super good deals, and I give her most of the stuff anyway.

 

[ShiPooOwner]

Robin, great CVSing you little CVS Ninja!

(Speaking of CVS Ninjas.........Has anyone heard from LanaJae? She's disappeared! )

 

[flakypuff]

WOW you are on a CVS high! Are you sure you didnt sneak
some of those energy shots while you were in there

 

[CajunDixie]

*Snipped*
My DH thinks that it's stupid to give them to the school staff as gifts. He even laughed at me when I told him about them.

What do you think.

I think it's great!!!! Men just don't get it......wonder if we have any men on our thread.

*Snipped*
Do you buy every single item that is free after ECB, whether it is a product you use or not? Not all. But I do give somethings to the food pantry and family members. I didn't do the 6 hour energy shots last month

What about items that give you ECB, but will not be free...
Do you only buy them if you have a coupon? If I "have" to have the item and it's cheaper than WalMart I will buy w/o coupon
Only if the coupon will bring the price to free? Same as above

When a coupon prints on your receipt, do you buy all of these items, or only what you would normally buy? If it's cheap/free and I know someone can use it I'll get it

Do you save every coupon you get in the papers? Yes
Where else do you get your coupons? Sunday paper, instead of smaller local paper I buy a major city Sunday Paper. Internet coupons from various sites and I sign up for things like product newsletters. I recently received Betty Crocker coupons in the mail from, I think, signing up for a newsletter there. I also get a Kraft booklet mailed to me that always has coupons. You can print coupons from the Box Tops For Education website also. Sign up for free Samples (I think there is still a freebie thread on this board) Walmart's website usually has a couple of samples & they sometimes send a coupn with the sample
Do you look specifically for the coupons that match CVS items?Sometimes if it's a great deal and I don't have coupons for that item I'll buy a set from Ebay
How do you organize all these coupons? There is no totally great way to do this. Some people clip then organize alphabetically or buy category... Some don't clip just label the front of the insert with the date so when they see a coupon listed it may say something like Dawn 02/28/09 PG That means the Dawn coupon was in the Feb 28th Proctor & Gamble coupon insert.

How much time do you spend on this….finding the coupons, etc?I do it while being lazy...errr I mean I do it while watching television
How long are you in the store? Depends on if I know the store layout and how many things I want but I'd say anywhere from 5 minutes to an hour if I have time to search out clearance items

I am sorry for all the questions, but am trying to get this to all sink in.

Also, I get very frustrated with my CVS, because they always seem to be out of the sale items (I cannot go on Sundays).
Get rainchecks and try another location if you have more than one in your area. I have 1 local but 2 more within 20 minutes and a ton more an hour away. I also do Walgreen deals, I have none local but I have 2 that are 20 minutes away and several an hour away.

Okay after all of my for the Lumene I decided that I have 3 hours to kill while the baby is in preschool. I dropped my sister off at school and took posession of her card, *Huge Snip*

When she signed up for her card didn't she get 1 large card and 2 small keychain cards? I keep 1 each of the small ones that DH and DS received in separate places in my wallet. I rarely use DS but I did have him do the Fusion Gamer deal on his. Sounds like you had a great day

 

[whalenj]

Okay, I've been reading and this looks like a great way to get free/cheap stuff, but the nearest store is 45 miles away. Bummer for me. Would it be worth it to drive there? I'm thinking probably not after figuring in the cost of gas, wear on the car, and time, but you guys have been doing this for so long YOU would know much better than me.

What do you think?

I started the Walgreens stuff last month, but of course they are stopping their current program next month. Figures because that store is like a two minute drive from the house. UGH!

Thanks in advance!

 

[RobinFabulous]

Okay, I've been reading and this looks like a great way to get free/cheap stuff, but the nearest store is 45 miles away. Bummer for me. Would it be worth it to drive there? I'm thinking probably not after figuring in the cost of gas, wear on the car, and time, but you guys have been doing this for so long YOU would know much better than me.

What do you think?

I started the Walgreens stuff last month, but of course they are stopping their current program next month. Figures because that store is like a two minute drive from the house. UGH!

Thanks in advance!

I think it depends on what kind of car you drive, if you have any other reason to go into that town, what do you do during the day, etc......

For example, I have a heart condition and see a specialist in Atlanta, so we always go to certain stores there on the way. is there another grocery store there that could make it worth your while? I have been a sahm mom on & off.... when I'm not working I consider it my job to help save money at home, to get good sales or whatnot. Also I drive a Suburban, so gas costs are more for me than for a person with a smaller less gas guzzling car. Maybe you could find a "buddy" to go with, a friend in a similar situation and you could take turns driving.... (I'm way spoiled my CVS is in in the same parking lot as my tanning bed, with two more in a 5 minute drive)

You could always go twice a month, and get rainchecks..... Is that store know to be good about keeping stocks?

Also LanaJae mentioned that WAGs is going to change their program into more of an ECB type thing, so don't give up on that...

Good LUCK!!!


ETA: Also be realistic with what you think you're going to be able to get.... You probably get the monthlies, but you probably won't be able to go on robe quests or run to look for 90% giftsets..... Those are all hit or miss, you will probably luck up on good deals and sales, but might not be ale to get everything you read about on the boards. I tend to get an email for a $/$$ about every other week so if mine weren't close I'd go then. And I'd ask when their truck comes and coordinate my trip to that AND find out their policies.... will they take expired? IPs? that would help too...

 

[CajunDixie]

Robin, great CVSing you little CVS Ninja!

(Speaking of CVS Ninjas.........Has anyone heard from LanaJae? She's disappeared! )

LanaJae hmmmm Maybe she's the lady I saw driving with a map of the USA marking off all CVS locations as she drove from MN to Wisc to IL to IN... I think she was heard muttering about having 8 more inches of shelf space to fill.

Okay, I've been reading and this looks like a great way to get free/cheap stuff, but the nearest store is 45 miles away. Bummer for me. Would it be worth it to drive there? I'm thinking probably not after figuring in the cost of gas, wear on the car, and time, but you guys have been doing this for so long YOU would know much better than me.

What do you think?

I started the Walgreens stuff last month, but of course they are stopping their current program next month. Figures because that store is like a two minute drive from the house. UGH!

Thanks in advance!

Depends on a few factors. How many CVS stores are in the town 45 minutes away? Can you take any other family members with you that have a card? Add up what you could save and see if it's worth your gas. Gas here is $2.05 and for me to drive to a town 45 minutes away it would probably cost me $6-8. Now take the Gillette Fusion Gamer deal they had that gave $4 in ECB and I had several coupons for $4 off the price of $7.99. For every deal I did I "saved" $7.99. So that deal alone would "pay" for my trip. Everything else is just the icing on the cake. Maybe it would only be worth you doing once a month. You can research and see when the items you use the most are on sale and go from there. And if the other town has a Walgreens some of those deals you can do multiple times like the RR deals, you just can't roll them back into the exact same deal. Walgreens is supposedly only stopping the rebate program that still leaves in ad coupons and RR (register rewards). If you do the rebates now that will still give your starter OOP (out of pocket) money to get the other deals.

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

I love the CVS Ninjas! Ok who here is good at Photoshop? We need an official logo - like a Smiley Ninja with an Extra Care card.

Where is LanaJae? I got an envelope of diaper coupons from her that I need to THANK her for sending to me!!

 

[RobinFabulous]

I love the CVS Ninjas! Ok who here is good at Photoshop? We need an official logo - like a Smiley Ninja with an Extra Care card.

I'm going to totally plan on being a CVS ninja for Halloween

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

I'm going to totally plan on being a CVS ninja for Halloween

Only if you post a photo!

 

[klineyqueen]

*Update on the article*

Talked to the reporter this morning. We still haven't gotten clearance to take pictures at the CVS store from corporate. I told the reporter it really wasn't that exciting to come to the store with me, so I am just going to do the transactions myself on Sunday. Then, the reporter and photographer will come to my house Thursday night and take pictures there of the items I bought and my stockpile.

After the photog leaves, I will walk through how CVSing works with the reporter and we will go over the receipts from the shopping trip. I think CVS receipts are pretty easy to follow.

I am going to sign my mom up for a card since she doesn't have one. Hopefully then I can get the $4/$20 welcome email to use as well as do the Vitamin deal. I am going to tweak around my transactions and see if I can come out better doing that.

I am much less stressed out now doing it this way and not having her follow me around the store. Thanks everyone for following my saga!

Did I miss something...which paper. I knew you were doing the article, but I am not sure what paper.

 

[puffkin]

Did I miss something...which paper. I knew you were doing the article, but I am not sure what paper.

The Reading Eagle. I am not sure when the article will be in. I will find out more next Thursday I guess.

 

[maggiew]

I love the CVS Ninjas! Ok who here is good at Photoshop? We need an official logo - like a Smiley Ninja with an Extra Care card.

Where is LanaJae? I got an envelope of diaper coupons from her that I need to THANK her for sending to me!!

There was a .jpg of Mickey leaning on an Extra Care Card that someone here made. We should use that for the Facebook image.

Maggie

 

[CajunDixie]

I just received a reply from CVS about my local store not putting sale items out on the floor (turns out some stuff was in the backroom) and about them not knowing what to do about the Charmin 6pk deal this week. Yet I mentioned the Charmin deal on here and on I heart CVS and learned the 9pk was being substituted for the 6pk.
Their reply said they'd let the right people know about the problem and they are sending a $4 ECB to my card that should be on there in 48 hours. I'm happy about the $4 but more importantly I hope they do get the employees more involved in bringing out sale items and understanding how the sales involving a free product work.

Now I need to figure out the best use of that $4 on next weeks deals. I'm thinking Crest and Herbal Essences but I'll go back through the ad scan tonight.

 

[lisaross]

WEnt to 2 different cvs's today - the 1st one had 1 Vitamin C cream so i got that and the 2nd did not have any but i got the eye makeup remover and the face wipe- the first store did have a firming cream for 2.99 which i might get, but i'll check another cvs tonight!

thanx

lisa

Do the deal! That Vitamin C Cream is GREAT!

 

[LanaJae]

Am I crazy? I bought a bunch of robes and the Wet/Wild nail sets to give DD's teachers and therapists for Christmas next year. DD is disabled and attends a school run by UCP. There are so many people that work with her that if I don't buy things on sale (75% or 90%) I can't afford to give them anything.

My DH thinks that it's stupid to give them to the school staff as gifts. He even laughed at me when I told him about them.

What do you think.

I did this and everyone loved them (or did a good job of lying ). Last year I did "survive the holidays" baskets for everyone. This year I did "relax on winter break" baskets.

Robin, great CVSing you little CVS Ninja!

(Speaking of CVS Ninjas.........Has anyone heard from LanaJae? She's disappeared! )

LanaJae hmmmm Maybe she's the lady I saw driving with a map of the USA marking off all CVS locations as she drove from MN to Wisc to IL to IN... I think she was heard muttering about having 8 more inches of shelf space to fill.

LOL! I have autoimmune disease and I have to take a nasty drug that is normally used for pre-surgery brain tumors (I don't have one!), so... I take this drug for 6 days and I used to take it every 28 days. Now we're trying to stretch it out longer. I can't leave the house because I'm too weak and I can't think straight to do math Basically I am depressed because I can't shop!