Cvs

[MrsSpratt]

Ok, I have a CVS card, but I don't get any "rewards." What gives? What do y'all get?

Thanks!

Mrs. Spratt

 

[cjnix29]

You need to have an Extra Care Card, and then pay attention to their ads. There are a lot of products each week that if you buy them, you get an Extra Care Buck to use by a certain expiration date. These are like cash on your next trip, or if you do multiple transactions, you can use them the same day. The sale items can be combined with coupons, so for example, this week, glade candles were 6.99 and get 6.99 in extra care bucks. I had a $2 coupon (which stupid me didn't realize was stuck in my coupon envelope when I handed the cashier the rest of my coupons!) So, I would have gotten a free candle, plus $2 off my order. It takes some planning, and I am not nearly as good at it as some on this board. But that's sort of how it works. It's become a hobby to me to see how much I can save. My best trip...got about $60 worth of stuff for 33 cents.

 

[rflorek]

But this is what I don't get: your really didn't get a free candle - you paid $4.99 for a candle (after coupon) and they gave you $6.99 in ECBs that you can use next quarter, right?

See this whole CVS thing doesn't add up for me because I find their prices higher than most other stores even with a sale & coupon, so I'm out extra money to begin with. Then they give you ECBs that you can't use (most times - unless they print instantly with your receipt) until the next quarter, which means that you're out that money. And then you have to go back and spend more money on the higher priced items to use your ECBs. And I find that I can't earn that much because most items that I might consider aren't that great a deal. I'm not going to buy things I don't need/use just to get ECBs - it doesn't make sense to me.

Am I missing something here?

 

[ShiPooOwner]

But this is what I don't egt: your really didn't get a free candle - you paid $4.99 for a candle (after coupon) and they gave you $6.99 in ECBs that you can use next quarter, right?

See this whole CVS thing doesn't add up for me because I find their prices higher than most other stores even with a sale & coupon, so I'm out extra money to begin with. Then they give you ECBs that you can't use (most times - unless they print instantly with your receipt) until the next quarter, which means that you're out that money. And then you have to go back and spend more money on the higher priced items to use your ECBs. And I find that I can't earn that much because most items that I might consider aren't that great a deal. I'm not going to buy things I don't need/use just to get ECBs - it doesn't make sense to me.

Am I missing something here?

Yes, you are! Take that candle purchase, for example. You don't have to wait to use your ECB's from buying that candle (unless you have one of those crazy CVS stores that don't issue ECB's. I understand they are mostly found around tourist spots in New Orleans and CA.) If you wanted to tear off the ECB's which are always printed instantly on the bottom of your CRT and use them in another transaction minutes later, you could do that. The quarterly ECB's you receive are an additional bonus based on what you spent at CVS the previous quarter and usually only amounts to a dollar or two for me. It's the instant ECB's you get on the bottom of your receipt that make me going back as a CVS shopper.

You are right about watching the prices at CVS. I agree that even with ECB's and coupons, you will sometimes pay more for an item at CVS. Solution? Buy it somewhere else you can get it cheaper. However, when I can combine a coupon and get ECB's on a product I wouldn't pay less for elsewhere, I will buy it at CVS. I will not buy things I cannot use personally, cannot give to family or friends, cnnot donate to a shelter or send to troops in Afghanistan or Iraq. I love to "play the game" and keep rolling those ECB's each time I shop at CVS. Depending on what's on sale, what coupons I have accumulated, and how many ECB's I have that expire that week, it can be a fun and rewarding challenge to walk away with a couple bags of merchandise and only pay the tax OOP.

 

[mominwestlake]

I would love to start shopping at CVS and get free toiletries like so many here do. I have 3 DDs with long hair and we go through so much conditioner, shampoo, etc. So, how would I start this week? Actually, I think Dh recycled the ads already so I guess I'll need to start Sunday.

 

[Ms.Grumpy]

I just want to really encourage everyone to take the time to "learn" how to CVS. I was one of those people who didn't see the big deal in it, since their prices where so much more than Wal-Mart. I finally took the plunge, read alot on hot coupon world. Asked questions there and here on the DIS, and believe me I am SOOOO thankful.
I started last year in June, and I have saved THOUSANDS on toiletries and other staples. A word of caution, once you start it will become addicting, just like being on the DIS.

 

[minnie1928]

I would love to start shopping at CVS and get free toiletries like so many here do. I have 3 DDs with long hair and we go through so much conditioner, shampoo, etc. So, how would I start this week? Actually, I think Dh recycled the ads already so I guess I'll need to start Sunday.

I think I saw next week's ad shows Aussie shampoo/conditioner for $2.99, then you get $2 in ECBs. If there are coupons out for Aussie, that would be a great place to start.

 

[pilesoflaundry]

Either your store doesn't participate (some don't, ask) you are buying the wrong things or you are tossing them out on the bottom of your receipts.

They aren't quarterly. They instantly print when you buy the right thing and if you play your cards right even with higher prices you get a bunch of stuff free so it doesn't matter.

 

[Jennifer in MI]

There are a few websites that will spell out what to do if you are a newbie. They help you spend the least amount possible on your first trip to CVS to get the most possible ECBs. I just found one for this week, but you needed to have done it earlier in the week because some of the stuff was included in the three day sale:

♦Transaction #1♦
Glade Fragrance Collection scented reed diffuser 1.62 oz or soy candle 4.9 – 10 oz., $6.99
$2/1 printable
$4.99 Out of Pocket

Earned $6.99 Extra Bucks…


♦Transaction #2♦
Gillette Fusion, Venus Embrace, or Spa Breeze Razor 1 ct., $8.99
$2/1 Venus Embrace or Gillette Fusion from 8/16 RP insert
$6.99 from Transaction #1
FREE!

Earned $3 Extra Bucks….

♦Transaction #3♦
Bounce Dryer Bar 1ct., $3.99
$1/1 Bounce Dryer Bar from 8/30 P&G Insert or 8/2 P&G Insert
Use $3 Extra Bucks from Transaction #2
Free!

Earned $1 Extra Buck….

If you stop after transaction number one, you spent $4.99 at first and walked out with $3 ECBs to spend the next time you are shopping at CVS. This week wasn't particularly good for newbies.

Yes, in order to start getting your ECBs you'll have to spend some money. I think I spent about $20 the first couple weeks. But, I had about $40 in ECBs built up.

Now, I often get $60 worth of stuff for under $1. I use most of the items, but donate quite a bit. I also plan to use some of them for stockings this Christmas.

If you want to do this, start keeping your coupons from the Sunday paper. Keep them in order and date them on the outside. Some people do much more to get coupons, but I'm not there yet. I just do the Sunday coupons and usually do VERY well!!

 

[CajunDixie]

I would love to start shopping at CVS and get free toiletries like so many here do. I have 3 DDs with long hair and we go through so much conditioner, shampoo, etc. So, how would I start this week? Actually, I think Dh recycled the ads already so I guess I'll need to start Sunday.

You don't need the ad in hand to start! You can trust us and just do the candle/reed difusser deal above to get started.

I would suggest you check out Iheartcvs . com You can see the ad, see the deals, and click on a link to print the coupon that is good for either the candle or the reed difuser. When you click the link if you don't see the coupon then put in the city/zip code box Dayton, Ohio then you should see it. The razor deal isn't that great so I'd hold off on that deal.

 

[Best Aunt]

Well, I guess I shop CVS differently from everyone else.

If I'm at work, CVS is pretty much the only place I can walk to on my lunch hour if I want a candy bar, juice, breath mints, etc. Yes, I should plan ahead and bring those things to work with me, but I don't always plan ahead.

There also is a CVS on my way home from work.

We have a Wal-Mart, but it's not on my way home. I generally don't have the time and energy to go there during the week.

So if I want something right away, I buy it at CVS.

Then I use the CVS Extra Bucks to get things for my Owner's Locker (which I don't have yet but plan to sign up for before my next trip to Disney World.) Yes, paying for these things at Wal-Mart would be cheaper than paying for them at CVS. But free is better than cheaper.

 

[MrsSpratt]

Ok, I have an extra care card - but they don';t actually send you extra care cucks? Are they in your file at CVS?

Thanks!

Mrs. Spratt

 

[Best Aunt]

You get a really, really long receipt. The Extra Bucks are at the bottom of the receipt. Some can be spent like money on almost anything; others are discounts on specific products. If you get the ones which can be spent like money, sometimes the cashier will point it out to you, so that you don't throw the receipt away by mistake.

But you won't need the cashier to tell you. You'll be curious and check the receipt every time.

Once in a while, you get a plain old receipt with nothing on the bottom. It's a disappointment.

 

[momtosam]

It takes awhile to learn the system and build up a good amount of ECB's, but once you do you're set! In my first transactions I was making I was paying about 50% out of pocket. I was happy with that at the time because I didn't know any better and didn't have lots of ECB's to use. Now I'm less than $1 out of pocket almost everytime because I've learned the system and have built up ECB's that I keep rolling over. Stick with it!

Also, you can sign up your extra care card number on the CVS website and they will often email you coupons. This can be hit or miss. Lately I've been getting a lot, but for weeks and weeks before that I was receiving nothing.

 

[eyor44]

Don't forget, they must scan your card (or enter your phone number) each time you shop.
Also, if you get a coupon on your receipt, you can pair it with a manufacturer coupon. I love CVS and Target because they let you use both on one item.