Need Help From The CVSers!

momof1princess

<font color=darkorchid>i feel like i'm going to ex
Joined
Aug 3, 2005
Messages
7,686
okay, these are the things i was going to get at CVS this week, and my question is, how could i do my purchases to get them all with the least total amount of money OOP? i admit it, i'm HORRIBLE at math.

Crest Pro-Health Rinse, 1 Liter - $4.50, $2.50 ECB, $2.00 coupon 6/5 P&G
Oral B Pulsar - $6.00, $3.00 ECB, $3.00 coupon 6/5 P&G
Pantene Pro V Shampoo - 2/$6.97, $2.00 ECB, $1.00 coupon 6/5 P&G
Nice N Easy Root Touch-Up - $6.97, $2.00 ECB, $1.00 coupon 6/5 P&G
Ivory Soap 3 bar pk. - $.99, $1.00 coupon 5/1 P&G

TIA!! :goodvibes
 
Since the only item that doesn't give you an ECB is free anyway, it doesn't really matter what order you do the purchases in, you're going to wind up spending $8.94 and have a $2 remaining ECB... Just go down the list, buy a single item in one transaction, use the ECB on the next transaction. On the final transaction buy both the Nice N Easy and the Ivory.

Bill
 
Since the only item that doesn't give you an ECB is free anyway, it doesn't really matter what order you do the purchases in, you're going to wind up spending $8.94 and have a $2 remaining ECB... Just go down the list, buy a single item in one transaction, use the ECB on the next transaction. On the final transaction buy both the Nice N Easy and the Ivory.

Bill

thanks :) can you tell me how you got $8.94? i got $9.93...i'm SO bad at math, lol.
 

The difference was probably this:

Pantene Pro V Shampoo - 2/$6.97, $2.00 ECB, $1.00 coupon 6/5 P&G

I was assuming you had two coupons for this transaction, but if you only had one then $9.94 would be correct...

Bill
 
okay, these are the things i was going to get at CVS this week, and my question is, how could i do my purchases to get them all with the least total amount of money OOP? i admit it, i'm HORRIBLE at math.

Crest Pro-Health Rinse, 1 Liter - $4.50, $2.50 ECB, $2.00 coupon 6/5 P&G
Oral B Pulsar - $6.00, $3.00 ECB, $3.00 coupon 6/5 P&G
Pantene Pro V Shampoo - 2/$6.97, $2.00 ECB, $1.00 coupon 6/5 P&G
Nice N Easy Root Touch-Up - $6.97, $2.00 ECB, $1.00 coupon 6/5 P&G
Ivory Soap 3 bar pk. - $.99, $1.00 coupon 5/1 P&G

TIA!! :goodvibes
Here's how I would roll it:
  1. Transaction #1
    Ivory Soap $0.99
    Crest ProHealth $4.50
    -$2.00 Crest Q
    -$1.00 Ivory Soap Q
    Total before taxes = $2.49
    Get $2.50 ECB​
  2. Transaction #2
    Oral B Pulsar $6.00
    -$3.00 Oral B Q
    -$2.50 ECB
    Total before taxes = $0.50
    Get $3.00 ECB​
  3. Transaction #3;
    Nice N Easy $6.97
    -$2.00 Nice N Easy Q
    -$3.00 ECB
    Total before taxes = $1.97
    Get $2.00 ECB​
Total OOP Costs before tax = $4.96 and you have a $2.00 ECB for next week.
 
/
See, I can't be bothered with all that. I just pay for it all, get all the ECBs and use them the next week. :rotfl:
 
See, I can't be bothered with all that. I just pay for it all, get all the ECBs and use them the next week. :rotfl:
Then you'll never be a full-fledged, diehard, true blue (or is it red?) CVSer! Turn in your Extra Care Card and hang your head in disgrace! Don't you know that it's all about walking out the door without spending more than you have to? :rotfl:

Really, it doesn't matter how you choose to do it. I would just rather not have a lot of ECBs in my wallet when I could have had cash instead.
 
Here's how I would roll it:
  1. Transaction #1
    Ivory Soap $0.99
    Crest ProHealth $4.50
    -$2.00 Crest Q
    -$1.00 Ivory Soap Q
    Total before taxes = $2.49
    Get $2.50 ECB​
  2. Transaction #2
    Oral B Pulsar $6.00
    -$3.00 Oral B Q
    -$2.50 ECB
    Total before taxes = $0.50
    Get $3.00 ECB​
  3. Transaction #3;
    Nice N Easy $6.97
    -$2.00 Nice N Easy Q
    -$3.00 ECB
    Total before taxes = $1.97
    Get $2.00 ECB​
Total OOP Costs before tax = $4.96 and you have a $2.00 ECB for next week.

The way that I see it, this statement is not accurate. It may be $3.00 and you get back $2.50 so you are out of pocket $3.00, but have $2.50 to spend another time, because the extra bucks don't print until you hand over the $3.00 and then you get the extra bucks, right? Sorry, I'm trying to figure this whole cvs thing out too
 
The way that I see it, this statement is not accurate. It may be $3.00 and you get back $2.50 so you are out of pocket $3.00, but have $2.50 to spend another time, because the extra bucks don't print until you hand over the $3.00 and then you get the extra bucks, right? Sorry, I'm trying to figure this whole cvs thing out too
I think you're reading it wrong. In each transaction, you are using the ECB that printed in the previous transaction.

In the first transaction, you have no ECBs but you have $3 in coupons so that your total comes down to $2.49. That transaction gets you an ECB worth $2.

Then you have the clerk ring up your second transaction, which consists of just the toothbrush. You use one coupon worth $3 and the ECB from the first transaction. That brings the total down to $0.50 and another ECB prints. This time it's for $3.

Your final transaction for the hair color gets rung up and you use the $3 ECB from the second transaction along with a coupon for $2. That brings the total down to $1.97. A new EBC prints with that receipt and it will be for $2.

You save the $2 ECB for next week and do a similar round of transactions. This is referred to by CVSers as "rolling your ECBs". You use the value of one ECB to purchase another item which also produces an ECB. And you keep doing it while paying as little OOP as possible for each transaction.
 
Here's how I would roll it:
  1. Transaction #1
    Ivory Soap $0.99
    Crest ProHealth $4.50
    -$2.00 Crest Q
    -$1.00 Ivory Soap Q
    Total before taxes = $2.49
    Get $2.50 ECB​
  2. Transaction #2
    Oral B Pulsar $6.00
    -$3.00 Oral B Q
    -$2.50 ECB
    Total before taxes = $0.50
    Get $3.00 ECB​
  3. Transaction #3;
    Nice N Easy $6.97
    -$2.00 Nice N Easy Q
    -$3.00 ECB
    Total before taxes = $1.97
    Get $2.00 ECB​
Total OOP Costs before tax = $4.96 and you have a $2.00 ECB for next week.

wow, thanks! :worship: that's awesome! which transaction would you put the pantene in?
 
See, I can't be bothered with all that. I just pay for it all, get all the ECBs and use them the next week. :rotfl:

This is what I do...I can't be bothered to do 5 diff transactions..LOL
 
wow, thanks! :worship: that's awesome! which transaction would you put the pantene in?
Darn! Forgot the shampoo!

It could actually be a 4th transaction.

Transaction #4
2 Pantene $6.97
-$1.00 Pantene Q
-$2.00 ECB
Total before taxes = $3.97
Get a $2 ECB to use next week.​
 
Here's how I would roll it:
  1. Transaction #1
    Ivory Soap $0.99
    Crest ProHealth $4.50
    -$2.00 Crest Q
    -$1.00 Ivory Soap Q
    Total before taxes = $2.49
    Get $2.50 ECB​
  2. Transaction #2
    Oral B Pulsar $6.00
    -$3.00 Oral B Q
    -$2.50 ECB
    Total before taxes = $0.50
    Get $3.00 ECB​
  3. Transaction #3;
    Nice N Easy $6.97
    -$2.00 Nice N Easy Q
    -$3.00 ECB
    Total before taxes = $1.97
    Get $2.00 ECB​
Total OOP Costs before tax = $4.96 and you have a $2.00 ECB for next week.

But that doesn't buy the Pantene...
 
Whoops, didn't read all the replies before posting... :)

If every single item you're purchasing gets you an ECB, then it really doesn't matter what order you do it in... other than you probably want to do the higher priced items / higher ECBs first, so you don't wind up on your last transaction buying a $2 item with a $3 ECB and losing the extra.

It's when you purchase things that don't give an ECB that the order matters... but there are whole websites devoted to best purchase combinations for the week...

Bill
 
thank you, everyone! :worship: i couldn't have done this without your help! this is my first time, and it's SOOOOOO confusing, especially when math isn't your strong suit, lol.
 
well, my joy was short-lived. got to CVS bright & early this morning. everything was GONE but the pantene and hair color. UGH. guess i'll be making special trips to town early in the week from now on.
 
Go back to your CVS and get rain checks!
I am the biggest CVSer I know (not including DISers, of course) and I didn't know about rain checks until this week. I went to the store to buy about 8 different things, and all but 3 were out of stock. I went to the register and the cashier gave me rainchecks for all of the items. The rainchecks have no expiration date. Next time I go to CVS, I will get all my stuff. I will try to plan it when the stuff isn't on sale so there is a good selection.
 

PixFuture Display Ad Tag












Receive up to $1,000 in Onboard Credit and a Gift Basket!
That’s right — when you book your Disney Cruise with Dreams Unlimited Travel, you’ll receive incredible shipboard credits to spend during your vacation!
CLICK HERE














DIS Facebook DIS youtube DIS Instagram DIS Pinterest DIS Tiktok DIS Twitter

Back
Top