Walgreens 411 Revised

With the passing of the EasySaver program at the end of April, I figured it was high time I wrote a post about using Register Rewards. Many of you are getting exasperated with the new rules and have turned to "that other drugstore" for free stuff. If you're still willing to stick at it with WAGS, I think there's some great things to be had so I've read up the RRs and here's what I'm seeing.

1. Every week Walgreens offers products that generate Register Rewards or RRs. These are little coupons that spit out of the catalina machine next to the register. In the past you may have just thrown these away but they're actually pretty valuable and are Walgreens money.
2. When you buy a product that gives you Register Rewards, you'll pay for it upfront and then the Catalina machine will spit out RRs good for your next purchase at Walgreens. These are dated and they give you about 2 weeks to spend them. This isn't long so it's good to work out what you can spend them on or get ready to roll them the next week.
3. There are restrictions to these. They are one per transaction. Notice the wording. Not one per person but per transaction which means that if you try and buy 4 x Colgate toothpaste for $4.50 which generates a $4.50 RR, it will only give you 1 RR for $4.50 BUT if you separate the purchases, you'll get 4 $4.50 RRs. This was set up to avoid people buying an RR product and then when they got RRs back, simply standing at the checkout and buying the rest of those freebies with rollover RRs. This makes it fair for everyone!
4. The other thing to note is that you can use RRs to buy other things that generate RRs BUT NOT if it's from the same company. If you use the Colgate $4.50 to buy a $5 deodorant, you're ok but if you try and buy more Colgate you won't get an RR back thus it won't be free.
5. You need to spend more than the value of the RR. For example if the RR is worth $4.50 and your total is only $4, you need to find a $.50 filler item to make it up. Hubby loves the $1 movie candy and I love $1 sunflower seeds from there so if I need a filler I grab those. Look around the store and get an idea of things you need that you can grab in an emergency.
6. The great thing is, you can use these RRs at other stores like Jewel, Dominick's and Kroger as they are competitor's coupons and some stores take those. I didn't know this before but it came in handy when I had a bunch of them left and needed to use them!
7. You can't use them on stamps or alcohol or a couple of other things. The restrictions are on the back of the RR.
8. You can roll one RR into another. Although you can't buy 3 x Colgate and expect 3 RRs you could do this: Buy 1 Colgate for $4.50 then use that RR to buy Scunci for $2, and Chapstick for $2, add a $.51 filler and you're good to go. Now use those $4 in RRs to buy the Colgate again. Get it? Just keep rinsing and repeating!
9. Finally, an RR is considered a coupon and you can not have more coupons than items. For example: If you buy Colgate at $4.50, and use a $1 off coupon, you need to add a filler item if you want to use a RR as well. WAGS staff have started telling people this too if you forget so be prepared with a filler.
   

Are you having Walgreens issues? Can't get them to take your coupons? Here's the scoop:

• First off this all seems at the discretion of managers so depending on your Walgreens will depend on how nice they are. Remember you don't have to shop there if they don't like couponers!

• Walgreens will take manufacturer's coupons but if your item is for less than the coupon is worth you need to ask them to adjust the coupon down. Some will, some won't. I had a cashier that would the other day. This doesn't hurt WAGS or the manufacturer. I understand that they don't want you to get overage so you can help this by asking politely if they're adjust it.

• They sometimes take internet coupons, sometimes not. Again at the manager's discretion.

• You need to give manufactuer's coupons before Walgreens ones. This helps a huge amount and will stop the thing beeping.

• In the instance of the Clairol at $3.59 and coupon at $5, why not buy 2? If you bought 2 for $7 and then gave the coupon it shouldn't beep. Sure it wouldn't be free but who can beat $2 for 2 awesome hair dyes??

• Finally, always be polite. If you get snarly, they will. The cashiers don't make the rules, they simpy follow them. They are on their feet all day and don't always wanna deal with people trying to use tons of coupons. I've found that befriending the cashiers always helps. I absolutely never try and do anything dishonest but when I know I'm right and I'm polite it really helps. If in doubt, ask a manager over.
  

Finally, If you have any problems with not getting your RRs, contact the Catalina company at 1-888-8 coupons. What to do with all those RRs ideas here.