CVS is a great place to shop, but is sometimes hit or miss with their sales. The last few weeks have not been stellar, but it looks like this week is going to be great! So, in anticipation for a great sale, here is how to shop at CVS!
Fact List:
* You must have a CVS card to get the sale prices. If you don't already have one go here: https://www.cvs.com/CVSApp/user/extracare/extracare.jsp and sign up for a new account. They will give you a paper card to print out until your plastic one is mailed, but the store can also look up your account with the phone number that you signed up with.
* CVS has a program called Extra Care Bucks (ECB). ECB's are little coupons that print with your receipt that have a dollar amount off your next purchase. They can be used just like money! This is how you get things for free or cheap!!!! For instance, this coming week, CVS has a special on Brilliant Tampons. Here is what the deal would look like :
Buy RepHresh Brilliant PH Tampons @ $6.79 , Get $6.79 ECB.
This means that you are essentially getting these tampons for free!
What's even better is that there is a coupon out there for $1/1 that you can print, making this a $1 money maker!
*ECB deal are usually limit 1, but not always (it will tell you in the ad, or on the sale tag on the shelf). They can track this with your CVS card. You can buy more of the item if you like, but you will NOT get the ECB on any more of them after your first one.
*For ECB’s that require a dollar amount purchase, you do not have to buy it all in one transaction. For an example, this next week CVS has a deal where you buy $25 in Bounty, Charmin, Puffs or Energizer batteries pictured in the ad, you get $10 back. You do not have to buy all $25 in one transaction. You can split it up so your OOP is less. The ECB will print when you hit the $25 mark. See example below.
* ECB’s can only be used on before tax price. You still have to pay for tax. Keep that in mind when planning your strategic use of ECB’s!
* CVS does not allow overage/cash back. If the coupon is more than the purchase value, then they will adjust it down to the purchase value.
* No doubling or tripling.
* CVS store coupons can be stacked with a manufacturers coupon. You can print 2, but you can only use one per transaction. You can find store coupons on their website.
* You can also look online at your account for coupons. I just had $5/$25 (this means $5 off of a purchase of $25) coupon that I sent to my card. Whoo hoo! Less OOP for me next time I shop!
* CVS awards 2% of your quarterly purchases via ECB’s. More money back for shopping there!
*CVS has a Red Machine that you can scan your CVS card on and it prints coupons! My stores is right when you walk in, but you may have to search for yours! Keep scanning until they say that there are no more for the day! There is no way to know what you are going to get, but sometimes you can find a great deal with them! I got a free chocolate bar once. Yum!
* New email subscribers also get $4/$20 so if you haven’t signed up already do it :).
* The best way to use ECBs is to "roll" them. This means doing multiple transactions to get the lowest out of pocket (OOP) price. For instance, this is what deals for this week with the lowest OOP might look like.
*CVS also has a reusable Green Bag Tag that you pay .99 for, and every 4th visit you get $1ECB. Another way to say money and the environment :)
Transaction 1
Item | Price | Coupon | OOP | ECB | Final Price |
1 - RepHresh | 6.79 | 1.00 | 5.79 | 6.79 | 1.00 MM |
1 – St.Joseph Aspirin | 2.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 | Free |
1-CVS Allergy | 3.69 | 3.69 | 3.69 | Free | |
Total: | 10.48 | 11.48 |
11.48 in ECB’s to use on next transaction!
Transaction 2
Item | Price | Coupon | OOP | ECB | Final Price |
1 – Softsoap Body Wash | 2.99 | .75 | 2.24 | 2.00 | .24 |
1 – Bounty 16 pk | 12.99 | .25 | 12.74 | 7.74 (after ECB prints from next transaction) | |
Total: | 14.98-11.48 in ECB’s from Transaction 1=3.50 | 2.00 |
Transaction 3
Item | Price | Coupon | OOP | ECB | Final Price |
1-Bounty | 12.99 | .25 | 12.74 | 10 | 7.74 |
Total | 12.74-2.00 ECB from Transaction2=10.74 | ||||
With $10 ECB remaining for next week! | |||||
Total OOP for entire trip - $24.72 with $10 ECB for next time or for additional purchases!
*Note that the first CVS trip is the most expensive because you don’t have any ECB’s to work with. Try and save some for the next trip each time you go, so your OOP is low each trip! Make sure to pay attention to expiration dates though!!! Nothing worse than an expired ECB!
*CVS recently (finally) posted their coupon policy. It is a good idea to print out policies for stores, just in case you have problems with a cashier/store not knowing the rules and for you to know the rules as well! Here is the link where you can find it: https://www.cvs.com/CVSApp/cvscontent/faq/couponpolicy.pdf
*CVS recently (finally) posted their coupon policy. It is a good idea to print out policies for stores, just in case you have problems with a cashier/store not knowing the rules and for you to know the rules as well! Here is the link where you can find it: https://www.cvs.com/CVSApp/cvscontent/faq/couponpolicy.pdf
I'll post CVS deals for next week soon! Any questions on how to do your transaction with the lowest OOP on items that you may need... just ask and I'll be happy to help! I like using this chart because it helps me see all of the details! You may find a better way that works for you!
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