How to Shop at Walgreens

Walgreens is a drugstore and general merchandise store that sells health and beauty items, as well as office supplies, toys and grocery items.  Below are a few terms you should learn for shopping at Walgreens:

• Register Rewards (RR): Coupons that print out at the register that are good on a future purchase.
• Monthly Coupon Booklet:  Monthly coupon booklet that contains Walgreens store coupons. They are usually found next to the weekly sales circulars.
• Megasaver:  Items that are on sale for a one month period.
• Instant Value Coupons (IVCs): Walgreens store coupons that are in Walgreen's coupon booklets.
• 7 Day Coupons: These are Walgreens store coupons that can be found in the weekly sales circular.
• Fillers: These are small and inexpensive items that are sometimes needed in order to be able to use a register reward on your transaction (read more about register rewards below)

How to Get Free Stuff at Walgreens!

1)  Take advantage of Register Rewards promotions.

     Here's what you need to know about Register Rewards (RR)

• You CAN use manufacturer coupons when taking advantage of RR promotions.  The use of manufacturer coupons will not prevent the register reward from printing.
• RR will only print for in-stock merchandise during the promotional period.
• RR can only be earned for eligible items. No substitutions.
• There is a limit of one RR printed per offer per customer per transaction.
• Example: If the offer is buy one bottle of Ketchup for $1.99 and receive a $1.99 RR at checkout, and you buy two bottles, you will only receive one $1.99 RR.  However, if you split the purchase into two separate transactions, you should receive a $1.99 RR each time.
• Customers redeeming a RR against the same offer may not receive another RR.
• Explanation: RRs can not be rolled: this means that if you use a RR you received from purchasing an item to buy more of the same item, another RR will not print.
• The RR coupon value cannot exceed the total purchase amount. No cash back and no cash value for RR coupon.
• The number of manufacturer coupons, including RR manufacturer coupons, must not exceed the number of items in the transaction.
• RR must be forfeited if the qualifying merchandise is returned.
• RR usually expire within 2 weeks.  Be sure to check the dates and get them used up!
• RR can be redeemed for eligible items only. Ineligible items include but are not limited to: Prescriptions, Tobacco products, Alcoholic beverages, Dairy products, Lottery tickets, Money orders/transfers, Transportation passes, Special event/entertainment tickets or passes, Postage stamps, Gift cards/phone cards/prepaid cards, Prescription Savings Club” memberships, Health care services, including immunizations, Any items prohibited by law.
• Sometimes RR mistakenly don't print out.  If you are certain that you should have received a RR, but did not, you can call the Catalina Company at 1-888-8COUPON, or try again by returning the product and then buying it again at a different register.

2)  Combine Walgreens store coupons with manufacturer coupons.
Walgreens accepts one manufacturer coupon and applicable Walgreens coupon(s) for the purchase of a single item, unless prohibited by either coupon offer.  Even though Walgreens store coupons may be labeled as manufacturer coupons, they are store coupons if their bar code starts with the number “0″ instead of the number “5″ that usually precedes the bar code of manufacturer coupons.

3) Coupons combined with a BOGO Sale! 

There are two great ways to save for this one

1. Since you are technically getting two items, you may use two coupons.  So if Lip Balm was BOGO at $2.00 and you had two $1.00 off coupons, you would get both for free!  Sales tax must be paid for any Buy One, Get One Free coupon offers, if required by applicable state laws.
2. If you combine a a BOGO coupon with a BOGO sale, you get two for free.  The theory behind this is that you are paying the store for one with your coupon, and the store is giving you the other free.

Helpful Tips for Shopping at Walgreens:

1) Plan your trip in advance.  Have a list with you of the exact breakdown of what you want to get how much it will cost, and how you want to pay for it.  Feel free to print my Walgreens blog post for the week for this purpose.

2)  Minimize your out of pocket expense by separating your trip into multiple transactions so that you may use earned RRs.  Do be courteous and let others ahead of you if you have more than two transactions planned.

3)  Hand your coupons to the cashier in this specific order:

1. Manufacturer coupons
2. Walgreens store coupons
3. Register Rewards

4)  Check your receipt and register rewards to make sure everything went as you planned. It's easier to correct mistakes right after checkout.

5)  Walgreens has an official coupon policy posted on their website as of 8/2010.  Click here, and print this policy to take with you in case there are any problems while at the checkout.

6) If you experience any problems you may contact Walgreens Consumer Relations Toll-free at (800) WALGREENS (800-925-4733) from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. CST,  Monday through Friday.