CVS

If you are new to shopping at CVS here is a little bit of information about CVS you might want to know before you start shopping:

There are many steps to couponing and saving, and I would like to make this as simple as possible because once you get the hang of it, It becomes really simple.

First of all you would need to become an Extra Care Member and get your CVS Extra Care Card. CVS Extra Care is CVS's loyalty program - it is FREE. You would have to give very little information to sign up (name, e-mail, street address). Make sure you put it on your keys or keep it with you because you will need to use it whenever you make a purchase at CVS to get all their sales and promotions and use your unique Extra Bucks and CVS coupons that are linked to your account. If you for some reason you do not have your  Extra Care Card you can always use your phone number at the register. (But bring your card because you will need it to swipe at the Magic Coupon Machine.)

It only takes a few minutes to sign up in any CVS store, and get your card.

Even if you already have a CVS Extra Care Card it is very important to make a CVS account online to get exclusive e-mails and be able to track your savings online. You will also receive coupons via e-mail and through your CVS account online, so check it frequently.
  
CVS Weekly Ad  and CVS Deal of the Day

• Check out CVS's weekly ad for the deal of the week. CVS deals span from Sunday through Saturday. 
• Check out what CVS deal of the day is for additional deal to the weekly ad.

Extra Bucks or Extra Care Bucks: (abbreviation: EB /ECB)
Extra Bucks are coupons you receive for making specific purchases that can be used like CASH at any CVS Store. 

• Extra Bucks coupons will automatically print on the bottom of your receipt for making specific purchases at CVS stores.
• CVS Extra Bucks are directly linked to your ExtraCare account/number. The extra bucks coupons can not be used with any other account. 
• CVS Extra Bucks deals are usually found in the CVS weekly ad
  
• There are some monthly Extra Bucks deals that are not advertised.
• CVS Extra Bucks are clearly marked with the amount they are worth and expiration date which is usually a month from the date it was printed.
• CVS Extra Bucks automatically print on the bottom of your receipt if you purchased the correct items. (If for some reason, you purchased the wrong item or your extra bucks did not print, ask the person who was helping you why that happened. They should be happy to help. If you purchased the wrong items and you do not want them, you can simply return them right then and there and purchase the correct items if you would like.)
• If a deal requires you to buy a specific amount of a product to receive your extra bucks for example: Buy 4 get $10 back in Extra Bucks OR Buy $25 worth get $5 back in Extra Bucks, you do not need to buy all of them or the full amount in the same transaction. You can make multiple purchases throughout the week the sale is going on and it will tally on the bottom of your receipt. 
• For deals that require you to buy a certain amount, the amount is tallied at the bottom of your receipt before all coupons (in other words, it is tallied on the amount it rings up as, not the amount you paid after coupons and or Extra Bucks)
• CVS usually limits their deals to limit 1 per household (one CVS Extra Care Card holder). Check the ad to see if there is a higher limit. It usually states the limit on the bottom of the pictured deal in the weekly ad.
• Sometimes there is a larger limit on the weekly deals. For example: Buy select Colgate toothpaste for $3 get $3 back in extra bucks limit 4 per household. If you buy all 4 of them in the same transactions you will pay $12.00 and get back a lump sum of $12.00 in one Extra Bucks Coupon. *My suggestion: Especially if you don't have previous $12.00 Extra Bucks Coupon that you are using to pay for your purchase, whenever there is a larger limit, try to break up your transactions to allow your Extra Bucks to print in smaller increments. It is much easier to use up smaller amounts on deals that might come up in the following weeks and not to be stuck with such a large amount of extra bucks to use. Also you can buy 1 for $3 ( using a $3 Extra Bucks if you have) receive the $3 Extra Bucks for that purchase and then do it again and again till you reach the limit that you don't have to put too much out of pocket the first time around.
• Like most coupons, Extra Bucks do not cover tax. You can use up as many Extra Bucks in one transaction to cover your subtotal before tax and still receive the Extra Bucks you are expecting for the purchase you are currently making. 
•  ***In the local Cleveland, OH area - many stores will accept CVS coupons after they expire including expired Extra Bucks! Ask your store if they do, it makes it a lot easier not to have to remember to use up your extra bucks by a certain date.***
• ***Some stores especially the ones who are willing to accept expired Extra Bucks will also adjust down the value of the Extra Bucks. For example if you subtotal is $2.99 and you have a $3.00 Extra Bucks, most stores in the Cleveland, OH area will adjust it down to $2.99 that your subtotal becomes $0.00. Ask your store if they are willing to do that, it makes shopping at CVS a lot easier. 

 The Red, Magic Coupon Machine: (abbreviation: MCM)

• "The Magic Coupon Machine" had been named that due to how unpredictable the coupons that come out of it are. I believe the CVS name for it is The Extra Care Coupon Center but I prefer to call it the Magic Coupon Machine.
• The Magic Coupon Machine is a price check machine that is found in the front of CVS stores. 
• It is red and about the size of a photo printer kiosk with a flashing yellow light on the top of it to make it more visible. (Pictured) (If you can't find it in your store, ask someone, they should be able to guide you to where it is located in the store.)
• The Magic part is that when you scan your Extra Care Card the machine prints out unique coupons (that match your Extra Care Card Number and can only be used with your Extra Care Card) that can be used right away or can be saved for another purchase.
• The coupons are marked with expiration dates spanning from a month of use to use on just that day.  
• You can scan your Extra Care Card a few time till the machine tells you there are no more coupons available today. Try again the next day, you might get more of the same coupons or you might even get other coupons.  
• Lots of these coupons can be combined with weekly sales to make awesome deals!
• On occasion the Magic Coupon Machine will print out coupons for a "FREE ITEM". So look out for those. Sometimes it is clear that the item will be free after coupon (by stating "free item"), other times it says for example $1 off a bag of chips and the chips are priced at $1 making it free after coupon. 
• Make it a habit to always swipe your Extra Care Card at the Red Magic Coupon Machine as you walk in to any CVS store. All you have to do is swipe your Extra Care Card and you receive unique coupons for your card. You never know what coupons will print out for you! Also, try to keep the coupons. Sometimes you will get an awesome coupon that would work well with a deal that will come up within the next couple week. 
• ***In the local Cleveland, OH area - many stores will accept these coupons after they expire like they do most CVS store coupons including expired Extra Bucks! Ask your store if they do, it makes it a lot easier not to have to remember to use up your coupons by a certain date.***

CVS coupons:

• There are many types of CVS coupons for example: Extra Bucks, Magic Coupon Machine coupons, Printable coupons, E-mailed coupons, Percentage off coupons, Dollar/ cents off coupons, Online Extra Care Coupons/ Offers or load to card coupons:
• ***In the local Cleveland, OH area - many stores will accept most CVS coupons after they expire including expired Extra Bucks! Ask your store if they do, it makes it a lot easier not to have to remember to use up your coupons by a certain date.***
• We already discussed Extra Care Coupons and Magic coupon machine coupons above.
• Printable coupons can be found at CVS.com and on Coupons.com. Most of the coupons found there are actually manufacturer coupons and are similar one to the other but the exclusive CVS coupons usually say "Redeemable at CVS only". Once they are printed it says "CVS coupon" where it normally says "manufacturer coupon."
• E-mailed coupons are exactly what they sound like. Coupons that are e-mailed to you when you create an online CVS account linked to your Extra Care Card. These coupons come sporadically, some CVS accounts get them more often than others (I don't know what triggers it).  
• Percentage off coupons are usually sent to you via e-mail (a type of e-mail coupon) that is a percentage off. It could be 20%, 25% off or the like of your next purchase. The problem with these coupons is that the percentage comes off after all coupons. Meaning if you make a purchase and planning on using manufacturer coupons, cvs coupons and extra bucks bringing your total down to almost nothing the percentage will come off of the "almost nothing" amount. So these coupons are not always as awesome as they sound. ***I have said over and over again that in the local Cleveland, OH area many stores will accept most CVS coupons after they expire - These are never included in the ones that are accepted after they expire.*** 
• Dollar / Cents off are another type of e-mailed coupons. They are usually $3 off $15, $4 off $20, $5 off $25 or the like. These are really useful! Any time you are making a bigger shop try to use one of these as well if you get it. It just makes your deal that much better. They can be used in addition to any other CVS and or manufacturer coupons you are planning on using in a shopping trip. Make sure you hand in this coupon before all other coupons while your total is over that amount required. 
• Online Extra Care Coupons and Offers are found on your online CVS account. You can find them when you log in, there is an option to have these coupons loaded onto your CVS Extra Care Card. If you are one that might forget your coupon or might forget to use your coupon that is a good option for you, but I usually prefer coupons printed that I can plan my shopping trips accordingly and know what savings I am expecting. Also these coupons will disappear once they expire. So if your CVS store accepts coupons after they expire you would need to present the physical coupon for them to manually put it through.   

 Green Bag Tag: (abbreviation: GBT)

As of 4/28/13 The green Bag Tag Program has ended. If you swipe your green bag tag with your purchase you may receive a $2.00 extra bucks stating "We are sorry but our Green Bag Tag program has ended. Please accept these ExtraBucks Rewards for your past participation. your tag is recyclable."It is sad that the program is over but it was good while it lasted. 

• The Green Bag Tag is another awesome program that CVS has. 
• The Green Bag Tag is the green leaf which you can attach to a reusable bag as you can see pictured. (Personally, I attach it to my keys next to my CVS Extra Care Card that I should remember to swipe it) 
• It is for sale at CVS for $.99. You can either buy it when you have extra, extra bucks to use up, if you have overage (a negative total) on a purchase you are making, or best case scenario if you are lucky enough to receive a coupon form the magic coupon machine for a free green bag tag! (or even any amount off a green bag tag).
• The tag has a bar code on the back of it (they all have the same bar code). One green tag can be used for multiple accounts (not that I am suggesting to have multiple account but it can be used for your mothers account if you are shopping for her.) 
• Swipe your Green Bag Tag every time you make a purchase and either bring along your own bag (it could be a reusable bag, a plastic, paper or even CVS bag) as long as you are not asking for a bag for the purchase you are making. Most of my purchases at CVS are small enough to through into my purse and have an opportunity to swipe my Green Bag Tag.
• For every 4 swipes you will receive $1 Bonus Extra Bucks!!! 
• It is like getting an additional $.25 savings for every shopping trip.
• Even if you pay the $.99 out right because this is an awesome program, before you know it, you will have made up your initional investment and be making many more $1 Bonus Extra Bucks there after.  

CVS policies:

• Return Policy:
• Taken directly from their online site: "100% satisfaction guarantee on CVS/pharmacy Brand products All CVS/pharmacy Brand products are 100% satisfaction guaranteed or your money back. If you're dissatisfied for any reason, you can return the CVS/pharmacy Brand product (opened or unopened) along with your receipt or invoice to any CVS/pharmacy store. We'll refund the full purchase price — no questions asked!"
• Taken directly from their online site: "100% satisfaction guarantee on beauty purchases
  Be 100% happy or receive 100% money back on any beauty products. If you're dissatisfied for any reason, you can return the beauty product (opened or unopened) along with your receipt or invoice to any CVS/pharmacy store. We'll refund the full purchase price — no questions asked!"
• CVS's hassle-free return policy allows you to return nonprescription products to any CVS store within 60 days of purchase. Your receipt will state how long the receipt is valid for returns with an exact date.
• Here is CVS coupon policy as of 2012. If you are planning on becoming a regular shopper at CVS, I would suggest to carefully look over their coupon policy and carry it around with you as well. Here are a couple of specifics that you might want to know:
• CVS/pharmacy accepts one manufacturer coupon and applicable CVS/pharmacy coupon(s) per item, unless prohibited by either coupon offer. 
• There is no limit to the number of Extra Bucks that may be used in a transaction as long as it does not exceed the transaction total. 
• The number of manufacturer coupons used in a transaction may not exceed the number of items in the transaction.
• CVS/pharmacy accepts multiple Dollar off Transaction coupons (e.g. $3 off $15) in one transaction if they apply - Ex. Customer may use two 3 off $15 coupons if they are purchasing over $30.00
• Two coupons may be used on a Buy One, Get One Free promotion as long as it does not exceed the item total
• Ex. Suave Shampoo is on sale for $2.00 Buy One, Get One Free and the customer is purchasing two shampoos; customer may use two coupons for $1.00 each get them both for free and pay the applicable tax. 
• Buy One, Get One Free promotions may be combined with Buy One, Get One Free Coupons. Customers are responsible for paying applicable tax
• Ex. Suave Shampoo is on sale for $2.00 BOGO and customer has a MFG coupon for Suave BOGO. Customer will receive both items for free but will need to pay any applicable tax.

RainCheck:

• CVS is usually well stocked with the items they put on sale, but sometimes, it happens that they are out of stock. 
• If you would like to do a specific deal that that products are out of stock all you have to do is ask for a Rain-Check on that deal at the front register. 
• They will write up the deal on a Rain-Check slip and you can redeem your Rain-Check the next time you are in a CVS store.
• The truth is, CVS rain-checks DO NOT EXPIRE (it says it clearly on the slip) so you can redeem the Rain-Check whenever you remember to.
• If the deal requires Extra Bucks to print (make sure it is written on the rain-chcek slip), It will not necessarily print on it's own when you redeem it, but they can manually print you the Extra Bucks coupon that you deserve.     

CVS Beauty Club: 

• Make sure you become a CVS Beauty Club Member in-store or online. 
• Once you sign up (for free) you will automatically receive a 10% shopping pass via e-mail, , a $3 bonus extra bucks coupon on your birthday, and of course exclusive e-mails with special coupon offers. But the real savings is for every $50 you spend on beauty products you will receive $5 in extra bucks. You can make multiple transactions to reach up to your $50 - they will be tallied on the bottom of your receipt. There are lots of beauty items that qualify including the weekly sales you might be purchasing, allowing you to double dip if you are getting a beauty item deal. You will be surprised how quickly you can reach up to $50 and get your bonus $5 extra bucks.