How to Save Money in CVS Now That Coupons Don’t Add Up
Most of us have used a coupon at some point, whether you retrieved it from a newspaper insert or opened it through an app. But seasoned coupons know that using one coupon is just a way out; the real way to save money is to stack them on top of each other . By combining manufacturer and store coupons and other offers (like discounts ), you can catapult your savings from modest to almost getting things for free.
But hoarding coupons is no longer the best way to save money in CVS. According to store employees I hear from, cashiers used to be able to easily bypass the check-in system in order to accept more coupons, which could significantly increase your savings. But now it looks like the company is curbing this activity.
How CVS coupons used to work
If you shop regularly from CVS, you don’t care how long your receipts are, because you see them as a source of significant savings. Ask a CVS fan how much they save by simply using the store coupons that print at the bottom of their receipts and they’ll tell you, sometimes $ 10 to $ 20. Sometimes more.
Let’s say you come to the checkout with two coupons.
Coupon 1: $ 10 off on a certain type of item for $ 35 (usually something expensive, like vitamins) Coupon 2: $ 6 off on your next $ 30 purchase
In the old system, you could usually use both coupons if, according to this example, your total was $ 35 or more. It’s a stack.
But this step of doubling is not possible because the registration system now supports the fine print that was at the bottom of those dollar discount coupons: “One coupon limit based on purchase, that is, $ 4 for a $ 20 purchase. , per transaction “.
On Reddit, r / CVS users recently discussed how dollar coupons are calculated and whether the practice has changed. The store manager concluded , “The computer is smarter and you can’t fold coupons anymore.”
“One day the coupons just stopped stacking,” the Maryland shift supervisor told me. They said the company hadn’t announced any changes to the coupon rules or the registration system, but one summer “they removed the coupon cancellation option” to force the system to accept them if they didn’t automatically call back.
A CVS spokesperson told Lifehacker that the store’s policy regarding “which coupons are accepted or can be used in combination with each other has not changed recently.” The company did not respond to my question about whether there were any changes to the point of sale system that would affect the way coupons are redeemed.
Frequent shoppers might not have been bothered by the changes in their ability to use coupons in CVS if the store weren’t so damn expensive. CVS is notorious for its high cost. Profitero, an e-commerce analytics platform, recently released a report comparing online prices and indexing online prices for major retailers on Amazon. According to Profitero’s analysis, CVS was 52.3% more expensive than Amazon for 130 beauty products, 60.6% more for 16 household products, and 64.5% more for 183 vitamins and supplements.
How to Save Money in CVS Now
If you are truly a fan of this network, you can still save on CVS by combining coupons and common sense.
Accept that pharmacies are not cheap
The first tactic goes back to the old rule of thumb: don’t shop when you’re tired or hungry – or, in the case of pharmacies, desperate for a bottle of cold medicine or a box of diapers. Pharmacy prices tend to be higher than supermarkets and grocery stores, so purchasing items that go beyond prescription drugs can lead to rapid cost overruns. If you don’t yet know which item to buy, the expected price, and whether you can save on it (through a store sale, coupons, money back apps, or savings on rewards), it’s best not to even go inside.
Read the fine print on each coupon
If you’re already in the store out of desire or desperation, take a look at your ExtraCare coupons and their limitations. (ExtraCare is a free store loyalty program, and if you’ve ever made a purchase on CVS, you’re probably involved. Ask the cashier to try your phone number if you’re not sure.) You’ll want to be sure. that you have reached the spending threshold for every coupon you have that offers a dollar amount from a purchase of a certain amount (for example: $ 6 from $ 30). These are the ones that don’t add up; You can still combine Percentage Discount, CarePass Rewards and ExtraCare Bucks with each other or with dollar discount coupons.
Review the CarePass Rewards Policy
If you have CarePass , a CVS paid membership program, you should be aware of the restrictions on the use of your member privileges.
CarePass members receive a $ 10 discount coupon every month on renewal day. If you do not use this coupon for a $ 10 or more transaction, you will lose the rest of the coupon. There are quite a few things that you cannot use this coupon (or most CVS coupons for), so keep the following conditions in mind:
Not exchangeable for alcohol, lottery, money orders, prescriptions and copays, pseudoephedrine / ephedrine products, postage stamps, prepaid cards, gift cards, newspapers and magazines, milk (if required by law or regulation), bottle deposit, bus passes, hunting and fishing licenses, any imposed government fees or items reimbursed by a government health plan.
Also keep in mind that CarePass’s ongoing 20% discount on CVS Health items (line of OTC drugs and other in-store items) applies only to health items. This does not apply to Beauty 360 products and other brands. If the CVS Health product you are purchasing is already on sale, you will not receive an additional 20% discount through CarePass.
Visit Coupon Kiosk
Another tip that could make your life a little better: Go to the kiosk in front of the store to scan your ExtraCare card. It will spit out a long string of coupons that make your regular store coupon receipts look paltry. But once the coupons are printed, scan the card again. There may be more coupons tailored to your purchase history. The kiosk will let you know when you (finally) run out of coupons for the day. And if you can’t use some of them, you can always use them as a scarf.