I’ve done these kind of posts before, but I think it’s important – particularly for my new-to-coupon users – to understand that it truly is OK to use coupons with sales!
I sometimes get questions or comments about drugstore shopping such as:
“Can I use a coupon on a Register Reward deal?”
“My cashier wouldn’t let me stack a store coupon with a manufacturer coupon.”
“Do the stores think this is OK?”
I found some great illustrations in this past Sunday’s paper that I thought I’d share with you in response.
Exhibit A: Walgreens
Right in the middle of the ad, Walgreens invites you to bring your Sunday insert coupons and use them on their items!
This should solve the ‘ol “you can’t use a coupon on a Register Reward deal” dilemma, shouldn’t it? Yes you can! In this scenario, you’d pay $1.74 out of pocket, and then receive a $1.50 Register Reward. Sort of like getting it for $0.24. Now one thing to note, you should not solely rely on the ads to tell you where the best coupons are for their sales (that’s why you read this blog, right?). While it’s true there was a $0.75/1 coupon in this Sunday’s paper, there was a $1/1 coupon a couple weekends before.
And should you have any problems stacking a store coupon with a manufacturer’s coupon, you could simply point out to the cashier “your ad made me do it!” (I jest, you’d use more tact than that, of course!)
Exhibit B: Rite Aid
“But…but…using a coupon to get something for free? That’s STEALING.” I disagree. And so, apparently, does Rite Aid.
Here’s a simple example of how you can use a coupon and still get an UP Reward at Rite Aid. Rite Aid’s ad is littered with examples such as these. As with Walgreens, don’t simply use the ad – there are additional savings you’ll likely miss (another reason to read my blog). I’ve also sometimes seen their ads notate “additional savings in Sunday paper!” only for there to be NO savings for that particular item, or savings from a previous week.
What Have We Learned
Taking the time to thumb through the ads can help build your confidence in shopping at these stores. I also recommend bringing your ad with you to checkout, along with these coupon policies:
Walgreens Corporate Coupon Policy
Rite Aid Corporate Coupon Policy
I hope this has proven to be a helpful exercise! Ready to get shopping? Check out the Walgreens and Rite Aid deals for the week.
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{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
Corporate may like it, but the cashiers at the stores, most of the time not so much. I have literally got screamed at by a cashier at Rite-Aid on several different occassions for using coupons to get items free. I have also had issues at Walgreens as well.
You would think that because they advertise things the way they do, that their cashiers would get it!
You bring up a valid point. Some cashiers may not like it, but Corporate sure seems to be sending a different picture, don’t they?
This is why I think it’s important to wherever possible keep that ad & corporate coupon policy on hand to help. If you find there is a repeated issue with a particular store not honoring the stated coupon policy, then you might place a polite phone call or email to corporate to see if you can’t clear matters up.
AS for me, I’m fortunate enough to have a couple Rite Aids and a couple Walgreens within driving distance. I just go to the stores that appreciate my business more.
I’m glad you mentioned that sometimes the “additional savings in Sunday paper” is false. I have run into that problem many times before! Also, since I live in Yakima there aren’t any local coupon blogs so we get different coupons and ads than other cities. Case in point: this week there were no Nivea or PediaCare coupons and the Udder Cream deal is not in my Rite Aid ad. Last week at the register I tried to buy SoftSoap at the $1.99 sale price and it was nowhere to be found in our local ad!
I work as a cashier and thinks its great people are taking the time to save money with coupons. I use coupons all of the time and have saved so much from them. I love these websites with all of their links to save money. This is one of them…Thank you so much!
I carry my coupon policy in my purse now. But many cashiers at the Burien store are so difficult.
Then today, I go to get some Ricola cough drops for $.50/bag(use $1/2 and they’re free), and every tag has “limit 1″ handwritten on it!!
Then I went over to the Nivea, and all of the Nivea varieties on sale had the “2/$5″ sign EXCEPT the Men’s, which is precisely the one that the coupon is for!
I don’t know if it’s the manager or the cashiers, but someone over there is exhibiting some passive-aggressive hostility towards couponers. Good thing there are 3 other Walgreen’s nearby.
Lisa, the Nivea was advertised in the NATIONAL AD that went out in the Sunday paper. I just checked and the Nivea for Men is clearly pictured in the ad. I think they have to give you that price – and I’m guessing it’d ring up as $2.50 anyways. I also can understand them wanting to limit stock, but “limit 1″ on the cough drops is silly. If it were me, you bet I’d be emailing corporate about this. I’m glad you have other stores in the area in the meantime!
My issue is with the WAGS book of coupons. In SW Washington the cashiers say it is the regional manager’s decision… all the coupons in the book say “manufacturer coupon” so they won’t let you pair them with another manufacturer coupon. That has made me stop going to Wags on a number of deals because they aren’t good without both the obviously Wag coupon (though they like to think otherwise) and the real manu Q.
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