Walgreens Coupon Policy and Shopping Tips
Walgreens has just published their official coupon policy! That should make your trips to Walgreens so much better. Go here to see all of our printable coupon policies and print off the ones you need, including Walgreens.
1. At drugstores, BOGO sales are different than grocery stores in that they are actual BOGO- if you purchase one item, you will get another item free. The downside of this is that, instead of using a coupon off of each item like you can in a grocery store, you can only use 1 coupon on the non-free item. The bright side is that, if you have a BOGO coupon for that item, and you use it when that item is BOGO during a sale, you will get both items for FREE. (So try to always save those BOGO coupons for drugstores!). Some Walgreens stores will do it this way, and some will give you a hard time.
2. You should be able to use a Walgreens coupon and a manufacturer coupon together on one item.
3. Walgreens has a reward system called Register Rewards. These are used like coupons as well, but have their own set of rules, which you will find here.
4. Walgreens does NOT double coupons or accept competitor coupons.
5. Walgreens does take printed internet coupons.
6. If your total value of COUPONS is greater than the total value of ITEMS, you need to find filler items to apply the overage to. They will NOT give you any money back. That being said, they should now adjust coupons down if the COUPON face value is greater than the item selling price.
7. Make sure, especially if your purchase qualifies for RRs, that you have more items (or the same number) than you do coupons- otherwise, your RRs will not print out. If you have more coupons than items, you will usually find that they will not accept any more coupons.
1. At drugstores, BOGO sales are different than grocery stores in that they are actual BOGO- if you purchase one item, you will get another item free. The downside of this is that, instead of using a coupon off of each item like you can in a grocery store, you can only use 1 coupon on the non-free item. The bright side is that, if you have a BOGO coupon for that item, and you use it when that item is BOGO during a sale, you will get both items for FREE. (So try to always save those BOGO coupons for drugstores!). Some Walgreens stores will do it this way, and some will give you a hard time.
2. You should be able to use a Walgreens coupon and a manufacturer coupon together on one item.
3. Walgreens has a reward system called Register Rewards. These are used like coupons as well, but have their own set of rules, which you will find here.
4. Walgreens does NOT double coupons or accept competitor coupons.
5. Walgreens does take printed internet coupons.
6. If your total value of COUPONS is greater than the total value of ITEMS, you need to find filler items to apply the overage to. They will NOT give you any money back. That being said, they should now adjust coupons down if the COUPON face value is greater than the item selling price.
7. Make sure, especially if your purchase qualifies for RRs, that you have more items (or the same number) than you do coupons- otherwise, your RRs will not print out. If you have more coupons than items, you will usually find that they will not accept any more coupons.
Tips for Shopping at Walgreens
Shopping at Walgreens can be a real headache- but if you do everything correctly and manage to avoid a beeping register, you can really score some great deals (and you will be so proud of yourself for getting through a whole transaction without beeping!). Here are some tips to help you with Register Rewards, rolling transactions, and getting the most items with the least OOP expense.
1. Be mindful of which items have rewards. Rewards will be your "currency" at Walgreens- you want to pay for a majority of your purchases with Register Rewards! You want to start with the cheapest item that has the HIGHEST value in Register Rewards. If you have never done this before, start small. Pick one or two items.
2. When you check out, you need to do 2 things: Count your items. Then count your coupons. If you have more coupons than you do items, the register will beep. That will be it for the coupons. Make sure that the number of coupons (and this INCLUDES Register Rewards, since they are manufacturer coupons) is less than or equal to the number of items you are purchasing. If you have more coupons, you need filler items. Filler items are very small, very inexpensive items that will add bulk to your cart rather than to your OOP expense. Think pencils, caramels, anything little and cheap. Do this BEFORE you get to the checkout counter- all that is up there is expensive candy. (Unless you have a whiny 3-year-old like I do who loves M&Ms!). Expensive candy blows your budget and your waistline (though sometimes, you deserve that Snickers bar for all of your Walgreens hassle! Go for it- especially when they are on sale!).
3. You should go ahead and figure out your transactions (see #1). Remember, the first transaction should be the lowest OOP with the greatest RR value. You will then use those RRs to pay for the second transaction, and so on and so on... (Be sure to check out the RR Rules here). This is called "rolling transactions". Don't repeat the same transaction back-to-back. If you need two packs of rewards-earning diapers, buy one pack, do a different transaction, then do the other pack. You will not earn RRs on the second item if you paid for it with RRs from the same item on a previous transaction. Remember: Your goal is to spend as little of your own money as possible while earning rewards.
4. Here is how you should present your coupons to try to keep the register from beeping:
-manufacturer coupons
-Register Rewards
-Walgreens coupons (always try to present these to the cashier after you have done your other coupons. It will help to keep the register from beeping. This is not "cheating"- you are doing nothing wrong, but you are avoiding all sorts of unneccessary headaches because of the way the registers are set up!).
5. Always try to have some RRs when you leave the store- this will make your OOP much less on your next trip to Walgreens, which will be much more fun! (Just come back before they expire!)
6. Please, please be considerate. If you have several transactions and there is a line behind you, either ask if someone can check you out at the cosmetics counter or do a transaction, and then head to the end of the line. Be considerate of other people's time. If your cashier is unfriendly or stressed out about all of the coupons (remember, they are not trained well and should not be punished for that!), ask to speak to a manager. If you speak politely to the manager and they refuse to budge on their policies, politely ask for your coupons back and head to the Walgreens a couple of miles down the road. Don't be rude or pitch a fit- is a free tube of toothpaste really worth it? Probably not.
1. Be mindful of which items have rewards. Rewards will be your "currency" at Walgreens- you want to pay for a majority of your purchases with Register Rewards! You want to start with the cheapest item that has the HIGHEST value in Register Rewards. If you have never done this before, start small. Pick one or two items.
2. When you check out, you need to do 2 things: Count your items. Then count your coupons. If you have more coupons than you do items, the register will beep. That will be it for the coupons. Make sure that the number of coupons (and this INCLUDES Register Rewards, since they are manufacturer coupons) is less than or equal to the number of items you are purchasing. If you have more coupons, you need filler items. Filler items are very small, very inexpensive items that will add bulk to your cart rather than to your OOP expense. Think pencils, caramels, anything little and cheap. Do this BEFORE you get to the checkout counter- all that is up there is expensive candy. (Unless you have a whiny 3-year-old like I do who loves M&Ms!). Expensive candy blows your budget and your waistline (though sometimes, you deserve that Snickers bar for all of your Walgreens hassle! Go for it- especially when they are on sale!).
3. You should go ahead and figure out your transactions (see #1). Remember, the first transaction should be the lowest OOP with the greatest RR value. You will then use those RRs to pay for the second transaction, and so on and so on... (Be sure to check out the RR Rules here). This is called "rolling transactions". Don't repeat the same transaction back-to-back. If you need two packs of rewards-earning diapers, buy one pack, do a different transaction, then do the other pack. You will not earn RRs on the second item if you paid for it with RRs from the same item on a previous transaction. Remember: Your goal is to spend as little of your own money as possible while earning rewards.
4. Here is how you should present your coupons to try to keep the register from beeping:
-manufacturer coupons
-Register Rewards
-Walgreens coupons (always try to present these to the cashier after you have done your other coupons. It will help to keep the register from beeping. This is not "cheating"- you are doing nothing wrong, but you are avoiding all sorts of unneccessary headaches because of the way the registers are set up!).
5. Always try to have some RRs when you leave the store- this will make your OOP much less on your next trip to Walgreens, which will be much more fun! (Just come back before they expire!)
6. Please, please be considerate. If you have several transactions and there is a line behind you, either ask if someone can check you out at the cosmetics counter or do a transaction, and then head to the end of the line. Be considerate of other people's time. If your cashier is unfriendly or stressed out about all of the coupons (remember, they are not trained well and should not be punished for that!), ask to speak to a manager. If you speak politely to the manager and they refuse to budge on their policies, politely ask for your coupons back and head to the Walgreens a couple of miles down the road. Don't be rude or pitch a fit- is a free tube of toothpaste really worth it? Probably not.
