My Start with Coupons
It was five years ago that I started couponing. I remember so clearly being at Target and accidentally discovering the 75% Toy Clearance (back then it was 75% while now it is only 70%). I quickly realized that if I could save 75% on TOYS that I could, and should, be saving money on ESSENTIALS. I switched from buying generic products at Walmart to shopping at Publix and Kroger where my coupons doubled and the three drug stores (CVS, Rite Aid, and Walgreens) where the rewards were crazy good. Coupons combined with sales equalled a TON of free products. Swimming in a stockpile of razors was common and a thing called free toilet paper existed. But then things changed.
Why I Don’t Shop at Drug Stores Anymore
Slowly the drug stores have made so many changes that have alienated coupon shoppers from shopping at their stores. Hmm, perhaps that was the point? Could the stores have gotten tired of people clearing shelves? Was coupon fraud happening? I definitely agree that these things were occurring, although I wasn’t partaking in either. Then came along that TLC Show. You know, the one that combines the word Extreme with the word Couponing and then things really changed. Stores started redoing their coupon policies and deals became poor.
Why I Don’t Shop at CVS
The quantity of deals at CVS has been sparse. Of the three drug stores CVS has changed the least over the past 5 years, and the changes they made were positive. I love using my Green Bag Tag at CVS since it helps save the environment and I basically get 25¢ each time I use it. But when there are few deals to get me through the door the incentive to use that Green Bag Tag is nonexistent. With the month long expiration date on their ExtraBucks, CVS has the longest turn around time to use their in store rewards. Now to be completely honest, I just don’t like the staff at the CVS by my house. Staff can make or break your desire to shop somewhere, and the unfriendly staff paired with a lack of deals means I am not likely to head to CVS.
Why I Don’t Shop at Rite Aid
Rite Aid was my favorite drug store during 2012, but I slowly stopped shopping there. Rite Aid used their Wellness Program in 2012. With your Wellness card Rite Aid tracks the amount of money you spend. When you reach 500 points you will save 10% off your entire non-sale purchase for the year. When you reach 1,000 points you will save 20% off our entire non-sale purchase for the year. In 2012 Rite Aid also used their +Up Reward system where you get an in-store reward to use at a later date after you purchase a specific item. As the year went on Rite Aid changed the +Up Rewards. They can now only be used starting at 6:00 AM the day after you shop. This limits shoppers from doing back-to-back transactions. That may be great to prevent people who clear shelves, but for the average shopper who may just want to “cash out” their rewards on something like iced coffee or toilet paper this is very, very annoying. Plus, Rite Aid ended their Single Check Rebate program which allowed you to submit your receipt and get cash back in the form of a check on qualifying purchases. The Single Check Rebate was a great way to turn your +Up Rewards in to cash.
Why I Don’t Shop at Walgreens
Walgreens used to have the Easy Saver Rebate program where you could turn your Walgreens money into funds that you put onto a gift card or even get a check. You really got your money back and didn’t have to worry about expiration dates. Sometime in 2009 Walgreens did away with the Easy Saver program. They just had their Register Rewards, which expire in 2 weeks. There were still several good deal that pulled me through the door. Fast forward to 2012. Walgreens implemented the Balance Rewards program where you earn points for your purchases as well as for filling prescriptions at the Walgreens pharmacy. Once you have 5,000 points you can trade them in for a reward. Note: Points expire 36 months from the day you earn them, but they expire sooner if you don’t have any account activity for 6 months. Be sure to watch these dates closely so you don’t lose out on the points you’ve earned.
Earn 5,000 Points, Receive $5.00 Reward
Earn 10,000 Points, Receive $10.00 Reward
Earn 18,000 Points, Receive $20.00 Reward
Earn 30,000 Points, Receive $35.00 Reward
Earn 40,000 Points, Receive $50.00 Reward
Ugh! Now there points to be earned on top of Register Rewards, as well as more expiration dates to watch? No thank you.
Drug store prices are higher than Target or Walmart. Without a good incentive I am unlikely to head there to shop. I don’t want to pay MORE money for the things I truly need! Rewards with short expiration dates or that cannot be used the same day, hard to understand points, and the lack of good deals mean that I am looking for deals in other places. Don’t get me wrong, I will stop in occasionally, but these stores have fallen off my radar for shopping for items I need on a regular basis.
What are your thoughts? Do you spend more or less time shopping at drug stores lately? Have your shopping habits changed over the years?
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8 Responses to Why I Don’t Shop at Drug Stores Anymore
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Leandrea is a married mom of two girls, ages 4.5 and 6, living in Atlanta, GA. She is passionate about helping people save money one coupon at a time. Read more 
I totally agree with you on the attitudes and their lack of assistance when needed. I despise that the stores in my area don’t give back cash(overages). Many of them feel like the coupon has to lesser than the cost of the item. For e.g. Walmart, I had a coupon that stated on any and did not exclude trial sizes, so I went down the aisle where I found a .99 Degree Deodorant. The coupon was for $1.00 and when I went to checkout I was told that the coupon could not be of greater value than the item, so I declined the item. Went over to CVS, where they gladly acknowledged the sale. From then on because of the rise in prices, I have cancelled my newspaper subscription and have been doing less couponing. The quantities, prices, and little clauses in couponing have changed me but not completely, because anytime I see where I can save I still do so.
Oh, Walmart. I try to not shop there because I am always getting the run around. The other day we had to stop to look at kitty litter boxes and I grabbed some cucumbers which were in the Aldi ad for 29¢. Of course I didn’t have the ad with me. The cashier gave me so much attitude and I pointed to the sign above her that basically said that they price match with no ad needed and she got even grumpier. Printable coupons definitely help out!
Around here we only have walgreens. I have been shopping there the past year or so. Their prices aren’t the best, but get a sale on something topped with military discount & a manufacture coupon & maybe a store coupon, points or RR, it is a good deal for me.
Yay! I love when people use their military discounts. Sales combined with all of the above definitely make for great deals!
I completely agree too! I used to play the Rite Aid game (I still do now and then) but it is such a hassle now! I have make two trips in one week or try to keep track of all my +Up Rewards before they expire. I am definitely the ‘use them up!’ type of gal too so it makes my trips very frustrated. I will play the drug store games these days if the deal I am going to get is already stock up price. The RR or the +Ups just have to be an added bonus. That way if I don’t make it back to the store before they expire, my heart doesn’t hurt. Lol!
Plus, the Walgreens in my area are ALWAYS out of stock and don’t offer rain checks on RR like Rite Aid will do for me and +Ups. So Walgreens has to be a really special occasion. It’s too bad tho! It did used to be such a fun store to coupon at. Glad to know I am not the only one who thinks so too!!
I don’t even want to admit how much “money” I lost because they expired. I think my Rite Aid total is closer to $20 and CVS is around $45. The Drug Store Game is definitely more of a challenge. Good luck!
Funny, you really echoed something I’ve been saying for over a year now. We only have Walgreens close by and even this one I had to travel 45 minutes to get to. But since all our shopping was so far away I had made the trip since some of their sales were worth the extra time and effort. Every time I tried to use coupons, thiugh it was always an issue. Associates acted like you were the biggest pain in the butt and didn’t hide the attitude. The managers were no better. After several bad experiences in a row I stopped shopping there. I just don’t think I should have to t oneach the staff their own coupon pilicy
Oooh, 45 minutes is definitely enough to make me think twice. It drives me crazy when associates treat customers poorly, especially when it is because of coupons. I hope you keep ordering the free photos when they are available because the photo department keeps those forever!