Original and expired CVS FAQ thread (archived for reference)

[mom2re91755]

I typed up questions and answers that are most commonly asked in the CVS threads.
If you see mistakes in any of these please post. Also feel free to add anything I might have missed. I will edit as needed. Hopefully this will help out.

CVS Information/FAQ

ECBs and CRTs
ECBs -- Extra Care Bucks- earned by completing their promotions.
CRTs -- Cash Register Tape- coupons that print at the bottom of your receipt.
WYB -- When You Buy

Does CVS take coupons?
Yes. They accept manufacturer's coupons including printables and CVS coupons.

Is there a limit to how many internet printables they will accept?

No. They do have the right to refuse the coupons if they question their validity.

Does CVS price match other store's sales?

No.

Can I use more than one manufacturer’s coupon on a B1G1 free promo?

The official answer from corporate is yes, but YMMV according to your store manager.

Is there a limit to how many coupons I can use in one transaction?

According to corporate, you can use one CVS coupon and one Manufacturer coupon per item.

Do I get overage on my coupons?

No overage-- you should be able to get the items free though.

Can I use coupons on clearance items?

Yes. If they give you a hard time, call corporate.

The reason they have problems sometimes is that they take a product off inventory , mark out the barcode and then it won't scan.
When this happens the coupon won't have anything to match up to. Usually the cashier can still just manually enter the coupon.

What do you mean by "fillers"?

Fillers are items that you can use to "fill" the amount you need to buy when you have a CVS coupon good for things like $2 off a $10 purchase.
You may have bought items that total $9.75, and need 25¢ to be able to use the coupon.

What happens if I need to return something that I used coupons to purchase?

YMMV.If you used manufacturers coupons, you should get the full amount of purchase back.
IF you used ECBs and coupons, they will only refund what you paid. In this case, it would be better to return with no receipt.
They will probably not refund cash, but a money card.
Again, don't try to return $100s worth of stuff and expect a refund...common sense!

CVS Brand Guarantee

All CVS brand products and all cosmetics have a 100% satisfaction guarantee or your money back.

Where can I find $3/15, $4/20, $5/20 coupons?

These coupons are often mailed, found on weekly ads, emailed from CVS,
found in-store (booklets, store-opening promotion coupons etc.),or printed on your CRT.

Can I use more than one $/$$ coupon on my order?

YMMV. Most stores won't allow it. There are still some that will.
If you have a $2/$10 and $5/$20, you would have to spend $30 to be able to use both.

When do the CRT coupons and ECBs expire?

The CRT coupons on your receipt expire 2 weeks from printing.
The ECBs expire 4 weeks from the time that they are printed, either online or in the store.

How do I get the ECBs to print?

The coupons print at the bottom of your receipt when you make a purchase.

If your CVS has a price-check scanner, you can print your ECBs by scanning your card at the scanner.

You can print them at home.

Can I print the CRT coupons from my home computer?

Yes.

Log on to your CVS account.
Choose an ECB that has not been printed before.
Print it.
After you've printed the ECB, hit the back button on your browser until you get back to the Coupons and Balances page.
All of your CRT coupons that have not yet printed should show up. You can print one or all.

**You must have an ECB to print or you cannot access your CRT coupons.

Why are my ECBs still showing on my account online? I've already printed and used them?

Your ECBs have an expiration date on them and that is when they disappear off your account. A month for ECBs and 2 weeks for CRTs.

I see that the ECBs I've already printed are still on my account. Can I print and use them again?

NO. Once you've used your ECBs instore or online, that's it.

What can you use ECBs on?

You can use them on almost anything in the store. Prescriptions, alcohol, tobacco, gift cards are excluded.

Can I have more than one card?

No, you cannot have more than one card to your name with the same address. However, you can have a card for everyone in your household.

For those with more than one card, what info do you put down to register them?

If you use/have multiple Extracare Cards, you do not have to register all of them. You will not recieve email offers, but you can still access the card online by just putting in the EC card number and leaving the other fields blank (your info will appear as "null, null, null"). ExtraCare bucks will still accrue & you will still get coupons printed out from the register too.


Can I buy something for $4 and use a $5 ECB?

You can, but you would lose money. You have to use the full amount of the ECB because you will not get money back.

How can I see what ECBs I have earned?

Go to www.cvs.com.
Click on Check Coupons and Balances.
Enter your card number, zip code and your complete last name.

If my ECBs expire, can I get them back?

Call the CVS 800 number. If your ECBs expire without being used, they can reset them for you.

The weekly CRT coupons cannot be reset.

When CVS has their "Buy $xx worth of ___, get $xx ECB" promo, is the amount required to qualify before or after coupons?

The qualifying amount is before coupons. You can use CVS and Manufacturers coupons, and ECBs to lower your total.

When CVS has their "Buy x of ___, and earn $xx ECB" promo, and the items are on sale B1G1 Free, do both of them count toward the promo?

If the ECB deal is buy a specific amount of $$ in order to obtain the ECB, then only the one you pay for counts. The free one will NOT count.

If the ECB deal is buy a specific number of ITEMS in order to obtain the ECB, then both items will count.

Do I have to buy all promo items in one transaction or can I buy in separate transactions?

You can buy in separate transactions. Check your ad to see if it states otherwise. More promos are requiring purchases in one transaction.

If CVS has an ECB deal that is unlimited or has a limit of more than one and I buy them all in the same day, how many ECBs will I get?

All of the ECBs earned on a given day for each unlimited promo will be combined into one larger ECB.

For example, if the Enviga was unlimited at the price of 1.49 and you bought 12, you would get a single ECB for the amount of 17.88.
If you bought 6 today and 2 tomorrow, you would get ECBs for 8.94 and 2.98 respectively.

My CVS did not have a promo item in stock to make my purchase required to earn ECBs.
I got a raincheck for the sale price of the item during that promo. Will I still get my ECBs even after the promo week is over?

Here is the answer from e-mailing CVS:

If you did receive a rain check for an Extra Buck promotion, you can still earn Extra Bucks after the promotion is over.
After you make the purchases qualified in the promotion, you may call or email us with your receipt information, name,
and Extra Care card number, and we will be more than happy to add the purchase to the promotion.

The receipt information that we will need is:

REG# ,TRAN# ,STR# ,DATE,SUBTOTAL

What do you mean by "rolling" ECBs?

This is the term for using ECBs earned on a previous promo to pay for another promo that earns ECBs.

For example:
Buy 9 Irish Spring soap packs and get $15 ECBs. Take those $15 ECBs and use them to buy other items that will also generate ECBs.

CVS sent me an email with a coupon to get TRIPLE the ECBs when you purchase either in-store or online. How does this work?

It's not triple the ECB for every promotion. It is triple the credit for what you spend toward your quarterly ECB (which is 2%).

So if you spent $50 in the quarter, you would get $3.00 in ECBs rather than $1.00.

CVS gives 2% back in ECB on your purchases.

This is the amount that you actually paid after coupons. At the bottom of your receipt, you can find what amount you have spent.

If you paid using ECBs or gift cards, that money 'spent' does not count.

For example, if you spent:
00-24.99 dollars ............................. you get $0.00 in ECBs.
25-49.99 dollars ............................. you get $0.50 in ECBs.
50-74.99 dollars ............................. you get $1.00 in ECBs.
75-99.99 dollars ............................. you get $1.50 in ECBs.

** If you got a gift card for a new/transferred prescription, they deduct the value of the card from your points for the quarter.


The quarterly ECB print out on the first day of the month following the end of the quarter.

Example: The ECB for the quarter ending 3/16/06 begin to print on 4/1/06.

When do the quarters run?

January-March, April-June, July-September and October-December.

What is the phone number for CVS?

1-800-SHOP-CVS

[wikipost]

Coupon inserts found in most Sunday newspapers:

SS = SmartSource
VAL = Valassis
P&G = Procter & Gamble

CVS Coupons:
You can use (1) manufactuer coupon and (1) CRT coupon per item.

i.e: 5 manufactuer coupons AND 5 CRT coupons can be used at the same time in a 5 item transaction.

ECB's are now no longer considered CVS coupons by the new system and you can use as many as you want as long as your subtotal remains positive and the last ECB you are going to use doesn't make you go negative on the subtotal.

ECBs = Extra Care Bucks earned using your Extracare Card, these print at the end of your receipt immediately following the qualifying purchase

CRT coupons = Cash Register Tape Coupons that print on the bottom of receipts (not to be confused with ECBs)

Basic CVS Coupon Info:

Coupon Acceptance - It varies from store to store. Some stores have been instructed to "take all the coupons a customer has" :thumbsup:, some limit you to ONE printed "$ off" coupon per transaction, some allow NO printed coupons AT ALL (usually due to chronic coupon overuse by a few individuals). Some stores allow the use of coupons past their printed expiration date, some do not. IT IS up to each individual store as to which/how many coupons they will accept. If your coupons get turned down, the best course of action is to not make a fuss, just try again later. Coupon acceptance is almost entirely reliant upon the cashier you get - how lenient/apathetic/awake they are & how informed they are regarding store policy.

Expired Email Coupons - If your store accepts these (you can ask an employee), you can use them. Evidence has shown that most CVS coupons are accepted by the cash registers for 2 weeks or so after they "expire". People will & do post updates in the CVS coupon thread (http://forums.slickdeals.net/showthread.php?t=597188) if a coupon stops working...

"Stacking Coupons" (using more than one coupon per order) - Some stores allow it, some don't - the cash register system always accepts them if the cashiers will try to enter the coupons. If your store does allow it, you can use multiple coupons as long as they have different coupon codes. It is probably NOT a good idea to use multiples of a single coupon that looks identical but has different codes (i.e. using four "Welcome to CVS Extracare" coupons with 4 different expiration dates/codes) because this will piss someone off sooner or later (probably a store manager) and eventually lead to "bad things" in your area. District Managers HAVE set policies forbiding the use of ALL email coupons for ALL the stores in their territory due to abuse - please don't ruin a good thing for everyone by being greedy.


Coupons found in other places:

Mailer = received through US Mail
Printable = print from your computer
Peelie = stuck to product packaging
Tearpad = pads of coupons found in stores
Blinkies = from SmartSource brand coupon dispensers (red with blinking lights) found in some stores (mainly grocery stores)
Pamphlet = often found in stores, but unlike tearpads these usually contain lots of product information



EDITED TO AD~! CVS ECB's earned on one card are specific to that card. You cannot use ECB's on another card. This question is asked like 5 times a day. PLEASE read this thread first! Thank you!!!!!


About CVS Threads:
There's a few things we do here to keep information easy to find and these threads easy to navigate.

There are two CVS threads for each weekly ad. How do you know what to put where?

- Anything that everyone needs to know should go here in the Ad/Deals thread (prices, coupons, what worked that shouldn't have, what didn't work that should have).
Ask yourself: "Does someone who is checking this thread via dialup before going to CVS really need to know this information?" If not, put it in the Discussion thread! For this week (8/12-8/18, the discussion thread is HERE (http://forums.slickdeals.net/showthread.php?p=7499429#post7499429).

- Things like questions, scenarios, what you plan to buy, what you bought, how great the deals are, how bad the deals are, chat, etc, should all go in the discussion threads.

Keeping track of all the CVS threads:
Subscribe to the threads you want to keep track of. (See links below)

To subscribe to a thread when you're already in the thread:
- go to the top of the page
- click on Thread Tools on the upper right hand side
- click Subscribe to this thread

To see the threads you've subscribed to, click "User CP". It's at the top of every page on the left. Any of your subscribed threads that have new posts will show in the center of the page. You can also click “View all subscribed threads” to see all threads, whether they have new posts or not.

(You can also 'sticky' every CVS thread to the top (also under Thread Tools), so if you go into Hot Deals or Deal Talk or Coupons you see all CVS threads at the top of the page.)


Current List of all CVS threads:

CVS FAQ (http://forums.slickdeals.net/showthread.php?sduid=59052&t=476573)(If you're new to CVS please start here!)

Week of 9/9-9/15
Ad/Deals (http://forums.slickdeals.net/showthread.php?sduid=59052&t=595230)
Questions/Discussion/Talk/Chat/Scenarios (http://forums.slickdeals.net/showthread.php?p=7816602#post7816602)

Week of 9/16-9/22
Ad/Deals (http://forums.slickdeals.net/showthread.php?p=7640850&highlight=cvs#post7640850)
Questions/Discussion/Talk/Chat/Scenarios (http://forums.slickdeals.net/showthread.php?p=7949672#post7949672)

Week of 9/23-9/30
Ad/Deals (http://forums.slickdeals.net/showthread.php?sduid=204770&t=605838&highlight=cvs)
Questions/Discussion/Talk/Chat/Scenarios (http://forums.slickdeals.net/showthread.php?sduid=59052&t=605911)

Monthly deals for September
Deals (http://forums.slickdeals.net/showthread.php?sduid=59052&t=590602)
Questions/Discussion/Chat (http://forums.slickdeals.net/showthread.php?p=7816546#post7816546)

CVS Printable Coupons (When new $/$ coupons are emailed they will show up here right away!)
New Coupon ( http://forums.slickdeals.net/showthread.php?sduid=59052&t=597188) thread

Other CVS Threads:
So Cal (http://forums.slickdeals.net/showthread.php?sduid=59052&t=539149&highlight=cvs)
Clearance (http://forums.slickdeals.net/showthread.php?t=539322)
SCO List (Self Check Out) (http://forums.slickdeals.net/showthread.php?sduid=59052&t=540399)


Additional and Updated FAQs:
Please add any additional questions and answers here.

Can coupons pay for tax?
Store coupons (ECBs, CRTs, $/$$, and any others) remove the amount of tax associated with them but they will not pay your tax. If your subtotal is less than the value of your ECB it will beep. If you have a $20 order, only $10 of it is taxable, and you use $10 in ECBs you would pay no tax.
Manufacturer coupons can be used to pay tax. They can make your subtotal negative, effectively reducing your tax. Be sure that your overall total does not go negative. This is YMMV because some cashiers may require you to have a positive subtotal.
If you want to use manufacturer coupons to pay your tax you need to use them last.

How do you guys pay such low OOP (out of pocket)?
Many CVSers commonly have OOPs of less than a $1. This is accomplished by understanding the tax issue and careful use of coupons. Here's one way to plan it out:
1. Add the cost of all items (pre-tax)
2. Subtract the value of all CVS coupons you intend to use
3. Add tax to your new total. This can be complicated if different items have different tax rates, be sure to factor this in. (For me this is: (total minus cost of non-taxable items) multiplied by the tax rate plus the total).
4. Subtract your manufacturer coupons.

I do this with Excel so I can change the number of ECBs I plan to use while leaving everything else the same until I come up with the lowest possible OOP. Of course these plans typically don't work out exactly but they do help a lot.
Low OOP may draw attention to you, sometimes that is positive and sometimes it's negative.

The first post says I can't use ECBs on prescriptions, alcohol, tobacco, and gift cards; is this true?
Sometimes. As far as I know they can't be used for prescriptions. They can sometimes but used on alcohol and tobacco. It depends on your cashier.
For information on buying GCs, see this post: Guide to buying GCs with ECBs and Manufacturer coupons (http://forums.slickdeals.net/showpost.php?p=6183231&postcount=30)
It is also possible to use ECBs to buy stamps and milk. These are also YMMV. I was told that milk does not count as an item toward the number of coupons you can use. This seemed to be true for that order but I do not know that it's true.

The first post says if I call CS I can get my expired ECBs reset, is that still true?
No. Most CSRs will no longer reset your ECBs. This change occurred when ECBs began printing instantly. You may still get lucky and find a CSR who will reset one. Some stores in your area may take ECBs that have expired, you should ask around to see if they will. Expired ECBs and CRTs will beep so they need to be forced through so it is unlikely that you could slip them past a cashier without them realizing that they are expired (although that is not impossible).
You can also no longer access your regular ECBs online or print them at home.

CVS Coupon Class
***Please Note - this class was NOT taught by a CVS employee. The information/class was sponsored by CVS, but it IS NOT official CVS policy.***
***Do NOT print this stuff out and take it to your local store to argue with the manager when they do something differently.***

Slickdeals member c_q attended a "CVS Coupon Class (http://forums.slickdeals.net/showpost.php?p=8614507&postcount=596)" recently. She has scanned the handout and added some additional notes to it. Below are the four *.pdf files for reference.

CVS Coupon Class Notes Page 1 (http://i.slickdeals.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=60860&d=1194472141)
CVS Coupon Class Notes Page 2 (http://i.slickdeals.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=60861&d=1194472141)
CVS Coupon Class Notes Pages 4 and 5 (http://i.slickdeals.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=60859&d=1194471905)
CVS Coupon Class Notes Pages 6, 7, and 8 (http://i.slickdeals.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=60858&d=1194471564)

It is a pretty thorough document, which covers details on some of the different scenarios that you will encounter at CVS when trying to use coupons and/or ECB's, but if you still have questions, please post them here on this thread.

[DNC]

I was thinking someone should start a thread. Great for reference for future posts.

Thanks!

[ladybuggs]

Good job. :worship:

I have some friends that need help with CVS and I can have them read this.

[fallspyder]

Thanks, this is perfect! All the info in one place now us newbie's have a place to ask all those repetative questions :)

[halokiti]

I think they just updated the Extra Care Bucks page on CVS, now "current Extracare balances" is shown under current coupons.

Also, you can e-mail CVS at extracare@cvs.com to get your ECBs reinstated if you don't want to talk to people. Someone replied back within 24 hours and my ECBs were reinstated within 48 hrs of that email.

[antitravolta]

Very well done. I was thinking we needed to do this, but I couldn't get myself to sit down and do it and I'm glad as yours is much better than mine would have been. I'm off to rep you. Usually it tells me I need to spread some rep around as I rep you too much :-)

[CartmanLikesPie]

Here's One I have seen asked a few times:

For those with more than one card, what info do you put down to register them?
If you use/have multiple Extracare Cards, you do not have to register all of them. You will not recieve email offers, but you can still access the card online by just putting in the EC card number and leaving the other fields blank (your info will appear as "null, null, null"). ExtraCare bucks will still accrue & you will still get coupons printed out from the register too.

BTW - Great Job starting the FAQ! Newbies still won't read it ;) (they will still ask these same questions in every CVS thread), but at least now we can try to direct them here...

[lifeisgood26]

Finally! Thanks for making this, hopefully it will be linked to whenever a new weekly thread is posted. Good job OP!

[mrsblack]

YOU ARE THE BEST!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you so much, I was getting tired of answering the same questions every week. REPD!!

[JuLaGal]

Nice thorough job -- thanks and rep!

Although I have to say that all the regular CVS posters ("the pros") seem to be the ones reading the thread... I'm afraid that you're preaching to the CVS choir. :lol:

[mom2re91755]

Nice thorough job -- thanks and rep!

Although I have to say that all the regular CVS posters ("the pros") seem to be the ones reading the thread... I'm afraid that you're preaching to the CVS choir. :lol:

yeah i know what you mean....all we need to do is direct the CVS newbies over here......

Here's One I have seen asked a few times:

For those with more than one card, what info do you put down to register them?
If you use/have multiple Extracare Cards, you do not have to register all of them. You will not recieve email offers, but you can still access the card online by just putting in the EC card number and leaving the other fields blank (your info will appear as "null, null, null"). ExtraCare bucks will still accrue & you will still get coupons printed out from the register too.

BTW - Great Job starting the FAQ! Newbies still won't read it ;) (they will still ask these same questions in every CVS thread), but at least now we can try to direct them here...

thanks-- Added

[fancy]

can you buy a tracfone minute card with ECB's,
Thanks Fancy

[DNC]

can you buy a tracfone minute card with ECB's,
Thanks Fancy
No you can not.

[fancy]

dang! well thanks for the reply

[greenhighlighte]

Can more than one ExtraCare account be associated w/ a phone #? I just called customer service only to discover someone had registered their card w/ one of my phone numbers (that I've had for many years). I want to sign up for another card using that phone number to prevent it from happening again.

[CartmanLikesPie]

Can more than one ExtraCare account be associated w/ a phone #? I just called customer service only to discover someone had registered their card w/ one of my phone numbers (that I've had for many years). I want to sign up for another card using that phone number to prevent it from happening again.

I don't see how your signing up for another card would prevent anything...Normally, phone numbers are only used to look up your "Opps, I forgot my card" number when you are at the register (they are NOT your account number). Best case scenario, this other person forgets their card and gives the cashier "their" phone number and you get credit for the sale! If you are really worried, it would seem like the best course of action would be to call CVS customer service and explain the situation, maybe someone entered a wrong phone number when they sent in their form and it is correctable.
If you remember to bring your card every time this should not ever cause you any headaches (like your purchases being credited to someone else). As long as YOU have your card number with you, YOU will be the ONLY one getting credit for the purchases - even if this person duplicated your name, address, zip code & phone. The EC number is the important key to the account.


Can I have more than one card?

No, you cannot have more than one card to your name. However, you can have a card for everyone in your household.



Actually, I have 2 cards registered in my name - but one is listed with my work address and one at my home. Just FYI that this is not a hard & fast rule.

So I guess you can have multiple cards in your name if they have different addresses.

[mom2re91755]

Actually, I have 2 cards registered in my name - but one is listed with my work address and one at my home. Just FYI that this is not a hard & fast rule.

So I guess you can have multiple cards in your name if they have different addresses.

Yeah I see how that works out....

i will edit the post. thanks!

[omega]

Last time they have Viactiv free after ecb and it said limit 5. Does that mean I will get ecbs for the 5 I buy or only 1ecb and that sale price is for 5 items?

[mrsblack]

Last time they have Viactiv free after ecb and it said limit 5. Does that mean I will get ecbs for the 5 I buy or only 1ecb and that sale price is for 5 items?

You would get five ECB's for the five you bought at the sale price.

The Viactiv is a great example~

5 Viactiv on sale for $5.99=29.95-5 $1.00 off coupons=$24.95

oop $24.95, ECB's $29.95

[omega]

Thanks black. I used a rain check yesterday and the cashier at cvs refunded me 5.99 cash for one viactiv and she said I could buy the other one for sale price. Should I call cvs and say I got refunded for only one?

[mrsblack]

Thanks black. I used a rain check yesterday and the cashier at cvs refunded me 5.99 cash for one viactiv and she said I could buy the other one for sale price. Should I call cvs and say I got refunded for only one?

yes. She shold have honored the five limit. Hang onto your receipt and call CVS, they will likely just activate a $5.99 ECB in your account. :)

[omega]

Thanks

[DealsAllTheWay]

CVS ECB tracker

http://forums.slickdeals.net/showthread.php?sduid=39933&t=482276

[thiftylilone]

Where can the monthly ECB offers be found (like the March Pantene offer)? Thanks!

[lifeisgood26]

Where can the monthly ECB offers be found (like the March Pantene offer)? Thanks!

Basically, by reading the posts on here. There is no list of monthly deals that CVS puts out, so others happen to see one in their store or have one show up on their account, they post it here, and then we all know. Usually, but not always, offers in the weekly ad that say "limit 5" are monthly offers as well. Oh and your kitty avatar is totally awesome! :D

[thiftylilone]

Basically, by reading the posts on here. There is no list of monthly deals that CVS puts out, so others happen to see one in their store or have one show up on their account, they post it here, and then we all know. Usually, but not always, offers in the weekly ad that say "limit 5" are monthly offers as well. Oh and your kitty avatar is totally awesome! :D

Thanks about the avatar! :)

Does a monthly CVS ECB thread exist? I don't remember seeing one. :confused:

[bestco]

nice, thanks!

[greenhighlighte]

This isn't an ECB question so I hope it's ok to ask in here. Does CVS have a cosmetics exchange policy similar to the Rite Aid one? I can't find any info on their website.I bought the Almay lipstick for the ECB (and paid w/ ECB) but the color is horrendous on me. Is it possible to exchange it for a different color and will it affect my ECBs in any way?

[CartmanLikesPie]

What can you use ECBs on?

You can use them on almost anything in the store. Prescriptions, alcohol, tobacco, gift cards are excluded.



Okay, here is the skinny on purchasing Gift Cards with ECB's (thanks to Mrs.Black for tipping me off to the fact that this loophole existed). The fact is, you cannot purchase Gift Cards using ECB's alone. You CAN purchase gift cards using ECB's & Coupons! Or just using coupons alone...

Here is how it works...
1. Add up your total amount of coupons - this is how big of a gift card you can buy.
2. Go to the register with your stuff and ask for a gift card with a value no greater than your total amount of coupons. I toss down the gift card first and then hand over my actual products, then coupons, then ECB's, lastly paying the balance in cash.

Basically, ECB's cannot be used to pay for a gift card, but the savings from coupons is overlooked by the register. So you pay for your stuff with an ECB, but you pay for the gift card with the coupon savings from your stuff! The more coupons you use, the bigger a gift card you can buy. I try to work it so that I pay at least $5 to $10 out of pocket after all my ECB's and Coupons have been handed over so I don't arouse any suspicions, but that is just me...

Example, you have a 4 off 20, 5 off 15, a 2 off 10 CVS pharmacy purchase, & 4.75 in manufacturer coupons ---> total coupon value = $15.75. You want to buy $35 worth of goods and also get a $15 gift card ($50 total to buy).

In this case you could pay for your purchase with $15.75 in coupons + [up to] $34.24 ECB's and spend as little as $0.01 out of pocket! :eek: The register will allow this transaction and not alert anyone. I would probably use the $15.75 in coupons + $25 or so ECB's + $9.25 cash. Use some common sense and keep the OOP for your transaction realistic & try not to draw attention to your savings when using this technique. I wouldn't try this if a manager was ringing me up, or a coupon nazi cashier, but I have $80 in small denomination CVS gift cards that says the method works.:yummy:

This is also a great way to get that extra $5 filler you need to use your special coupons in the first place!

edit: Now that I think about it, if anyone were to challenge you about using ECB's in the same transaction as buying a gift card - you could point out that you DID NOT use any ECB money to buy the giftcard since the ECB's just paid for the value of the products in your order, technically the Gift Card was paid for with Cash and Savings! However, if someone is asking you those kinds of questions they probably won't let you get the gift card anyway...

[CartmanLikesPie]

Another one for the FAQ -

What about single ECB's worth more than $20?
These will generate an error message in the CVS register - "Amount exceeds department limit." Just FYI - a manager will have to come and enter their code (and maybe inspect your transaction) before a single ECB worth more than $20 will work. There is nothing wrong with the ECB, even though the cashier may act like there is...

[ladybuggs]

Okay, here is the skinny on purchasing Gift Cards with ECB's (thanks to Mrs.Black for tipping me off to the fact that this loophole existed). The fact is, you cannot purchase Gift Cards using ECB's alone. You CAN purchase gift cards using ECB's & Coupons! Or just using coupons alone...

Thanks for the info... it is really detailed and I want to try it... :nod:

[ladybuggs]

I just talked to a CVS rep that told me after you get a rain check and go back (with-in a month) and buy the product, call CVS and they will issue the ECB's that should have applied. :nod:




yes. She shold have honored the five limit. Hang onto your receipt and call CVS, they will likely just activate a $5.99 ECB in your account. :)

[Swirl]

Is there a limit to how many coupons I can use in one transaction?

According to corporate, you can use one CVS coupon and one Manufacturer coupon per item.

Thank you so much for posting the CVS information for those of us who are new to this!

I'm trying my best to avoid register beeps.

Is an ECB tape considered a CVS coupon?

Let's say I have 3 items in my cart. I have 2 ECB's (printed on two different tapes), one $/$$, and 3 manufacturer coupons. I'm ok right? One CVS coupon and one manufacturer coupon for each product?

It is OK to use more than one ECB tape in one transaction right?

[mrsblack]

Is an ECB tape considered a CVS coupon? yes

Let's say I have 3 items in my cart. I have 2 ECB's (printed on two different tapes), one $/$$, and 3 manufacturer coupons. I'm ok right? One CVS coupon and one manufacturer coupon for each product? yes this is ok.

It is OK to use more than one ECB tape in one transaction right? yes

hope that helps. :)

[derekchurch]

Where can I find the Heartbeat book? Is it in store only? Where in the store is it? no one around here knows what I am talking about.

[sterlingjeanne]

Where can I find the Heartbeat book? Is it in store only? Where in the store is it? no one around here knows what I am talking about.

It's In the store in the pharamacy area ... IF your store still has them. Seems like folks found them about 2 months ago (my stores got them a few weeks ago) ... but I've been looking and haven't found any for the last couple weeks. Ask the pharmacy (but often they arn't aware of it ... altho it is laying near the cash register). Check the information handout area. Good luck. Some people got extra and posted to be PMed... but not me.

[Chino]

What's so special about the Heartbeat book. I just picked up 5 in manhattan.

[schnauzermomma]

What's so special about the Heartbeat book. I just picked up 5 in manhattan.

You can use cvs coupons with manu coupons to increase your savings. For example, pair the Bayer coupon with manu coupons. Also, there is a $2 off $10 coupon in the book. Although it refers to cvs pharmacy items, it will take $2 off a $10 order that doesn't even have a cvs branded product - at least at ALL the stores near me. There's a coupon for $3 off a Life Fitness (maybe not right term, sorry, I'm too lazy/tired to go look it up), and there are some products that are $3 or less. Sometimes when they have coupons for $ off $ purchases, these items make a good filler as the product ends up being free. But to get the true picture, I think it best for you to spend time on the weekly threads too.

Good luck!

[Chino]

You can use cvs coupons with manu coupons to increase your savings. For example, pair the Bayer coupon with manu coupons. Also, there is a $2 off $10 coupon in the book. Although it refers to cvs pharmacy items, it will take $2 off a $10 order that doesn't even have a cvs branded product - at least at ALL the stores near me. There's a coupon for $3 off a Life Fitness (maybe not right term, sorry, I'm too lazy/tired to go look it up), and there are some products that are $3 or less. Sometimes when they have coupons for $ off $ purchases, these items make a good filler as the product ends up being free. But to get the true picture, I think it best for you to spend time on the weekly threads too.

Good luck!


Is the 2/10 YMMV? Thanks for the explanation. I have been hitting CVS the past 2 months and the coupons in the Heartbeat will save more.

[marisa724]

Is the 2/10 YMMV? Thanks for the explanation. I have been hitting CVS the past 2 months and the coupons in the Heartbeat will save more.

I have never tried it without at least one CVS brand product, but if you have a laid-back cashier something as small as a bottle of water or packet of tissues ($.50-99) would do.

[schnauzermomma]

I have never tried it without at least one CVS brand product, but if you have a laid-back cashier something as small as a bottle of water or packet of tissues ($.50-99) would do.

For safety sake I guess the first time a cheap filler cvs item would be a good way to go, but I don't think some of the cashiers I've had have always been oh so laid back. It's just an interesting quirk to their system.

But I also stand by my theory that handing coupons over one at a time also is helpful. That way, they really don't have time to focus their thoughts on any one coupon, because as I hand them over one by one, there is probably a line building behind me (that they can see, but I just have to ignore). And that line causes them to try to get those coupons through as I hand them over. If the coupon doesn't beep, it's good for them & good for me.

(But I don't use expireds or coupons for the wrong product, at least not ever intentionally.)

[Blitz28179]

Can you get the Valassis in the sunday paper too?Ive heard of the P&G coupons but not Valassis.

Ive interested in alot of things on the 6/10 CVS deal that has a Valassis coupon and trying to figure out how to get my hands on them.

[miranda]

Can you get the Valassis in the sunday paper too?Ive heard of the P&G coupons but not Valassis.

Yes. Valassis and Smart Source are the usual inserts in most Sunday and Weekend papers (and P&G is monthly).

I finally got my first heartbeat book last week :) I'm lucky enough to have lots of CVSs around me but that was the first and only heartbeat book I have ever seen. I'm glad I got a 2/10 in time to help out on the CVS sunblock deal this week.

[beeper]

Didn't see this mentioned, I am new to CVS deals and at the bottom of my EB coupon its says must present EasyCare card to redeem. I was wondering if that means we can't use EBs earned on one card during a transaction using a different card?

[schnauzermomma]

Didn't see this mentioned, I am new to CVS deals and at the bottom of my EB coupon its says must present EasyCare card to redeem. I was wondering if that means we can't use EBs earned on one card during a transaction using a different card?

That's correct. You must use the ecbs you earn with the card you earned them on. So you can't give someone else the ecbs you earn to use with their card. And if your family has more than one card, ecbs can only be used with the card they were earned on.

[greenhighlighte]

nm figured it out

[beeper]

Thanks schnauzermomma, one more wuick question I'm thinking of buying something for $2.99 and using $1 coupon and $2 EB. Will thatt cause the register to 'beep' and make the manager have to come since the total would be -.01 then or will the total just stop at zero and I won't have to pay anything?

[greenhighlighte]

Thanks schnauzermomma, one more wuick question I'm thinking of buying something for $2.99 and using $1 coupon and $2 EB. Will thatt cause the register to 'beep' and make the manager have to come since the total would be -.01 then or will the total just stop at zero and I won't have to pay anything?

the cashier would have to adjust the ECB down to $1.99. most of the cashiers i've encountered won't do that and i've had to buy cheap items to use my ECB. i know many posters haven't had trouble adjusting their ECB amounts, though.

[EricaAshley]

Can you buy gift cards with manuf. coupons at self checkout?

[schnauzermomma]

Thanks schnauzermomma, one more wuick question I'm thinking of buying something for $2.99 and using $1 coupon and $2 EB. Will thatt cause the register to 'beep' and make the manager have to come since the total would be -.01 then or will the total just stop at zero and I won't have to pay anything?

the cashier would have to adjust the ECB down to $1.99. most of the cashiers i've encountered won't do that and i've had to buy cheap items to use my ECB. i know many posters haven't had trouble adjusting their ECB amounts, though.

For one penny, most cashiers will make the adjustment. I've even had cashiers offer to adjust a $2 ecb to 76 cents, but WHY would I want to do that? :lol: Unless of course I had NO cash on me. :eek:

[lilcrisy]

I don't know if I read this somewhere or not, but I always seem to have a problem with my ecbs, and now sometimes the coupons they offer. They seem to always beep no matter how many items I have, and always seem to have to be written over. It's so frustrating and then I feel bad, especially if there are people waiting behind me. I have spoken to both corporate and managers instore. I thought it might be just the first card I had, but I got another one to see if the same thing would happen, and it did. I don't know what else to do. Can anyone help me with this. :)

[shino808]

I don't know if I read this somewhere or not, but I always seem to have a problem with my ecbs, and now sometimes the coupons they offer. They seem to always beep no matter how many items I have, and always seem to have to be written over. It's so frustrating and then I feel bad, especially if there are people waiting behind me. I have spoken to both corporate and managers instore. I thought it might be just the first card I had, but I got another one to see if the same thing would happen, and it did. I don't know what else to do. Can anyone help me with this. :)

If you use them in the last 24hrs of expiration, they will beep and say the cpn does not match the card. Then they will force it thru (if the cashier feels like it). If you have others expiring in the next 24hrs., you won't be able to use them because the cashier can only force 1 per trans., unless the cashier enters the other cpns (CRTs, ECBs) as store cpns. Most cashiers will not but YMMV.

[harperjn]

Just posting to point out the new threads that have been created today. Check sig for links. Please keep the ad threads to only listing which items work/don't work for deal, any new coupons found, price checks for KMA, etc. The "talk" threads are where you post about problems with cashiers, shopping lists, excitement over new ads, etc. This should help lesson the # of posts Annette has to read through. Thanks!!

[joyce686]

Can you buy gift cards with manuf. coupons at self checkout?

No you cannot. Anything that requires cashier manual input does not work at SCO, such as gift card, B1G1 coupons, high value coupons, or coupon that requires price modification (when coupon value is higher than retail price).

[SiloSmashers]

Is there a new heartbeat book coming out?

[exemplar]

No you cannot. Anything that requires cashier manual input does not work at SCO, such as gift card, B1G1 coupons, high value coupons, or coupon that requires price modification (when coupon value is higher than retail price).

What about $$ off $$ email coupons, can you use them at SCO?

[schnauzermomma]

What about $$ off $$ email coupons, can you use them at SCO?

Yes, but I'm not sure about the new $15 off $75. I do think their system is getting smarter, though, and you likely wouldn't be able to use one (ie $10 off $50) if you didn't have $50 as your subtotal. HTH

[mzmir]

question.

when you say SmartSource .. do you mean SmartSource.COM?
or what? :confused:

[marisa724]

question.

when you say SmartSource .. do you mean SmartSource.COM?
or what? :confused:

You can sometimes find the coupons at Smartsource.com, but typically it means the SmartSource insert that comes with the Sunday papers.

[chk224]

Yes, but I'm not sure about the new $15 off $75. I do think their system is getting smarter, though, and you likely wouldn't be able to use one (ie $10 off $50) if you didn't have $50 as your subtotal. HTH

So, does that mean that Self Check Outs stack coupons? Can I use a 10 off 50 and a 5 off 30 on the same order, even if my subtotal is 50? My subtotal after the 10 off 50 would be 40, so does the SCO recognize the 40 as my new subtotal, or does it remember that my original subtotal was only 50? TIA!

[schnauzermomma]

So, does that mean that Self Check Outs stack coupons? Can I use a 10 off 50 and a 5 off 30 on the same order, even if my subtotal is 50? My subtotal after the 10 off 50 would be 40, so does the SCO recognize the 40 as my new subtotal, or does it remember that my original subtotal was only 50? TIA!

It worked for me to use the 10/50 and 5/30, the one time I was at a SCO (out of town). HTH

[lisabdh1]

Nice thorough job -- thanks and rep!

Although I have to say that all the regular CVS posters ("the pros") seem to be the ones reading the thread... I'm afraid that you're preaching to the CVS choir. :lol:


Hi - newbie here. Thank you!!!! I am very excited to start this new *hobby* and hopefully this will help explain things.

[pakr2005]

CVS:
Why do the extra care coupons say "One coupon per customer"? I have sent my husband to buy two gallons of milk before, using two of the extra care $2 off coupons, and he was told that he could only use one per customer. Is there a written policy about this somewhere so I can just show it, rather that having to get tied up with phone calls with corporate over and over again with different store clerks?

[redfuzzycow]

dumb question alert:
if a product is advertised as B1G1F in the circular, does the price of both products, or just one, count towards your total? i want to know so i can know if i need a filler or not to make a $50 or $75 subtotal. thanks!

[KimD]

dumb question alert:
if a product is advertised as B1G1F in the circular, does the price of both products, or just one, count towards your total? i want to know so i can know if i need a filler or not to make a $50 or $75 subtotal. thanks!

It depends on when your cashier hits the "Total" button on the register. At my stores they don't do it until after they enter all the coupons, so the price of both products counts towards the total.

Some cashiers hit it right away though, which means only one product will count. Once you get to know your store(s)/cashiers you'll be able to plan better, until then it helps to have a backup plan.

CVS:
Why do the extra care coupons say "One coupon per customer"? I have sent my husband to buy two gallons of milk before, using two of the extra care $2 off coupons, and he was told that he could only use one per customer. Is there a written policy about this somewhere so I can just show it, rather that having to get tied up with phone calls with corporate over and over again with different store clerks?

We don't know why they say that. It's stupid, and incorrect, but there isn't a written policy. (life as usual at CVS...)

[NYKnick]

dumb question alert:
if a product is advertised as B1G1F in the circular, does the price of both products, or just one, count towards your total? i want to know so i can know if i need a filler or not to make a $50 or $75 subtotal. thanks!


If you can get the cashier to scan at least one item first b4 your card, the BOGO would come off at the end of the transaction.

[DNC]

CVS:
Why do the extra care coupons say "One coupon per customer"? I have sent my husband to buy two gallons of milk before, using two of the extra care $2 off coupons, and he was told that he could only use one per customer. Is there a written policy about this somewhere so I can just show it, rather that having to get tied up with phone calls with corporate over and over again with different store clerks?
I've understood it to mean one of the same coupon. IE: You can use one $1 ECB one $2 ECB and one $5 ECB, but not two $2 ECB's.

[lickadeal]

From my experience and from what my CVS manager says, you have to have as many items as you do coupons or it will beep.You can't use 2 ECB's on one item,you have to have 2 items for 2 ECB'S.Same goes rather its a $/$$ email coupon or manufacture coupon.For example. you have a $10 off $50, $4 0ff $20, 5 ECB's, and 8 manufacturer coupons.All together you have 15 coupons.You must have 15 items or you will get beeped.

[lov2teach]

Newbie to CVS here. Can you use the $/$$ coupons more than one time if you use them on different transactions on different days? I see the coupons have numbers on them so I was wondering if you couldn't use them again on the same card.
Thanks for your help.

[rekky]

Newbie to CVS here. Can you use the $/$$ coupons more than one time if you use them on different transactions on different days? I see the coupons have numbers on them so I was wondering if you couldn't use them again on the same card.
Thanks for your help.

Yea you can use the same coupons on different days, or even the same day at a different store.

[pakr2005]

I've understood it to mean one of the same coupon. IE: You can use one $1 ECB one $2 ECB and one $5 ECB, but not two $2 ECB's.

I was told on the phone yesterday by ecb customer service that the store managers may limit it to one ECB coupon per visit. Which mine apparently does. Yesterday I was not allowed to use two different ECB coupons on my purchases, only one, because of this. Wish we could find the rules in writing somewhere, because I was told the exact opposite months ago after spending hours on the phone with ECB customer service people.

[schnauzermomma]

I was told on the phone yesterday by ecb customer service that the store managers may limit it to one ECB coupon per visit. Which mine apparently does. Yesterday I was not allowed to use two different ECB coupons on my purchases, only one, because of this. Wish we could find the rules in writing somewhere, because I was told the exact opposite months ago after spending hours on the phone with ECB customer service people.

Some CVS CS folks don't know what they're talking about. Call CS and insist on speaking to a supervisor about this. Once they agree with you that it's one cvs coupon and one manu coupon per item, tell them you want it in writing to your email address.

[bazbaz65]

When will they get it through their heads that ECBs are not coupons!?

[Leenie]

I remember seeing a list of CVS brand products, but can't remember where. Other than Gold Emblem, what are some others? TIA

[schnauzermomma]

When will they get it through their heads that ECBs are not coupons!?

I SO agree. It irritates me to no end to use $20+ in ecbs and have the cashiers tell me how I got all the stuff 'free'. DUH!

I remember seeing a list of CVS brand products, but can't remember where. Other than Gold Emblem, what are some others? TIA

I know Lumene is one. I think someone said they thought CVS owned Skin Effects too. Oh yeah, and CVS owns the Playskool line of products too.

[lanea]

I remember seeing a list of CVS brand products, but can't remember where. Other than Gold Emblem, what are some others? TIA

...and Essence of Beauty.

[Leenie]

Okay, I thought I had been dreaming about Lumene being a CVS brand. I tried to use a $3/10 CVS brand products CRT today on my Lumene purchase and the cashier (a manager) told me that I could not. I told her that I thought Lumene was a CVS brand and she said, No, it would have to be Gold Emblem.

I called Customer Service to ask and the guy told me that it wasn't either??

In all honesty, I really wanted to stick it to the manager due to the way she scrutinized all of my legitimate coupons.

[mzmir]

Some CVS CS folks don't know what they're talking about. Call CS and insist on speaking to a supervisor about this. Once they agree with you that it's one cvs coupon and one manu coupon per item, tell them you want it in writing to your email address.

:nod:

[KimD]

Gold Emblem (already mentioned)
Essence of Beauty (already mentioned)
Playskool (already mentioned)

CVS/Pharmacy (of course)
Life Fitness

Christophe
Nuprin (they bought it, it's now exclusive to CVS)

Lumene IS a CVS only brand. See this from May/June 2007 link (http://privatelabelmag.com/pdf/pl_may07/2007DrugChainReport.cfm)(and print it to show to clue-free CVS employees)
Skin Effects is also a CVS only brand.

In the past couple of months, many new items have shown up on CVS shelves under its premium lines Essence of Beauty, Skin Effects and Lumene.

Lumene is an upscale Finnish skincare and cosmetics line. The line offers shoppers everything from anti-aging creams, to lipstick, to a cosmetic brush cleaner. At each CVS store, a pamphlet is provided at the area where the make-up is displayed. The pamphlet provides shoppers with an extensive description of the products under the line, and also tips on how to apply each particular make-up category.

The line includes items such as hydra drops-an ultra light make-up, and a skin supporter-a lifting make-up, 3 different types of mascara, eye shadow in either a duo case or a solo case, and four different lipsticks in several shades.

Most of the products’ ingredients include wild Scandinavian berries to aid in radiance, and cloudberry (also knows as “the Arctic orange”) for its vitamin C. Face care products include intensive renewing eye serum and 5-minute invigorating facial mask both for $15.99, and energy cocktail pampering drops and energy cocktail fortifying cream both for $17.99. A new product from Lumene is radient C beauty drops, an age-defying serum.

Skin Effects is the latest proprietary line of skin care products available only at CVS. Described as one of the most advanced anti-aging skincare regimens available, Skin Effects was developed by Dr. Jeffrey Dover, an associate clinical professor of dermatology at Yale University School of Medicine. All of the products are designed to make the skin look and feel younger.

The products range from $6.99 for purifying effects deep-cleaning enzyme scrub and cleansing effects gentle foaming cleanser, to $15.99 for daily anti-aging treatment cream with SPF 15 to $29.99 for wrinkle relaxing cream with lycopene. New to the line is a $15.99 targeted anti-aging treatment for problem areas, under the sub-line, Renewing Effects. In addition, new to this sub-line is an intensive overnight cream. Other notable Skin Effects items are Flawless Effects redness control laser correcting treatment with red algae concentrate, and Eye Effects dual action under eye therapy, which reduces dark circles and puffiness. Both are priced at $19.99.

CVS Essence of Beauty range has been growing with fervor, with exotic scents and innovative bath and body items pooping up on shelves. A few new scents include citrus coconut, cherries in bloom, pomegranate apple, blue ocean and walnut whip. Products include body scrubs, shower gel with a unique hook to hang in the shower, a body mist, and a plush robe along with other body care accessories. CVS also has an alluring method of advertizing its Essence of Beauty line–the retailer uses a pamphlet detailing some of the new scents and products by including a ‘scratch and sniff’ option for shoppers to sample the scents before choosing one. (See Jan/Feb 2006 PL issue for more information on CVS exclusive brands.)

And an older article referenced above about CVS private labels - it's interesting!
http://privatelabelmag.com/pdf/jan_2006/Ryan-Preaches-PL-to-CVS-Team.cfm

Edited to add text from the above article, since people aren't reading it.

CVS chief executive officer Tom Ryan has directed merchandise managers to raise private label share up to 20% of front-end sales--a charge that is being led by a growing force of exclusive beauty care lines and corporate brands.

“We’ve given our merchants the charge that within he next three to five years, private label should be 18% to 20% of our front end sales,” says Tom Ryan, chairman, chief executive officer, and president of CVS Corp., Woonsocket, RI. Store brands currently account for 13% of total front-end sales.
...
To increase front-end sales, Ryan pointed to the growth of proprietary products at CVS including Lumene, Skin Effects, Nuprin, and Christophe Beverly Hills. He also noted that CVS is planning to introduce a new exclusive line of diapers under the Playskool brand.

Exclusive Brands

Since 2003, CVS has focused on developing exclusive partnerships with prestige beauty care companies to help drive front-end sales.

Introduced in the summer of 2003, Lumene was the first exclusive line adopted. It is an upscale Finnish skincare and cosmetics line.

CVS has recently extended this line of premium skin care products to include Lumene Vitamin+, which offers products with berry and vitamin ingredients for age-defying skin care. A pamphlet can be found on shelves next to the products to explain each of the products and what it does.

Most of the products’ ingredients include wild Scandinavian berries to aid in radiance, and cloudberry (also knows as “the Arctic orange”) for its vitamin C. Products include intensive renewing eye serum and 5-minute invigorating facial mask both for $15.99, and energy cocktail pampering drops and energy cocktail fortifying cream both for $17.99.

Other sub-categories of the Lumene brand include:

Lumene Blue (moisture and protection products for different skin types),
Lumene Control (oil-free products for oily and combination skin),
Lumene Sensitive (products for sensitive skin),
Lumene Lifting (firming and moisturizing program for mature skin),
Lumene Cleansing (daily cleansing and weekly deep cleansing products), and Body Aktiva (body care line with firming, refreshing, exfoliating, moisturizing, and relaxing products).

Also the Lumene Skin Tech for men line is the latest in a string of beauty products for men being introduced by retailers in the drug store channel (see Bath & Body category, PL September/October 2005 issue.)

The line includes a 3.4oz bottle face scrub for $8.99, a 1.7oz renewing face cream for $12.99, a 6.8oz shaving foam for $5.99, a 3.4oz sensitive after-shave for $8.99, and a 1oz magic lotion (for moisturizing and removing signs of fatigue) for $12.99.

Cristophe Beverly Hills made its debut in May 2004. This “masstige” hair care line is designed to offer consumers salon quality products at mass market price points. Products within the line are divided into four categories color-coded by type of hair:

1. Volumizing for fine, thin or lifeless hair;
2. Hydrating for curly, dry or damaged hair;
3. Smoothing for straight or wavy hair;
4. Finishing for all hair types.

New to the Cristophe range is a line of color-coded salon-style hair brushes.
...
Boots The Chemist is an exclusive test market (in the drug store channel) in 12 CVS stores in Connecticut. The UK retailer has installed “implants” or kiosks that display several of its premium Boots brands including its famous No7 brand which is Britain’s top-selling range of skin care, anti-aging treatments and color cosmetics. Other lines in the Boots USA collection include: Botanics, Time Dimensions, Mediterranean, Eastern, Detox, Sleep, and The Sanctuary.

Most items in the collection retail between $3.99 and $19.99 with a few beauty care kits priced at $34.99.

Skin Effects is the latest proprietary line of skin care products available only at CVS. Described as one of the most advanced anti-aging skincare regimens available, Skin Effects was developed by Dr. Jeffrey
...
In addition to its store brand, CVS has several other corporate brands.

Essence of Beauty, which made its debut in 2001, has evolved from a professional salon hair care line to a line of make-up products and foot products. Items in the line include makeup brushes and sponges, makeup remover creams and pads, and foot files. Prices range from $3.99 to $5.99.

The Nuprin brand of analgesics, which CVS acquired from Bristol-Myers Squibb, has extended the brand across several other categories including allergy, cough-cold, and topical analgesics.

Gold Emblem, launched in 1995, was one of the first premium store brand food lines introduced by a major drug store chain. It consists of high-volume consumables and includes spices, nuts, snacks, cookies and bottled spring water.

[rekky]

Gold Emblem (already mentioned)
Essence of Beauty (already mentioned)
Playskool (already mentioned)

CVS/Pharmacy (of course)
Life Fitness

Christophe
Nuprin (they bought it, it's now exclusive to CVS)


Not to doubt, but has anyone used a 3/10 CVS brand CRT on Essence of Beauty? I was unable to once, and once bitten, twice shy.. or whatever that saying is!

[Leenie]

Gold Emblem (already mentioned)
Essence of Beauty (already mentioned)
Playskool (already mentioned)

CVS/Pharmacy (of course)
Life Fitness

Christophe
Nuprin (they bought it, it's now exclusive to CVS)

Lumene IS a CVS only brand. See this from May/June 2007 link (http://privatelabelmag.com/pdf/pl_may07/2007DrugChainReport.cfm)(and print it to show to clue-free CVS employees)
Skin Effects is also a CVS only brand.

In the past couple of months, many new items have shown up on CVS shelves under its premium lines Essence of Beauty, Skin Effects and Lumene.

Lumene is an upscale Finnish skincare and cosmetics line. The line offers shoppers everything from anti-aging creams, to lipstick, to a cosmetic brush cleaner. At each CVS store, a pamphlet is provided at the area where the make-up is displayed. The pamphlet provides shoppers with an extensive description of the products under the line, and also tips on how to apply each particular make-up category.

The line includes items such as hydra drops-an ultra light make-up, and a skin supporter-a lifting make-up, 3 different types of mascara, eye shadow in either a duo case or a solo case, and four different lipsticks in several shades.

Most of the products’ ingredients include wild Scandinavian berries to aid in radiance, and cloudberry (also knows as “the Arctic orange”) for its vitamin C. Face care products include intensive renewing eye serum and 5-minute invigorating facial mask both for $15.99, and energy cocktail pampering drops and energy cocktail fortifying cream both for $17.99. A new product from Lumene is radient C beauty drops, an age-defying serum.

Skin Effects is the latest proprietary line of skin care products available only at CVS. Described as one of the most advanced anti-aging skincare regimens available, Skin Effects was developed by Dr. Jeffrey Dover, an associate clinical professor of dermatology at Yale University School of Medicine. All of the products are designed to make the skin look and feel younger.

The products range from $6.99 for purifying effects deep-cleaning enzyme scrub and cleansing effects gentle foaming cleanser, to $15.99 for daily anti-aging treatment cream with SPF 15 to $29.99 for wrinkle relaxing cream with lycopene. New to the line is a $15.99 targeted anti-aging treatment for problem areas, under the sub-line, Renewing Effects. In addition, new to this sub-line is an intensive overnight cream. Other notable Skin Effects items are Flawless Effects redness control laser correcting treatment with red algae concentrate, and Eye Effects dual action under eye therapy, which reduces dark circles and puffiness. Both are priced at $19.99.

CVS Essence of Beauty range has been growing with fervor, with exotic scents and innovative bath and body items pooping up on shelves. A few new scents include citrus coconut, cherries in bloom, pomegranate apple, blue ocean and walnut whip. Products include body scrubs, shower gel with a unique hook to hang in the shower, a body mist, and a plush robe along with other body care accessories. CVS also has an alluring method of advertizing its Essence of Beauty line–the retailer uses a pamphlet detailing some of the new scents and products by including a ‘scratch and sniff’ option for shoppers to sample the scents before choosing one. (See Jan/Feb 2006 PL issue for more information on CVS exclusive brands.)

And an older article referenced above about CVS private labels - it's interesting!
http://privatelabelmag.com/pdf/jan_2006/Ryan-Preaches-PL-to-CVS-Team.cfm

Thank you for that! That reminds me that at this same store I was not allowed to use a CVS brand CRT on Life Fitness. Again I was told only Gold Emblem.:mad:

[pakr2005]

Advice again: DO NOT call ECB (number on back of card). Instead, call "Customer Relations". That is because the ECB personnel do not know what they are talking about and will give contradictory and incorrect information. Like the one I talked to two days ago who told me on the phone in front of the clerk at the store, that managers could do whatever they wanted with the ECB coupons, could limit it to only one if they want to. So then two days later I called again, but spoke with customer relations. They said that no, they have a standard policy and that ALL STORES are to follow it. That they put out EXPLICIT directions, and that it was still the same as last time I called them about it several months ago, that it is NOT limited one per customer, but is one PER ITEM. So they called the store manager, who will retrain and clarify with the store employee and other store staff that did this to me. He was so INCREDIBLY NASTY to me!
I should have asked for it in writing this time, But forgot to. Because I know I will run into this same problem at another store or with another employee!

[mzmir]

ok, i have a question.

2nd Quarter, my mom spent 20.27 & she got back 1ECB for it.
on the front page it says that she should have gotten nothing

is there an error? :confused:

[DNC]

ok, i have a question.

2nd Quarter, my mom spent 20.27 & she got back 1ECB for it.
on the front page it says that she should have gotten nothing

is there an error? :confused:
Did she ever use one of those triple ecb coupons? So you'd earn 6% instead of 2% on purchases.

[yuki]

I signed up for an Extra Care card in store early this month and when I login my account online for some reason the information under 'account details' is completely blank. Would I have to update my mailing address and email address to receive the cvs coupons? Does cvs actually mail anything out or just email coupons and offers to our email address?

[mrsblack]

I signed up for an Extra Care card in store early this month and when I login my account online for some reason the information under 'account details' is completely blank. Would I have to update my mailing address and email address to receive the cvs coupons? Does cvs actually mail anything out or just email coupons and offers to our email address?

You should definately update your account with your email address, home address and phone number (trust me they have never called me). I get all the online Q's and several Q's mailed to my home. The best part of the home Q's is that CVS will stack one CVS Q and one manuf Q. sweet.

[ydk]

How are the quarterly spending calculated? I made a few purchases today and the summer 2007 spending didn't seems to change at all. Is it the amount before the coupons are applied or the final total after all the coupons are applied that is added to the quarterly spending?

[mzmir]

Did she ever use one of those triple ecb coupons? So you'd earn 6% instead of 2% on purchases.

dont think so. She doesn't even know what's ECB. :lol:

[howdy_tx]

curios, on the ad, it says "limit of 1 per card number". does it really limit to 1 per card?? ie: if I purchase once already, go back the next day at different location, would I still receive the ECB for the same product ??? (during the same week's sale) thanks.

[bazbaz65]

curios, on the ad, it says "limit of 1 per card number". does it really limit to 1 per card?? ie: if I purchase once already, go back the next day at different location, would I still receive the ECB for the same product ??? (during the same week's sale) thanks.

Yes, it really means 1 per card. If you want to do the deal more than once, you would have to have more than one card. Some people have a card for each member in their family - I find 1 card is all I can keep up with. :)

[mrrickva]

I went to CVS, picked up a card and application but when I tried to access it online by only typing in the card number while leaving zip code and last name blank, I got the error msg "Invalid ExtraCare card number, ZIP code, or last name. Please try again." Do I need to fill out the paper application and return it to CVS?

Here's One I have seen asked a few times:

For those with more than one card, what info do you put down to register them?
If you use/have multiple Extracare Cards, you do not have to register all of them. You will not recieve email offers, but you can still access the card online by just putting in the EC card number and leaving the other fields blank (your info will appear as "null, null, null"). ExtraCare bucks will still accrue & you will still get coupons printed out from the register too.
.

[bazbaz65]

I went to CVS, picked up a card and application but when I tried to access it online by only typing in the card number while leaving zip code and last name blank, I got the error msg "Invalid ExtraCare card number, ZIP code, or last name. Please try again." Do I need to fill out the paper application and return it to CVS?


You have to put in the zip code and last name as well as the card number....that's why it was "invalid."

[marisa724]

You have to put in the zip code and last name as well as the card number....that's why it was "invalid."

You also may need to wait 48 hours after it's been activated for the information to show up online.

[mrrickva]

You also may need to wait 48 hours after it's been activated for the information to show up online.

I was trying to do as in post #1 'For those with more than one card, what info do you put down to register them? If you use/have multiple Extracare Cards, you do not have to register all of them. You will not recieve email offers, but you can still access the card online by just putting in the EC card number and leaving the other fields blank (your info will appear as "null, null, null").'

I was trying access the account online WITHOUT registering it

[schnauzermomma]

I was trying to do as in post #1 'For those with more than one card, what info do you put down to register them? If you use/have multiple Extracare Cards, you do not have to register all of them. You will not recieve email offers, but you can still access the card online by just putting in the EC card number and leaving the other fields blank (your info will appear as "null, null, null").'

I was trying access the account online WITHOUT registering it

Had you even used the card once yet? That might have been the key. I think when you use it for the first time, it takes about 48 hours for the system to realize it's there. Why were you trying to look at it online anyway?

[bdkorn]

This might be a stupid question but can one use earned ECB's against someone else's ExtraCare card?

[schnauzermomma]

This might be a stupid question but can one use earned ECB's against someone else's ExtraCare card?

If you'd have read the great info in this thread, you'd know the answer to this. But I'm feeling generous, so I'll tell you - NO, your ecbs are tied to the card they were earned on and can only be used with it.

[mrsblack]

BUMPING!!!

There seems to be a ton of CVS noobies lately, PLEASE read this thread!!


:)

[Leenie]

I remember reading about transferring from one Extra Care Card to a new card and how it would give you all new expiration dates. Well I wanted to try it, so I picked up a new card and called CVS to transfer from my old card to the new card.

The CSR told me that none of my old Extra Bucks were going to print out on the new card. Only Extra Bucks that had not ever been printed. Is that true? If that's the case, I've screwed up big time.:confused:

Has anyone transferred from an old card to a new card and had all the EBs print out on the new card?

[Maluskills]

I lost my $15ECB from a few weeks back and I don't see my ECB's under the current coupons section of my account page...any ideas?

[lanea]

I remember reading about transferring from one Extra Care Card to a new card and how it would give you all new expiration dates. Well I wanted to try it, so I picked up a new card and called CVS to transfer from my old card to the new card.

The CSR told me that none of my old Extra Bucks were going to print out on the new card. Only Extra Bucks that had not ever been printed. Is that true? If that's the case, I've screwed up big time.:confused:

Has anyone transferred from an old card to a new card and had all the EBs print out on the new card?

I've done it -- I lost my card, called and requested a new card and had my ECB's transferred at that time. When I got my card, the ECB didn't print out, so I e-mailed them and they printed out after 48 hrs. My e-mail did start out like this:
"As a 1 time courtesy I have created a coupon in the amount of ..."
I've never had an expired coupon reset, so I don't know if they mean they will only reprint ECB's one time, or something? Or if the problem occurs because you didn't transfer the ECB's at the time you switched cards? But I wouldn't let it go. CVS has your old and new account information, so this is something they should be able to do for you. One thing you might try is to call back and tell them you found your card again and want to have it re-activated. I don't know how much $$ you have with them, but I wouldn't let it go without a fight. Another person had this problem, but I don't know how their situation turned out. Here's my post from last time; if you call then let us know what happened. Good luck!
7318210

[cnct_agl]

:wave2: Hello CVS gurus :) .. I have a few humble questions for your brilliance :)

BUTT-:kiss:

the 1st post and wiki didn't seem to cover them.. but, there is so much there, please bear with me if I missed an answer there...

1. How soon after a purchase can an ECB be accessed and printed ? Instantly ? 24 hours ?

2. With the $4 off $20 or $10 off $50 type coupons, does bottle deposit count towards the total that you need to spend for the coupon ?

ie. If I buy 3 Coke 12pks here, I will pay $8 + $3.60 in bottle deposit.. (the price in MI is 3/$8).. does $8 or $11.60 count towards what I need to spend to use the coupon ?)

3. Can ESB's be used to buy CVS giftcards ?

[SlicKitty]

I'm excited. I have an $8 coupon waiting for my next purchase!

[KimD]

I lost my $15ECB from a few weeks back and I don't see my ECB's under the current coupons section of my account page...any ideas?

When CVS changed to instant-printing ECBs, they stopped showing them on the account page. So you'll never see them there. The only ones that show up there are the quarterly ECBs.

Hi.. I have a few of questions that the 1st post and wiki didn't seem to cover.. (but, there is so much there, please bear with me if I missed an answer there... :)

1. How soon after a purchase can an ECB be accessed and printed ? Instantly ? 24 hours ?

2. With the $4 off $20 or $10 off $50 type coupons, does bottle deposit count towards the total that you need to spend for the coupon ?

3. Can ESB's be used to buy CVS giftcards ?

1. They print instantly at the register. You can no longer access them and/or print them online.

2. I have no idea! The coupons probably won't beep if your total is under $20 (or $50), but the cashier might tell you you can't use it.

3. Nope.

[cnct_agl]

1. They print instantly at the register. You can no longer access them and/or print them online.

2. I have no idea! The coupons probably won't beep if your total is under $20 (or $50), but the cashier might tell you you can't use it.

3. Nope.
Thanks :) :) :) That was fast ! You even answered before I could edit in my "blatant butt-kiss" :lol:

Normally, when I buy Coke, the deposit is put right in the total of a purchase.. listed right after the Coke as another item.. but I haven't bought it at CVS before..

[2knotheads]

:wave2: Hello CVS gurus :) .. I have a few humble questions for your brilliance :)

"BUTT-:kiss:"

the 1st post and wiki didn't seem to cover them.. but, there is so much there, please bear with me if I missed an answer there...

1. How soon after a purchase can an ECB be accessed and printed ? Instantly ? 24 hours ?

2. With the $4 off $20 or $10 off $50 type coupons, does bottle deposit count towards the total that you need to spend for the coupon ?

ie. If I buy 3 Coke 12pks here, I will pay $8 + $3.60 in bottle deposit.. (the price in MI is 3/$8).. does $8 or $11.60 count towards what I need to spend to use the coupon ?)

3. Can ESB's be used to buy CVS giftcards ?


To answer your first question, the ECB's print instantly now except for the quarterly ones. Those print usually towards the beginning of the next quarter.

Maybe someone else can chime in on the other two questions.

[KimD]

Thanks :) :) :)

Normally, deposit is put right in the total of a purchase.. listed right after the pop as another item.. but I haven't bought it at CVS before..

It took me forever to figure out that every cashier at my store only looks at the after-tax total, so I've spent 10 months making sure I spent the total amount, when I could have been a dollar or two under. YMMV of course, but since it's money CVS gets and keeps, I'd try it.

[miranda]

Normally, when I buy Coke, the deposit is put right in the total of a purchase.. listed right after the Coke as another item.. but I haven't bought it at CVS before..

It's the same way at CVS. I pulled out one of my old receipts to make sure (I don't know why I keep them), the deposit shows up on the line immediately under the soda purchase so it should be a part of the total.
I love buying soda at CVS so I can use my coupons to pay the deposit. I know I'm still technically paying it, but at least it's not with "real money." Then I still get it back later.

[mrsblack]

Thanks :) :) :) That was fast ! You even answered before I could edit in my "blatant butt-kiss" :lol:

Normally, when I buy Coke, the deposit is put right in the total of a purchase.. listed right after the Coke as another item.. but I haven't bought it at CVS before..

Yes, bottle deposit does count towards your total. I often buy soda at CVS and always have to remember to add in the deposit amount. :)

Oh duh LOL Miranda already answered. I am so not awake yet!

[ydk]

I have never fill any prescriptions at CVS before. Will CVS accept a Rite Aid coupon for a free gift card when we transfer our prescription to CVS. Can I get the free gift card when I go in to get prescriptions for my father and just show his healthcare card? Or will he have to pick up the prescriptions himself? Also, will I be able to get another gift card the next time I fill any prescription after I had transferred my prescription to CVS?

[schnauzermomma]

I have never fill any prescriptions at CVS before. Will CVS accept a Rite Aid coupon for a free gift card when we transfer our prescription to CVS. Can I get the free gift card when I go in to get prescriptions for my father and just show his healthcare card? Or will he have to pick up the prescriptions himself? Also, will I be able to get another gift card the next time I fill any prescription after I had transferred my prescription to CVS?

As long as you have a Rite Aid in your city, I expect your CVS will accept their coupon. They do here. You get the gift card AFTER you pay for the prescription you're picking up.

Generally speaking, they let me pick up prescriptions for other family members, but not knowing what kind of medicine you're talking about, there's a chance they could require your dad to pick it up.

Once your prescription is filled at CVS one time, you cannot get another gift card for that same prescription at that CVS. You could, though, transfer the prescription to another store (ie Target), then try to transfer it back. But that's a YMMV situation, you'd just have to chance what the store decided.

[ydk]

Once your prescription is filled at CVS one time, you cannot get another gift card for that same prescription at that CVS. You could, though, transfer the prescription to another store (ie Target), then try to transfer it back. But that's a YMMV situation, you'd just have to chance what the store decided.

I'm confused. So we only get the free gift card once no matter what kind of prescription it is. Or can I go back and get another gift card when I fill a prescription that is different than the one that was previously filled. What if I filled the prescription somewhere else after the first time and then go back to CVS to fill another prescription. Is that what you mean by transferring back?

[cnct_agl]

To answer your first question, the ECB's print instantly now except for the quarterly ones. Those print usually towards the beginning of the next quarter.

Maybe someone else can chime in on the other two questions. thanks :)
It's the same way at CVS. I pulled out one of my old receipts to make sure (I don't know why I keep them), the deposit shows up on the line immediately under the soda purchase so it should be a part of the total.
I love buying soda at CVS so I can use my coupons to pay the deposit. I know I'm still technically paying it, but at least it's not with "real money." Then I still get it back later.
Yes, bottle deposit does count towards your total. I often buy soda at CVS and always have to remember to add in the deposit amount. :)

Oh duh LOL Miranda already answered. I am so not awake yet!

:woot: ........... :muahaha:........... :evil:

thanks ! - deposit is a great "filler," I return all my cans, so for me, paying for deposit really isn't spending anything at all :lol:

My first CVS trip on Friday.. I can't wait :woot2:

[Jennifer]

Wheee! That was fun! I basically just went with the Kraft deal and had hoped to get the $2.99 Aquafresh, too. Unfortunately, the Aquafresh was OOS, but I got a raincheck and hope to call the 800 number to earn my ECBs at a later date. I did earn my $20 and get some healthy food items. :)

I'm hoping to roll my ECBs and get "free" necessities for my family. (Hubby's looking for work.)Which thread do I turn to next? DO I just go tot the dated/weekly posts and see what appeals to me?

I'm also learning about couponing at the same time and still trying to decide if using coupons before or after ECBs is the way to go. Can anyone recommend a Southern NJ store that allows stacking and/or multiple MFCs? So much to read; so much to do.

Thank you to everyone willing to direct my attention and help my family. Every $1 counts!

Jennifer

[tiger_grrl]

Thanks for doing this. I'm just starting to play the CVS game and this answered all my questions. Perhaps a link can be added to each new week's thread. I found this through a search and I think someone's signature line.

[KimD]

I added this info to the Wiki...

About CVS Threads:
There's a few things we do here to keep information easy to find and these threads easy to navigate.

There are two CVS threads for each weekly ad. How do you know what to put where?

- Anything that everyone needs to know should go here in the Ad/Deals thread (prices, coupons, what worked that shouldn't have, what didn't work that should have).
Ask yourself: "Does someone who is checking this thread via dialup before going to CVS really need to know this information?" If not, put it in the Discussion thread! For this week (8/12-8/18, the discussion thread is HERE (http://forums.slickdeals.net/showthread.php?p=7499429#post7499429).

- Things like questions, scenarios, what you plan to buy, what you bought, how great the deals are, how bad the deals are, chat, etc, should all go in the discussion threads.

Keeping track of all the CVS threads:
Subscribe to the threads you want to keep track of. (See links below)

To subscribe to a thread when you're already in the thread:
- go to the top of the page
- click on Thread Tools on the upper right hand side
- click Subscribe to this thread

To see the threads you've subscribed to, click "User CP". It's at the top of every page on the left. Any of your subscribed threads that have new posts will show in the center of the page. You can also click “View all subscribed threads” to see all threads, whether they have new posts or not.

(You can also 'sticky' every CVS thread to the top (also under Thread Tools), so if you go into Hot Deals or Deal Talk or Coupons you see all CVS threads at the top of the page.)

Current List of all CVS threads:

CVS FAQ (http://forums.slickdeals.net/showthread.php?sduid=59052&t=476573)(If you're new to CVS please start here!)

Week of 8/12-8/18
Ad/Deals (http://forums.slickdeals.net/showthread.php?p=7452154#post7452154)
Questions/Discussion/Talk/Chat/Scenarios (http://forums.slickdeals.net/showthread.php?p=7499429#post7499429)

Week of 8/19-8/25
Ad/Deals (http://forums.slickdeals.net/showthread.php?sduid=59052&t=576687)
Questions/Discussion/Talk/Chat/Scenarios (http://forums.slickdeals.net/showthread.php?p=7589937#post7589937)

Monthly deals for August (for the first time they're listed in a Booklet!)
Deals (http://forums.slickdeals.net/showthread.php?t=564264)
Discussion (http://forums.slickdeals.net/showthread.php?p=7315045#post7315045)

CVS Printable Coupons (When new CVS $/$ coupons are emailed they *will* show up here right away!)
Coupon (http://forums.slickdeals.net/showthread.php?sduid=59052&t=528736) thread

Other CVS Threads:
So Cal (http://forums.slickdeals.net/showthread.php?sduid=59052&t=539149&highlight=cvs)
Clearance (http://forums.slickdeals.net/showthread.php?t=539322)
SCO List (Self Check Out) (http://forums.slickdeals.net/showthread.php?sduid=59052&t=540399)

[Jennifer]

Another thing I would like to see here (NEWBIE POV):

ECBs = CVS coupons

So, if you are buying 5 items, you my use 5 manufacturer coupons and 5 CVS coupons (based on FAQ below).


Is there a limit to how many coupons I can use in one transaction?

According to corporate, you can use one CVS coupon and one Manufacturer coupon per item.


If you want to use another CVS coupon (ie: $4 off a $20 purchase --> aka $4/20 or $/$$), you need to have an additional item!

[KimD]

Another thing I would like to see here (NEWBIE POV):

ECBs = CVS coupons

So, if you are buying 5 items, you my use 5 manufacturer coupons and 5 CVS coupons (based on FAQ below).


Is there a limit to how many coupons I can use in one transaction?

According to corporate, you can use one CVS coupon and one Manufacturer coupon per item.

If you want to use another CVS coupon (ie: $4 off a $20 purchase --> aka $4/20 or $/$$), you need to have an additional item!

Note that the following are also considered CVS coupons:
BOGO sale by CVS
B1G150% off by CVS
Triple ECB email coupon
CVS snail-mail coupons
CRTs

And as already stated $/$ email coupons and ECBs

Every CVS coupon needs 1 item.


Edited to add the following example:

Example: If you buy CVS brand vitamins and they are BOGO, you want to use the $3/$10 CRT and pay with an ECB, here's what happens.

CVS vitamin #1 - 5.00
CVS vitamin #2 - 5.00
Total: $10

Computer applies BOGO to item #`1 as -$5
Computer applies $3/$10 CRT to item #2 as -$3

Your balance is $2, but if you give them an ECB, the computer rejects it, because it's your 3rd CVS coupon for that order. Buy another item - that's what people here call "filler items"

[kikololi]

I have a question...i have never seen a CRT in the CVS i go to in NY...are CRT only availble in certain locations?

[tiger_grrl]

Question-
If a deal requires purchase of 2 (ie buy 2 get $4 ecb), can I purchase them at 2 different CVSs on the same day and the ECB will print out at the second store?

[miranda]

I have a question...i have never seen a CRT in the CVS i go to in NY...are CRT only availble in certain locations?

I'm not sure what you mean here - are you asking about card scanners? If so, those aren't in all stores. CRTs are CVS coupons that can be printed from card scanners or appear that the end of your receipt with your ECBs. If you are new to CVS then it may take some time before you start getting CRTs but after you've been doing the deals for awhile they will start printing for you.

Question-
If a deal requires purchase of 2 (ie buy 2 get $4 ecb), can I purchase them at 2 different CVSs on the same day and the ECB will print out at the second store?

Sometimes. It should say in the ad if you need to buy all items at once, if it doesn't say that then you should be fine buying them in multiple transactions and the ECB will print on the receipt as soon as you make the final purchase.

[kikololi]

I'm not sure what you mean here - are you asking about card scanners? If so, those aren't in all stores. CRTs are CVS coupons that can be printed from card scanners or appear that the end of your receipt with your ECBs. If you are new to CVS then it may take some time before you start getting CRTs but after you've been doing the deals for awhile they will start printing for you.

Sometimes. It should say in the ad if you need to buy all items at once, if it doesn't say that then you should be fine buying them in multiple transactions and the ECB will print on the receipt as soon as you make the final purchase.

I am pretty new at CVS...Aug 5th is the first time i start doing the deals...i always shop at CVS but never got the card or do any deals...after i discovered SD and HCW...my life pretty much changed..lol...you guys are so great here...i guess i will just be patience and wait for my CRTs to appear one day...Thanks for the explanation!

[Sojourn]

Another thing I would like to see here (NEWBIE POV):

ECBs = CVS coupons

So, if you are buying 5 items, you my use 5 manufacturer coupons and 5 CVS coupons (based on FAQ below).


This is not true with BOGOs. The OPs post needs to be updated. With a BOGO coupon, CVS ties up both items with the one manufacturers coupon. Therefore, if you purchase 10 BOGO items, you can only use 5 BOGO coupons. You can not use a second manufacturers $$ off coupon for those other 5 items. I have not encountered that same problem with the CVS coupons.

I highly disagree with this practice. CVS and/or the manufacturer is forcing you to pay the "full" price for half of the order during the sale week.

Also, OP, update to state that ECBs and coupons print out at register only. They can no longer be accessed online.

[miranda]

This is not true with BOGOs. The OPs post needs to be updated. With a BOGO coupon, CVS ties up both items with the one manufacturers coupon. Therefore, if you purchase 10 BOGO items, you can only use 5 BOGO coupons. You can not use a second manufacturers $$ off coupon for those other 5 items. I have not encountered that same problem with the CVS coupons.

That all depends on how the man. coupon is coded. Many people, including myself, bought 4 Olay Body Washes while they were on sale and used two BOGO coupons, $6 off 3, and $3 off 2. Sometimes the order the coupons are presented matters, sometimes it doesn't. I've never seen any evidence that man. coupons work any differently at CVS than they do anywhere else.

I wouldn't count on the OP updating any time soon since it's been a long time since the last update. The Wiki post is the best place for updates. I did add to the part about ECBs that they print immediately now. I think the quarterly ones may still be accessible online, but I'm not sure and it obviously doesn't come up very much.

[CartmanLikesPie]

I went to CVS, picked up a card and application but when I tried to access it online by only typing in the card number while leaving zip code and last name blank, I got the error msg "Invalid ExtraCare card number, ZIP code, or last name. Please try again." Do I need to fill out the paper application and return it to CVS?

Sorry it took so long to get back to you, I don't check the FAQ too often these days...

I have had this happen to a couple of my cards too - let me ask a few questions and see if we can figure out what is going on.

1. Did you use the card on the day you picked up both the card and application?(I do think the card has to be used at least once to become active in the CVS system)

2. Did the cashier take the "sticker" off of the Extracare cards you got before you took the physical cards home? (I have had that happen to me and sometimes your "number" gets stuck on somebody else's application - you don't know their login zip & phone, so you can't access the account. Use the card to earn a small ECB and see if someone else's name shows up on the ECB that prints out. That would tell you for sure that this is the case.)

3. It has been a few days, can you log into your card account yet?

As I said before, I have had this happen to a couple of my accounts and it can be inconvienient (much less so now that ECB's print instantly from the cash register).

Solution #1: Just grab a new card (since you never register it, they don't know how many cards you are using) and go to town.

Soultion #2: If you have ECB's on the problem card - do not worry, all is not lost. You can still use the card like normal, earn ECB's and use them when they print from the cash register or in-store coupon machine. Get your fill of "$ off" coupons from the CVS coupon thread and scan your card each time you go in the store to get your personalized coupons from the coupon machine & you will not be missing a thing that "registered" users have. Make sure you hit your local CVS the day after Quarterly ECB's come out and you will get those ECB's too.

Solution #3: Get a new card AND keep the old one. Check the old one periodically for account specific coupons in the store and after you print your most recent quarterly bonus, cut up the card if you absolutely cannot do without online access to your account.
Use the new card as if it were your primary one and "double-dip" on deals using both cards until you shred your old one...

The only "catch" that could cause you real problems is if the cashier took your sticker and put it on someone else's registration form so that they now have access to the ECB's earned by your card. I had that happen once too and since the other person registered while I did not, I had no way to "gain back" control over the card. I opted for solution # 2 then and the other person using the card # was sometimes blessed with mystery ECB rewards. :) After a while, I got tired of losing ECB's so I cut up my card and moved on.

I hope some of this info is useful. :bye:

[gotkwah]

I keep hearing about printing ECB's at a kiosk in the store. What are you guys talking about? Where can i find it? Do all CVS's have this?

My mom goes to CVS alot but never new what ECB's were, i want to try and see if she has any valid ones left...

[hba123]

Good morning. Does CVS do price adjustments, or do you just rebuy, and then return? Thanks.

[lascha]

what sunday newpaper in DC/MD/VA area has the coupons? I have checked some newspapers but never found any coupons. Do you guys know of any news paper in DC/MD/VA area that carries these coupons?

Thank you very much!

[Leenie]

what sunday newpaper in DC/MD/VA area has the coupons? I have checked some newspapers but never found any coupons. Do you guys know of any news paper in DC/MD/VA area that carries these coupons?

Thank you very much!

The Washington Post has the coupons.

[miranda]

I keep hearing about printing ECB's at a kiosk in the store. What are you guys talking about? Where can i find it? Do all CVS's have this?

My mom goes to CVS alot but never new what ECB's were, i want to try and see if she has any valid ones left...

edit: I'm sorry I bothered to answer something for someone who couldn't wait 9 minutes for an answer. I'll leave it in case it helps someone else. I don't mean to be rude and I know there a several threads to choose from, but people here are great about answering questions so there's no need to copy and paste a post into other threads. It's just a bit frustrating to write up a response only to see that the exact same post has been answered in another thread.

They are basically fancy price scanners that can scan your card. They are not in all stores and not all price scanners can scan cards. The easiest way to find out is to scan your card at one, if it doesn't scan (gives you an error) then you know it is only a price scanner.
They are mostly used for printing CRTs (CVS coupons). These coupons can also print at the end of you receipt so you can check your mother's receipts for these too. You can use one CVS and one man. coupon per item so when you can match up two coupons for the same item you may be able to get something really cheap, free, or even less than free (you won't get money back so make sure you have extra items if your total will go negative).


I don't know anything about price adjustments

[Kam7185]

RANDOM QUESTION- but can you get a Target Gift Card at CVS? I know they sell a bunch of different cards......


Thanks!

[schnauzermomma]

RANDOM QUESTION- but can you get a Target Gift Card at CVS? I know they sell a bunch of different cards......


Thanks!

I've never seen Target gift cards at CVS, sorry.

[KimD]

Please - a note to anyone posting a question about CVS...

All of the CVS regulars read Every Single Active CVS Thread throughout the day, and there are a lot of us!

A lot of us subscribe to all CVS threads, so we see when there has been a new post. For info on how to do that, see my August 12th post in this thread.


Post your question in one thread - we'll see it and respond!

(However, post your question in multiple threads, we're likely to see it and ignore it.)

Edited to add: We're happy to answer your questions, so please don't hesitate to post them. Just, um, post them once! :) :)

[Senator's Wife]

newbie here -

covergirl makeup is buy one get one free at CVS.

I have a manufacturer coupon from the paper that is also buy one get one free.

Can I use it?

[schnauzermomma]

newbie here -

covergirl makeup is buy one get one free at CVS.

I have a manufacturer coupon from the paper that is also buy one get one free.

Can I use it?

Yes! You can actually use a $off coupon too, if you have it!

[Senator's Wife]

Yes! You can actually use a $off coupon too, if you have it!

can anyone else confirm this? I did use it but it's not on my receipt and also she didn't give it back.

That makes me kinda mad knowing they will now get reimbursed for that coupon AND I didn't get to use it.......and since she didn't give it back, I can't use it now anyway. Grrrrr.

[schnauzermomma]

can anyone else confirm this? I did use it but it's not on my receipt and also she didn't give it back.

That makes me kinda mad knowing they will now get reimbursed for that coupon AND I didn't get to use it.......and since she didn't give it back, I can't use it now anyway. Grrrrr.


I always hand over my coupons one at a time, and watch the screen to be sure each one is credited to my order. Sometimes the employees comment on it, and I just tell them I've handed coupons over that didn't get credited before, so I like to see them go through - which is the TOTAL truth. Also, that way, if one doesn't go through, we both know to look more closely at what it is and why. HTH!

[Leenie]

I've learned to really pay attention when using the B1G1 coupons. If you hand that one over last and they don't notice that they have to enter a value for the coupon, the transaction will go through without taking anything off. If it is a coupon in the middle of your "stack", the next coupon won't scan, prompting them to look at the screen to see what the problem is.

[stinkymonkey]

I've learned to really pay attention when using the B1G1 coupons. If you hand that one over last and they don't notice that they have to enter a value for the coupon, the transaction will go through without taking anything off. If it is a coupon in the middle of your "stack", the next coupon won't scan, prompting them to look at the screen to see what the problem is.

for buy one get one , the cashier has to enter the amount. and usually they look at the coupon. i don't know how the coupon will go through if the cashier doesn't enter the amount.

[Leenie]

That'