Walgreens FAQ/General Info Thread-Rebates and Register Rewards (refer newbies here too)

courtesy of 2knotheads/sd

NOTE: All Spend Amounts in Examples in the thread DO NOT INCLUDE SALES TAX. You must meet spend requirements BEFORE tax to get register rewards or use $/$$ coupons that come out from time to time.

GLOSSARY OF TERMS USED IN THIS FAQ AREA

CPN or cpn = coupon
CRT = cash register tape (i.e. receipt)
ESC = EasySaver Catalog (Walgreens rebate booklet)
GC or gc = giftcard
IP or IP cpn = internet printable coupon
IVC = instant value coupon (Walgreens store coupon)
OP = original post or poster
OYNP = on your next purchase
RR or R/R = Register Rewards
YMMV = your mileage may vary (i.e. deal may not work in your area)

General Information:

Weekly ads...
Every week a new sales ad starts on Sunday and runs through Saturday. You can find it in your Sunday paper or in the store. Like most ads, it highlights the sales or promotions for the week. It also contains "7-day coupons" that offer additional savings on items. These are considered store coupons and are only good for the timeframe listed on them, usually a week.

EasySaver Catalog...
In addition to the weekly sale ads, Walgreens puts out a booklet every month called the EasySaver Catalog (ESC). This can be found in the store. Look on the endcaps for a clear plastic holder. New ones appear towards the end of the previous month's booklet.

Inside the ESC, you will find the rebate promotions for the month. Also inside are the Instant Value Coupons (IVC's) that provide additional savings on products sold there. These are considered store coupons as well and are only good for the timeframe listed, usually a month.

MegaSavers...
Another sale promotion that Walgreens does is called MegaSavers. Look for the special tags throughout the shelves in the store. This will let you know which items have a "hidden sale" that usually lasts a month long.

Register Rewards (RR)...
In 2007, Walgreens installed Catalina machines by the registers in their stores. At times, this machine will "spit out" various sales promotions or coupons as a customer checks out. These deals are frequently advertised in the circular.

How do I earn Register Rewards?:

Follow the instructions in the ad. For instance, there might be a deal to purchase $20 of Proctor &Gamble Beauty Items (specified brands and sizes) to get $10 back in Register Rewards. Spend ONLY $20! Spending $40 may not net you another print out. It's best to do seperate orders.

Can I use manufacturer coupons on a RR deal?

Yes, as long as you meet the minimum spend (example above $20) in qualifying products BEFORE the use of Manu coupons, you are fine. For instance, you purchase $21.10 in items and hand in $6 worth of applicable coupons. Your out of pocket total is $15.10 and you get back the $10 RR catalina coupon.

Can I Use the Register Rewards Print out To Do The Same Deal Over Again?

Unfortunately, NO! Do not attempt this if your goal is to get another RR print out on the same deal. The system is programmed to not generate a new Register Reward when you pay for the SAME Deal with a Register Reward you just earned. YOU CAN USE A REGISTER REWARDS print out to pay FOR A DIFFERENT REGISTER REWARDS DEAL and get the New RR print out.

EXAMPLE: You did the P&G deal mentioned above and got a $10 print out. There is also a deal to get a $4 RR reward print out with 4 12 Packs of Coke at $12.
You can buy the 4 12 packs of Coke for $12, pay with the $10 RR from P&G and $2 cash and YOU WILL EARN the new $4 RR print out on the Coke Deal.

NOTE: Register Rewards have a short expiration life. THEY ARE VALID FOR 14 days from the day they print out at Walgreens.

EasySaver Rebates:

How do I do this?
This program is similiar to other rebates. You purchase items as specified on the rebate, submit online, get your check or gift card (or exisiting gift card reloaded) at the end of the rebate period (typically 1-3 weeks after you have submitted the rebate request) Walgreens does not require you to send in UPC codes (or proof of purchase).

What are my choices for the rebate payment?

You can either get a check that you deposit/cash at your bank OR a Walgreens Gift Card with a 10% Bonus of the amount you earned for the month. i.e., you earned $25 in rebates, you get a gift card with $27.50 loaded on it.

1. Purchase items between the dates specified in the ESC. SAVE YOUR RECEIPT, you will need to enter in data from the receipt online.
2. Enter your rebate submissions online (YOU MUST CREATE AN ACCOUNT FIRST). You can only request your rebate once per month, if you do it early, you are then unable to request rebates until the next rebate period.

Walgreens accepts rebate submissions online.

Some useful info & links:
website: Walgreens Home Page

Check your rebate status here: Easysaver Rebates

Questions: 1-800-324-3028 between 7 AM and 7 PM Central Standard Time, 7 days a week

Thank you

Special Packaging: If you use any walgreens coupons (either the ones in the sale paper, easy saver, Catalina ones requiring specific purchases) on an item that has any 'special' packaging, e.g. buy 3 quattro razors and get 1 free inside the package or get 20% more shampoo free, buy crest toothpaste and get a free crest toothbrush attached, be sure to watch how these items ring up -- I have had several instances where the coupons do not work at all or the item does not count towards the total $ amount of purchases necessary to get an RR to generate. The cashier will always adjust for me but I usually have to catch the problem first. If its a $ off coupon the register will usually beep to tell them its not 'valid'. I have had it beep and the cashier just keeps on going and ignores it. I asked the Manager for an explanation last week on why this seemed to be happening more often, he explained that the UPC codes are often different on these 'special' packages and sometimes they aren't coded in the system right. Now I always try and compare the UPC codes for 'special' packages with the regular ones and if they are different I make sure to watch the transaction closely.

I have noticed that the cashiers and managers at my Walgreens are much more helpful now that gas, food, etc have all gone up so much. I try to share extra coupons whenever possible.

There was only one instance I have experienced where I used 3 coupons - an Easy Saver coupon, a Walgreen coupon from their ad, and a manufacturer coupon--when I asked if it would work the cashier said 'well, lets try it' and it did work with no problems.

mces said: I tried to make a purchase today using both WG easy saver catalog coupon and manufacturers coupon and was told by the manager that the ES coupon was also a manufacturers coupon and only one manufacturers coupon could be used per transaction. I'm sure that in the past I have combined the two with out any problems. What did I do wrong? TIA

nothing, he is incorrect. No different than using a manufacturer coupon with the in-circular coupon they run every week.

mces said: Thanks Mrcheap. Is it better to give on ES coupon before the manufacturers or vice versa, or does it not make a difference.

not sure it matters, but I'd give the ES coupon first. If they refuse the manufacturer coupon, at least you have it to possibly use at another store that has a sale. The Walgreens coupon is only good at Wags.

jrowe said: MISTERCHEAP said: mces said: Thanks Mrcheap. Is it better to give on ES coupon before the manufacturers or vice versa, or does it not make a difference.


not sure it matters, but I'd give the ES coupon first. If they refuse the manufacturer coupon, at least you have it to possibly use at another store that has a sale. The Walgreens coupon is only good at Wags.

I just looked at the IVC's from this month's catalog and notice they now say "manufacturer coupon" and in previous months they did not say this. Are you sure Walgreens has not changed their policy starting in July regarding the use of manufacturers coupons plus IVCs?

no, not sure, there has been no official word that I am aware of. However, as always, all policies are subject to change, the info in the thread is just to the best of everyones knowledge but is never "official" info.

What happens when two ESC dates overlap and have the same offer? Can I get the rebates for both months? For instance, there was a Duracell $3 rebate last month and there is another Duracell $3 rebate for July, and the eligible dates overlap. Will I be able to get both if I bought during the overlapping days and apply for both?

MISTERCHEAP said: FutureDilemma said: What happens when two ESC dates overlap and have the same offer? Can I get the rebates for both months? For instance, there was a Duracell $3 rebate last month and there is another Duracell $3 rebate for July, and the eligible dates overlap. Will I be able to get both if I bought during the overlapping days and apply for both?

Even though rebates overlap, you can't double dip because the Walgreens system only allows you to enter a receipt ONLY ONCE. Since each rebate period goes by month, you'd have to enter the same receipt number twice, and the system would reject one of the entries as a duplicate submission.

I can't verify the "double dipping" but I can tell you that you are wrong about the receipt...I went in june 27th I think (whatever day the $5 off 20 coupon was good) and purchased all the free after rebate stuff for both june AND july....submitted june and closed it out....submitted july and left it open...same receipt...I have already been credited for june on my walgreens card and received an email that July was "approved" so you CAN enter the same receipt on multiple months...just not sure for same item.

Does anyone know if Wags accepts the expired RR. I found couple of expired RR in my Cars Dashboard which were expired around couple of weeks back.
I google it and found some people tried their expired RR and it worked for them.
Did anyone on FW try using expired RR ?

MISTERCHEAP said: fatwallerlover said: Does anyone know if Wags accepts the expired RR. I found couple of expired RR in my Cars Dashboard which were expired around couple of weeks back.
I google it and found some people tried their expired RR and it worked for them.
Did anyone on FW try using expired RR ?

strictly a hit and miss situation. Some might, others will say no. Depends how far expired they are too. More than 30 days expired, I'd say you are out of luck at most stores.

thanks Mr. C for your response. thats much appreciated.
i had two RR which expired on 08/09/08 (around 25 days back) i went to a closest walgreens to buy FIR items yesterday and i gave cashier both the RR coupons. he said only one per transaction. He looked at that for a while and waived it through the scanner and it worked for me. I was expecting he will refuse since he was looking at the it closely. and then i used the other one at the next wags. Here also the guy briefly looked at the RR coupon and scanned it without a question.

My city WAGS (Va) seem to have some new systems lately. Today, I had to purchase each RR deal separately, and they wouldn't let me use the just-received RR from one product deal to pay for another product deal (or it wouldn't print the RRs). Took forever and had to be rerung several times. Last week, one of the clerks actually ripped off the RRs from the printer and placed them directly under the counter on another shelf within the cashier's area! When I said I was supposed to get RRs, she simply turned around, got them off the shelf and handed them to me. I had not previously experienced a cashier basically stealing the RRs for her own use. Perhaps that is common elsewhere?

MISTERCHEAP said: Gertrude23 said: My city WAGS (Va) seem to have some new systems lately. Today, I had to purchase each RR deal separately, and they wouldn't let me use the just-received RR from one product deal to pay for another product deal (or it wouldn't print the RRs). Took forever and had to be rerung several times. Last week, one of the clerks actually ripped off the RRs from the printer and placed them directly under the counter on another shelf within the cashier's area! When I said I was supposed to get RRs, she simply turned around, got them off the shelf and handed them to me. I had not previously experienced a cashier basically stealing the RRs for her own use. Perhaps that is common elsewhere?

you can never pay for the same "type" rr deal with an exisiting RR. i.e., P&G Oral Care. You can't use a register reward earned on Pro Health rinse to pay for a Crest Whitening Strips offer that's supposed to print an RR. The new RR won't print since you are "rolling" the RR for another brand group product.

Yes, I think my error was in not realizing all of the products were P&G, even after reading the backs of products. Gee, they own a lot of brand names--good things they have excellent coupons! Thanks.