CVS is yet another drugstore that is fabulous for finding deals and steals each week. Here are a few things you should know to maximize your money when shopping here:
CVS Coupon Acceptance Policy:
As always, first I advise that you print out a copy of the CVS coupon acceptance policy. Always, always, always keep this with you! It’s best to have this as back-up you never know when you might need it 🙂
CVS Coupons:
CVS allows for the stacking of one manufacturer and one CVS store coupon, as well as the ECB’s. CVS coupons can be found on their website, they can be emailed to you (make sure you register your card here), they can print on the end of your receipt, or they can print out at the red box machine. CVS coupons that are emailed or print out at the red box can ONLY be used with the card under which they were issued; same for ECB’s.
CVS Extracare Card:
In order to get the sale prices and ECB’s at CVS, you need to have an Extracare card. You can either sign up here or in-store. If you decide to do it online, you will have to wait approximately 3 weeks to receive your card, so I’d recommend doing it in store if you can’t wait that long. You will need to have this card scanned with each transaction in order to get your ECB’s and sale prices. Registering it allows you to give your phone number in place of the card in the event you don’t have it with you. You can also use your card in store to scan at the red box to get additional CRT coupons that are issued by CVS; these will print out on cash register tape on the side of the machine (hence CRT).
Extra Care Bucks:
Extra bucks, or ECB’s, are accumulated through purchasing items on promotion and/or as a percentage of your quarterly shopping total. These will print out on the bottom of your receipt; make sure you keep these close and don’t lose them, they are used just like cash.
- ECB’s amounts are figured before coupons
- You do not have to purchase all the promoted items in one transaction; a tally is kept on your card and will print at the bottom of your receipt
- ECB’s can be used to purchase most anything in the store except prescriptions, alcohol, gift cards, lottery, money orders, postage stamps, pre-paid cards and tobacco products.
- ECB’s can’t be used for tax and no change will be given; however, they can be adjusted down to pay off a subtotal (i.e. if your total is $1.97 and you have an ECB for $2, the cashier can manually adjust the ECB down to allow its use)
- ECB’s will expire 4 weeks from the date they are printed
- Unless otherwise stated, you may purchase up to the limit of the advertised deal in one transaction; ECB’s will print as a total at the end of your receipt (i.e. purchase XY and get $1 back in ECB (Limit 2), you could purchase 2 XY and receive a $2 ECB)
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Deal limits will be printed at the bottom of your receipt; once you have maxed out the deal, it will say “offer limit reached.”
***ECB’s can also be earned by purchasing a green bag tag and having it scanned each time you shop. Every 4 uses, you will get $1 ECB back!