For the new couponer, Walgreens can be a little intimidating. There are a few more “rules” that you have to be familiar with in order to become successful at couponing at Walgreens. So I thought we would go over some of the key ones you should know in order to make your first trip a successful one.
1. You can combine Walgreens instore coupons and manufacturer’s coupons: These coupons can be in the monthly booklets found at the front of the store, in booklets near the pharmacy, and even in the sales ad. They are called Instant Value Coupons or IVCs.
2. The number of coupons you have must match the number of items total: Best way to explain this is to give you an example. Say you are buying Colgate toothpaste. You have a manufacturer’s coupon for Colgate, and there is a Walgreens Instant Value Coupon that you can use as well (see #1). You have 1 item, but TWO coupons. Because of this you need to find a cheap filler. A filler is a small item you purchase to make sure your number of coupons equal the number of items. I usually use the Vanilla Caramels that sit at the front of the registers. Yum!
3. Using a Register Reward counts as using a coupon: Use the example from #2. Instead of an IVC, say you are using a Register Reward to pay for your toothpaste. Your item count is one, and your coupon count is STILL two. So you would still need to pick up a small filler.
4. Walgreens does not allow for overage, so make sure to cover your overage if paying with Register Rewards: This is especially important, if the amount you purchased is LESS than what the value of your Register Reward is, the system will NOT allow them to accept your RR. So be extra careful when calculating your totals to make sure your RR can be accepted.
5. Walgreens coupon policy does NOT allow overage with coupons: With coupons it’s different though, they don’t allow for overage, BUT their coupon policy does allow for them to mark down the credit they give you and still accept the coupon. So it Colgate is on sale for .98 cents and your coupon is for $1, they are still allowed to take your coupon, but they would only credit you for .98 cents.
6. Always keep a copy of the Walgreens coupon policy with you: I find there is sometimes the need to educate the cashiers on their own coupon policy. I always kill them with kindness, but this way if someone argues about things especially #6, you can just whip out your corporate policy, and let them know you are trying to follow the rules and not afraid to stand up for yourself. Get your copy here
These are just a few of the tips to know on your first trip. With Walgreens, it’s best to write up your scenarios before you go, that way you are prepared and can double check that everything matches up!
About Ashley Sears
What Crunchy Peeps are Saying