Comments on: CVS 101

By: camper2

camper2 — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 23:47:51 +0000

Thanks. I’ve tried off and on for the past year to get into CVSing but invariably can’t seem to keep things “rolling”. My ECBs expire or I what I planned to get is out and then coming up with another scenario on the fly – especially when I have kids in tow – just frustrates me and I don’t do as well.

When it goes right, I’m thrilled with my bargains! Hopefully with my oldest starting school, I can work it into my routine a little easier and try little trips each week.

By: Crystal

Crystal — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 16:26:22 +0000

Hi Camper! I’m sorry but it has been at least a year since I made scenarios for new CVS shoppers. You can hand over manufacturer coupons before your ECBs if you want to. It’s best to have it calculated out to a T first, and use the ECBs last (only the exact amount that you need to use). You tax ends up being less this way. But do it which ever way is easier for you since you are starting out.

By: camper2

camper2 — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 03:08:47 +0000

I’m looking at the July 17 – July 24 CVS post but don’t see your scenarios for newbies (or anyone else). Are they in a different post or did I just overlook them?

I’m also still a bit confused on the order of handing things to the cashier. First the $$ off total – got that. Then CVS Store Q’s. Then ECBs I want to use? Why not take the MFRs off first and then then use ECB to cover the rest? I figure it must have something to do with lowering my tax? Guess I have to do more math before I enter the store than I have been doing.

Thanks for the 101 – it is really helpful.

By: Mindi

Mindi — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 19:31:31 +0000

Took my first CVS trip today, so keep in mind I didn’t have any ECB’s for this.
I got: Dawn Hand Care Renewal
Bounty 6 Big Rolls Paper Towels
Colgate Total Toothpaste
4 Boxes Post Cereal
Huggies Little Movers 76 Ct. Box
Olay Total Effects Body Wash
Gillette Fusion Proglide Razor
2 Powerbar Pure & Simple
CVS Brand Pain Relief 50 Caplets
Gillette Odor Shield Body Wash
Gillette Odor Shield Deodorant
Ivory Soap 4 pack

Total=79.46
After coupons=51.23
-$10 CVS gift card I won=41.23
ECB’s earned=21.98
So Basically got all this for=19.25

So how did I do??

By: Shelly

Shelly — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 04:18:02 +0000

I love your CVS tutorial – it was one of the first I’d ever read and it has helped me so much! I was going to send a friend over here to read it and noticed that you have lose repeatedly spelled ‘loose’. Lose is when you’ve lost something, loose is how I wish my pants were fitting.

By: Crystal Collins

Crystal Collins — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 13:01:04 +0000

You pretty much need to have it calculated beforehand.

By: Mary Ann Jarman

Mary Ann Jarman — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 12:58:54 +0000

If I give the cashier the coupons in the order you say, how does she know how much of my ECB’s to use? Do I have to have it figured out beforehand and tell her? Ex: items cost $5, use ECB receipt that is $4 and have a manufacturers coupon for $2. Do I tell her to just use $3 of the ECB and if so, does the $1 left roll over? Or do I have to buy something that only costs a little so I don’t lose my $1 ECB?

By: Patty Marr

Patty Marr — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 23:33:57 +0000

I was also able to register my CVS card with Upromise so you can add up college savings as well.

By: Crystal Collins

Crystal Collins — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 15:33:27 +0000

Walgreens does do a similar thing but it is a lot more complicated. Register Rewards don’t always print. My best advice is to learn CVS first and then go for Walgreens.

By: Peggy

Peggy — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 12:54:46 +0000

Okay I am really new to CVS as we haven’t lived anywhere that had one for far to many years… but does Walgreen’s do the same thing? We have one near us and it would appear they have a similar program but it didn’t require a rewards card. But once again we are new to Walgreen’s as well. I do know that we got chips and soda pretty cheap this weekend plus a couple of $10 coupons for items that were on sale.
Peggy´s last blog ..Foto Friday: Growing

By: Lea

Lea — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 11:10:43 +0000

Note on big ECB deals, you might want to purchase the 5 razors in 5 separate transactions so you’ll get 5 $4 ECB printouts, you can roll each for your next purchase making them truly free or bottom line discounted, also you have to use the entire ECB amount when you utilize it, they don’t give cash or credit back – doing separate transactions would keep you from having to purchase $20 worth of post MQ merchandise in one transaction.

By: Lea

Lea — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 11:06:39 +0000

terri, You probably aren’t still watching or have your answer by now, but you have to look at the advertised limit. Sometimes the limit is 1, you can buy 2, but will only earn ECB for 1, sometimes the limit is 5 and if purchased in 1 transaction the bucks will print together for the same promo (5 “razors” earning $4 ECB each would print as $20 ECB). The shelf tags and the printed ad both tell you what the limit for the deal is. Your receipt will also print that you used the deal and if the limit is reached yet.

By: Holly’s Savings » Blog Archive » Understanding CVS

Holly’s Savings » Blog Archive » Understanding CVS — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 15:44:28 +0000

[...] The Thrifty Mama – CVS 101 I heart CVS Hot Coupon World – CVS Forums Couponmom.com Tags: CVS, deals, how to [...]

By: terri

terri — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 18:16:40 +0000

I am new t this also. I cut 2 fusion razor coupons for 4.00 off each. I was able to use both coupons, but only one 4.00 ecb printed out and they said it was a limit of one per customer. So I guess I ended up spending 2.00 for 2 razors which was still good, but I have read on this site where others have purchased more than one.Does it differ in each store??

By: thethriftymama

thethriftymama — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 01:07:11 +0000

Belle – That’s if you have more than one set of ECBs. Like a 4 ECB and a 2 ECB. If you just needed to use the 4 ECB in order to get your total down, then you wouldn’t hand over the 2 ECB as well. You’d save your 2 ECB for another transaction. Does that make sense?

By: Belle

Belle — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 22:53:36 +0000

Crystal, You mentioned only handing over the exact amount of ecb’s needed and not all of them, I thought they were in the form of a reciept. So if your total is 4.55 and you have a reciept w/your ecb amount of 5.99 wouldn’t you be handing over the whole amount? I’m new to CVS.

By: Marsha

Marsha — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 05:27:49 +0000

Thanks ever so much for explaining the EBC’s at CVS.
Now my question is. What is Q’s and where or how do you get them?
I have an CVS card but I don’t think that they have my email addy, so I guess I need to register or whatever I need to do.
Thanks!

By: Shannon W

Shannon W — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 18:52:54 +0000

So I just had my first bad experience at CVS. I had all my stuff together and handed over my Q’s, but they wouldn’t accept the internet ones b/c they aren’t in color. I thought I read somewhere that CVS policy was to accept them either way?

By: stulz

stulz — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 15:48:46 +0000

I just started using the extra care card at our local CVS. this post has been great in helping explain its benefits. thanks stulz’s last blog post..Time To Break Out The Snowboard

By: Hannah

Hannah — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 20:49:13 +0000

Hey! I have a question. How do I figure out how many extra bucks I need to use before I give them my MFRs. I am new to CVSing. What I have been doing is taking the total MFRs from my non-taxable total and giving the cashier the amount left over in extra bucks. However, I was not able to use my MFRs on one transaction because the total became to low. I had 2 $2 coupons and my total left was $1.99. I did another transaction of the same things minus one thing and was able to use the MFRs, but bought less than before and my total was $1.48 I am not sure what I am doing wrong! I currently have $21 in ECBs. I hope my question makes sense. Thanks so much for your help! Blessings!
—————————————-
The Thrifty Mama here: Use this format to calculate it beforehand: Taxable Item Total
(-) CVS B1G1 Sale
(-) CVS Q’s
(-) ECB’s Used
= NEW Taxable Total
(x) Tax Rate
(-) Manu Q’s
= Total OOP
CVS seems to be making it more complicated lately regarding the tax, so if this is just too confusing for you, try handing over your ECBs last until you can get the knack for it. Happy Shopping!