How-To Walgreens (aka Wags)

Walgreens or what is commonly called “Wags” is a little more complicated than just picking out your items, matching the coupons and checking out.  Wags uses a catalina machine that prints Register Rewards (RR) and when purchasing an item using a coupon and then a RR on top the savings are *unbelievable*! In most instances Wags ends up paying you (in Rewards of course) to take products! It’s very complicated and very rewarding!!

Register Rewards are the same as Extra Care Bucks (ECB) at CVS or Catalinas at Kmart. In fact, they come out of the Catalina machine at Wags.

Speaking of the Catalina machine, when you are prepared to do any RR deal, make sure the green light is on on the machine. If you can not see it from your vantage point, ask if the machine is working. Many times the dog-gone thing can be down and they won’t tell you (because they really weren’t paying attention to know that that is the ENTIRE reason for your purchase).

Register Rewards are exactly that. When you buy a certain amount of an item or a certain brand, they reward you with a coupon to use at Walgreens again later (on your next purchase or visit). The Register Reward 9 times out of 10 is a manufacturer coupon. But I personally have never had any luck using it elsewhere (as a competitor coupon for example). Sometimes (the 1 out of 10), the RR will be good on your next purchase of that item or brand ONLY. Register rewards are manufacturer’s coupons so they are “linked” to the Manufacturer of the item you just purchased (that ‘triggered’ the Reward).

Register Rewards are coupons, so you must abide to this rule to use them: 1 item per RR. Meaning that if you have 5 items that you would like to buy, you can use any combination of MQs (manufacturer coupon) that you like, up to 5, as long as you do not go over the amount of your purchase. That brings us to fillers. On the RRs themselves, it states that you can use 1 PER ITEM. Not per transaction, per ITEM. And yes, sale or clearance items will also produce RRs.  They also have an expiration date on them, so use them within 10 days or so to make sure you don’t lose the money!

One more VERY important thing about RRs is that 99.9% of the time THEY DO NOT ROLL. Meaning that if you receive a $5 RR for purchasing item “A”, you cannot use it in another transaction to pay for another ”A”. You CAN use the $5 ”A” RR to pay for a different item (“B” for example), and then use “B” to buy another “A”, all assuming that these are both the same price and that no other coupons were used (because then you would need to purchase a “filler” in order to have more ITEMS to satisfy the 1 coupon/RR per ITEM rule.

Every so often, RRs will “roll” (meaning that you can use it on the same deal and still get another of the same RR back), but those are most assuredly exceptions to the rule.

So what exactly is a “Filler”?  Filler’s are inexpensive items that you add to your order so you can use more coupons (usually the RRs). This increases your number of ITEMS so that you can use more coupons (or RR’s).  Most Wags have baskets by the checkout of caramels. They are 3/99¢ or 34¢ each. But they usually also have a Clearance section with cheaper ($0.25) items that are more useful than caramels. Look for seed packets, pencils and seasonal candy. Often times, candy is on clearance for and when you purchase 2, you get a free 20 ounce Coke. This would be a FANTASTIC “filler” and maximize your savings! Like having a deal within a deal!  *yahoo*

I suggest that if you are new to couponing or to Wags that you read the Couponing Basics first and work your way up to Wags. It can get very frustrating and turn off Couponers all together (we would NEVER want that to happen )

Now lets discuss the use of Manufacture Coupons with Wags Store Coupons. You can use a Wags Q along with a Manufacture Q (called “stacking”)!  But remember to add in another item for this Q as well! The Wags Q’s are the one’s you find in the Wags Weekly Ad in the front of the store. I usually bring one with me to reference (and show the Cashier what I am looking for). You do not need to cut one Q out for each item or let them keep them because they are thrown away once they are used. And it is kind-of wasting the time because you can easily just re-scan another ad from the store when you get there (sometimes I don’t even cut them out, I just point to the ad and ask them to scan it from there). Do not let them keep your Wags Q if you are going to use it on multiple transactions! But how do you use them? Always, ALWAYS have them scan the WAGS Q last… {are you paying attention?}  ALWAYS HAND OVER THE WAGS Q’S LAST!! Some say it does not matter, but sometimes it does and if you get into the practice of doing it this way, you will not run into problems. Sometimes the Wags Q will end up giving you overage. This is fine as long as you have something to absorb the overage (see fillers, above).

The Wags Qs in the weekly circulars usually have limits. The limits don’t mean anything, for if the limit says 3 and you get 4, it will take off for all 4 items. The cashier may interject, but the register will not. Along with the circulars, you can find many other Wags Q’s in the store. In the stationary aisle you will find a section of books for kids, one of which is the Walgreen’s coloring book. I believe these are a Northern Item because I have yet to find one. Constantly this item is listed with products for really good deals. I have yet to score one of these  .   Remember, if you find Q’s in the store, always grab multiples!

Corporate Walgreen’s has now released an Official Coupon Policy: (which can also be found on the Wags website HERE)

Guidelines:

General

• All valid coupons should be presented to the cashier at the time of checkout.
• Walgreens does not accept expired coupons.
• Coupons and their face value cannot be exchanged for cash or gift cards.
• Competitor coupons are not accepted at Walgreens.
• Walgreens cannot accept coupons for items not carried in our stores.
• The number of manufacturer coupons, including Register Rewards^TM manufacturer coupons, may not exceed the number of items in the transaction. The total value of the coupons may not exceed the value of the transaction. Sales tax must be paid, if required by state law.
• Any coupon offer not covered in these guidelines will be accepted at the discretion of Walgreens management.

Sale Items

• Walgreens will accept manufacturer coupons for an item that is on sale.
• In the event that any item’s selling price is less than the value of the coupon, Walgreens will only accept the coupon in exchange for the selling price of the item. Coupon redemption can never exceed the selling price of an item and no cash back is ever provided in exchange for any coupons.

Multiple Coupons

• When purchasing a single item, Walgreens accepts one manufacturer coupon and applicable Walgreens coupon(s) for the purchase of a single item, unless prohibited by either coupon offer.
• The coupon amount must be reduced if it exceeds the value of the item after other discounts or coupons are applied. (For example, a $5.00 coupon for a $4.99 item will result in a $4.99 coupon value).
• When purchasing multiple items, Walgreens accepts multiple identical coupons for multiple qualifying items as long as there is sufficient stock to satisfy other customers, unless a limit is specified. Management reserves the right to limit the quantity of items purchased.

Buy One, Get One Free Coupons

• When items are featured in a Buy One, Get One Free promotion, up to two coupons can be used against the items being purchased, as long as the net price does not go below zero for the items being purchased.
• Sales tax must be paid for any Buy One, Get One Free coupon offers, if required by applicable state laws.

Internet/Print at Home Coupons

• Walgreens accepts valid internet/print at home coupons.

Register Rewards^TM coupons

Earning Register Rewards^TM

• Register Rewards^TM will only print for in-stock merchandise during the promotional period.
• Register Rewards^TM can only be earned for eligible items. No substitutions.
• There is a limit of one Register Rewards^TM (RR) printed per offer per customer per transaction.
• Customers redeeming a Register Rewards^TM against the same offer may not receive another RR.

Redeeming Register Rewards^TM

• Customers redeeming a Register Rewards^TM against the same offer may not receive another RR.
• Refer to Register Rewards^TM coupon for expiration date.
• The RR coupon value cannot exceed the total purchase amount. No cash back and no cash value for RR coupon.
• The number of manufacturer coupons, including RR manufacturer coupons, must not exceed the number of items in the transaction.
• Register Rewards^TM must be forfeited if the qualifying merchandise is returned.
• Register Rewards^TM cannot be used toward the purchase of gift cards and pre-paid cards.
• Register Rewards^TM can be redeemed for eligible items only. Ineligible items include but are not limited to:
• • Prescriptions
  • Tobacco products
  • Alcoholic beverages
  • Dairy products
  • Lottery tickets
  • Money orders/transfers
  • Transportation passes
  • Special event/entertainment tickets or passes
  • Postage stamps
  • Gift cards/phone cards/prepaid/Green Dot^TM cards
  • Prescription Savings Club” memberships
  • Health care services, including immunizations
  • Any items prohibited by law