What do you buy from Walgreens (WAGS)?
Everything and Anything. Obviously you buy health and beauty products, but once you really get the hang of Register Rewards, you will find yourself buying things from Walgreens that you use to run to Wal-Mart or another store for because they were cheaper. Using overage, you will sometimes get things for basically free at Walgreens, you never imagined buying there. But let’s back up first to explain how you shop Walgreens.
Register Rewards (RR)
These are the gold mine of any Walgreens. They are those little coupons that print out from the machine by the register (called a Catalina machine) that are often thrown into your bags and you tell yourself you will use it later, but they always expire and even worse you have no idea what you bought that made it print out.
Register Rewards are coupons from the Catalina machine that print after you make a qualifying purchase at Walgreens. RRs are savings which can be used on future transactions to lower your out of pocket (OOP) expenses. You get RR by buying the exact items advertised by Walgreens to receive the reward.
How do I know when there is a register reward for an item?
The usual method to know if an item is giving a register reward is to check the weekly advertisement. In the weekly advertisement, you will usually see something that looks like this:
The usual method to know if an item is giving a register reward is to check the weekly advertisement. In the weekly advertisement, you will usually see something that looks like this:
This picture shows that if you buy this EXACT Natrol supplement, it costs $3 and after you pay $3, you will get back a Register Reward Coupon for $3 to use on a future transaction
Another method that you might see register rewards advertised is like this:
This picture shows that if you buy $20 worth of any Vicks products you get back $10 in RR.
How do I use RRs?
Generally, you can use your RR like cash on your next purchase. However, there are some things listed on the RR that you can’t use it on:
Generally, you can use your RR like cash on your next purchase. However, there are some things listed on the RR that you can’t use it on:
Most RRs explicitly say that they can not be used on tobacco, alcohol, tax, lottery tickets, money orders, stamps, dairy, or any gift cards or pre-paid cards.(although dairy is almost always allowed), and as stated in the fine print, you cannot use more RRs and manufacturer coupons than number of items you are buying. This means you must have 1 item for each RR and Manufacturer coupon you want to use. Store coupons do not affect how many manufacturer and RRs you can use.
You cannot use a RR you received for an item to buy that same item and get another RR back. (this is called rolling) For example, if you use an RR from Natrol to purchase more Natrol, you will NOT get another RR. The best way to "roll" is to use your Natrol RR to complete a different RR deal. You can then use the RRs from the 2nd deal, to purchase more Natrol.
You cannot use a RR you received for an item to buy that same item and get another RR back. (this is called rolling) For example, if you use an RR from Natrol to purchase more Natrol, you will NOT get another RR. The best way to "roll" is to use your Natrol RR to complete a different RR deal. You can then use the RRs from the 2nd deal, to purchase more Natrol.
Register rewards typically expire in 2 weeks, so plan wisely to not let them expire on you.
How do I get the best value of the register rewards?
How do I get the best value of the register rewards?
Use Coupons! The best scenario is when there is an item that is free after register reward (FARR) and that has an available coupon. That is because this means you will pay less for the item and you will get back a register reward for the price before you have used the coupon. This is what is called better than free, or a money maker (MM).
For example, if you buy the Natrol supplement mentioned above, and there is a $2 coupon for the natrol products, you will pay $1 for the Natrol, but get back a $3 RR. The store has just gave you $2 more than you spent to spend there later!
How do I use Coupons?
Manufacturer Coupons (MQ) vs. Walgreens coupons (WAGS Q)
Manufacturers' Coupons have a standard UPC codes. Walgreens store coupons will appear in this format: 0 00000 0NNNN n The 4 digits NNNN are the only digits that have significance. These Qs can be scanned, but many cashiers prefer to just key these 4 digits. The 4 digits are easy to key and it is not always easy to scan only the desired Q from the WAGs booklet or ad. When entered, the store Qs will calculate a credit equal to the discount times the number of qualifying items purchased.
The store Qs in the monthly booklets are called as "Instant Value Coupon". Included in the fine print is the sentence "Manufacturer coupon good only at Walgreens". Even though these are notated as MQs, they are in the 4 digit store Q format and are considered to be store Qs. These are not the equivalent of traditional MQs. There is no remittance address for reimbursement, there is no standard MQ UPC for processing through a clearing house. These IVCs can be used in combination (called stacking) with 'traditional' MQs and are not normally collected by the cashier, the same way that the in-ad coupons do not have to be collected.
The Special Order of Coupons
If you are using a manufacturer's coupon and a wags coupon on the same item and hoping for overage towards your other items, give the manufacturer's coupon first. A manufacturer's coupon will be rejected by the register if it is over the cost of the item, but a wags coupon will go through. So AS A RULE, give all your manufacturer coupons to the cashier first and then the Walgreens coupons.
for example:
the incorrect order...
deodorant $1.99
-$1 in-ad coupon (wags coupon)
=$.99
-$1 manufacturer's coupon - will beep and register will not accept it because it is over $.99!
but if you give the cashier the manufacturer's coupon 1st...
deodorant $1.99
-$1 manufacturer's coupon
=$.99
-$1 in-ad coupon (wags coupon) - will not beep
=-$.01 (of course you will need another item or tax on your transaction for the penny to apply to)
If you are using a manufacturer's coupon and a wags coupon on the same item and hoping for overage towards your other items, give the manufacturer's coupon first. A manufacturer's coupon will be rejected by the register if it is over the cost of the item, but a wags coupon will go through. So AS A RULE, give all your manufacturer coupons to the cashier first and then the Walgreens coupons.
for example:
the incorrect order...
deodorant $1.99
-$1 in-ad coupon (wags coupon)
=$.99
-$1 manufacturer's coupon - will beep and register will not accept it because it is over $.99!
but if you give the cashier the manufacturer's coupon 1st...
deodorant $1.99
-$1 manufacturer's coupon
=$.99
-$1 in-ad coupon (wags coupon) - will not beep
=-$.01 (of course you will need another item or tax on your transaction for the penny to apply to)
The Register Reward Rules
Walgreens registers will not accept more manufacturer coupons/RR than items. So if want to use RR, but already have a manufacturer's coupon for each item, you can add a small item for each RR. (called a filler). Try to use the cheapest items you can find for these fillers since cost doesn’t matter, you simply just need another object you are buying for the RR to attach to. Normally good filler items are $.50 or less (the cheaper the better) can range from pencils, to candles, knee highs, to candy.
Walgreens registers will not accept more manufacturer coupons/RR than items. So if want to use RR, but already have a manufacturer's coupon for each item, you can add a small item for each RR. (called a filler). Try to use the cheapest items you can find for these fillers since cost doesn’t matter, you simply just need another object you are buying for the RR to attach to. Normally good filler items are $.50 or less (the cheaper the better) can range from pencils, to candles, knee highs, to candy.
In-ad Coupons
Walgreens has coupons that are in their weekly ads that allow you to save even more on their everyday prices. These are coupons found in the weekly store ad. They usually advertise a price (ie: Dawn Dish Liquid 99¢) and most have a limit on how many items you can buy with the coupon. You must use the coupon in order to get the advertised coupon price. If the coupon says Dawn Dish liquid 99¢, limit 4 then you can buy 4 Dawn and use the one coupon. You can also buy more than 4 and get the sale price in most stores, but your mileage may vary (ymmv) on this. Once the coupon is scanned it will subtract a certain amount that will make all 4 Dawns 99¢. These coupons can be combined with all other coupons. Also, you don’t have to cut them out! Just show the cashier the coupon you want to use and they will scan it or type in the coupon code.Special Booklet Coupons
In addition to the weekly ad coupons, Walgreens typically has other specia coupon booklets.
In addition to the weekly ad coupons, Walgreens typically has other specia coupon booklets.
Monthly Coupon Book
These books are often found at the front of the store with the sales ads and they have special store coupons that are available for the entire month, and the coupons in them typically work the same as the in-ad coupons.
Diabetes and You Magazine
These are released periodically (about one per season) and contain manufactuer and store coupons. They are typicay found by the pharmacy.In addition there are other coupon books that come out from time to time. Be on the look out for them
