Updated September 26, 2009: Walgreens has been making modifications to their Register Reward program recently and I have updated the information within this post to reflect current practices.
It is possible to get fabulous deals and free items at Walgreens if you follow a few simple tips and tricks.
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Make a list and stick to it. Walgreens has great loss leaders, or weekly sale items that are deeply discounted, but they also have very high everyday prices. Makes sense when you think that a store actually loses money on a loss leader, but it serves as bait to get you in the door with the hopes you’ll buy something at full price. Make a list of the loss leaders and stick to it.
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Be prepared for your first few trips to take a little longer. Walgreens does not label their sale items very well. Whether they do that on purpose is debatable. That means it take effort when you start shopping at Walgreens to find all the sale items you need and want. Use the staff as a resource and ask where sale items are.
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Clip the in-ad coupons. The sale items advertised on the little-coupon-looking things in the paper actually are Walgreens coupons. If you want one of those items you need to clip that coupon and give it to the cashier or your item will be full price.
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Use manufacturer’s coupons AND in-ad coupons. You can use both a Walgreens in-ad or store coupon and a manufacturer’s coupon for the same item. If the total amount of coupons exceed the value of the item then try to hand the cashier the manufacturer’s coupon first; coupons ring through better that way.
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Buy the quantity specified. In my experience, if something is advertised as 2 for $5, then you need to buy 2 items to get that price. The first one rings at full price and the second one is discounted.
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Watch the cashier ring. Pay close attention, especially when you are getting started, to the cashier as they ring your order. If the price isn’t right, then speak up. Don’t hesitate to ask to be shown the product from the sale flyer or to have the item removed from your order.
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Use fillers if your coupons exceed price paid. Walgreens has such great deals that some weeks you may actually have coupons that fully exceed the value of your items – in essence they should be paying you, but they won’t. Think ahead and pick up a couple of “filler” items that can bring your total to something greater than $0. I personally use the $1 box of cranberries, because it is the lowest price per ounce I’ve seen for those.
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Understand how Register Rewards work.
- A Register Reward is a manufacturer-issued coupon that is good for a specific dollar amount off your next purchase. It will print at the end of your transaction and the clerk will hand it to you with your receipt.
- Note which manufacturer sponsored the Register Reward you earned (it is printed on the Reward somewhere) because if you pay with that Reward for products from that same manufacturer that should produce a new, different Reward it won’t. See the scenario below for more details.
- You get a Register Reward when you buy specified products or combinations of products; the specified combinations of products are usually advertised in their weekly sales flyer, although some combinations are good anytime throughout a month and others aren’t advertised at all.
- A Register Reward has an expiration date – so be sure to use it. They do not accept them past their expiration dates.
- You do not need a special loyalty card to get your Register Rewards.
- You cannot have a higher number of manufacturer-issued coupons than you have actual items in your order and a Register Reward counts as a coupon. Some stores count a “$1 off 2 items” coupon as two coupons. Call your store to verify their policy.
- Follow this scenario to understand some benefits and limitations of Register Rewards:
- Let’s say you buy 1 toothpaste for $4 and get $4 in Register Rewards. Now, if you think “ah, I am so smart, I am going to buy another $4 toothpaste, but use that $4 Register Reward to pay for it so I get it without paying anything out of pocket…” Nope. Their registers are smart and won’t let you do that. But, if you want to get multiple Register Rewards from that toothpaste…
- Then you can ring another transaction that creates a new receipt and buy another toothpaste. If you pay with cash/credit (anything other than a Register Reward issued from the same manufacturer) you’ll get another Register Reward. Make sense? But…
- If you have Register Reward from a toothpaste offer one week and there is a deodorant offer the following week that generates a Register Reward, you can use this week’s Register Reward to pay for next week’s and it will work fine, as long as the manufacturer is different. This is how you can end up paying very little out of pocket because one week’s Register Rewards pay for the following weeks products.
Your turn: What have you learned about bargain shopping at Walgreens?
What happens if you pay less for the item than what the RR that is supposed to print out will be for that item, e.g. pay $1.99 for a $2 RR or $1.50 for a $2 RR ?
I have always had the RR print out for the total amount before coupons, so sometimes it’s a moneymaker!
Did you know you can use the RR coupon at Cub Foods? When mine expired, I was not able to redeem it at Walgreen’s, the cashier told me you can use the expired ones
(up to 3 mo) at Cub Foods since it is a manufacturer’s coupon!! yippee!!
WOW – that’s awesome!
I’m confused. This week I’m planning on buying the Schick razor deal which prints out $3 RR twice with two different transactions and the LOreal deal which also prints out $3 RR. If I first purchase the razors could I then pay for the Loreal deal with the razor RR and then could I go on to pay for the other razor transaction with the LOreal RR? Thanks so much if you can help!
After finding about about Walgreens’ deals on your website (which is AWESOME by the way!!!), I’m ready to start shopping at Walgreens but I don’t quite understand the RR yet.
So if I buy a RR product (let’s say Pantene for example), will a RR print out specifically for a future Pantene purchase? Or is it literally a credit for ANY future Walgreens purchase?
Thanks!
I purchased the Right Guard B1G1 with the coupon and had no problem. On may way home from being Mom chaperone I stopped at 4 different Walgreens to get the bottles of Clean and Clear Body wash. I have to go to multiple stores because none of my stores have a lot of product (2 bottles) I went to 3 stores and had no problem with the B1G1 sale + B1G1 Q = FREE.
The last store I went to argued with me and I showed them the policy which states, “you can use 2 coupons for the items being purchased as long as the net does not go below zero.”
They still said I had to buy 3 to use the B1G1 free coupon.
Have you ever received a written response from Walgreens on this policy?
cashier was wrong your total is at zero not below with a B1g1 deal and B1g1 coupon. Though on Walgreens end they like positive numbers
just an fyi…I have used the expired RR coupons at Walgreens a number of times lately and they rang through just fine. (The clerk didn’t really look at the expiration date, so I don’t know if that made the difference)
I went to Walgreens last night and purchased the “2 for $7.00 Garnier Shampoo and Conditioner.” This week advertised in their weekly sales flyer is “purchase 2 or more Garnier products and receive $5.00 register rewards.” So, I purchased 2 of the Garnier products and I used 2 register rewards (one from Colgate and one from P&G). My receipt printed, but the Register Reward did not print. The P&G website does not mention Garnier Fructis as one of their brands. (I checked before I went to Walgreens)
Anyway, I asked to speak with a manager and explained that my Register Reward did not print and showed her the advertisement in the weekly circular. She could not tell me why it did not print and refused to let me return the Fructis products. She said I could not return them, because I just purchased them and Register Rewards were involved. (She said that a lot of customers are buying products for Register Rewards and returning the items afterwards). Well, I informed her that I was NOT one of those customers and she would not budge. She told me I would need to go somewhere else to return them or come back tomorrow. I was furious and managed to control my anger and did not make a scene, because the manager was elderly; however, I feel like Walgreens just robbed me.
It was apparent she was incompetent and could not resolve the issue, which still leaves me wondering why my Register Reward did not print!
Can someone explain this to me, because I do not think I can return these now, because I used 2 register rewards towards the purchase leaving my total at $1.61. If I return them, I assume they are not going to give me my RR coupons back and then I would have thrown my $6.00 RR in the trash. Not to mention how am I suppose to prove that my Register Reward did not print considering this happened yesterday and it does not show up on the receipt?
I just do not want to make this mistake again if it was my mistake, because these ignorant sales associates make me feel like I am trying to steal from Walgreens when they just stole from me!
Thanks.
Twice I had purchsed the correct items in the ad and twice I didn’t get my RR either. The one manger for the life of himself was baffled and said I don’t get it and gave me cash instead of the RR catalina.
Once I bought the incorrect item with a 2/5 deal and that was my error as well as not being able to get my RR on that day. The manager smiled ( went back to get the right item) and helped get me straighted out on the error I made fixed it and re rang my items so my RR’s printed.
I will not leave the store unitl I verify I have recieved all my RR correctly. I check and double check everything plus my 15 yr old comes with me. The store I shop at is great and they are pretty helpful however Walgreens as a whole does not do well at marking all sales items… It’s like reading the fine print ! LOL
I have been using the RR coupons for awhile and the Walgreens at Cedar and 160th in Lakeville is very good. I have had no problems manufacturer coupons with walgreens coupons and using my RR coupons all in the same purchase. I find just following the rule of I can’t use more coupons that I have items for the purchase works. Of course I like to get things for free, but I use the RR coupons to purchase items that never go on sale by saving up for things and getting smaller “filler” items. I basically get my makeup and hair products for free.
It didn’t print because you bought the wrong size. The ad did not say a certain size but it did say “on participating products”. My cashier was very polite and showed me the ad tags on all the 25.4oz sizes of shamp/conds. It was only printing out for all the 5.99 products not the 3.99 2/7.00. She just voided the transaction and gave me back all the coupons I used. Sorry you had such bad cashier. My walgreens in Elk River, MN. has one of the best cosmetic cashiers. (Shout out to Tiffany)
Can you use more than one rr in one transaction?
I’m trying to understand the rr thing. I’m new to all of this! So if I get a rr it’s bsically like a walgreens gift card to use toward anything I purchase in the future, or is it limited to certain items? How long do I have to wait to use it? Same day @ another store? What are the restrictions?
How do you sign up for Walgreen’s Register Rewards?
Tried your list and ideas yesterday for the first time. Didn’t understand at the time you can only receive ONE REGISTAR REWARD COUPON PER TRANSACTION. Tried one transaction then returned and ended up with 15 different transactions. Bless the heart of the Savage manager on duty, he was very helpful. However embarassing it was in the end, I ended up with over $105 worth or merchandise for just over $7. I think it went well:) Thanks
Wendy – Yes, we should add that into this post. You can actually receive more than one Register Reward per transaction as long as the Register Rewards are produced on different items. Meaning you can’t purchase 10 tubes of toothpaste that are ‘free after Register Reward’ in one transaction and then get 10 Register Rewards. However, you could purchase one tube of toothpaste and one bottle of shampoo that are both free after Register Reward and get a total of two Register Rewards back.
Laura, The first transaction that day I think I had 5 different types of items, Yet only one $2 catalina printed out in the end (I was expection $38). Thats when the manager came over and told me ‘only one will print per order’????? and we broke it into 15 orders so I receive the full 15 catalinas worth a total of $38. How did you get more than one in a sigle order? Because I would rather not do the 15 transaction thing again:)
Wait – oh geez, I am getting cross eyed from all this.. :)
So, if I want to buy 10 packs of diapers that are on sale this week, and they give $2 RR a piece, would I have to divide that into 10 different transactions to get $20 RR?
I am so confused.. :S
Elin, yes your right. You will have to do 10 transactions to get all those rewards. But it can be worth it when you score big in the end:)
Alright, sweet! :) Thanks
Walgreens won’t take catalinas from Cub even though it is a manufacturer’s coupon? Does that sound right or is the cashier in Waconia and the store policy goofy?
Thanks for a reply
Also they informed me they cannot print dup receipts for rebate purposes ARGH! which they informed me after I had checked out and paid… Not a stellar trip by any means!
First Walgreen’s trip with your ides for me. 6pk Expo markers were supposed to be free – but they were sold out – at 2 stores. I think everyone is catching your deals! But the man helping me said he’d adjust the price on a 4pk+2pk at the ad price (with coupon) of 99¢ but then I wasn’t able to do the manufacturer’s coupon to get it free – but still a great price. Also a lady at the 2nd store was TELLING me to buy a product with register rewards, then redeem the register rewards immediately by ringing my purchases through separately. She was trying to help me get more savings ad offered several suggestions.
I have never been so excited about anything in my life. Getting the free things is like a hunting expedition. I find my prey, catch it and bring it home and put it on display. I have even brought friends and family over just to show off all the free stuff I have gotten and started showing them how I did it. I will never go back to paying full price for anything again! Thank you for showing me the way.
I have to agree with other commenters on here…My Wal-greens always gives me problems, is always out of stock on the really good deals by Sunday night, and is always crabby and un-helpful when it comes to trying to get great deals and using coupons. However, the staff at CVS literally bend over backward to get me the best possible deals and work out the best scenarios. One checkout person there even told me she is an avid PYDer and helped me ring things up in a way to get a better deal. I so wish i could just never go to Wal-greens again, but I will still go in for the free things. I am so tired of the way Wal-greens never has their deals marked correctly and half the time they cannot agree on what their policy is and half the time the RR don’t print or aren’t accepted. Another thing, I went into Wags with one day expired RR and they wouldn’t let me use them, however, CVS will ring through expired EC Bucks without batting an eye. Bottom line, love CVS, strongly dislike my Walgreens here in Mankato.
Am I missing something? My RR from this week (M&M deal and Blistex deal) have printed on them that they’re redeemable only at Walgreens! I tried using them at Rainbow today and was told no. I’ve always used them at Rainbow so I was shocked! Been doing this for a while and follow PYD daily (I’m a little addicted! :). Is this something new or did I totally overlook some info somewhere???
That wording has been there for a month or two now I believe. I have had no problems still using them at Cub Foods. but I have not tried to use them at Rainbow.
I was able to use them at Cub last night. Maybe it’s just rainbow – or just the rainbow I went to (Apple Valley)
Wag manager here…..love the site….frustrated at some of the wag hate here :( ready and willing to help with any questions about wag you might have
Hi Matt! Welcome. Feel free to chime in to the conversation.
Matt – I don’t know which Walgreens you represent, but I have to tell you that I used to avoid Walgreens to the point I never looked at the ads in the paper or here on PYD. However, when our St. Louis Park Walgreens opened, my attitude changed. They have been so incredibly friendly and helpful. I imagine “your” Walgreens is very friendly as well!
Question: I used a $3 register reward (from cottonelle) to pay for a walgreen’s razor that cost $3 today. My total was $0 after using my register reward, but I was to get another $3 register reward for buying the razor and nothing printed out. I asked the cashier and she said that if you use a register reward to buy a product and the total is $0, the register reward will not print out. Is this true, or do I need to talk to the manager.
I’ve had the same thing happend and been told the same answer.
If you buy a P&G product this week and get a register reward can you use it next week and get a register reward. I have a whole bunch of them but it seems like every week there is a RR on P&G products…
I have in large part stopped going to Walgreens because of the non-stop hassle over using RR, and coupons at the handful of stores I might frequent. The “deals” just aren’t worth it when you have to explain the coupons to the person attending and you have 3 or 4 people waiting to check out behind you.
Unless it’s a fairly simple straightforward transaction — I’m done going there. My experience is that the ending payment amount is more often wrong than correct (the wrong amount receipts are always higher than anticipated)
Carrie and Laura,
Wondering if you would add K-Mart to your list of store ads. They offer double coupons for their reward club members and the membership is free. They have great deals this week in groceries and beauty.