Happy Friday: Free Samples Box at Walgreens

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Sent from reader, Nicole:

After seeing all the negativity related to Walgreens, it was refreshing to find a coupon friendly store. This was at the beauty counter and had coupons and tiny mail card samples as well as travel-sized Dove men’s body washes. So maybe if people have been avoiding them, as I was, they should give it one more try.

HAPPY FRIDAY! 😀


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Comments 35

  1. Julie

    I have had some really bad experiences at Walgreen’s too. But, I have also had some great ones. I love when the employees are super nice and supportive of us using coupons. Thanks for sharing Collin!

  2. crystal

    They never have any samples at my local Walgreens. There are some unfriendly cashiers at my wags but not all of them are like that. I just try to go check out with the nice cashier. My complaint with my wags is there is never anything in stock.

    • Beth

      Ditto to that! Doesn’t matter which Wags I try, they are all out of stock on my trip. I’ve tired of planning for an awesome shopping trip, clipped my coupons, gotten organized only to get to the store to discover they are out of at least 2/3 of the items I went in for. I don’t even bother anymore. But, I do love this story. It’s nice to see that one Wags is a great place to shop. 🙂

      • Melissa

        For the most part I have truly had positive experiences at Walgreens, especially when I can use the cosmetic counter for checkout. There are a lot of Walgreens in my town, and most of the employees I’ve encountered have been very nice to me. But I do have to agree that Walgreens is often out of the things they advertise. I have been told several times that the store never got the shipment of certain sale items in the first place or only got a few of the items for the week. Then there is also the problem with the “extreme couponing” types who come in and clear the shelves of the deals.

    • kw

      yes! never the items/deals in-stock that i go there for! i mean, it’s been an ongoing problem. i avoid them, bu then try again–to no avial! if i ask anything about the product or stock i just get blank stares or told to check back later. it’s too much frustration…so like beth, i don’t bother. and agree…glad it works for some, just not this chicky!

    • Patty

      I have to totally agree with all of the above…i just hate to use our walgreens for coupon shopping..i only go there when there is a good price for allergy meds..

  3. Mama lang

    Thanks for this. I have been a couponer at at least 8 Walgreens in 2 states over the past 3 years and have rarely had a bad experience. To be honest it is one of my favorite stores for couponing so dont give up! It has paid off fir me for sure!

  4. maja

    Well all of us had problems at any store… But I skipp one Wags store very close to my house and go at another 2 stores each 5 min away. One that I avoid was my favorite store than I don’t know why they changed managers and employees and that store became nightmare for couponers:-) Just keep smile and save money:-)

  5. Pharmchick

    My wags has a cashier with a huge coupon binder who always looks to see if she has coupons to apply to a customers order. Very sweet.

  6. Jennifer A

    I love my Walgreens (open 24 hours)!! I start work at 4:30 a.m. so I usually stop and do my couponing on my way in to work. A. I’m always the only customer in line 🙂 B. The cashier and I are on a first-name basis [plus she thinks my coupon skills are amazing!] and C. Shopping at that time gives me more time with my son during his awake hours! 🙂

  7. Tia

    Their coupon policies confuse me way too much! I need my couponing to be a little more straightforward. Nice post though!

    • Crystal

      I agree. Between the RR (needing fillers) and BR points program I get pretty confused.

    • Melissa

      I agree with you there. It takes way too much mental energy. I like simple!

    • Dawn

      I also agree. With ridiculous prices on most everything there, I understand you would WANT to use coupons to buy anything there! But I think the whole points thing is stupid and not worth my own time to keep track or play their “rewards games”. I’ll just shop somewhere else I can buy everything I need at cheaper prices overall instead of making a special trip, and usually they are out of what I wanted to coupon with anyway…..

  8. sarah

    One of my problems stores is very nice. I thought id pop in there, had to do business n that town….and they even said o go over there to beauty, you can do as many transactions as you want 🙂 they had always been switching the limits daily and coupons were a nightmare. They must have got a new store manager, though ive not happened to see them yet or the old one but i think its better now either way

    • sarah

      *very nice Now

  9. Jenna b

    Walgreens is my least favorite place to coupon. I usually try to go to anyone but the one by my house. The lady always looks mad if I come with multiple transactions. She’s just mad because she can’t figure out how to save money.

    • Krista G

      Give her a coupon or two for a deal, it makes them happy to see you when they score free toothpaste or shampoo every now and then.

      • MJ

        Just FYI Walgreens cashiers are not supposed to accept anything from customers. If LP finds out they can get in trouble. 🙁 That holds true at most stores. I know Meijer and Kroger employees are also not allowed to take anything from customers.

  10. Heather

    It is so interesting reading this. I live near an intersection that has a rite aid, walgreens and cvs on each corner and a tracery store on the 4th corner. My cvs is always out of everything and they are not helpful. The rite aid is good and usually the first place I go. The Walgreens is hit or miss. I tend to do a few small transactions. The big ones just get to complicated for me. This week I went to the walgreens to do the almay deal. The cashier at the makeup counter helped me re work it, adding stock in and coupons (to get the extra 5000) points. She was great! I ended up spending just over $4 and got tons of makeup and candy and the points.

    It would be nice if we could start a list of great couponing locations.

  11. Krista G

    It looks like some of the comments are regarding managers and have notice that too. My big idea with all stores: find out friendly managers work days and what day/s the store receives their shipments. On a side note, I have asked managers why they aren’t super happy about couponers and its more than shelf clearing…one store lost $14,000 to fake coupons the previous month. Holy mackerel! Can you imagine losing that much money in your business?

  12. Melissa

    My walgreens is also often out if deal items, but any time I walk in without coupons and checkout at the cosmetic counter they have a bin of coupons (both walgreens and manufacturers) which they give me. I have always saved at least a dollar or more. Also, my husband is a pharmacist for publix and chose that store over Walgreens given how poorly they treat their employees, so keep that in mind next time you are there.

    • Erika

      As a former Walgreens pharmacist, I would agree with your husband! They use to be a great company to work with, but now, not so much. Cutting hours and not giving enough techs to help work. It has come down to nothing but money.

  13. Conswalla

    I no longer shop at Walgreens. They have the worst cashiers. They’re very rude. I have 2 near me and have had bad experiences in both. You present a coupon, the cashiers start rolling their eyes and huffing and puffing. I’ll pass and stick with CVS!

  14. Michelle

    I boycotted wags about three years ago… And never looked back! I honestly don’t miss it one bit 🙂 glad others have good experiences though!!

  15. Jessica

    Walgreens is my favorite place to coupon. I know everybody in my Walgreens by name and they know me, they are great with couponers. At the cosmetic counter they have a coupon book they keep clipped coupons in and give out to customers. They hand out samples all the time, today actually Ms Wanda filled my bag with samples. My CVS i
    customer service is nowhere near the patience and coupon friendly as Walgreens, so I think it just depends on owners/managers.

    • Jennifer A

      I always have the same experience as you! The cashier at my walgreens is always handing me samples or coupons! Plus with their points program I’ve cashed in over $150 in free stuff over the past six months! 🙂

  16. Angela

    I have always hated using coupons at walgreens. I agree their system is confusing with not being able to use them immediately/ on the same item/ using fillers. Plus i always get the cashier who hates helping me with my coupons. She is not friendly at all and always there. CVS on the other hand seems fairly straight forward and are always very coupon friendly. I even had a cashier ask me if I had gotten the coupon from the coupon center so she could scan that for me too!

    • ajelliott

      There is a woman at my cvs who makes sure I get the good coupons from the coupon center as well. But my parents cvs is mt favorite. I was visiting them last week and went into cvs twice, I had seen the cashier only once before and this was months ago. She remembered me and asked me how I had been. She was also impressed with my OOP on both of those trips. I was just telling my dad that I wish she was my regular cashier. Too bad it is over 3 hours away.

      I’ve never had any issues with Walgreens, I actually just did an awesome transaction earlier but if CVS and Walgreens have the same deal and I am interested in it, I am going to pick CVS every time.

  17. Tess

    My walgreens and cvs are very coupon friendly. The beauty girl at my walgreens always has tons of walgreens beauty samples and coupons laid visible for people to take. Always glance over them – I’ve found great toothpaste coupons there too.

  18. Tess

    With Walgreens one of tricks I do is if an item is a freebie I always find something little in the clearance aisle like .18 cent sharpies — that way the total doesn’t come to zero — an inexperienced cashier doesn’t know how to handle that.

    I know I SHOULDNT have to – that the chaser should know their policy but it’s just easier.

  19. Beth M.

    I’m in Idaho, and love wags! I hate rite aid rude cashier’s, gross dated stores. And We have NO cvs’ here. But they sound awesome!

  20. terri

    Used to love mine, changed management, changed the system. I’ll just pop in for the free Colgate at 2:30 since I pass it, 1 item and 20 minutes later and wrong. No RR, cashier adament since I used 1 coupon, no RR..2 managers later…oh yeah, the catalina machine is not working…and this is at 2:30 and the cashier is the morning one…she has no clue, the store management has no clue. horrible store. left with no toothpast as they couldn’t even figure out how to refund my purchase. HATE WALGREENS

  21. Sonya

    It’s hit or miss with me. One store I have no problems. The other store is drama every time! When I use coupons, one cashier calls her manager (EVERY TIME) to see if they’re valid. I would hate to think it has something to do with my “natural” tan…

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