Follow Me Thursday as I Finish off My Very Interesting Phone Calls to Walgreens…
Are you eager to see Part 3 of my 3 part video series that highlights phone calls I made to Walgreens stores across the country?! Well, first, if you haven’t already, make sure to check out Part 1 and Part 2. I ended the video yesterday in the middle of a oh so helpful conversation 😉 with a Walgreen’s customer service rep at the corporate level. Today’s video will highlight the remainder of this interesting phone call! Enjoy!
**If you can’t see the video, then go here to watch it.
*Please note that I contacted Walgreens managers in the following 4 states: Idaho, North Carolina, Missouri and Texas; and I called the Walgreens Corporate Customer Service Center in Alabama. Because these states only require one party consent to record a telephone conversation, I was able to record these phone calls legally! 🙂
All those videos just show what happens when you shop at Walgreens. I’ve experienced everyone of those “guideline” problems. I have even experienced differences within the same store. It really is up to the cashiers, who at times are as uninformed as the people you talked to, who should know something. Too bad you can’t send these to Walgreens coporate so they can see how inept they look!!
I would burn these to disc and send them to corporate- maybe someone will actually see that NO ONE has any idea what’s going on throughout their stores. I understand there is always an exception to every rule however, their “policies” may as well be thrown in the blender and dumped down the drain. Makes no sense to me 🙂
I don’t like to have to buy 2 items when Walgreen’s has a sale 2 for $$$. Why can’t I just buy 1?
Thanks Collin taking initiative to contact them. Our walgreens is very bad too. Our store is only 2 yrs old. Recently managers do not even smile of appreciate that we shop there. They do not adjust the coupon down either.
So it’s Walgreen’s fault that we didn’t make the coupons the right price? So we have to adjust the prices of all the items in the store so the customers can use the coupons? We don’t make the coupons, call the company that makes them and tell them they should raise the price of their products so you can get to use the coupons
That was not the point “Just wondering”. No one said that it is Walgreens’ fault. The point is that adjusting the coupon value down is good for Walgreens and good for the consumer both. Walgreens makes money and the consumer saves money.
Thats nonsense, store prices are often adjusted by the manger and from what I have been able to determine, since corporate does not answer your e-mails (lousy customer service), they can do whatever they want because there is no written corporate policy.
Thanks, Collin. Very funny video.
I think I talked to the same corporate lady from AL that you talked to yesterday. They sound exactly the same. I was mad because my walgreens wouldn’t adjust my coupon down so I can get the reach toothbrushes for free (I have stopped shopping at walgreens for the last 2 mos.). I was mad. So, then I decided to just get a stupid filler item so it won’t beep. I went to check out..and then they are like “Oh..you are going to get .4 cents overage…I gotta adjust these down to .99”. Why couldn’t you just do that in the first place? You don’t want me to get overage..but yet you don’t want me to get the item free, either. Makes me so mad. So I called corporate and she told me that “she knows it’s frustrating that I get told different things from each walgreens store..and walgreens is working on getting a corporate policy so couponers won’t have such a hard time trying to save money”. I hope so.
WOW. That is embarrassing for such a large company to appear so … incompetent, uneducated, disorganized.
LOVE THIS, WOULD LOVE THIS DONE FOR CVS!!!!!!!!!!!! MOST STORES HERE IN PA DON’T KNOW THEIR OWN COUPON POLICY!!!!!!!
Collin,
Thanks for taking the time to do this. The three hours you endured were frustrating – no doubt – but at least we know they (Walgreens) are consistent about being Inconsistent among any type of coupon policy. Corporate obviously doesn’t care about coupon issues. Possibly their profit comes from the pharmacy medicine sales or the high priced store items that are sold to the average consumer who is willing to pay high dollar amount for a last minute item. Just think of your Walgreens as a convenient store without gasoline. Then go and shop for the items you have coupons for at the Real Stores like CVS, Rite Aid, Target, Wal-Mart, etc. Those stores *publish* their coupon policy. That says a lot and is good enough for me.
With drug stores like Rite Aid, CVS and Walgreens, I believe its more than 75% of the money they make as a store is from the pharmacy. But irregardless of that, if Walgreens can’t be consistent they’ll lose pharmacy customers to other chains.
Exactly, everytime I go to Walgreens it’s very much like a convenient store. The items that are being bought by others are very much like those they would buy at a Kwik Stop or something of the like. Never in the months I been couponing at Walgreens have I ever seen anyone else use coupons. Maybe, everyone else has already found out what I’m now just getting (DUUUHHHHH!). Walgreens is not coupon friendly on a consistent enough basis to warrant shopping there w/ coupons. The CVS right down the road has always been VERY coupon (and customer) friendly. Think I’ll just stick to CVS from now on.
looks like she went through hell. wow ! 3 hours of sitting on the chair. While there are more important issues in the world. People who don’t have jobs, losing their homes, worried how they are going to feed their children.
Go somewhere else if you don’t have something nice to say…sho fly sho fly
Again. don’t you know anything else than to say shoo fly.
Oh dear!
Well how about just “GO AWAY!” instead.
OK? Just GO AWAY!! POOF! BE GONE!
I wonder what manufacturers would think of this… Walgreens being a retailer for them. Manufacturerers loose out on profits too when couponers are turned down and walk away from their purchases. Imagine P&G, for example, telling Walgreens to get their act together. Holy cow!
That’s a good point. The whole point of the manufacturer making coupons is for: advertising, and to get the consumer to try the product in their home, hopefully falling in love with it, and buying it again. Many a time I will need something, it will be on sale at Wallgreens and I have a coupon for it… but I will NOT shop there because of how I’ve been treated there. They are so wishy washy and the sales people act like you are taking money out of their PERSONAL pockets, not making money for the store.
I really wish that Walgreen’s corporate would listen to these calls, this has to be embarassing. Basically this woman, a corporate representative, is clueless and why even have her. Odds are this call was recorded for quality purposes and I hope her manager hears it and somehow this call gets flagged for training. So sad!
Love the videos they ares soooo true! You are hilarious too! Thanks for your great advice, I have to have my daily hip2save every day. My husband calls it my coffee! 🙂
Yeah, because of all my bad expiriances at walgreens I have taken my perscriptions and business elsewhere.
Collin, thank you so much for doing this for us!!!! Your facial expressions were the best part 😉
I gave up on Walgreens for good a few weeks ago. It just isn’t worth shopping there – too much hassle, too much uncertainty, despite a few very nice individuals who happen to work there. Thank you for doing this. I really hope your calls and these comments can find their way to someone high enough up to make some changes. I have made similar comments when I get survey invitations on my receipts. I hope one day it will sink in!
I actually love walgreens especially the deals that we get also they offer a military discount here which is 15%! Although there is one particular walgreens I refuse to step foot in because they have been awful about couponing! They are rude and often don’t accept the coupons and I swear they make the register beep so it doesn’t take them. I have done the same deal at this store and then taken it to the walgreens that I love and the coupons go through without a problem! So I refuse to shop at that store!
Ok so Collin – I seriously think that you are a precious gift and while your couponing wisdom is wonderful, I can totally see you hosting a show and becoming very very famous aside from the internet. You remind me of that sweet girl Elizabeth who was on Survivor in 1999 or 2000 now she is on The View… Anyway, I sent an email to corporate as I am sure a zillion others have done and here is the first email I sent:
Dear Mr. Wasson,
I do love WalGreens but I loathe its customer service (or lack of).
I am not sure what your job consists of as the head hauncho and how much of the day to day “customer” type experiences, but there is a HUGE problem with your company: There is NO policy regarding coupons. Where there is lack of vision the people fail and I do believe that this will be true in your stores as well.. Each manager has to deal with making up coupon rules for every customer and the inconsistency varies not only from Walgreens to Walgreens but also from manager to manager in the SAME store. Don’t your store managers have better things to do than to police coupon usage for each transaction?
I believe that WalGreens needs to wake up to the reality that people are spending less money these days and using manufacturer’s coupons.As with anything out of the norm, rules and policies need to be put in place. The problem? You refuse to make ONE policy and put in it print for the customer… Just tell us what hoops to jump through and we will do it, but please WalGreens stop expecting us to read your mind and obey a policy that cannot be found anywhere….
Your company was just made to be a laughing stock this week on the internet…
Have a look at YOUR managers, sales clerks and even corporate customer service rep….
This is eye opening….These are videos about WalGreens – there are 3 parts… and please don’t stop watching until you get to the end of the third one. This is perhaps better than a Dateline NBC secret camera thing….
I linked your video here…
Here is their repsonse:
Thank you for taking the time to contact us with your concern regarding a policy for coupons.As you mentioned, Walgreens does not have a specific coupon policy. We do have, however, guidelines for our store managers to follow regarding the various coupon programs and offers that our stores participate in. If there is a specific question or inquiry, our store or district management personnel should be able to address it.
We apologize for any inconvenience you have had in regard to this matter.
We appreciate your interest in Walgreens and hope to be able to serve you in the future.
Consumer Response Representative
And here is my final reply:
I am sorry, but this was not an appropriate or complete answer to my concerns. Either your store managers do not follow your set of guidelines or you have 1000 different sets of guidelines from which they can choose – both scenarios exclude the customer of the rules….I have a choice in where I spend my money. Your lack of attention to my question, your lack of attention to my friend’s questions ( who have had the same problems I have had) and the unprofessional poor attitude towards customers who attempt to use coupons is the reason that you have now lost my business.
Your response to this email was going to be the determining factor as to whether or not I would stick it out with Walgreens or make the permanent change over to CVS.
I truly expected a different response than the one I received which is why you have lost my business. I can be treated with dignity at the register at CVS and they welcome my coupons and have a clearly laid out policy which dictates the proper use.
I do not expect to hear back from you but it sure would be nice to see that my business matters to you…
And did you notice that there was no mention of what THE GUIDELINES actually are
I have problems at different Walgreens locations here in Arizona. So I go to the walgreens I have the least problems and chose the cashier that gives me no problems. I just dont like being viewed as a thief when I want to save money while using coupons. The nerve of some cashiers thinking I am being fradualent when I cleary read the coupon before I used it. Some cashiers have to open up the dictionary and look up per PURCHASE and per TRANSACTION. I wish walgreens uploads a coupon policy to there website. btw..i absolutely love your site I have learned ALOT……
Thank you.
ONE more thing.. I love it when they tell me one coupon per item,per purchase, per transaction…that way, I will stay on the same line with the same cashier and have her ring up my purchase in different transactions and give her my 0.8 cents each time. Oh and when she complains “I am holding up the line” I smile and Gladly say…Oh I am so sorry I was in line like everyone else and a paying customer! Seriously!! She could have did ONE Transaction since I used my 3 coupons that are the same and Ofcourse Purchase 3 Items specified on the COUPON! But she wanted to play this GAME and I GAVE IT TO HER……Thankfully the Customers behind me understood why I was so Fraustrated!!! he he he
The reason they do this is so they have choices within each store and leave it up to the store. The way they see it, it is more likely that the customer will just pay for the item if the manager says no. What they don’t know is that most of us will put the item back and never return…and of course come here and deter everyone else from going to Walgreens. They need to get it figured out or they will lose a ton of business!!
I had a scenario today where I bought 4 Edge Gel shaving cream, 4 women’s shaving cream, and 5 wet ones for $1.99 each. There were register rewards of $10 if you bought $25 worth of these products. I had coupons for $.75 cents off each of the shaving creams and $.50 off 4 of the wet ones.
When my Catalinas printed out, I did not get one for the $10 for purchasing these products. I did not realize it at the time, so I went back and spoke to a manager. He refunded all the items and rang them up again. The Catalina still did not print. The manager looked at my previous receipt and asked if I used coupons. Yes. I did. He then told me that you could not get a register rewards on products that you used coupons on because the register rewards were manufacturers coupons also. He printed me one out and basically told me he was doing me a favor and not to try it again……
I have never had a problem like this before and wondered if there was anything new that would be causing this.
And after I thought about it… the coupons should have had nothing to do with it on the 2nd transaction, because he refunded the items at $1.99 and then rang them up again at $1.99. So the receipt showed that I bought $25.87 worth of the products that were but $25 get $10 RR!!
We have a Walgreens in my area that has a notice posted at each register stating that if you use purchase items that will earn a register reward you will not recieve the RR if you use a mfg Q for the transaction, reguardless of your coupon to item ratio. This is the only Walgreens out of the 5 stores in my area that has this policy. I called corporate customer service to ask them about it and the man I spoke to said that was correct and that they are in the process of writing a corporate coupon policy.
I work at Walgreen’s and never had a problem using RR and manufacturer coupons for my customers. I’ve been lucky and my customers have taught me so much in how to use coupons. I go out of my way to print & clip coupons for my customers. ( Don’t forget the cost of paper, ink and I spend about 10 plus hours of my off time doing this.)
It would be nice if we had a policy, but glad it is up to each store, because of this I’m able to save even more money. I’m glad to handle more than one, even up to 4 to 6 transactions, as long there isn’t someone behind them. (helps to check out at the beauty counter, no lines )
I’ve had a few customers who been rude to me and got to a point where they expect me to give them my coupons, that I save for all my customers. Even caught a few customers reaching behind my counter to look through and take my coupons out of my file. ( so how would you feel?)
I had one woman demanded me to tell her how many coupons I had for a certain product and wanted to use them all so she could get the RR. I told her I could only give her 2 coupons. She got mad at me for not giving them to her and left.
I don’t mind, but I had a few customers who does more than several transactions, then later return the item. ( and they are still shopping in the store.) The women would buy several items, then return an item, because she changed her mind. This happened 3 to 4 times. All in a matter of an hour. When an item is returned, the manager has to come up to the counter.
So after the 3rd week of this we finally told her she could no longer do this and she was only allowed one transaction per visit and anything she wanted to return she had to bring it back the following week. This woman started crying about how she had to take a 45 minute cab drive to town and it was the only time she could shop, got very mad and upset because we didn’t cater to her needs.
There are a few “bad” apple out there and when we get treated like crap what do you expect. I still smile and say thank you, but I keep a mental note of not giving you free samples or offer my coupons. the ones that are nice to me, I will treat like gold, I go out of my way to save free samples, I even give away my free full size samples that are meant for the beauty advisers to take home.
There are good Walgreen’s Beauty Adviser and it would be great to hear about the ones that do save you money. Like me.
Kansas
I also want to note that I did help the “cab” woman, ( she was from other country)
I explaine to her on how coupons work and how the RR works as well. She now brings her husband in to shop with her and only does 2 to 3 transactions.( with me at the beauty counter, at one time.) she became a really nice and sweet person, whereas before she was very very rude towards me.
Kansas,
Don’t worry, most of us recognize the hard work of our cashiers. I have my favorites-Tammy, Jessica and Melissa. Love Walgreens and the Beauty counter gals!
thank you! Great to hear.
I am fortunate enough to live in a city with many WAGS locations. I have gotten to know which ones have coupon friendly policies and which ones do not. I try to show my gratitude and not blame the cashiers when things don’t work out. Thank you to all the cashiers that try to work with these guidelines.
And just an aside: my daughter is in the Coast Guard reserve and was very suddenly called up to help in the oil spill clean-up. She called and said “help! I don’t even have time to shop for stuff I need.” Because of all I have learned from this sight I was able to pack up all the toiletries she needed except anti-perspirant. One less thing for her to worry about.
This is totally wrong and if you have access to their weekly ad over the last few weeks you should be able to find several things that advertise the RR ALONG WITH a little bubble that says “Additional Coupons savings in Sunday’s paper”. This would make no sense at all if you couldn’t use a mfq and get the RR.
I just got back from Walgreens and after having some good experiences there and tonight was not good. I am fairly new to this but today i went there to get the Crest extra whitening plus scope. I have the $1 off coupon and also a register reward from last time which says Walgreen’s on it in big red letters. When i got to the register the cashier said i could not use both coupons b/c they are both manufacturer coupons. I thought the rewards that printed out at after a transaction were store coupons. Am i wrong? Either way he was very rude and i have thought about not going back.
Educate you cashier, walgrees in not worse than walmart I hate walmart the are more inconsisten w/coupons that any other store
You would have needed to purchase a filler item (another small item of any amount), so that you could use your other. They were right in that the count of items can only be one per coupon, if that makes sense. I usually make sure I have an extra filler item just to be sure. Then if it beeps, have them call the manager if you are sure you are right, or wonder about it.
No, that is not usually the case. Most of the time, Register Rewards are actually manufacturer coupons (check the verbage next to the expiration date). They add the Walgreens logo to get you to reuse it at Walgreens. There are some stores that will accept Register Rewards from Walgreens. For instance, many of us in the Chicagoland area can get Register Rewards at Walgreens and turn around and use them at Jewel-Osco grocery stores.
Unfortunately, in this rare case, the cashier was right – that you were probably using two manufacturer coupons. Hope that helps and does not discourage you from your Walgreens – Keep going back, it sounds like it was just a minor setback in your journey.
What happened with the letter/emailing to Walmart campaign…anyone know…anyone get a reply back? Thanks
The truth is that all of the store cashiers, supervisors, and managers have their hands tied so don’t be too hard on them for not being coupon-friendly. The real culprits are the loss prevention managers. LP managers won’t hesitate to punish/fire employees if there is any sort of lost revenue to the store. Even though most coupons scan, some coupons don’t and this is often where stores incur losses because they don’t have a record of that coupon in their system and they risk the chance of not being reimbursed for it. Walgreens suppliers probably put restrictions on coupon use during sales too…but that’s just a guess.
She is right. I don’t agree with customers arguing with the cashiers. Wouldn’t you care about your job, it’s only obvious they are following managers orders. I mean they can get fire for punching in a coupon. DO YOU UNDERSTAND THAT! Really I wouldn’t want to loose my job over anybody. Just be nice to them, go to cosmetic counter and talk to them. Beauty advisors always have free samples and alot of extra coupons that P&G sends to them. JUST BE RESPECTFUL! and you will get respect back. Its that simple =)
I loved watching you videos! Great plugs for your site, Hip2Save!
I wonder what the “guidelines” or as I mistyped initially guidelies are!
A corporate policy would be wonderful, and would make shopping at Walgreens so much better… that and changing the Register Rewards to a non-manufacturer coupon. One can dream!
Have a great 4th!
The only problem in pushing this issue with respect to coupons is that ultimately Walgreens will create a policy which DOES NOT work in favor of the consumer. The B1G1 with B1G1 coupons will be eliminated, no question. The mfg and IVCs will not work together with claims that they are both mfg coupons. I understand the frustration. The Wag up the street will not allow these transactions (well, most of the time), but the one 7 miles away will. I’ve had similar problems with CVS, too. My friend and I checking out together simultaneously, they allowed by B1G1 coupons but not hers. Ultimately, I don’t think it’s a good idea to push this issue, however. Your site and others like it have become so popular and mainstream that they will ultimately decide against us if you force a coupon policy.
Collin: This is by far the best Follow Me video series you’ve done! The frustration we have trying to play by the rules and the darn corporations who refuse to post or even have them! I really think it is a form of discrimination for consumers to be treated differently depending on who is the cashier, the manager, etc. at the time. Somewhere in Walgreen’s they do have a policy, they just won’t let the general public see it! In my opinion because we might actually use it to our advantage!
Wow, Walgreens is a mess! I’ve called CVS and Rite Aid customer service a few times and they are on the ball, so this was a surprise. When you called corporate, did you ask to talk to a supervisor? It seemed like you were a little hard on the customer service rep – I felt sorry for her because she was being made fun of, though I completely understand your frustration. That is her job, after all, and she should know the answers to those questions. I think it’s always better to take it out on the higher ups instead of the little people. Did she know she was being recorded? She just seemed really flustered.
This was funny! and the exact reason why I avoid Walgreens. I was told once that I couldn’t use the IVC with an item that was on sale. What? Crazy Walgreens. I will stick with RiteAid and CVS.
Walgreens is absolutely pathetic!
I have so many complaints about them – too numerous to list!
Stay away and hopefully they will go out of business.
I love your personality. You look like you have a blast everyday! I wanna be like you when I grow up LOL!
Walgreens is stupid. 🙂
It’s my policy to not shop at stores without coupon policies…and the whole # of coupons must be equal or less than the number of items is a bit asinine, especial in light of the fact that coupon use is soley at the discretion of the manager on duty. Not to mention they are always out of stock on sale items. Oops, you got me started! lol
Thanks for doing this! Sometimes I feel like I have “Hassle me!” written on my shirt when I use coupons! In fact, two months ago, I posted under the Cashier Scuntiy area of your site about a problem I had with Walgreens (not getting RR with MC). Corporate promised a call back in two days and, well, I’m still waiting! As with many others who posted, I now refuse to shop at Walgreens and don’t even look at their ads anymore. It’s just not worth the time, uncertainty, embarrassment etc. Too bad for Walgreens because I am the family photographer and Easily spend $100 a month on photo developing. I used to do that at Walgreens (plus I always spent about $40 or so on other items while there to get my photos) but now Shutterfly and Target get all my business! Pay attention, Walgreens!
P.S. You and your sister are hilarious together. You should do an Odd Couple Go Shopping video!
Thanks for these videos Collin! I just had a reader with a horrible Walgreen’s experience so I blogged about it and referenced your videos. 🙂 They need a coupon policy in a serious way.
Collen Congratulations!!!! I think you made an excellent job with the calls, I’m just starting to learn How to use Coupons and you’re such a great teacher for me, I’m learning with your experience and all this things that you make , Thanks for your help, the videos are awesome I laugh a lot and learn too you’re amazing this page is wonderful, I was hoping you can make a call in PA, but I think Walgreens is a mess, special in the corporate level I’m freak out…That’s why employers don’t know sometimes what you are talking about
So these videos are awesome. I just separated and clipped my coupons from the last 2 weeks of papers while listening to and watching them. It’s so weird that all the different managers had different answers and corporate had no idea what was going on. If there are guidelines, where are they?! I am so blessed to have a great Walgreens in Illinois where I know many of the cashiers and store workers, and have even talked to the managers about RR not printing, and they’re always nice and understanding. I even know one of the cashiers so well that she said to me a couple of weeks ago, “I’m just waiting to owe you money!” She knew the system wouldn’t allow that, but that she knows I’m such an aggressive couponer, and appreciates that is cool. It is hip2save! Thanks Collin for your work for all of us. Here’s to Wags developing a coupon policy that reflects the best of these phone calls, and putting it online.
The Walgreens just down the street from my house (according the the cashier), will not allow customers to make more than one purchase at a time. So what I have been doing is making my list of planned purchases and getting the items for the first purchase and going through check out. Then getting the items for the next purchase and going through the check out again. My suggestion would be to have more than one register open at a time and hopefully this would not be an issue for anyone.
I don’t really understand why a large corp. like Walgreens would not have their corporate office make out guidelines concrning coupon use for all their stores. This way there would be no misunderstanding between coupon shoppers and individual stores and everyone would be on the same page.
I think it’s great they give ownership to the manager to make their own decisions on stuff…but for coupons you really need a policy that is clear and the same across the board. Doesn’t that benefit everyone? Walgreens & their customers will know what to expect.
I have my favorite cashier at Walgreens who will seriously do anything to make it happen for my coupons. I hope he never quits…because I know not everyone will be that way.
Check out this email I got back when I emailed the CEo of walgreens
Thank you for taking the time to contact us. Greg Wasson asked me to follow up with you regarding a policy for coupons.
As you mentioned, Walgreens does not have a specific coupon policy. We do have, however, guidelines for our store managers to follow regarding the various coupon programs and offers that our stores participate in. If there is a specific question or inquiry, our store or district management personnel should be able to address it.
For your information, the video content you referred to, along with the web site reader comments, is being reviewed by our senior management in Marketing and Operations.
We appreciate your interest in Walgreens and hope you will consider shopping with us in the future.
Regards,
Sue Drelicharz, R.Ph.
Manager, Customer Experience
Walgreens
200 Wilmot Rd.
Deerfield, IL 60015
sue.drelicharz@walgreens.com
I just have to say that our local Walgreens is about 15 minutes away and has a fantastic staff! A number of the staff members use coupons and actually great about helping the “newbies” out. I just wish they were a little closer! I did hear they are planning to open one in Brunswick, Maine, so if corporate does read this post – I’d shop there all the time~!
I agree! Send this off to Corporate! I was laughing so hard! I will definitely be visiting hip2save more often! Thanks for all you do!
I work for Walgreens and I think your video was funny. Well, the answer the question about BOGO FREE items plus using a BOGO coupon, you would actually need to buy 4 items to the three free. The reason is, if the second item rings up at $0.00 then when the coupon is scanned u must enter the second item of equal or lesser value (which it rung up as $0).
EX> Lysol 2.99
Lysol 0.00 – Free
Lysol 2.99
Lysol 0.00 – Free
COUPON – 2.99
YOUR TOTAL = $2.99
But as far as using an instore coupon (meaning, a coupon from the ad or from our instore coupon book) with a manufacture coupon, you should be able to combine them. A catalina coupon is considered a manufacture coupon.
And unfortunately my store has a limit to our Free after Register Rewards items; “ONE PER HOUSEHOLD PER DAY” We made that rule after about 2 customers were coming in on Sunday (first day of the ad) or Monday and buy off all our stock. We are limited on our product when its FREE, and to stand there and ring up ONE person, TEN times for the same item felt like letting someone steal. And not only that, by the time Tuesday Came, We were sold out and now we had customers yealling at us,”WHY ARE YOU OUT OF STOCK? ITS ONLY TUESDAY! CAN I GET A RAIN CHECK?” sorry no rain checks on RR items.
I love coupons and free stuff too but sometimes theres people out there who just get straight up GREEDY. I think thats probably why they left things up to the managers to set their policies. Different stores have different types of customers. Hopefully this helped someone out. THANKS
Just wanted to say that your logic is flawed…
If as you say you have to enter the price of the “second item” then even if you buy 4 of the item you would not be able to use the BOGO (buy 1, get 1) coupon.
You logic seems to be this:
Item #1 – $2.99
Item #2 – free ($0.00)
Item #3 – $2.99
Item #4 – free ($0.00)
BOGO coupon – (subtract $2.99)
Total cost: $2.99 + tax
BUT…
If the BOGO sale is being applied to item 1 and item 2 then using your logic, the cash register has seen 2 items and since the BOGO coupon applies to the second of every two items you cannot use the coupon because the second of the first pair (items 1 and 2) is equal to $0.00 so the coupon would take off nothing from the price.
Ok, now moving on to the second pair of items (items 3 and 4)… for items 3 and 4, the BOGO coupon would not work because you said that the BOGO coupon should be taken off the price of the “second item”. And again, the “second item” is valued at $0.00, so the BOGO coupon would again not apply. Hence the error in your logic, Frenchie.
An accurate way to think about this is just as Collin said in her videos…
If there is a BOGO sale and a BOGO coupon you have to remember that the same coupon rules apply to this transaction as with any other transaction. You are allowed to use 1 manufacturer coupon for the given number of items. In this case, you are using a manufacturer’s coupon that “covers” the “purchase” of two items. When you pick up two items in the store you are “purchasing” two items. The store is just paying for one of the items — kind of like using a store coupon. (If it wasn’t a purchase, the second item would not have to be swiped at the cash register like all the other purchases.) Therefore, it is perfectly OK to use a BOGO manufacturer’s coupon with a BOGO store sale.
So true, I’ve almost stopped going to walgreens altogether because the coupon rules are so frustrating. For instance you can only have one coupon for item requiring “filler” items. The other night I went in to get some items for a rebate (15 items) and none had coupons but all of the items I wanted to purchase with coupons were sold out. The managers solution was to “shop earlier in the week before they run out” or use a raincheck, but not on RR items of course so I asked if I could bring my reciept and show that I had already purchased “extra filler items” and of course I would still need to buy extra to do my purchase. Walgreens has made me a major CVS fan lately.
I found a way around this crazy coupon madness at Walgreens. I buy an item at Walgreens, use a mfg. coupon, then get a RR. I then take my Walgreen’s RR to my Publix who accepts Walgreens RR’s as a competitor’s coupon (I can use a mfg coupon along with the RR). This way I truely get the item for free or it’s a MM and do not have to buy an extra “filler” each time. Works for me!
I love couponing and have experienced the Walgreens couponing problem. I used to be a manager at walgreens years ago. It is true. We could all make our own decisions about coupons. In my store, there were six managers. So, that means six different coupon policies in one store alone. Crazy to have such inconsistency for such a big entity such as Walgreen’s. Our store was a million dollar a month in pharmacy sales and only 200,000 in regular sales (slight exaggeration but you get my point). Do you think Walgreens really cares that much about the profit from regular sales. Store managers are even strongly encouraged to become a certified pharmacy tech and reveive a bonus for doing so.
I have a question. I have noticed that with walgreens that when they have a good deal or reward they do not stock the item well. I walked in on a Sunday in hopes to get the free lipgloss a few weeks ago. It was only 9am and the clerk said she was all out. I asked her when she will get more she told me “Oh we do not reorder that stuff tell the ad is done” So are these rewards just a game to them. Are they just setting us up to get us in the door. I just want to know because It feels wrong. Has anyone else had this problem?
Mary, one thing I learned with my local store is to check back on Friday or Saturday, before the sale ends, for any items that were out of stock on Sunday. That’s what I do whenever they’re out of my Maxwell House French Roast coffee on Sunday morning. I’ll usually go in on a Saturday evening to stock up on any items that will no longer be on sale, and then again at around 8:30am Sunday morning to check out the new sale items:-)
I had this problem with the coupons. I was told the coupon would not work at all And that they were not aloud to take my coupon. Well, I kind of fought it and the coupon worked after she gave me this whole story about how the system would not take it and they were not aloud. They are full of it and the whole thing is crazy.
WOW — I would send all of these to Corporate, someone high up, and let them see the inconsistency! For a company this large, you would think they have “corporate” guidelines and everyone needs to follow them! CRAZY!!!!
Hi Collin,
I’m relatively new to your site, but I was hooked from the first “intro to couponing” video I watched a few days ago. LOVE your sense of humor! I live in Queens, New York City, and am fortunate in that I have a very “coupon-friendly” local Walgreens. I guess it also helps that I’m in there for something or other practically every day. (It’s literally a 2 minute walk from my apartment, which makes shopping there VERY convenient!:-) Up until recently, I didn’t realize that they DO accept internet coupons, which makes me ECSTATIC!!! Thanks so much for all of your helpful (and funny) articles and videos!
Carol