Walgreens: Updated Coupon Policy
Walgreens recently updated their Coupon Policy with some new wording and changes. And these honestly aren’t the best changes for us couponers… well, at least in my opinion. Here are the biggest changes to make note of:
Rule #7 – Walgreens will not accept coupons that exceed the selling price of an item and no cash back is ever provided in exchange for any coupons. – So it sounds like they will no longer adjust coupons down that exceed the value of an item OR even accept them.
Rule #9 – For offers when multiple items are purchased and additional items are free (buy 1 get 1 free; buy 2 get 1 free, etc.), the number of coupons applied to that offer cannot exceed the number of items required in the “buy” portion of the offer. – This means that you can no longer use two manufacturer coupons on a buy 1 get 1 FREE sale. 🙁
* Check out the full Coupon Policy here.
What are your thoughts on these changes?
(Thanks for the heads up on these changes, Susan, Saving with Vetta & Coupons Are Awesome!)
I hope CV, Puts them out of business, They degrade couponers, Employees treat you like your stealing, Almost everytime I used any kind of coupon it was an issue. I will not shop there. I hope they fold up.
i dont understand why these employees act as if they are the ceo-owner of walgreens (or any store). arrrgh. they act as if couponers are worst than thieves! 🙁 sigh.
I’ve had same kinds of problems with them as well. They are just employees why do they have difficulty accepting coupons.
Same here, I’ve had nothing but problems when I go there and had the employees be rude to me about it. Once an employee even sneered at me “I remember you, you’re the one with the coupons.” Believe me it was not a compliment!
CVS is getting all my business now too!
Yes I agree has always been hard to shop there unfortunately.
Yep, same here…they hate it when you have coupons, especially IP’s. At my Walgreen’s if they can’t get it to scan they won’t take it and I feel like they aren’t really trying to scan the coupon half the time. It is so confusing anyway, with the RR’s and the BR’s and not being able to use this or that is the same transaction. I certainly prefer CVS!
So true. I had a very nonchalant cashier in cosmetics once that didn’t seem to be really trying to scan the coupons. Told her never mind and went to the main register where that cashier scanned them no problem. She said sometimes you have to hold them at an angle, but she was at least willing to try.
THey will not fold they are protecting themselves from greedy couponers who try to make money not save money. Get a live things are not meant to be free.
Do you even know how coupons work??? They get the money from coupons whether it makes the consumer money or not…
LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING LUCY, I GET THINGS FREE ALL THE TIME, WHETHER IT BE ON LINE, OR A COUPON, AND I LOVE IT, YOU SPEND YOUR MONEY, AND I”LL DO WHAT I WANT WITH MINE. I ENJOY ALL MY EXTRA CASH, AND JUST FOR YOU INFO, I’M NOT EVEN A EXTREMER. I PLAY BY THE RULES.
Gave up Walgreens long time ago.
I have a minor question to see if anyone can help. I have the $2 off $10 toothpaste or mouthwash coupon. Crest is on sale for $4.99 each this week. If I can two, will the coupon be accepted?
at cvs yes it hits the 98%
It used to be the case that it would work, but I’m not sure if it work anymore. The last time I tried this about a month ago, it scanned, but then didn’t apply. My receipt listed it as an unapplied coupon. I think it was because the $10 purchase amount wasn’t met (was $9.98), but could have been because I used MQs and EBs and even with my other items, the total was under $10.
Yes, you can use a cvs magic machine coupon on top of a manufacturer coupon
No. The 98% rules applies to the amount needed for an ECB to generate. So if you need to purchase $12 to receive a $5 ECB, then your total can be $11.76 before coupons for that ECB to print. To use a $2 off $10 coupon, your purchase amount (before manufacturer and % off coupons are applied) has to be a minimum of $10.
I dont do Walgreens much, they have poor in stock, and you have to wait in line forever. And employees are only nice to the cigarette buyers, not those of us with kids and carts of items!
Ditto! I gave up on Walgreens a long time ago too! I used to use their pharmacy but they would call me or text me to many times that my prescription was ready for pick up and when I went the next day they told me to come back in two hours and they would have it ready for me. After the third time I changed pharmacys and I only buy things there once in a great while when there is a good deal using a walgreens coupon and a manufactueur coupon together.
Rule 10 sounds like you can’t apply a coupon for the purchase of 2 items to a BOGO offer either.
not good… buy buy Walgreens 😉
I was at Target yesterday and it looks like something in their system changed with coupons as well. When the cashier scanned a coupon on the free item it completely rejected it saying that a coupon could not be accepted on a free item. Usually it will prompt something different and the cashiers will take it.
happened to me too.. It says it
accepted the coupon but did not reflect on final price .. BOGO pizza deal.
Was it a Target or man. coupon? You can’t use a Target coupon on a free item, and some stores it seems accept man. coupons on a free item.
I tried both and it would not accept either, mine was on the pizza as well. :/
they have just in the last week changed their computer systems to no longer accept manufacturer coupons on free items, I believe this is a request from manufacturers and every store will soon comply
That’s strange. This morning I used two manufacturer coupons and $1/2 Target Q on two CPK pizzas. They all scanned, no problems! $.78 for two pizzas!
Umm, really? How would the manufacturer know the store selling price? Stores take the loss on free items, not manufacturers.
Happened to me too yesterday. Had issues with the target finish coupon too! They said I had to buy the one in the picture. I was shocked that they called a security guard over to look at the coupons. Weird.
Call corporate and report your experience. That is just wrong.
Good thing I had already stopped shopping there. All the more reason to never set a foot in there again.
Rule #7 has always been a rule at my store. Rule #9 doesn’t affect my shopping much, I normally don’t get BOGO’s there. If I do need what is BOGO, I price-match at Walmart.
It seems as if in the last year or so my CVS and Walgreens have “switched places.” I MIGHT go into CVS once every two months. They are awful! Never have anything in stock, service is AWFUL, and the give me the hardest time with my coupons.
My local Walgreens, however, has become super coupon friendly and the shelves are almost always stocked. They order plenty! And if the coupon scans, they take it. I love my local Wags! 😀 You just have to find a good one. They used to be awful, but I don’t know what happened…. one day the whole store just became super couponer-friendly. 🙂
So yes, I’m disappointed about rule #9, but I’ll just price-match at Walmart if it’s an item I use & have coupons for. 🙂
Time to price match at walmart/target
have to be careful with price matching though. walmarts in my area are suuuper picky about price matching and treat me like a criminal when i tell them the prices. im always very polite and honest about my prices but sometimes i wonder if its worth all the harrassment. they said there are a lot of people who have taken advantage of their no-ad policy and just make up ridiculous prices. makes it really hard on those of us who are truly honest and just want to save a little money. and yesterday the cashier told me they will no longer match prices on hiland products! sigh. sometimes its easier to just shop at 4 different stores than try to price match at walmart. :/
PMs have been a breeze at Target for me, but maybe it’s just my store.
Well I’m glad I went and got my banana boat yesterday. The lady even said, “let me see if I have a coupon for this.” I however informed her I already had one. The people at my Walgreens have always been friendly but then again I’m not an extreme couponer.
I have a different point of view I am glad walgreens is doing this we have some crazy couponers here in Ca that clear the shelf everytime and turn around to sell the product on line
I agree with you! I stopped couponing due to couponers who clear the shelves.
I’m not an extreme couponer and have never cleared a shelf. I haven’t shopped at Walgreens since they changed their coupon policy a few years ago, and I quit rite aid when they changed the reward system last year. CVS gets my ALL my money now. Their cashiers never treat me like a criminal and even alert me to clearance items. Love CVS.
CVS is still my #1 too!!! They are friendly and helpful and make it easy! They also do not treat you like you are stealing stuff. Manufacturers do reimburse retailers for the money us coupon users deduct from totals. Walgreens just doesn’t get that.
I wish there was a news story or some sort of documentary that follows the life of a coupon itself, from the time it is approved by the manufacturer to be released to the consumers to the time it is reimbursed and the store gets its money. Maybe then it will register in their minds that coupons are the same as cash.
Here’s the email for comments or concerns to WAGS.
https://www.walgreens.com/mktg/contactus/contact-us-forms.jsp?tier3Id=1075
Don’t fight them, as it will just make things worse. If everybody just stops shopping there, which is gonna happen anyways, then there will be no more Walgreens and we don’t have to fight 🙂 Easy as pie!
since only a small percentage of adults coupon, very small, couponers not shopping there is not going to bankrupt a multi billion dollar world wide business, nor should it, nor should we want it to. all the people wishing hundreds of thousands of people / distributors, truck drivers, cashiers, pharmacists, out of work disturbs me.
Its our right as consumers. If I don’t agree with a store’s policy, I will not go there anymore and I don’t really coupon. I think it is a ridiculous policy and they should make an effort to keep their customers especially in our economy. I don’t care if they go out of business or not and I don’t care if losing my business effects them or not. I will stand up for my what I feel is right. That’s how a free market economy works.
Don’t think that will happen. Every time I go to Walgreens, there is ALWAYS a line. And I’m usually the only person using coupons. Every now and again I’ll see someone using an in-ad coupon or manuf coupon.
No, but their crappy business procedures might…
Thanks Casey!
🙂
I look for a lot of changes from a lot of store cuz of misuse of coupons and shelf clearing ppl …
Just price match and use the coupons at Wal-Mart. Not a big deal 🙂
Well, walmart doesn’t give register rewards or points too, so you are not getting nearly as good of a deal.
My walmart is just as bad as Walgreen….
I also gave up on Walgreens quite a while ago. The stupid points thing was the final nail in the coffin for me. In regards to the B1G1 Free scenario, this defies logic as Walgreens is the one offering the sale. So in essence, you are still buying two items and in that case two coupons should be able to be used. And they are getting reimbursed from the manufacturer, so it should be a given that they do take a coupon on a free item if the sale is by Walgreens. CVS shopper all the way here on this end.
For me it’s not worth the hassle at my local Walgreens, nor Walmart. Target for me, which usually ends up cheaper too.
Walgreens has horrible customer service!! There’s only certain ladies, that I will check out on… I guess this weekend will be my last shopping trip at walgreens!!! So I can use up my last RRs!!! They are disappointing, Ill stick with tArget:-)
I gave up on Walgreens along time ago, and refuse to go in there for whatever reason. Too many disappointing trips!!
I know everyone hates Walmart but they really are the most coupon friendly store. In my opinion they have the best corporate coupon policy. It’d be awesome if they had store coupons too!
They might have the best coupon policy but they have the worst employees, last time I tried to use coupons he told me that one per purchase means I can only use one coupon for the same items and I told him that it meant one coupon per item… One coupons per purchase isn’t the same as one coupons per trans and he said they’re the same thing… Smh
Bottom line it depends on the cashier, I had the same thing happen at Target.
Oh and also if anything beeps they would not take it vs target employees would read the coupon and if everything looks good they push the coupon through
My Walmart isn’t coupon friendly. I hate shopping there but I have to save money anywhere I can. If the coupon doesn’t scan during the first try they look at you like your trying to steal from them. Most of the time the shelves are empty and I can’t ever find someone to help me. The price checkers are a joke, half the time they don’t work or they remove them yo put in new ones.
They might have the best corporate policy, but the employees find any reason they can not to accept coupons at my store!
I stopped shopping at my local wag when they started one transaction per customer per a day rule. This only adds to my forget wag attitude.
I quit shopping at Walgreen and Rite Aid because their policies were a bit too much for me. Walgreens customer service in my area is not great but I have been to others and they were coupon friendly. I love CVS and will continue to shop there instead.
This doesn’t matter to me at all since I gave up Walgreen’s when they started the loyalty card thing…keeping track of points AND RR was just silly. (And the higher price you have to pay to just buy one of the “2 for whatever” deals.) All to get a somewhat decent price on stuff Walmart or heb sell cheaply every day. Kind of the same with CVS. I find it insulting and deceitful when the store ads and the blogger’s scenarios tell us that items are “like getting it free or for some other cheap price”…when they take into account the RR or ECB’s or points or gift cards…no, it’s not like getting it free when I pay the cashier the full amount…them giving me made up rewards to use at the next visit, is NOT getting it free at the time. So sick of that justification. I won’t shop the drugstores nor Target for having to go thru so many of their hoops and stupid apps…I have to remember I’m the one who is paying for all the aggravation. Hello, Walmart.
Well, I do have to agree with you on the “bottom line” OOP. Drives me nuts when I see “final price” after the store rewards have been taken into account. I just ignore it now. Not worth getting my panties in a bunch! Its a game and if you want to play it, you have to learn the ins and outs. Which is why I stick to CVS as my go-to drug store and Target as my go-to Big Box store. I’d rather stack CW, TQ & Manuf coupons than step foot in WM after the way I was treated for trying to use 5, yes FIVE, coupons on an order over $60. I walked out and haven’t been back in over a year.
once at walmart i was told i couldnt use a coupon and i told her the picture is even the same as the item i was getting. she said the coupon couldnt be meant for that item because the coupon was more than the price so i asked for a supervisor. the supervisor came down and asked me to stop harassing his employees. i said WHAT im just trying to use a coupon. so he scanned it and let me get the item and told me not to harass his employees or he will call the police. HATE WALMART
even contacted corporate on this but never got a reply back
Worst part was I was using a coupon printed from Walmart’s own website, it had the WM logo and “redeemable at Walmart” and I was told WM doesn’t have software to make coupons!!! Soo laughable. The other issues was I was using a $1 Suavital coupon, it was good on ANY fabric softener. I had the $1 Sheets and was told I had to get the liquid b/c that was what’s pictured. Rgghhhh. My other 2 IPs I was told (loudly) were photocopied b/c they were in b/w. Um hello LASER PRINTER! I pointed out the verify codes were different, but she insisted the bar code she scans has to be different. It was pitiful. I finally said Ya know what, keep your crappy merchandise, I don’t want it. And walked out. First time I ever did that! And it was just a measly $5 in coupons! I sent an email, go a generic “sorry” reply, but a week later, got a phone call from the DM. He apologized and offered me a $20 GC. I declined and told him keep it to train your employees. So that was last summer. Haven’t been inside since.
Does anyone have a 20% one item a buy buy baby code? I deleted my email with it and now I really need to get something. Thank you!
I don’t but I have heard they will take babies r us and bed, bath, and beyond coupons if you have any of those.
Walgreens customer service when it comes to coupons is not good. CVS is much better. I hope Walgreens corporate reads all these reviews.
I love my Walgreens every other week milk is 2.99 a gallon and the employees there are extremely nice.
Although I’m disappointed in these changes, I need to put in a plug for the employees at Walgreens in Moorhead, MN. They are always helpful and coupon-friendly.
My Wags is for the most part great and doesn’t give me coupon problems. It may take a while to check out, but the staff is very friendly.
Life is to short to worry about the small stuff like this. Anywhere that gives you crap about coupons should be avoided, why create drama in your life? Sure, you may miss out on a few free shampoos but your day will be happier.
Totally agree, Em!
I have found Walgreens frustrating already regarding couponing & have had a bad experience, just another reason to not shop there anymore
I threw in the towel long ago. Trying to use my register rewards in a way that still saved me money was frustrating and time consuming. Bye ,bye walgreens! I don’t regret having more time to live my life!
I live in a city with two Walmarts, no Target and only one drugstore – Walgreens. I LOVE shopping at Walgreens! I guess it all depends on your individual needs and budget. I am single and don’t need or have the space to stockpile like crazy, so I just use coupons to snag decent deals on individual items when they are already on sale. I’ve gotten a lot out of their balance rewards program, where I earn 500 points for filling my dog’s prescriptions and keeping track of my weight and daily fitness activities with their “Steps” program. I earn about $5 in points every few months just from that!
Must be going in loss.. hehe
After reading this update and than the full coupon policy; I found this disheartening. I understand it probably stems from the hoarders who stockpile more items that is normal. Who on God’s green earth needs a buggy full of same items? Are they aware many have expiration dates less than two years. My comment is a series of sad frowns.
I credit the Extreme Couponing show with the beginning of the decline in good deals. The show is and was obnoxious (is it still on? I don’t have cable so wouldn’t know.) I feel like many clerks in the stores group you with the hoarders and the shelf clearers, even if you are only using a handful of coupons.
Melissa I totally agree with you.
I agree!!!!!
Melissa,
Let’s just assume those hoarders were responsible couponers. If they are paying the store with coupons, which are the same as cash once the store is reimbursed, then what is the problem then? I think it is just more about seeing the customer walk away with a great deal that leaves a bad taste in the mouth. It’s not like the customer walked away and stole the items in their basket. They got paid. I believe that manufacturer coupons are released to entice me as a consumer to try their products and to move the products.
Agred!
Not affecting me much, since the crazy deals hasn’t been working for me anyway. To be fair I can’t really complain when they don’t allow coupon on free items.
And this is why CVS is the best drugstore hands downs!
I have actually always had excellent, above par customer service at walgreens. which always thrills me considering these workers are paid dirt, deal with many many shady/rude/ghetto/drunk/high customers and still find it within them to be kind, chatty, and helpful. nearly every store is going to the no coupon on a free item rule, and I believe this fully comes direct from manufacturers. Safeway went to this rule over a year ago, target went to this rule within the last couple of weeks, and have updated their computer systems this week to reflect that, rite aid went to this rule last year. It seems completely fair and reasonable to me … do I wish I could get a better deal, of course. Do I wish the demise of all things walgreens because I can’t….um no because that is mental
I’m so glad I’m not alone, I have always complained to my friends about Walgreens. Deals are not good, and their RR expires too fast so I always ended up a waste RR or spending it at random things.. Sick of getting fillers, sick of their unfriendly employees (nearest store to me) sick of their coupon policy.. I hope Walgreens see all of our comments.. CVS is still better even though the system “ate” some of my extrabucks lately.. Grr
i think jc penny was already messing with coupons and did not end well for them :),I am not a fan of shelf clearing but I use lots of coupons and they really help. so I hope the sell will go DOWN for them.
As of late I haven’t been going to Walgreens as much as I do CVS and Target. One time a RR expired before I went in again. They do have good prices on tuna once a month but other than that I rarely go in. There was one cashier that would tell me to go to Cosmetics anytime I had a single coupon and she always seemed so stressed whenever I came in. I don’t mind that though because the cashier in Cosmetics is very kind and loves seeing how low my total can get. I agree with others about their efforts in scanning the coupons. With anyone else they wave it in front of the scanner then just give up.
Honestly im very upset. My walgreens has always been wonderful and I do not coupon to clear shelves or hoard. I do it to be able to afford presents and items my family needs (as a college student money is tight).
Hmmm, this is going to suck most for me when I can’t use the All detergent coupons for BOGO But at least we can still pair store coupons with manufacturer coupons on a lot of things.
Walgreens never stops disappointing me. empty shelves, beeping coupons, dumb point system. I rarely have a good trip to the store that’s why I give up on them and only shop there on rare occasions.
Again fellow couponers please don’t hesitate to let them know how we feel good or bad about their new policy or shopping there (point system etc). If they don’t know how we feel they can’t fix it. Here’s the corporate contact address:)
https://www.walgreens.com/mktg/contactus/contact-us-forms.jsp?tier3Id=1075
You are exactly right, Casey! It is really no use complaining on blogs because when will anyone from corporate ever read it? I’ve taken the time to write when I’m not satisfied.
To be honest, I think these changes are becoming necessary for retailers. Couponing used to be this hidden gem. Now it has turned into a full time business for many people and there is a lot of greed and dishonesty that goes along with it. It sucks that regular couponers like us are being effected but it is what it is. Our Walgreens has always adhered to those two changes, regardless of what the official policy said so it won’t change my approach at all. TLC’s Extreme Couponing show ruined coupons for me. Since then the only store around me that accepts coupons without hesitation is Walmart. 🙁
Our walmarts in Central Arkansas change on a daily basis. One day they don’t take internet coupons period and another day they do but in a limited amount and they are like walgreens. They act like you are stealing from the store when you use coupons. I am not a stockpiler ( do have from 2-4 of items stockpiled but I am not extreme. I donated a lot of my stockpile to the tornado victims up the street in El Paso and Mayflower.
As a wag employee, and a couponer myself, I’ve always been accommodating to my couponing customers since I understand where they’re coming from and want them to get the best possible deal the same way I would. Unfortunately there are also those who misuse, overuse, abuse, and even deliberately engage in fraudulent couponing activity and this is where we draw the line and set limits as instructed by corporate and management. It’s not the fault of those of us who coupon honestly and within reasonable limits – coupons are meant to encourage shopping and give customers great deals – but when it gets out of hand, it becomes a problem, and I think these changes are a reasonable step toward preventing these issues.
From my experience, greedy couponers are one of the top reasons for empty shelves too, especially when the new ad week starts early…
I agree. I have yet to be able to find the toothpaste deal at Target. Yesterday there were only two there so you couldn’t get the gift card deal. The level bars were all out also. I am going to get a few more pizza’s (have to take my brother with me cause he is so picky about the ingredients) tomorrow and will check again. Wish me luck!
I can’t tell you how many times shelves have been cleared or all great clearance buys scoffed up by WAGS employees. Not to mention bags of fragrance and makeup testers!& coupons met for consumers:(. I DON’T think it is a step in the right direction at all rejecting legitimate funds…. Seriously, how about simply training employees better to detect fraud & simply limits like CVS. Boom problem solved,. Candidly, I think corporate doesn’t understand couponing (why else would they set policies that reduce legitimate sales). Know it all attitude, fed by lazy employees that don’t want to mess with coupons. They need to pay Colin for a few hours of her time as a consult…. Good & bad I think it would go a long way for Wags and increased sales.
I see your point and I ABSOLUTELY agree with the need for uniform and consistent training across the board. Fortunately at my store, we impose limits (or at least try our hardest to) on excessive coupon purchases with customers as well as among our team members and try to keep items in stock as much as we can. Of course, we can always improve company-wide and from a business standpoint, this at least gives other customers some sort of shot at getting what they want while cutting down on excessive and abusive couponing practices.
As a side note, it’s sometimes difficult to impose limits when you have customers who try to circumvent the system through loopholes in a rude attempt to clear shelves and be greedy. But again, something to improve on 🙂
I gave up on using 2 coupons on a BOGO sale or when they have to adjust the coupon down in my local Walgreens. I always have an issue with that, and I’ve even spoken to the district manager about it. I do go there to get some deals but not anything with a BOGO or where an item is FREE (when they adjust the coupon). 🙁 It seems as though their registers were already programmed to not allow these things!
They have been too difficult for too long. I have not gone to walgreens in a long time and I do not plan on going again.
So is it an attempt to weed out all coupon users? I am not an extreme couponer here and I don’t have anything against responsible extreme couponers (meaning: the ones who follow coupon fine print and store’s coupon policy). This new policy is going to affect me and other responsible coupon users, who are just happy to get a great deal too and have become loyal to the store because of it. I stop by the store even when I don’t have a coupon to use and spend my hard-earned money to buy items because I thought they cared about helping me stretch my dollars too even though they are in the business of making lots of money. How were they losing money before this change? They were getting reimbursed. Honestly, I have never set foot in Walgreens until I learned about couponing. I think I am taking this personal. No customer= No business=No employees.
Very well put! I agree with you! I think they got tired of the whiney managers that have mis feed corporate about what is going on with most coupon users. They are out of touch! Most of us are responsible and use valid qs for valid items. PLEASE take your time and send corporate an email.. I’ve been trying to encourage people to do this all dy
https://www.walgreens.com/mktg/contactus/contact-us-forms.jsp?tier3Id=1075
Done.
I’m disappointed because I love the two Walgreens that I go to. The cashiers and managers are great! I pretty much only go to Wags, Target, an occassionaly Walmart. I am going to miss those great BOGO deals at Wags but will keep shopping at my local ones. I understand the frustration some of you have about Wags. I had the same problems at Rite Aid and just stopped shopping there, no more headaches. Coupon policies are always changing maybe some day they will accept coupons on the free item again in the future.
This is definitely not gonna sit well with a lot of people. I have a CVS, Rite-aid, & Wags all within 2 minutes from me so shopping elsewhere wouldn’t be a problem. Thankfully, through my Wags has friendly employees who don’t even mind if I do separate transactions. But everyone keeps talking about CVS so I’m wondering if I should give it a try. Riteaid for me is where I have issues. Employees not understanding their policy. They’re friendly as can be but it frustrates me when I miss out on deals because they ring it up wrong or are not sure how to ring it up. Or tell me to come back when another employee is around with “more experience with coupons cause she’s been here longer”… Okay vent over 🙂
Lacey, I once loved WAGS too, but CVS is def, better, LOVE their q machine, emails for extra $ off etc. you should de. Give them a try, not as confusing, ez corrections if no Catalina, I get a lot less eye rolls at CVS.