I’m really excited to be able to share this with all of you. Mercedes from Common Sense With Money just passed along some really key Walgreens information that she received via one of her readers that contacted customer service.
I’ve tried many times in the past to obtain some sort of corporate coupon policy for Walgreens, but my emails have gone unanswered, so this seems to be about as good as it’s going to get. It sure would be nice if Walgreens would take ownership of their coupon policy and provide us with a solid document detailing their policies like Rite Aid did recently.
Anyhow, on to the FAQ’s that we do have to work with:
Can a customer use both a Manufacturer’s coupon and Walgreens coupon for the same item in a purchase?
- One Walgreens and one manufacturer coupon can be used for the same item, unless either coupon prohibits such use.
- Walgreens Roto Ad Coupons, Instant Value Coupons (IVC), and a manufacturer’s coupon can be used towards the purchase of any one item. “One coupon per purchase” means one coupon must be tendered for each PIECE sold.
What happens if the Manufacturer coupon’s value is more than the retail value?
- Walgreens does not provide cash back if a coupon is presented for more than the purchase value of the item (e.g., the customer is using the coupon to purchase a clearance item).
- If the retail of the item is less than the face value of the coupon:
- the coupon value shall be the retail value if the state requires taxes to be paid on that item,
- the coupon value shall be the retail value plus taxes if the state does not require taxes to be paid on the item.
Can a customer use a coupon after a sale has been made?
- All valid coupons must be presented to the cashier at the time of sale only!
If there is no quantity limit on a Walgreens coupon can a manager impose his/her own limit?
- Yes, managers have the right to limit the quantities of all advertised items.
Does Walgreens price match or accept coupons from other retailers?
- Walgreens does not price match with other retailer.
- Walgreens does not accept coupons from other retailers or coupons for products not carried in our stores.
- Walgreens does not accept expired coupons.
A customer purchased an item using a manufacturer’s coupon and wants to return it. At what price do we return the item?
- If an item purchased with a manufacturer’s coupon is returned, the customer will get the retail price of the item. If the customer purchased an item with a Walgreens coupon, the customer receives the price paid.
- Example 1: If the retail price for an item is $1.49 and the manufacturers coupon was $0.25 off, the refund amount would be $1.49 plus tax.
- Example 2: If the retail price for an item is $1.49 and the Walgreens coupon was $0.25 off, the refund amount would be $1.24 plus tax.
So hopefully this answers some of those nagging questions that we’ve all had about using Walgreens coupons. This document indicates that using the in-ad coupons with a manufacturer’s coupon is covered by their policy, and we can even redeem an in-ad coupon, IVC coupon, and manufacturer’s coupon one a single item in a transaction.
Does this help you understand Walgreens’ coupon policies better? If you had the opportunity to share your concerns with Walgreens directly, what do you feel still needs clarification?
Kari
I really wish Walgreens would write a formal corporate policy statement about coupons that I could take with me to the store when I shop. I recently tried to purchase jello with an in ad coupon and a manf. coupon. The cashier told me that I couldn’t use the manf. coupon because the coupon value was more then the value of the product. I told her she could manually adjust the product price down since technically walgreens wouldn’t be losing any money (because jello would reimburse them the purchase price of my items). She refused saying that it wasn’t “company policy” and that she could lose her job if she manually adjusted the coupon down.
Everytime I go there seems to be a different set of “rules” enforced by whoever is working. Each cashier has his/her own rules and each manager on duty has his/her own. It’s sad that I have to shop only certain days or times (depending on their schedules). If I walk in and see certain managers and cashiers on duty I know I may as well turn around and walk back to my car because they will ruin all of my transactions with their “made up rules”. It’s so frustrating that I’ve almost stopped shopping at Walgreens all together.
Valerie Fisher
Great information, thank you!
Kiddie
This is awesome, Thank you. Can you find out if Walgreens price match other Walgreens. I live in an area where I don’t get sales as a nearby WAGS. I was wondering if I can use the flier from a nearby county or online at my local Walgreens to get the item at the sale price shown in the flier. I hope his makes sense. I sure would like to take advantage to some of the sales I hear about.
Bonnie
I really wish that they would make some firm and fast rule publicly about their RR program. One out of the 5 stores that I shop says that I cannot receive any RR’s if I use RR’s to pay. (Not those received from the same deal, but any at all) and sometimes claims that I can’t get the RR’s if I use coupons. I know this isn’t true, but when I call corporate they won’t back me up, they say that it is true that you don’t get RR’s when you use RR’s and that if they are printing it is by mistake and the manager/cashier has the right to keep them! Knowing this is not the case, I just avoid that one store, but it still makes me mad that they are cheating people, and for what, the company doesn’t have a firm and fast publicly available policy on the program.
zuly amyn
what i get upset when it comes to walgreens is that the register rewards is considered a manufacture coupon. I had two register rewards and tried using a huggies manufacture coupon with the register rewards and they wanted me to buy an item for each coupon(register rewards). it’s rediculous in my opinion. i end up by paying regular price for huggies if i have to buy other items because of their weird register rewards. I don’t call that getting rewarded. i love cvs because i can use a manufacture coupon and cvs coupon and it does not affect me using the ecb’s. i avoid shopping at walgreens because of that. too bad that is the nearest drugstore to me.
Sugar
Bonnie-
I have the exact same issue, with 2 Wag’s… if using RR, can’t use coupons or even use them on items that print RR. If you have a coupon, you can’t get the RR it prints. I spoke to 2 reps from Corporate and never got a straight answer as to why except that one mentioned that we “shouldn’t treat them like CVS bucks” (I’m sure she’s talking ExtraCare Bucks). If I can’t use them like ECB, then I’m only going my business with CVS then.
Dee
Last Week, I made a purchase of an advertised item which had Registered Rewards shown. Did not receive reward.
1. Ad stated: Buy $10 or more on Robitussin items below, get $3 in Register Rewards
2. Selected 2 bottles of Robitussin advertised 2/$10
3. Paid for items:
Used 15% Facebook 2 day discount
Used two manufacturer $ 2 coupons
According to the managers, reasons I did not get discount:
1. The two manufacturer coupons reduced the price below $10
2. Returned and repurchased the original 2 bottles plus a third bottle, (3 x $5.00 each- $15.00), less discount, my calculations were $12.75. I thought this should have qualified me for the Register Reward.
a. Added a third manufacturer’s coupon for $1. Total on receipt after discount and coupons, $7.83
3. Manager then told me I still did not qualify for a Register Reward as I was using double manufacturer coupons even though Register Reward is towards future purchase not the one that I was making
4. Finally, I was told that I received Facebook discount, same as the employee discount of 15%, machine was not programmed to give me discount. Items appear on receipt as $4.25 each and I did not qualify for the Register Reward by using the 15% discount.
5. Told that to qualify, I would need $10 in purchases of Robitussin after coupons and discounts to qualify. Using this formula, I would need to purchase:
a. 4 bottles at $5.00 $20.00
b. 15% Discount -3.00
c. Less Manufacturer Coupons -6.00
d. Total $11.00
We might not need the second bottle, 3rd would be a waste or given away and 4th is simply overkill
Requested manager override the system and apply the earned Register Rewards to other items that I was purchasing, credit me for a $3.00 manufacturer’s coupon against that purchase ,or write the $3.00 off. She said it could not be done.
I cancelled the 3rd bottle and wrote email to corporate.
Received call the next day from same manager.
Apology and $10 gift card waiting
Sorry for being wordy. Please edit if you use.
Sarah
I do not like Walgreens. I feel like they dont want to take coupons but have to because everyone else does. They sure dont enjoy it-every time I try to use one they are hateful.
Kellee
I get a headache everytime I go to Wags!
Kari – I have to go at certain times too so I can avoid certain cashiers/managers!
They have some really good deals, but its a pain to try and use your coupons there!
cheryl
I have a problem sometimes at my local walgeens. I think it’s cuz they have new cashiers all the time. No one seems to stay so they always have to train someone all over again. An are not sure what they are doing. I don’t blame the cashier it’s the manager they don’t know what the company will take and what they won’t take as far as coupons and the rr.
Melissa
You should also be aware that the RRs are considered manufacturer coupons. I recently had a problem and was not allowed to use my RRs because I had more coupons than items. I was purchasing 2 packages of diapers, using 2 manufacturer coupons and was not allowed to use RRs because that was 3 man. coupons for only 2 items. Had I thought about it at the time I would have grabbed a cheap candy or gum so that I had 3 items for 3 coupons. It does state this in the fine print of the RRs, now I know.
Heather
There are two local WAGS that I frequent and I have had ZERO problems with management or the cashiers. Just wanted to back up Walgreens and say it is, in fact, up to the discretion of the local managers as to what kind of environment they perpetuate in their stores. I have never had a problem at the two I shop at, and in fact the cashier at the store closest to my home was very impressed with my couponing skills and told me so!
colleen
Wish I could say the same Heather. My Wags are just like everyone else’s-depends on who’s working.
As far as using a wags q with a manufacturer q, they say you can, unless either q says otherwise. Well, if you look at ALL of the wags q’s(except in ad) they state “Not valid with any other offer.” So basically they don’t have to take the manu q with the wags q. They got pretty smart with their wording lately and covered their butts! I had to go to 3 different stores until I found one that would take the $2 Viva IP with the $2 wags q. It is so darn frustrating that different rules are applied to fit the situation. They need to make it the same all across the board! Anyway, that’s my rant-sorry so long!!! ;)
Christy
I recently started reading this blog and have been going to Walgreens to try and save money on the “Big Sale” items. I am mentally exhausted when I leave. Walgreens does not make this easy. They make me feel like I am stealing.
The items I want are never in stock;. it doesn’t seem to matter if I go on the 1st day of the sale or the last.
I went to three Walgreens looking for the kids coloring book to get the coupons. First two stores told me they got it once but probably wouldn’t ever get it again (Are they psychic?). I finally found it at the third Walgreens and it was last year’s version; the coupons expired in March of 2009.
Out of the 3 or 4 Walgreens trips I have made since reading this blog, the chasier has overcharged me all but one time. Luckily, I caught it before leaving the store. However, the cashier has to call a manager and often neither of them know how to fix the problem.
Yesterday, I was overcharged $1 on Kleenexes and somehow was given a Walgreens card for $2.50. Why I didn’t get cash is beyond me. NOrmally, I wouldn’t have taken it, but after holding up the line for 10 minutes over $1, I left as quick as I could.
Jennifer Laxson
I get a headache just thinking about Wags!!! Uggg…
Ms. Drummer
I agree with Heather. I usually dont have any problems with Walgreens. I’ve been doing most of my shopping there over the last 6 mos. I have never had a problem with my RR not printing out when they are supposed to or using my Q’s there. I prefer them over CVS.
Ms. Drummer
Christy, my mother found those coloring books 50% off in the summertime in the front of the store, so they probably were right that they would not get anymore in stock. At the time, she didnt know they even had Q’s in them, she just thought it’d be nice for my son.
JennC
I love the Wags in my area, well most of them anyways. And my cashiers are always so nice and helpful. Alot of them even tell me they miss me when i don’t go in for a day or two (and no, they aren’t being sarcastic). In fact, i like them so much and they have “given” me so much this year that i’ll be making those 3 stores a dessert platter for christmas. Argghh, just thinking about all the baking i need to do (with stuff bought with RR’s) is giving me a headache! Sorry you all have ucky wags.
melissa
I go to WAGS every week. I love my store. The cashiers and the managers are super helpful. When I do have a problem they fix it instantly. They are never rude or give me crap about using coupons. They don’t make me feel like I’m stealing(like Meijer’s has in the past). You do need to understand their coupon policy. One coupon per item. To maximize your savings you need to throw in filler items. Just buy a holiday pencil or something on clearance. The pencils have been on sale for the past couple of weeks at 8/1. Just add one pencil for every RR you want to use. I was able to get those Huggies diapers (on sale last week) for less than $1. I threw in 4 pencils with the pack of diapers and walked out paying 65 cents! I’m sorry to hear that some of you have had such problems shopping at WAGS. It really does depend on the people working in the store.
Brooklyn
I think part of the problem at my WAGS is an English Language Comprehension issue. Most of the cashiers are non-native English speakers and have a hard time understanding the language on the coupons. At least three times I’ve had them reject my coupons because what I bought “wasn’t in the picture”. I tried to explain that the words are more important then the picture and each time I read the coupon to them, but it didn’t help. I also asked to speak with a manager who also could not or would not read the coupon and agreed with the cashier that the coupon couldn’t be used because I didn’t purchase the item “in the picture”. Coupon wording can be confusing enough for those of us that grew up speaking English, but add on a language barrier, and it’s impossible. I’ve tried other stores and had the same issue at all of them (NYC). I had a much easier experience when I when home for Thanksgiving and shopped at my mom’s store in Maine, but obviously that’s a little out of my way:)
Paula
I love knowing the policy for WAGS but in the long run I really don’t see this helping me when the register, cashier and managers continue to be ill-informed. But it does make me feel better to know that I am right and I am not doing something evil trying to “steal” merchandise. (I have been accused of in the past by some of my “favorite” cashiers. )
I do want to send a big shout out to the few WAGS employees who have been very sweet and helpful to me in the past. One of which told me that if they do the coupons wrong they are written up and reprimanded. I would be willing to bet that the rules they are told to use when ringing up coupons are changing based on the manager too. So you really can’t blame the employees for being sticklers. Apparently they are afraid of losing their jobs. WAGS needs to have a policy in place and explain it to every employee and manager so that customers and employees alike are not burned by the inconsistencies.
Judy Workman
Everybody: I have not had any trouble using coupons at Walgreens (Columbus OH) even if I have the manager wait on me. ONE TROUBLE I do have is there registers DO NOT indicate any sell price on items I have purchased and looking over my receipt from home I find the price I was charged an “overcharge.” I should pay more attention because this has happened often.
I do like CVS. The girls will make every effort for you to save money on the spot. Have had great experiences there all the time.
Meijers is still taking the $5 coupon until December 24th.
Thanks for all the info
Amber
I have 2 Wags that I shop at and each store has one specific person I steer clear of. One is a older lady who I was told has worked Walgreen’s for many, many years. Apparently she gets complaints all the time but they will not fire her. I have had to call the Mgr on her before myself.
The other store has an older male Mgr who has worked at Walgreens his whole working career, he thinks that all couponers are completing illegal acts when they come in and shop the deals. I have never had to deal with him myself, however he totally went off on my sister recently for doing 1 transaction! He was yelling about how what she was doing was illegal and he tried not to give her her RR’s. She stayed calm while in the store then called me right after very upset.
As long as I stay away from these two I am good and transactions go well. :)
~Amber
Katie
Thank you for taking the time to post this — I really appreciate it!
And I am so happy to hear that I am not the only w/ major issues at this store. I literally tried 3 different Walgreens over the weekend to take advantage of that John Frieda promo that everyone’s been talking about and none of the stores would let me use the coupons. I was fuming, but in the end just gave up as you can only go to so many stores w/ a toddler in tow. LOL :)
Lani
Walgreens is horrible to couponers! I too have called corporate and they didn’t do or help the situation…waste of time. Only go to Walgreens when they have a sweet deal…not worth the hassle with cashiers/managers otherwise.
va30
I have to agree with the majority here…After many attempts to coupon at Wags I’ve finally given up…I have tried many times to get the great deals I see posted here and probably about 90% of the time I’m not allowed. The last trip I made to get the John Frieda shampoo, Viva papertowels and a couple other deals was the straw that broke the camel’s back. The cashiers were very friendly but couldn’t figure out what to do. The register wouldn’t accept my manufacturer coupon with the wags coupon. A line of people stacked up behind me about 8 long, very impatient too!…I felt so bad! By this time the cashier had called the mgr to help. I asked the cashier if she could just void the transaction so she could check out the other people. She said she still needed a manager for that…But she did step over to another register while I waited for the manager who came about five minutes later. Again the manager was very nice, but had no clue what to do. I had to explain to her what the other cashier had done and what I was trying to do with my coupons. When she tried to ring up my coupons, she said the register wouldn’t take both Qs for each item. So I asked her if Wags took manufacturer Qs with wags Qs and she told me yes. So she tried it again and then told me that for some reason the wags Qs were ringing up as manufacturers Qs so the register wouldn’t take both. She was just as baffled as I was. I finally just asked her to void it out and left with nothing. At this point I had been at the register about 20 minutes. I wasn’t mad at her, she was very friendly and apologized. I understand she didn’t have the authority to override the computer, especially without any solid policy to go by. I was just frustrated at the time waste and stress of it all. It just about brought me to tears! I decided it just isn’t worth it anymore! Wags needs to be consistent no matter what their coupon policy is! I don’t care what they decide, just don’t be ambiguous about it!
Christy
va30,
I just looked at the Walgreens Q for the John Frieda (on the Walgreens Website) and it says the following:
Limit one coupon per customer per offer while supplies last. Manufacturer coupon good only at Walgreens. Not valid with any other offer. Customer pays any sales tax. Void if copied or where prohibited. Cash value 1/100¢.
However, the Walgreens coupon does not say “manufacturers coupon.” This doesn’t seem very fair. It is a bit deceiving. How are customers suppose to know if Walgreens coupons are manufacturers coupons if they dont say they are manufacturers coupons?
Christy
I just looked at the coupon a little closer, it does say “Manufacturers coupon” right on the coupon. I am not sure if you could get this item for $.49.
Tara Kuczykowski
Christy, manufacturer’s coupons will start with the number 5. The Walgreens coupon is not coded as a manufacturer’s coupon.
colleen
Christy,
Every one of the wags q’s say that. I went and looked at every single book I got from them with q’s in it. The store I went to to buy the Viva paper towels took both, but one of them beeped and the cashier overrode it. It just depends if managers/cashiers are friendly that day!!! LOL This is why they need a solid policy to implement so EVERYONE follows it! I had finally understood the “game” with the RR’s, now wags is throwing everything for a loop again. I’d much rather shop at CVS or Rite Aid.