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?
Christy
Now I am really confused. I totally see the point in this original post now. It seems the more time I spend on trying to figure Walgreens out, the more confused I get. So, every manufacturers coupon with a Walgreens logo will start with a 5? If it doesn’t, then its a Walgreens store coupon? Thanks to so many of you who have posted today in regards to my questions and confusion.
JDaniel4's Mom
Thanks for the head up and stopping by!
Tara Kuczykowski
This is a standard across all coupons. Manufacturer’s coupons always start with a 5 or a 9. If they start with a 5, they will automatically double if your store doubles coupons. If they start with a 9, they will not double no matter what.
If it doesn’t start with a 5 or a 9, you can safely assume it is a store coupon and treat it as such.
Carrie
Wow! I had no idea so many people had such problems when shopping at Wags! I never shopped there until I started couponing, and have in the last month or so made 4 or 5 trips with no problems at all. I’ve gotten lots of great deals, and have only run across one employee who wasn’t friendly and helpful – luckily, she wasn’t ringing me up, I was just trying to clarify a price and she was the first person I saw to ask. She was one of my *favorite* kind of store employees – the kind who acts like you’re the jerk for making them do their job! But overall, my Wags experience has been great.
I was able to do the John Frieda deal, although the register wouldn’t initially take the $5 manuf coupon. The cashier looked it over and pushed it through, which surprised me as I was under the impression they can’t/won’t do that. Evidently, they can and some do!
Guess I’m lucky to have a nice local Wags! My only complaint is it’s kinda small, and the only one nearby. I think I do much better at RiteAid in the long run, but I’ll keep frequenting Wags as long as I keep getting good (hassle-free!) deals.
I just wish we had a CVS in my area! :-)
Janet
Tara, I am new to couponing so forgive my ignorance (and sorry everyone for off topicness). Does the 5/9 rule not apply to online printable coupons? I have several manufacturer ones I printed out and the numbers start with 00. Are these eligible for doubling?
Janet
Nevermind I am an idiot and was looking at the wrong number. Sorry for being a newbie!
Vera
The only issue I ran into at Walgreens was trying to use the manufacturer coupon printed from Target on the cereals last week. Even though the register took it, both the manager and clerk told me I could not use those coupons the next time I came in because they have a little target symbol on them. Can the store reject any coupons they want to? Even if it says, “manufacturer’s coupon” in big bold block at the top??
Sarah Glen
I have to wonder about not giving money back when the coupon is over the purchase amount and the coupon says x amount off any purchase. Does Walgreens tell the manufacturer the reduced amount that they credited the customer? I doubt it since they don’t really distinguish the coupon used on the receipt.
I was in a different store not long ago and the manager said that I get the money back since the coupon said I get 1.00 off any of that product and the coupon didn’t restrict it. Too many are making up their own rules.
I am also upset at how I am being told that I can’t use a manufactures coupon on an item that is giving me a reward back. I am not talking about another reward from the same product.
Walgreens has an inconsistent policy concerning items on sale with rewards given when they are out of the item. Many write the raincheck as free while others refuse to honor the rewards advertised when the item comes in at a later date.
Michelle
I can tell you from personal experience today, that Walgreens will not give price adjustments. I just purchased an item on Saturday, that is now on sale, and they will not adjust the price, you need to do a full return.
Swap Savers
I have had so many problems with Walgreens I rarely go there anymore. One issue I had is you can’t use more RR and coupons than the number of items you have or something like that although that is not written anywhere that I know of and I am still confused about this so I gave up. I really wish they would make it more simple similar to CVS.
kkaye76
I’ve had both good & bad experiences at the 3 different Wags I frequent.. and good & bad experiences with the same employees as well. Only one assistant manager remains consistently negative/hateful and another employee who consistently lies to me about not being able to get RRs when he sees all my coupons. Hes cheerful though.. lol
Last week I had a doozey of an issue where I had to return my entire purchase and because I’d used RR’s to pay for the majority of the transaction the manager couldnt override the computer and there was just no other way to do it. Since we spent a good bit of time together (we had to go re-shopping since I didnt have the other purchases with me) we spent some time talking..
She told me that she hated the Store Circulars and I was assuming the RR deals because they made their life so miserable.
She also said they were getting new resisters in January and she couldnt wait. She implied that it would remove all the hassles they have to endure now.
Actually, I had 2 managers in the last week be really REALLY nice.. and it was genuine.. you can tell. I think the whole coupon/RR thing stresses them out too… and just remember.. they ARE HUMAN too!
I told the manager who helped me thanks for being so nice about it since it was a hassle and she in turn told me ” No.. thank YOU for being so nice about it. You have no idea how nasty some of these people are!”
Just something more to think about.. Be kind in your dealings..
You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar!
I also had a gal at the cosmetic counter tell me that Wags was considering ending the RR program since it causes such a headache for everyone involved..
I’ll continue to shop at Wags.. I’ve always been a Wags customer and I guess I always will be.. <3
sharon
Too bad Walgreens is becoming like this..I really really like that store
Would go in and spend a good chunk of time at the clearance and looking at sales and using coupons.
My husband would joke that Walgreens put me under a spell
I notice lately though there are so many restrictions
Felicia
My first trip to Walgreens using coupons/deals I thought I’d never go again! I was exhausted, frustrated, and felt like I had done something wrong! However I have gone back again and again. I just choose my deals according to what I know my store will allow. I have gotten to know the rules better. And, like others, there are certain managers/staff I am more comfortable doing my shopping with. Even my first trip there, thinking back, the cashier was very kind and nice even though they did not let me do the deal. :) Even though some stores will allow certain things, I have learned what my store will accept. I have never had a problem getting the RR thankfully! But my main advice is just that if your first experience/s aren’t great, it might get better. It did for me. Btw, on one of my deals, I had used a bunch of RR from previous transaction, my total came to $0.97, and I got more RR’s back (my total was MUCH higher before that btw) and the guy at the register said to me, kind of disappointed looking, “we paid you to shop…”
Sarah Glen
I get upset when the cashiers act like you are losing money for walgreens by shopping the sales and coupons. Don’t they understand the manufacturers pay them back for the manufacturer coupons they receive along with postage and handling fees? I also get upset at how they think their sale prices are so precious they have to hide the items in the back and ration them out to those they want to have them. I can get progresso soup across the street without quanity limits. If it is the last day of the sale and you have a lot, why care how many I get?
Megan
I learned an interesting tidbit of information from my local walgreens tonight. I went in to get the John Freida deal and the second manufacturer coupon wouldn’t ring in so the girl had to call the manager who pushed it through. She’s always really great about these things. But she also told me that you can stack the wags coupons from the weekly circular with the wags monthly pamphlet coupons, that is if any match up. Something I didn’t know before and is always helpful. But on another note the cashier had no idea that you could stack wags coupons and manufacturer so they could probably use more training on that.
RebeccaF
I think it is helpful but without it being on official letterhead, I’m not sure if the stores would honor the policies. I would like it done in a way similar to Rite Aid’s so it “might” be honored. The thing that I think needs clarification is what would happen to a RR after a return? Would it be invalidated or need to be returned? What happens if that RR was already used?
I had a very bad experience with one particular manager at my local Wags where I left crying. I hate the fact that I cried but I was having such an emotional day already and this manager constantly gets this angry attitude everytime he sees me even though I go out of my way to be polite and considerate of the employees and other customers. I always line my purchases up for a quick transaction, making sure to have the coupons ready. If I do break up my transactions, I will get out of line and move to the back if I think it is going to be a hassle to anyone. Well, this manager was just so brusk and seething with a cross between anger and disgust with me even though I wasn’t doing anything but buying items with coupons. I asked about an RR that should have printed and it wasn’t so much what he said but the way he said it because I could tell he was holding back from wanting to just yell at me for no good reason. He mumbled something under his breath and then I started to say that I don’t understand why he’s always so angry with me and I then tried to say what was bothering me with his attitude and I just started crying. Like I said, it was (and still is) a difficult, emotional time and I had just had it with being treated like a thief by someone who should be happy I shop there. He tried to apologize and said he is just there to serve me but I have to say, I am avoiding that store from now on. I don’t know what gives others the right to judge someone because they use coupons, when they are not doing anything but trying to save money.
Jacqueline in Atlanta
The issues I have had with Walgreen’s have basically run me off from spending my money there and driven me straight into the arms of CVS.
The issues I have had with Walgreen’s have also kept me from even trying Rite Aid since I have no desire to go thru all these issues with another store.
The same two cashiers are always there, one at the front and one in cosmetics and they are wonderful and very apologetic that their store is so difficult to deal with. So, it’s a shame, because the guy over at CVS is not nearly so personable.
But, I am required to have an item in my basket for every coupon redeemed. The Register Rewards (I call it Funny Money) are considered manufacturer’s coupons (and they do say so on them), so if I just purchase the freebie deals, I cannot pay for them with the RR I rec’d the previous week without buying something else, whereas at CVS, I can perpetuate the deals and sometimes only pay tax for weeks on end.
Also, the Walgreen’s RR expire quicker than the Funny Money at CVS.
I have no idea how this compares to Rite Aid bec I am afraid to even go there and get it all started up somewhere else. But due to the issues I have had with their coupon policy, I would never even consider moving my Rx biz to W/g. I moved all the drugs to Target.
So their hardline policy actually lost them a customer, bec I am just about at the point of never setting foot in the store again. I run my own biz, and fit in the couponing in the middle of a very busy week. I do not have time or patience for it to be unenjoyable.
Thanks everyone for your input! –jg
Sarah
I am happy to hear it is just not me that leaves walgreens upset and feeling like a thief just because I want to take advantage of the advertised specials, rr and coupons!
So many store employees, not just wg, get upset when they find you have found the great bargain and none is left for them. Doesn’t matter they never would have known about it if you hadn’t spent forever looking at everything in the store for search of a bargain.
If I complain, it can get worse with the sappy nice and then later back to the mean but is better now than before this new manager that is actually nice.
Glad they got rid of two employees that were horrible.
Still, I find WG to be a million times better than cvs in dealing with customers.
esther
where can i find this faq on walgreens website? i would like to print a copy from their own website.
The Coupon "High"
I have seen some conflicting information to what you posted, also supposedly from corporate, regarding how many Walgreens coupons you can use, so I called corporate this morning. (I also have sent e-mails, but haven’t received a response yet)
I was told by Jessica, that you can use 2 Walgreens coupons and a manufacturer coupon as long as they do not have the same code. I asked specifically if you could use an in-ad coupon, a coupon from Diabetes and you booklet and manufacturer and was told yes.
Then I asked if you could use a coupon from Healthy Savings Booklet, Coupon from December Coupon booklet and Manufacturer coupon for same item and was once again told yes.
So based on my discussion today with corporate, it definitely appears you can use 2 Walgreens coupons. This means that SugarFree Theraflu would be a big money maker using the deal posted here:
https://thecouponhigh.blogspot.com/2009/12/walgreens-deals-for-week-and-4-day-sale.html.
Sara
I have to say, I found myself reading all these comments simply because I work for Walgreens and wanted to know what everyone has to say about it. I’m not suprised in the least bit that everyone is so thoroughly confused about the coupon policy. Sad thing is, I have never been able to fully understand it either. At our store in Iowa, when we’re trained on the registers, they never tell us a coupon policy. I’ve been there for over a year now and STILL don’t know exactly what it is. Because like so many of you have said, each store seems to make up it’s own rules. I’ve gone to different stores and they have different rules then our store. Not to stab Walgreens, but I have to agree and say that it’s really quite ridiculous.
Tara Kuczykowski
Esther, unfortunately it’s not available on the Walgreens website.
Katherine
As far as adjusting the price down if your coupon is more than the item price, I’ve never had my store do that – they always just take the full coupon off as long as I have other items that make up for the difference. Last week I got 4 boxes of Kashi cereal for $1 because I used two $3/1 and two $1.50/1 coupons from Vocalpoint and they were on sale 2/$5.
I always try to go weekday mornings to get my favorite cashier. I thanked her for helping me and told her I know I’m a difficult customer since I usually have so many coupons and do 2 transactions. She said she didn’t mind because I always have things in order and my coupons always work. That was definitely nice to hear, since I’ve also had not so great ones.
Darla
Two of my local stores refused to take my $1.00/1 Puff’s coupon for the $.89 Puff’s sale. They said their Loss & Prevention department has instructed them to NOT TAKE THEM. This seems kind of ridiculous.
Tara Kuczykowski
Did they give a reason why they were instructed not to take them, Darla?
Darla
One cashier/manager said that they have been receiving emails from their Loss & Prevention Department stating that they can not adjust the coupon down to the price of the item nor can they adjust the item up to the amount of the coupon (making the item free in either case) because it would be “coupon tampering” and/or fraud. Yes, I stood there with a “What?” look on my face and politely questioned it because they’ve done it many times before but what are you going to do when they REFUSE! (Have them void the item off!) The other store’s cashier really wasn’t sure why, she just knew she couldn’t take it. I called Walgreens’ Corporate office and am still waiting on a call back.
Tara Kuczykowski
According to the info in this email it should have been adjusted down. I’d love to hear what customer service tells you if they reply. Thanks, Darla!
Darla
Will let you know :)
Darla
The Manager at the first store I went to yesterday called me back this morning (early!) and said that he would take care of that attempted purchase for me. Okay, that’s good. I asked about other similar situations in the future for my readers (he knows me & knows I run a website). He said as long as he has stock on hand he doesn’t have a problem with marking the item up to the amount of the coupon so that the item is free but he wouldn’t mark the coupon down to the price of the item (Loss & Prevention new rule). He said his major problem is running out of stock [implication was to “couponers” clearing the shelves] then other customers are mad. There was a whole lot more to the conversation but this is the answer to this question. Still sounds a bit subjective but subjectivity seems to be the policy at Walgreens.
Michelle
I had the same situation with the $0.99 cookies that we had not a long time ago… i trued to check out with them but the cashier told me that she can’t take it because the coupon is more that the item itself, i went to see the manager and he said to adjust the item to $1 so the $2/2 coupon will work out…
Now i have a question as for BOGO sale with a BOGO coupon. Does any of your store are taking it? I had the same manager tell me that they can’t accept the coupon because then they loose money.. but aren’t they getting the money back of the coupon?
TIA