CVS cracking down

[Munjoy Hill]

I've only gone to CVS a few times, and with good success.

Question: How do you get the $5 or $10 coupons? If you buy $20-25 worth of products, does it just spit one out to you no matter what you buy?

I have used items on sale with coupons that have generated ECB, but only a few EBC's, not a good sized one like $5 or $10 off.

Please could someone let me know how you earn the larger ECB's?

Thanks.

[gatherer]

Munjoy,

I have earned the $5 EBs by following the "best deals" listed on the couponmom site for CVS. They are listed at the top of the list. Go to "grocery deals by state" then CVS deals.

The $4 off $20 purchase just spit out at the end of the register receipt, I don't know why!

[kristinbrianne]

It may be this district doing this...and I'm not sure if they are considering the $/$ AND ECBs store Q's or just the $/$. I'm going to another one tomorrow to find out. I got my 1st ever $4/20 in my e-mail and I have to take back the wrong size of vitamins I bought. I'll be honest, if this is the easiest way to do it and stores won't complain anymore when I come in to use my Q's, it's fine. The sales tax is there for a reason and any other place we go we'd have to pay it, when applicable. The only bummer I see would be the $/$ Q's...and if I can find a cashier that would accept them anyway then that's wonderful. I rarely get those, though, and typically only go to CVS for free stuff so it's not a big deal.

I'll keep you posted on how many more of these signs I see. I know that per the coversation I had with the district manager back home he's allowed to have a little bit different policies than corporate, that it's left up to the DMs to enforce as they see fit. That part, I don't like. I think it sent my store back home in a tizzy when I spent $0.02 for a whole cart full of stuff. There was a big coupon article in the paper in Birmingham, AL today, and a few people at Wag's were buying multiples of the paper, so it's catching on a lot more. Hopefully a lot more CM members from AL!! YAY!

[sassykat]

As i have said before, my mom works for the CVS help desk. her main job is to troubleshoot issue with ECBs, HR, customer relation etc. i asked her about the coupons and ECBs and walking out with free or nearly free stuff.
she told me that is what they are for, to draw people in. CVS corporate does not allow for managers or cashier to make up coupon policy. they have to follow corporate policy, they do not get to make up store policy. if a manager tells you any different, ask for their full name, store name and corportate number. report them. the policy is basically, if the coupon scans and is valid as far as cashier knows, they have to accept it.
one more thing i need to state is, i have never had any issue with cvs. even when things arent going right, like some coupons for prescriptions, the manager, cashier, everyone worked on it for me. i had no problems what so ever and no matter how long it took they did not give up.
another thing to add, a store might pay alot more attention to the coupons if they have had a rash of fradulent coupons. that is becuase they know corporate is watching them, but they can not refuse them. policy is policy, no exceptions.
my mom has told me stories about managers/cashier calling in and complaining about people using coupons/ECBs and not paying anything or only a few cents. she said she tells them like everyone else that works there, that is what they are their for. some have even accused people of stealing, again coporate doesnt tolerate this.

[mnm'z]

Thanks for the info Sassykat, I've read your responses before, but it's always good to read it again. It's good info to have.

I've only had a problem with the CVS closest to my house, and the manager and photo gal are the grumpiest people....... at my favorite CVS they're always happy and smiling. Miss Tammy (at my fav store ) is a wonderful cashier and has also stated that she transferred out of said store because the girls always woke up on the wrong side of the bed.... she just couldn't take it anymore. I had made my official complaint to CVS corporate - didn't hear anything about their attitudes - but they did send the raincheck w/ECBs that I had been denied from Miss Grumpy.

[hotamoly]

I have had it happen where I could not use a $x off $xx. My total after other q's dipped below the needed dollar amount and could not use the $x off $xx q. I suppose I could have re-rang the transaction but I don't like doing that. I ALWAYS give the $x off $xx first now....

[PattyCake]

I shopped here in Indiana tonight and used mgf coupons without any questions asked.

[mom2preemie]

Hotamoly.. the same thing happened to me yesterday. I went below the amount and the cashier said he couldn't take it because it was below the $10 amount. I was nice and said okay but then none of my ECB's printed and once again he just acted very nonchalant while I'm acting like my toilet is overflowing! He continued ringing up other customers until I said "Please call the manager." He did and I explained to her (after waiting 10 minutes) that everything I purchased had an ECB. She tried to give me one excuse after the other and then asked if someone had used my card. I said absolutely not. We have one card and I went home to get my $5 off $30 and came right back. Then she said "whatever" and printed my $11 ECB's. I guess she was having a hard day.

[MarlaBee]

Just a wee follow up - yesterday I went to a CVS that I've never gone to before and bought a Colgate and a Dry Idea - total before tax = $5.98. I handed over $4 in ECBs first, then my $2 coupon. And the cashier (I'm assuming prompted by the computer) adjusted my coupon to $1.98. I'm not complaining - what he did makes logical sense! - but I wanted to say that sometimes handing over stuff in a certain order doesn't really matter after all.

[kristinbrianne]

I went to another CVS yesterday and they didn't have that sign up about coupon order.

Sassykat, I wish I had your mom's name!! I wish I could get ahold of someone at corporate other than the district mgr. because i have a feeling he's buddies with his managers near our home. Like I posted before, he told me that their district managers were allowed to adapt their policies where they see fit. I assume now that this means coupon order, because I have no other idea how he could possibly modify the policy. I guess it really did make that store mad when I paid 2 cents for a $47 purchase.

I still haven't gone into that CVS, because I don't trust that I won't be treated like a criminal again, even though the DM assured me I wouldn't. It was the most humiliating, upsetting experience I've had in a long time, and it really made me re-think my opinion about CVS. I sent a request for a coupon policy because of my bad experience (I wanted one in writing). I got an e-mail from the district manager a week later because he thought he'd satisfied all my questions and had given me his number to call with questions. I could tell he was not happy that I contacted corporate once again regarding their policies. I don't feel that I did anything wrong, I simply told him that I wanted something in writing so that "I" had something to reference when I shopped and wouldn't do anything wrong. I really felt he shouldn't have e-mailed me concerning that, because it wasn't something he was willing to provide me with in the first place. I just dont like confrontation, so I just apologized for any inconvenience my e-mails caused him.

I've shopped at 2 CVSs while we're out of town, and they are probably both in his district. One had "the sign". The other didn't. Neither store gave me any grief about using Q's or getting my ECBs. I even taught my MIL how to shop there. Too bad the stores at home aren't that good!

They need to retrain their entire management team, and post a sign to show customers what their policies are, or even put it on the back of the receipt. Life isn't fair, but they should think enough of their customers to make every store consistent in their practices.

I'm just irritable tonight I guess....sorry!