cvs for newbies

first, get your CVS ExtraCare card
ask a cashier, or sign up online. if you're excited to get started, ask for it at the store. otherwise you'll have to wait for it to arrive in the mail. you'll need to have the card scanned for each of your purchases.

next, earn eb (Extrabucks)
eb are earned through promotions, such as “Buy XX, receive $YY in eb.” you will see these promotions in the monthly and weekly ads. The eb print at the end of your receipt - clip them and keep them as carefully as you would cash.

♥ The required amount to receive the eb is calculated before coupons.
♥ You do not have to buy all the products for that particular promotion in the same transaction or at the same store.
♥ eb coupons can be used to purchase nearly anything in the store. (excluding prescriptions, alcohol, tobacco, and Gift Cards)
♥ you cannot get change back when you spend your eb's. they can be entered as less than their face value (if your cashier knows how), for example if your total comes to $1.97 and you have an eb for $1.99 that you would like to use, and you don't mind losing 2 cents
♥ eb coupons expire 4 weeks from the date they are printed.

couponing @ cvs
CVS accepts manufacturer's coupons, including ip (internet printable) coupons. CVS also issues their own store-specific coupons. you can get these by email or printed out at the end of your receipt (these are referred to as CRT's - cash register tape).

Both eb and CRT coupons are linked to your CVS account, which means you cannot use them without the same CVS card that earned them. it used to be that we could share email coupons, but recently that has been changing a bit. it seems most of the item coupons (like $1 off gatorade) can still be used with any extracare card. however the $$/$$ coupons (like $3 off $15 or more purchase) will beep and the cashier will receive a message that the coupon was not issued to your card.

The CVS coupon policy allows for the use of one manufacturer and one CVS coupon on the same item. often a very good deal can be had when you combine a cvs item coupon and/or a manufacturer's coupon on an item that gives back eb's.

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