[lisadc55]

If my subtotal is negative, but with tax it ends up being positive, is that against the CVS policy? I'm working out a deal in my head but it leaves me with a -.04 cents balance and I know it will be positive with tax but I'm wondering if they will give me a hard time about it at the register. I'm wondering if I should just add something else, so that my total will be positive. Thanks!

[couponcort]

I think this depends on your scenario AND your store AND your cashier...so very YMMV.

I've had it (negative balance towards tax) happen before at some CVS's when I give them my ECBs last. At others, they'll adjust the ECB down.

You can always grab a caramel candy at the register to put you over

[bnorris10]

I have ended up with negative balance before and just added to it

[lululu888]

Be careful if you are using a % off q! The register will self adjust to make sure the discount does not eat into tax! so you'll lose out the portion of discount.

Ex., I had a 25% off q, which was supposed to give me a discount of $10.73 on a $42.9 purchase, tax was going to be $2.33, and I planned to pay the balance with $13 EBs and $20 in MQs, which I thought would take care of $.83 of my tax, but I forgot the % off q is very "fluid", it took of $9.9 instead of the original $10.73

In your case, if the cashier scans your card before your items, chances are the register will prompt the cashier to adjust your EBs you're paying with to make the subtotal 0, otherwise, you should be fine, unless, of course the cashier has a "no negative subtotal" policy, then you'll need to grab something cheap... Like a candy, or a clearance gum. We have a few of those cashiers here, but the majority have no problem as long as there's positive total. Hope I'm not confusing you....

[lisadc55]

Originally Posted by lululu888

Be careful if you are using a % off q! The register will self adjust to make sure the discount does not eat into tax! so you'll lose out the portion of discount.

Ex., I had a 25% off q, which was supposed to give me a discount of $10.73 on a $42.9 purchase, tax was going to be $2.33, and I planned to pay the balance with $13 EBs and $20 in MQs, which I thought would take care of $.83 of my tax, but I forgot the % off q is very "fluid", it took of $9.9 instead of the original $10.73

In your case, if the cashier scans your card before your items, chances are the register will prompt the cashier to adjust your EBs you're paying with to make the subtotal 0, otherwise, you should be fine, unless, of course the cashier has a "no negative subtotal" policy, then you'll need to grab something cheap... Like a candy, or a clearance gum. We have a few of those cashiers here, but the majority have no problem as long as there's positive total. Hope I'm not confusing you....

Not confusing at all, makes perfect sense!!

Thanks everyone! I love all of the help on AFC!

[jennlove256]

I have had a negative subtotal of only $.02 but since my tax brought the actual total to the positive it didnt matter...!!! I hope your able to do ur sceanrios the way you have planned

[SLance68]

It also depends on where you live. In Florida you have to pay the sales tax with money not ECB's or other discounts. The State of Florida Dept of Revenue actually sued CVS over ECB's and sales tax which is why Florida is different.

[couponcort]

Originally Posted by lululu888

In your case, if the cashier scans your card before your items, chances are the register will prompt the cashier to adjust your EBs you're paying with to make the subtotal 0, otherwise, you should be fine, unless, of course the cashier has a "no negative subtotal" policy, then you'll need to grab something cheap... Like a candy, or a clearance gum. We have a few of those cashiers here, but the majority have no problem as long as there's positive total. Hope I'm not confusing you....

Thanks for the reminder! I had forgotten that at one time I was able to get overage by scanning my card after (pure accident), then in my next (same deal) transaction, I didn't because I scanned my card before! I think the coupon (with a value more than the clearance price - it was the Right Guard) took off a value based on the regular price for the first one, based on the clearanced value for the 2nd.

[lululu888]

Originally Posted by couponcort

Thanks for the reminder! I had forgotten that at one time I was able to get overage by scanning my card after (pure accident), then in my next (same deal) transaction, I didn't because I scanned my card before! I think the coupon (with a value more than the clearance price - it was the Right Guard) took off a value based on the regular price for the first one, based on the clearanced value for the 2nd.

It also depends on how the clearance price is keyed in, meaning, if its outright clearanced at x, it wouldn't matter when your card is scanned, you won't get the overage on your MQ if it's more than x. But if the item is x, and clearanced for y WITH card, then it matters. But some cashiers will insist on scanning your card first, either to make sure the clearance price come up or prevent you from getting overage.

[Robbo]

Ditto SLance's statement. In most states all sales tax must be paid in cash, never with coupon overages or ECBs, etc.

Also, it is CVS's policy not to give overage. All coupons are to be adjusted down to the value of the item so usually it's very unlikely that you'd end up with a negative balance unless it's ECBs causing you to go over.

Here, it's impossible to end up with a negative balance. If the coupon didn't beep for adjusting because it was giving overage, then it would beep on the last coupon scanned that would cause the neg balance.