[jeanettebr]

OK first of all I am not sure I posted this in the right sub-forum so it can be moved if it's in the wrong place!! Thanks

Background info....I have NEVER shopped at a CVS. Ok I went into a CVS ONE time to do some shopping and was treated so badly I left my stuff in my cart and came home and sent off an email to corp (and cried..I know it was silly but it really hurt my feelings being talked to that way!) (the only time I have ever sent negative feedback to any store)
So after getting calls from the manager and district manager(much to my surprise) they sent me a letter of apology and a $10 gc I was very impressed with their customer service and thought they went beyond by sending me the letter and gc....

so here we are 2 months later and I have yet to step foot back in that store (I am a wuss )
I only have 1 CVS store and it isn't close to me. I have to drive over 35 minutes or so to get to it. ( I want to go tomorrow while I am hitting Staples and WM and WAGS)

After seeing everyones deals and reading the CVS forum here I want to jump back on the horse and try CVS again. Here's where I need help! I am terrified of going in there unfamiliar with the store and having never done ECB's. If some of you good, kind, SMART people could help me come up with some scenerios so I don't go in there blind I would appreciate it SO much

I have read a lot of this board but I am still confused on how the ECB works....I have WAGS down pat now and can make up scenerios in minutes if I have to but since I haven't shopped CVS it is still giving me the willies!!

ok...I have a $10 gc, no ECB's and no CRT (q's from the machine...right?)
I want some of the school supplies and the photobook looks good and anything else we might have Q's for. (like the razor?)

Anyone have any scenerios that I could try out? I am not comfortable with doing more than 2 transactions on this trip (unless I run into some nice cashiers )

[Madmurphy]

This assumes that you'll actually find the school supplies in stock. If some of the items are out of stock, just rearrange to fit what you have. Don't be nervous. Shopping should be fun.


Transaction #1

Caliber or CVS/pharmacy 1 subject notebook 70-80 sheet $.99
Paper Mate Grip pens 8ct $.99
Paper Mate Grip pens 8ct $.99
Caliber or It's Academic 5" pointed or blunt tip scissors $2.99
Caliber or CVS/pharmacy school glue 5oz $.99
Caliber or CVS/pharmacy school glue 5oz $.99
Caliber or CVS/pharmacy 12" plastic or wood ruler $.99
Caliber or CVS/pharmacy 12" plastic or wood ruler $.99
Portfolio 2 pocket, assorted colors $.05
Portfolio 2 pocket, assorted colors $.05

Total $10.02 pay with $10 GC.
oop $.02
Earn $.99 ECB, $1.98 ECB, $2.99 ECB, $1.98 ECB, $1.98 ECB



Transaction #2

Caliber or It's Academic 5" pointed or blunt tip scissors $2.99
Caliber or CVS/pharmacy 1 subject notebook 70-80 sheet $.99
Paper Mate Grip pens 8ct $.99
Caliber or CVS/pharmacy 3-subject 120 sheets or 5-subject 180 sheets notebook $3.99
Caliber or CVS/pharmacy 3-subject 120 sheets or 5-subject 180 sheets notebook $3.99

$12.95 Total, Pay with $.99 ECB, $1.98 ECB, $2.99 ECB, $1.98 ECB, $1.98 ECB earned in Transaction #1.
$3.03 oop
Earn $2.99 ECB, $.99 ECB, $.99 ECB, $6.00 ECB


Transaction #3

Photobook $7.99

Total $7.99
Pay with $6.00 ECB, $.99 ECB and $.99 ECB from transaction #2
oop $.01
Earn $7.99 ECB


You'll have a $2.99 ECB and $7.99 ECB left.



Edit to add, you could change Transaction # 3 to include the razor (I forgot you had a coupon for that)

Transaction #3a

Photobook $7.99
Fusion razor $7.99
- $4 coupon

Total $11.98

Pay with $6.00 ECB, $2.99, $.99 ECB and $.99 ECB from transaction #2
oop $1.01
Earn $7.99 ECB, $4.00 ECB


Then you'd have a $7.99 ECB and a $4.00 ECB left.

[jeanettebr]

you rock! Thats is wonderful! I appreciate it SO much

I have one question though...when I earn ECB's in each transaction are they lumped together? or are they seperate ECB's? I thought I read on here that someone had a HUGE ECB from not seperating transactions.....or does that only happen when they are the same items giving the ECB?

[Madmurphy]

That huge ECB came from buying multiples of the same ECB producing item (the photo book) In her case she bought 5 photobooks in a single transaction so she got a single ECB that was worth 5 X $7.99 = $39.95 ECB (OUCH! -- those can be difficult to spend since you have to spend the entire amount in a single transaction. And the ECB spending power is AFTER coupons -- it's just like cash.)

If you buy different items that all produce different ECBs, those ECBs will print individually on your receipt. Apples, oranges and grapes don't mix. But when you buy 5 oranges at one time those will all lump together.


(Check out my scenarios again-- I revised them to include the razor which I forgot when I first put the post together. )

[MichiganMan]

MadMurphy's scenario is very good (of course) ... assuming #1 -- that you want to convert all of the balance on the GC to ECB's, and #2 -- that you want the school supplies.

To me, a dollar on a gift card is worth more than dollar of ECB's because it doesn't expire, and you can use it pennies or dimes at a time (to pay for sales tax for example). I would try to preserve some of the balance on that GC by breaking the transactions down further ... but that's just a matter of preference I suppose.

If you want stuff other than the school supplies, look at the deals from Mad's free/cheap thread ... I'm sure somebody can point you in a different direction if you prefer.

[jeanettebr]

thanks for adding the razor!!

hhmm...good point MichiganMan. I am not sure if I mind using all the gc balance...and I do like the school supplies (I home school my 4 kids so we always need those!)
I don't think I am comfortable doing more transactions than what Mad posted and I can't pop into CVS a couple times a week like I do my WAGS.

How long do I have before those ECB expire? I will be going by the CVS in another week when I take my brother to his dialysis and my mother grocery shopping so I know I can use them this time around but for future reference it would be handy info. I don't usually get to the town with the CVS but once a month but could go 2 times a month if need be.

I apreciate the response and help

[thenewmrsrue]

Originally Posted by jeanettebr

you rock! Thats is wonderful! I appreciate it SO much

I have one question though...when I earn ECB's in each transaction are they lumped together? or are they seperate ECB's? I thought I read on here that someone had a HUGE ECB from not seperating transactions.....or does that only happen when they are the same items giving the ECB?

It lumps like items together....so if you were to buy (2) rulers and (2) notebooks together, it would print out one ECB for 1.98 for the rulers, and 1.98 for the notebooks. So it looks like on these transactions that they listed above, they would be seperate. Hope that helps!

[didie1]

If you get two of the rulers for instance at $0.99 each in the same transaction, you'll get a $1.98 ecb. If you got just one, a $0.99 ecb. will print. And you're right, it's the same items where the ecb's will get 'lumped' together, not in your total transaction. That's why most of us do seperate transactions so we can split up our ecb's since usually the big amounts are hard to spend. Most cashiers at CVS know this and are happy to split them up. I took a newbie with me yesterday and she did 4 transactions back to back so she could roll her ecb's and the cashier was very patient! *Just a fyi here, that when I'm doing several transactions and another customer comes up, I let them in front of me so I'm not holding up the line.

Good luck!!

[didie1]

Looks like several of us posted at the same time :-)

They expire in a month (so much better that WAGs RR's that expire in 2 weeks!!)

[thenewmrsrue]

Originally Posted by jeanettebr

Anyone have any scenerios that I could try out? I am not comfortable with doing more than 2 transactions on this trip (unless I run into some nice cashiers )

Today, I did 7 transactions at one time but it was when they first opened up, so there was only one other person in the store besides the 2 workers!

[jeanettebr]

oh...another question...are ECB before or after tax?

[thenewmrsrue]

Originally Posted by didie1

Looks like several of us posted at the same time :-)

Great minds think alike!!

[MichiganMan]

Originally Posted by jeanettebr

thanks for adding the razor!!

hhmm...good point MichiganMan. I am not sure if I mind using all the gc balance...and I do like the school supplies (I home school my 4 kids so we always need those!)
I don't think I am comfortable doing more transactions than what Mad posted and I can't pop into CVS a couple times a week like I do my WAGS.

How long do I have before those ECB expire? I will be going by the CVS in another week when I take my brother to his dialysis and my mother grocery shopping so I know I can use them this time around but for future reference it would be handy info. I don't usually get to the town with the CVS but once a month but could go 2 times a month if need be.

I apreciate the response and help

Based on your needs, it sounds like MadMurphy's scenarios are just what the doctor ordered!

ECB's expire 4 weeks from the date they are issued.

ECB's eat up the sales tax, on the portion to which they are applied. (So in a 5% sales tax state, your $1.00 ECB will be worth $1.05 when applied to a taxable item, and $1.00 when applied to a non-taxable item).

Good luck, and have fun with CVS!

[jeanettebr]

thank you thenewmrsrue and didie1...
great info! I am used to doing multiple transactions at WAGS...but I know the cashiers and the stores really well. (and I alwaysmove to the end of the line too didie1 )

I will see how the cashiers are tomorrow at CVS. The only time I was in there they were SO extremely rude and hateful so I know they would not have let me do more than 1 transaction that day. I am hoping those 2 employees are no longer there or that they are not working tomorrow

[thenewmrsrue]

The ECBs covered tax for me...I had a 2.99 ECB from the scissors, and bought another pair of scissors for 2.99, and I didn't pay anything not even tax.

[jeanettebr]

thanks! I know when I shop WAGS the RR are before they put on tax..or at least it seems that way since I pay very little OOP and sometimes it has eaten into my tax amount.

thanks for the good info everyone! I feel alot more confident going into CVS tomorrow and I am just going to enjoy shopping and not worry

[didie1]

Originally Posted by thenewmrsrue

The ECBs covered tax for me...I had a 2.99 ECB from the scissors, and bought another pair of scissors for 2.99, and I didn't pay anything not even tax.

If you pay for an order in just ecb's, you won't pay anything. I've walked out of the store several times paying NOTHING and I love it!!

[mcdlady1]

Jeanette
if you are coming to Springfield the cashiers are a lot nicer than they used to be I will usually do sometimes 3 transactons with no problems.
If you come to Spfld I just found that the dillon's right down from CVS on sunshine takes expired coupons up to 2 weeks and I am super excited about that as I have all my Q's that expired on the 30th and they double up to 50 cents and if it's 60 cents they round up to a buck. HTH

[jeanettebr]

McDLady1....yea I am going to the CVS in Springfield. This is the one I went to a couple months ago and the two cashiers I had contact with were HORRIBLE.
I am glad you have had better luck there..it gives me hope that I just hit it on a bad day!

thanks for the tip on Dillions taking expired Q's! I just threw a bunch away that had just expired.

[elmomommyto2]

jeanettebr,

I'm sure you'll do just fine . Just remember you're in it to save your family money and have some fun in the process . I do both Wags and CVS (since they're literally across the parking lots from each other!) and the ECBs system is MUCH, MUCH easier than Wag's RRs. Good luck and have fun...let us all know how awesome you did if you get a chance to .

[jeanettebr]

thanks elmomommyto2....your right it is about having fun while saving some $. I am going to go in there tomorrow and just take it easy and not dwell on the bad experience I had. I am sure everything will turn out great and I will post my goodies when I get home! (I am hitting a couple WM's, WAGS, Staples and CVS so should be a fun day! I haven't went shopping in awhile so I am excited)

[mcdlady1]

CVS is out of all the school suppies except the wooden rulers I just got back
I did the purex BOGO and used 2 of the $2 coupons so 2 packs for 4.99 I wanted to try it and had ECB's to use for it
I got rainchecks--I also got rainhecks for the tylenol arthitis

If you have Kashi coupons I would take time to go to target and get the good kashi deals also there also the skintimate and edge are good buys if there are peelies there tomorrow
I have also been getting free caprisun mixins by the register for free with the $1 OFF Coupons
HTH

[jeanettebr]

oh no! When do you think they will get more in? or will they?
how do the rainchecks work? Do you still get ECB's?

I forgot about Target too...ugh...I have never shopped there either! So...look for peelies on the skintimate and edge (I have Q's for these still I think...can I use them with the peelies?)
and what Q's are you using for the caprisun mixin's? I have never heard of this product. I did get 15 boxes of the caprisun at WAGS with the chips ahoy deal last week.

Did you go to Staples for the freebies? I am worried they will be out too. I couldn't go shopping today because I had an Historical Soceity meeting this afternoon...I am afraid I have missed the good deals this week!

[mgmetts]

Originally Posted by jeanettebr

oh no! When do you think they will get more in? or will they?
how do the rainchecks work? Do you still get ECB's?

:

I was going to say definitely get a raincheck. I had to get 3 today for the scissors, pens and glue.

The raincheck has a section for them to add the ECB information. Today was my first time getting a raincheck. It is awesome that they can include the ECBs.

I am new to CVS too and it is soooo easy. I just jumped right in. Not as good as the pros, but accomplishing big deals.

[jeanettebr]

mgmetts...oh thank goodness I will still get my ECB's! I hate the thought of my very first shopping trip to CVS and coming out empty handed
at least I can do the photobook or possibly several of them and the razor etc...
thanks for setting my mind at ease!