[hyacinthgirl]

Hi everyone!

You may have seen me post recently that CVS is coming to Albuquerque. I received email confirmation from corporate today that they are opening 3 stores here soon. Needless to say, I'm excited, but I am hoping to walk into CVS ready! When I started couponing I made a lot of mistakes and paid more OOP at drugstores and grocery stores than I intended to.

Can you share your wealth of wisdom with me? Pretty please?

Specific questions I have:

Having Multiple Cards:

• Can I have one for me and one for my spouse?
• What are the advantages to more than one card?
• If I have more than one, can I use them on the same trip?

- What have you found is the best time to shop?

- Any tips to make couponing "easier" on cashiers and managers? These are going to be new stores w/ new staff and I want to make sure it's smooth and I get in good with them from the start

TIA

[Cecelia_B]

The deals are one per household. Some stores start there deals on Saturday night, some not until Sunday. For amazing deals I always go on Sunday. Otherwise I wait until later in the week to see if I get a $$$/$$$$ coupon in my email. Make sure you sign up for the emails.

[Cuponqueeny]

[quote=hyacinthgirl;1111241]

Specific questions I have:

Having Multiple Cards:

• Can I have one for me and one for my spouse?
• What are the advantages to more than one card?
• If I have more than one, can I use them on the same trip?

- What have you found is the best time to shop?
QUOTE]


Yes you can have 1 for you and 1 for your spouse, with different phone number

No you can not use them on the same trip, well it is a YSMV situation, but typically not. It is not illegal to have a card for u and hubby, but stores frown upon using 2 back to back, at least in my areas. It may be diffferent in others.

Advantage is being able to do the ECB deals 2 different times.

In my qpon box I have a CVS spot and a colored index divider for My ecb's and my hubbys so I know which I am using that night :-)

Enjoy and you will be just fine.
That is exciting news to get a CVS
They will most likely have some really great deals at the store opening
Keep us updated

[jenbob31905]

My DH & I both have a card. I'm 99% certain I had mine before I met DH. It's the old style card and had my parents old addy before I updated the info online. I typically only use it for the weekly deals on both cards if it's for anything baby (Huggies deal this past week) or for "free" drinks (Gatorade, Powerade, etc.)

Of course if it's a really good freebie (contact solution) then I'll try to get as many as I can since it is something that we use! I don't use them both on the same trip though.

[moneyfree]

I only have one card so I can't help you with that one.

I plan what time I'm going to shop based on the ad. There are a few couponers(sp?) that will clear the shelf depending on the product. Tomorrow I'll go when I feel like it. What I'm buying aren't big money makers so I can wait. On 12/21 I'll be there around the time they open since there are so many moneymakers.

Oh, I also use an excel sheet to help me figure out the lowest oop and it helps when planning for the next week.

Don't get upset in the beginning. It takes time. Also your first time don't be shocked by the oop like i was. It'll get easier and you'll spend less. good luck.

[Krath61078]

I would only have one card per household. As CVS is cracking down as other have said before here. Do the right thing. I would shop on Sunday morning. By shopping on Sunday you do not have to worry about did they switch over to the new ad on Saturday. You also will fine most if not all in stock on Sunday morning. Good Luck.

[dhwriter]

You can make it easier on the cashiers by doing smaller transactions, if you have time.

If you are buying multiples of one item that gives ECBs, and you buy them all in one transaction, you will end up with one big ECB--like maybe $45. That's another reason to split your purchases into multiple transactions.

An ECB can't be used to cover tax.

Don't hand over ECBs until you know your total bill. If your ECBs are close to the total you owe, and the cashier starts scanning them before the register can "catch up," you can go negative because ECBs remove the tax for whatever amount they cover. I only give one ECB at a time and find out the total before giving the next one.

[focadima]

my tip is buy things if they are a good/great deal or MM even if you think you will never use them--it helps generate ecb and they make good donation items!

[laney5454]

You can probably sign up now for a card online so you are already when the store opens (and hopefully have some CVS coupons in your email).... watch for the openings because there will be lots of specials and grand opening coupons....and clip all coupons for anything sold at CVS, you never know what will be coming up on sale and can be a money maker with the coupons...keep transactions small, less OOP, smaller & easier to use ECBS and less attention to yourself (with three opening up you can easily stop in different ones while out and about)...have fun!

[Jess]

Found out if your CVS takes exp coupons and EBC. Find out when their truck comes in-best time to find the product you are looking for. I agree with Cecelia_B, find out when the sale starts and ends. My store starts Sat at noon and runs one week. This works out well for me, because I live 40 minutes away from CVS-I shop one week sales from 11:00-12:00 saturday and the other weeks sales from 12:00-1:00 (something like that). For me it is like going twice in one week without the drive time.

[bellsandbabies]

Originally Posted by hyacinthgirl

Hi everyone!

You may have seen me post recently that CVS is coming to Albuquerque. I received email confirmation from corporate today that they are opening 3 stores here soon. Needless to say, I'm excited, but I am hoping to walk into CVS ready! When I started couponing I made a lot of mistakes and paid more OOP at drugstores and grocery stores than I intended to.

Can you share your wealth of wisdom with me? Pretty please?

Specific questions I have:

Having Multiple Cards:

• Can I have one for me and one for my spouse?
• What are the advantages to more than one card?
• If I have more than one, can I use them on the same trip?

- What have you found is the best time to shop?

- Any tips to make couponing "easier" on cashiers and managers? These are going to be new stores w/ new staff and I want to make sure it's smooth and I get in good with them from the start

TIA

Congrats on becoming a CVS junkie like me!!! Here are a few answers to your questions and a few tips:

#1 - You are not supposed to have more than one card per HH. (You can work around this by using other friends and family members cards that are not in your HH)

#2 - I find the best time to shop is first thing the day after truck day. You can always ask the manager when truck day is. Now, if it is a hot item, then shop on truck day and ask if they got it in on the truck if the shelves are not stocked. They are usually very busy on truck day so take that into consideration.

#3 - To make it easier for the cashiers/managers, break your transactions into smaller ones. That way you can move out of the way and let the customer behind you go if a line forms. I do this everytime and the cashiers appreciate it and so do the customers. Sometimes the manager is working when I go in and he will open a register just for me. Also, communicate with the store manager about upcoming Hot deals. This way the manager knows what items will be hot sellers so he can order heavy on those. This will help with stock issues at your store. Also, ask them if you are able to have them order larger quantities of items for upcoming sales for you. Oh, and bring them donuts and pizza!

Some other tips:

* Always have your scenerio's worked out ahead of time. Be sure to figure in tax so that you are not thrown off. Here is an example of what can throw tax off. CVS Coupons and ECBs are taken off BEFORE tax is tallied. So if you have a $20 item and you use $10 in ECBs and a $4/40 coupon, then you will only be taxed on $6. Also, tax percentage will normally vary for each item. For instance, food and meds are taxed less. Also, we have an additional 2% local tax here.

* Make a shopping list and follow it to a T. Make notes on it if you see something out of stock so you can ask for a raincheck. Also have a few ideas worked out in case they are out of stock on an item in your scenerio.

* Take a calculator. Sometimes you have to re-work your scenerio on the fly and it helps to have a small handy calculator.

* Have your coupons already pulled and sorted before you shop. This will help save time and confusion. Here is the order in which you should give them your coupons:
1. ECBs first
2. x/xx coupon second (You can do this first also)
3. CVS Coupons
4. Highest value manufacture coupons
5. Lowest value manufacture coupons
This order works out best for me. It may be different for each person, but it has helped me to save over $40,000 at CVS this year!

* Transfer your prescriptions there or have any new ones filled. There are many coupons out there for Gift Cards for New/Transferred scripts. If you have a Rite Aid, Walgreens or Target in town, you should be able to use their coupons for scrips also. Especially being a new store, they are going to want to get those competitors customers. For instance, Walgreens printed out a Catalina for a $25 gift card for New Or transferred script. You can use this at CVS! Then take that GC and only use it to pay your OOP for ECB items. Pretty soon you will have turned that GC into ECBs and got free stuff for doing so!

* You can use CVS and Manufacture coupons togeather. If you get a CRT for $2 off Bayer aspirin and you have a $1 manufacturer coupon for Bayer aspirin then you get $3 off!

* Buy things that you dont need and donate, sell, or gift them! If it is Free after ECBs and you have a coupon for it, then it is an automatic money maker!!! Say you buy an item for $10 and you have a $5 coupon for it and it gives you $10 ECBs. You have $5 Ecbs to spend, pay nothing out of pocket and get $10 ECBs! You just grew your ECBs by $5!

If you do it right, you will walk out of the store with $100's worth of stuff for less than $1 oop everytime! Have fun!!!!

[danderson1968]

The weekly deals at my store go on sale on 2pm SATURDAY. I wouldn't have missed out on so many freebies if I had known that.

[Willowbeth]

Most Internet Printable coupons will print twice. Just hit the back button a couple of times and it will reprint. If you have access to more then one computer and it is not something you have to sign up for to print ypou should be able to print extras.
I have access to 11 different computers between work and home. Only once have I ever printed 22 of any coupon and that was a food coupon off coupon.com. Then I did not use them all at once but rather 4 at a time in different stores and different sales.

I carry my card and my daughter's. She is a divorced mother with 2 kids working 2 jobs and going back to college and lives at a different address. I only use her card to buy things for her and the kids. I do not ever use them both in the same store on the same trip. My managers all know this and respect it. Be up front about whatever you do.

I try to spread my purchases around several stores in small transactions. There are 4 stores within 3 miles of my house and 2 more where I work. All these stores know me as a small time couponer. They help me and do not resent what I do.

There are two sisters nearby that clean out the stores. One cashier told me that one of them has 7 different cards! Recently when colgate was a MM they cleaned at least 8 stores completely out on Sat night. One manager says they are trying to figure out how to stop them because they consider it fraud.

So just don't draw too much attention to yourself, think of others, take your fair share and leave some for people who can't get there first thing in the morning.
Be knid to the cashiers, thank everyone and share coupons with them if you have extras.

And if you miss a deal, take a deep breath and remember that there will be another one next week. Moderation is the key.

[hyacinthgirl]

Originally Posted by laney5454

You can probably sign up now for a card online so you are already when the store opens (and hopefully have some CVS coupons in your email).... watch for the openings because there will be lots of specials and grand opening coupons....and clip all coupons for anything sold at CVS, you never know what will be coming up on sale and can be a money maker with the coupons...keep transactions small, less OOP, smaller & easier to use ECBS and less attention to yourself (with three opening up you can easily stop in different ones while out and about)...have fun!

Thanks! I did actually sign up for a card already. Have it in my wallet.

Do you do multiple transactions? If yes, do you do them back to back? Or do you, like, go put things in the car and come back in?

[moneyfree]

I do my multiples back to back. If there were a line of people then i wouldn't.

[bellsandbabies]

Originally Posted by hyacinthgirl

Thanks! I did actually sign up for a card already. Have it in my wallet.

Do you do multiple transactions? If yes, do you do them back to back? Or do you, like, go put things in the car and come back in?

I park my carts next to the register to the side. I do one transaction, look back to see if there is anyone in line. I let them go ahead of me until there is no line then I do my next transaction. Repeat. Everyone is happy this way. It may take me an hour to check out, but it works best for me and the store and the other customers. Usually I end up with 2-3 carts full to haul out to the car each week!

[TheSoCalMom]

Get a specific file for all your CVS receipts.

Guard those ECBs with your life!

Don't overload yourself for your first transaction. Make it simple!

[lgoodwin]

"* Have your coupons already pulled and sorted before you shop. This will help save time and confusion. Here is the order in which you should give them your coupons:
1. ECBs first
2. x/xx coupon second (You can do this first also)
3. CVS Coupons
4. Highest value manufacture coupons
5. Lowest value manufacture coupons
This order works out best for me. It may be different for each person, but it has helped me to save over $40,000 at CVS this year!"

I could never be this organized??
How do you know how many ECBs to give BEFORE Qs. You must be super organized to the penny. I always estimate, but always use my ECB last, I wish I was this organized!!
I have a YTD savings on my card of over $1000 and just started in late Oct, so I'm trying.
Oh and Bells, your my IDOL!!

[lgoodwin]

"* Have your coupons already pulled and sorted before you shop. This will help save time and confusion. Here is the order in which you should give them your coupons:
1. ECBs first
2. x/xx coupon second (You can do this first also)
3. CVS Coupons
4. Highest value manufacture coupons
5. Lowest value manufacture coupons
This order works out best for me. It may be different for each person, but it has helped me to save over $40,000 at CVS this year!"

I could never be this organized??
How do you know how many ECBs to give BEFORE Qs. You must be super organized to the penny. I always estimate, but always use my ECB last, I wish I was this organized!!
I have a YTD savings on my card of over $1000 and just started in late Oct, so I'm trying.
Oh and Bells, your my IDOL!!

[sleepy832]

1) Get to know your store employees! They will watch out for good deals for you and help you find items and check out. I always treat mine to their favorite candy bar or something that was free or I got with the overage I had. This keeps them and me happy!
2)I do not go during prime hours either (like 5 or 6 on weeknights).
3) I work out my deals before I go to the store and I bring a calculator and have in mind a few back up plans. Unlike others I don't do excel or make a big shopping list because I have a full time job also and not much time to get it all together but when I shop it can take me 1-2 hours depending on how much I am buying. This past week it took me 15 minutes (there wasn't much I wanted).
4)Also I keep all my ECB's in a coupon organizer and keep them far away from each other (mine are in the front/ my BF's are in the back).
5) At my local CVS that I shop the most they know that it is better if someone else checks me out so they open another register so I don't hold up the line. If I go to another CVS than I do many small transactions and move out of line.
*I have 2 cards (one for me and one for BF). I use both of them but I buy everything for my card and check out...take it to the car....come back and buy everything again with BF's card. That way it doesn't confuse me or the cashiers.

HTH!!

[YouMe&3]

I wish I would have known about the night sweats and clammy hand syndrome

The ladies have it about covered! Good luck and have fun!

[bellsandbabies]

Originally Posted by lgoodwin

"* Have your coupons already pulled and sorted before you shop. This will help save time and confusion. Here is the order in which you should give them your coupons:
1. ECBs first
2. x/xx coupon second (You can do this first also)
3. CVS Coupons
4. Highest value manufacture coupons
5. Lowest value manufacture coupons
This order works out best for me. It may be different for each person, but it has helped me to save over $40,000 at CVS this year!"

I could never be this organized??
How do you know how many ECBs to give BEFORE Qs. You must be super organized to the penny. I always estimate, but always use my ECB last, I wish I was this organized!!
I have a YTD savings on my card of over $1000 and just started in late Oct, so I'm trying.
Oh and Bells, your my IDOL!!

First you total up your purchases:

Contour $14.99
Newspapers $3.75
Sally Hansen Nailpolish $6.25 (5 polishes)


Total = $24.99

Next deduct your CVS Coupons and ECBs

-$3 Sally Hansen $3/2
-$3/15
-$1.59 ECBs (Powerade)

Total = $17.40

Then figure tax - $17.40 x 1.09 (appx 9% tax here) = $18.97

Subtract Manufacture Coupons -

-$3 Sally Hansen $1
-$14.99 Contour Coupon

Total Out Of Pocket = $0.98
Earn $5 ECBs

Notice how the manufacture coupons dip into the tax! If you wait to give your ECBs last your total out of pocket will be higher.

Once I figured this out, my OOP has almost always been below $1 each time!

[lgoodwin]

Formula Copy/Pasted
I'm guessing you added it up first to know WHICH ECB you would need?
This is where I guess and estimate.
I knew there had to be a better way to save more on tax.
Thanks!!
oh, the thinking involved.
I always screw up somewhere. I went in Sat. and forgot to even USE my ecbs... I paid like $8 oop and thought, gosh that's alot, then realized I had used no ecbs! oh well...
AND, I need to bring a calculator and notepad in with me.
Still saving though! Thanks Bells!

[lgoodwin]

Formula Copy/Pasted
I'm guessing you added it up first to know WHICH ECB you would need?
This is where I guess and estimate.
I knew there had to be a better way to save more on tax.
Thanks!!
oh, the thinking involved.
I always screw up somewhere. I went in Sat. and forgot to even USE my ecbs... I paid like $8 oop and thought, gosh that's alot, then realized I had used no ecbs! oh well...
AND, I need to bring a calculator and notepad in with me.
Still saving though! Thanks Bells!

[simba123]

I find that when I try to plan too much they are always out of stock for at least 2 of my items. I go in with a list of things I want to get and work out several combinations. That way you don't have to do too much figuring in the aisles. I end up having to wing it half the time, Thank goodness my CVS's are both within a couple of miles of my house.