[sevenchickadees]

Saturday I bought:
2 Pantene shampoos 3.99 ea
2 pantene conditioners 3.99 ea
2 pantene hairsprays 4.99 ea
1 softsoap body wash 4.99
I used (2)$3/2 pantene Qs
2 free pantene styler Qs
$1.50 off softsoap Q
None of the ECBs printed.

So, today I returned them, to a different store. The shift supervisor asked if I used any Q's, and I showed her. She said she'd have to take that off the total.
This is what she did:
Poo: $3. and .99
Cond:$3 and .99
Spray: $3 and .99
Softsoap: $4.99

Here's my question. If they are getting reimbursed for my Q's, didn't she double dip? I didn't point out the free q's or the softsoap q, since I could see how she was working the system. I was trying not to be trouble, but the ECB's should have printed out, so I was just returning the items that failed.
Am I wrong? Was she wrong? What should we have done?
Thanks!

[MoneyMateKate]

I've always gotten reimbursed the full value even when I used Qs - because otherwise, yes, they're double dipping. I just don't think most people realize that coupons are really just the manufacturer picking up a piece of your tab, not the store.

Make a note to yourself to only make returns to that store without receipt, and accept the refund in the form of store credit on a gift card. Just in this case, you'd have had to wait until next week to make the return or else they'll have an excuse to only give you the current shelf price, which in this case is less than you paid.

[lutherandj]

I got two of the colgate toothbrushes today and then realized the toothpaste I bought on Saturday (after noon) counted for the ECB deal for this week and asked if I could return it. They gave me the full value of the toothbrush and gave me cash - $3.99 I believe. She said she couldn't give me back the coupon as it was already deducted but could give me the full value of the item. Worked for me and I was happy.

[didie1]

Because they get reimbursed for the coupons she should have given you back the full amount.
And to save more hassle, she should have just forced printed the ecb's for you since she could see you actually bought the right items for the ecb deals.

[bellasmama]

Bummer! First I never leave the store without checking to see if the ECB's printed-make sure you do that! Second, yes they will get re-imbursed for your q's and you didn't get credit for them and you didn't get them back. So if I were you I would talk to the store manager and explain the situation, then if you don't get satisfaction there, I would call the C/S line. hth

[BreaMarie]

She definitely should have given you $ for the manufacturers' coupons! You should call customer service and tell them about this.

CVS is much better than Wags in that, if your ECBs don't print, they can manually make them print. So, the next time that happens, just point it out right away and they'll probably be able to fix it.

[lsnitker]

I would have said something like "Oh, I didn't realize you could give me the coupons back." Which they won't be able to at a different store. Then ask how you are supposed to recover the value of the coupons you've already turned over to CVS.

Unless they are going to give you the coupons back there's no reason they shouldn't refund the coupon value. I hate returning items purchased with coupons because I'm sure they get people that abuse the system and buy and return things to make money from the coupon, so the cashiers are suspicious.

Next time you may want to try just getting them to print your ECBs based on the receipt or wait until Sunday when you know they'll print (and hope the deals are still there!) I would return to the same store (if possible), since that's where you bought the items they'll probably be more willing to work with you.

[mrsfloyd]

She should have refunded you for the entire price that the products rang up. But they can only give you back in cash whatever you actually paid in cash, and are supposed to give back coupon values on a CVS Money Card. Example: Say you buy $20 worth of stuff but have $10 worth of coupons and thus only pay $10 in cash. Say the next day you realize you need to return those items for some reason. The store should give you back $10 in cash and $10 on a CVS Money Card for the coupon value used.

[sevenchickadees]

Originally Posted by MoneyMateKate

I've always gotten reimbursed the full value even when I used Qs - because otherwise, yes, they're double dipping. I just don't think most people realize that coupons are really just the manufacturer picking up a piece of your tab, not the store.

Make a note to yourself to only make returns to that store without receipt, and accept the refund in the form of store credit on a gift card. Just in this case, you'd have had to wait until next week to make the return or else they'll have an excuse to only give you the current shelf price, which in this case is less than you paid.

Wouldn't I have gotten more grief without the receipt? She was so anti-my transaction from the beginning. If I didn't have the receipt, I think she would have lost it!

[sevenchickadees]

Originally Posted by BreaMarie

She definitely should have given you $ for the manufacturers' coupons! You should call customer service and tell them about this.

CVS is much better than Wags in that, if your ECBs don't print, they can manually make them print. So, the next time that happens, just point it out right away and they'll probably be able to fix it.

She didn't even offer to force print the ECB's. She even had an issue with the softsoap, saying that she didn't carry that particular packaging. Even though I explained that I purchased it at another CVS. The checker was totally backing me up, saying they did carry it. Oh, the agony!

[savmom]

Does anyone know what would happen if return items with tax were higher than the OOP?

[susan0830]

This is exactly how they do my return. The coupons are given in the form of a MC. Also if you used ECB to pay and you OOP is below value then that is added to MC too.

You end up getting full price you paid, but you only get as much money as you paid out...the rest goes on a MC.

[momkjchs]

Because people do abuse the coupon/return system this is how they sometimes do it. We pay the price once again because of the abusers. I just make sure that all of my transaction is correct and not return item so as to not have a conflict either with my own conscience or them. I love CVS!

[djc52]

I am getting ready to return some toothpaste I did not receive EBC's for, I hope I do not have any problems. I do have my receipt.

[mrsfloyd]

Originally Posted by momkjchs

Because people do abuse the coupon/return system this is how they sometimes do it. We pay the price once again because of the abusers. I just make sure that all of my transaction is correct and not return item so as to not have a conflict either with my own conscience or them. I love CVS!

Yes there are people that abusive and fraudulent returns, but I don't see where we are 'paying the price' for anything. If we need to make a legitimate return, we get our refund. If we paid cash/debit/etc. we get our money back. If we paid w/ coupons/ecbs we basically get a store credit. We are not 'paying the price', we get our full refund in a fair way.

[momkjchs]

A coupon is not cash, but a promise that it MAY be reimbursed under the right circumstances. Until they get the actual cash on hand they can't tell whether it will be reimbursed or not. So for us to consider it cash is inappropriate. The reality is that a hefty chunk of coupons submitted are not reimbursed. And ultimately, they have the right to do what they want individually. Good relations and the resulting "perks" are more important to me than arguing over few bucks.

This has been discussed in several other threads with no resolution. We can agree to disagree. I avoid returns because of the entire issue and just make sure that everything is correct before I leave the store.

[joshmamabear]

I have to agree, coupons are NOT legal tender so it is futile to argue about getting cash/store credit for them. THAT is why I also have learned to check receipts soon after I leave but I do it in the parking lot so I am not in the way of customers at the store while I'm trying to figure it out. IF I realize a mistake (like RR in my case since we don't have CVS), I'd go back immediately and ask for a MOD to settle the issue. I'd be glad to take back my coupons and for them to just give me what I paid for. If they won't fix my RR issue, I'd ask for a refund plus my coupons which are still in the register where I paid. Most often, I don't have a problem, they just give me my coupons back plus whatever amount I paid back to my GC.

I've seen posts where people say they buy on BOGO, pay with coupons so that they get items cheap/free plus overage. THEN they have buyer's remorse especially on make-up and they want to return (ALL). When the store only refunds what they paid for after seeing all the MQs used, they argue about getting the full sale price refund. In instances like this, we can't blame managers who think people buy with the intent of turning their coupons into cash. If we didn't really like the make-up, why buy tons of them in the first place? if we already got them cheap/free while using coupons, why even think of returns? There's always ebay/auction sites to sell them to, but to return them to the store with or without a receipt is quite shady especially if one is trying to return tons of them. One or two items in a set of 20 is not too obvious but to return the whole purchase and demanding for full refund does raise the red flag. I've spoken to some SMs and they consider it like "selling items back to the store" so it does raise the red flag to them. Thus, it really affects others who are making legit returns because the stores are now suspicious of them.

DISCLAIMER: this is not pertaining to OP at all, this is a general view on what is going on in stores and may be one of the reasons why stores DO NOT give full refunds when coupons are used.

[willoughbyclan]

Originally Posted by lsnitker

I would have said something like "Oh, I didn't realize you could give me the coupons back." Which they won't be able to at a different store. Then ask how you are supposed to recover the value of the coupons you've already turned over to CVS.

Unless they are going to give you the coupons back there's no reason they shouldn't refund the coupon value. I hate returning items purchased with coupons because I'm sure they get people that abuse the system and buy and return things to make money from the coupon, so the cashiers are suspicious.

Next time you may want to try just getting them to print your ECBs based on the receipt or wait until Sunday when you know they'll print (and hope the deals are still there!) I would return to the same store (if possible), since that's where you bought the items they'll probably be more willing to work with you.

i totally agree.

[mrsfloyd]

I'm not saying that we should stand there and argue to get the coupon value refunded. Normally they DO refund it. I say normally even though I have only ever returned THREE items to CVS in almost 2 years of shopping, and I did not even use coupons on those items - I say 'normally' b/c that is my understanding of what they technically are supposed to do. My statement assumes that we are all using our coupons correctly such that they WILL be reimbursed by the manufacturer. I'm ignoring people that do things fraudulently b/c that's a whole different situation.

If they DO NOT refund you the coupon value, their numbers will be off somewhere in their accounting. Imagine you buy a $10 item and use a $5 coupon. Then you return it and they only refund you the $5 that you paid out of your own pocket. They are going to re-sell that $10 item to someone else for $10, and they are STILL going to send in that $5 coupon for reimbursement, so they will have 'made' $15 on an item that was supposed to only sell for $10. That's not right. That's why they are 'supposed' to refund the coupon-value, b/c otherwise they are going to more than they are supposed to. B/c they are not going to go back and dig out your $5 coupon and either give it back to you or throw it away. It's going to sit in the register drawer or coupon-bag and go out with the rest of the coupons at the end of the week.

I'm not saying that WE are 'entitled' to the coupon-value refund, I'm saying that they are NOT entitled to keep the coupon value b/c if you're returning the item then they haven't earned it by making the sale.

The ONLY situation in which I would actually stand there and argue to get my coupon value back (if it's not being provided already) is if I have picked up the wrong 'flavor/variety' of something and am basically trying to exchange it for something else that the coupon would have been valid on. If I picked up Ocean-Breeze something-or-other and really wanted Tangerine, I'm going to argue for my coupon-value b/c I'm just going to turn around and spend it on the 'right' product. If they don't return to me the coupon-value, then I'm going to only get a partial refund and end up having to pay the entire amount for the 'correct' product OOP and not be able to use my coupon or the value that it was worth. But if I don't want to effectively 'exchange' for the same thing in a different variety, meaning if I'm just returning it b/c I've decided I don't want it, I'm not going to stand and argue for coupon-value b/c I don't need it and their accounting is not my problem.

I also don't do the 'buyers remorse' thing. If I got something for crazy-cheap or free-after-ecbs, it doesn't matter if I hate it, I'm not returning it. I think it's silly to return something that you got for free. If you don't like it, (color, flavor, smell, how it looks on your bathroom counter, whatever) just throw it away. The only time I would even consider a return is if the product was defective in such a way that it harmed me or my family. (only so I could bring the problem to the attention of the store or company) Otherwise, it would just land in the trash can and wait for pickup day.

[viopacific]

dang... they just stole $14 from you. I think I would totally contact the customer care line!!!

[pamelab1]

Sorry don't have time to read all the posts but my ? is....if she returned to a different store would they have to refund the coupons since the other store would get reimbursed for them?

[momkjchs]

I think it is unethical to return items we got for free. That is just another one of the practices that the stores have to deal with daily. And those practices are becoming a regular part of purchasing from a growing number of customers. Just read some of the other drug store forums!! We all learn our lessons, and one of them is to always stop and check.

And one I personally have problems with is keeping up with my ECB's and coupons!! haha And that is an entirely different subject.

P.S. I just found $7 in ECB's (this time in date) on my dresser in a pile of clothes. Go figure!!! Boy am I glad I decided to fold clothes today!!!

[joshmamabear]

Originally Posted by momkjchs

I think it is unethical to return items we got for free. That is just another one of the practices that the stores have to deal with daily. And those practices are becoming a regular part of purchasing from a growing number of customers. Just read some of the other drug store forums!! We all learn our lessons, and one of them is to always stop and check.

Indeed, it is not just unethical, it reeks of a shady moneymaking strategy. again, I blame the 'net partly for this. many people are on the fence regarding issues on how returns are handled at the store when they use coupons. For the layperson who does NOT use coupons, they may have no qualms about doing returns and SHOW their receipt as proof of purchase. But during the last several years where unethical couponing has been passed on the 'net, many people have been bold and encouraged to try doing returns without receipts especially if they USED a lot of coupons and had very little, if any OOP. If one intentionally conceals a receipt in order to get full cash refund/store credit, is that considered shady? Maybe. Maybe not. Depends on where one stands on the issue. Would a store owners' POV and couponer's view be the same? IF one follows the principle of protecting one's own interests, maybe not.

It will be a never ending battle. It may be best to be careful with our transactions. If its best for us to just keep, sell, give away, etc whatever we bought with very little OOP, that may be the best way to go. If its an outright exchange of something defective for something that works, I don't think the store will frown on that. But to "demand" for cash/full store credit for something (bought with coupons) that we just had a "change of mind" is questionable from the start. It would also be best to settle issues of non printing RRs/ECBs right there and then when it happens rather than wait for an indefinite period when the store cannot give back the coupons to us. Then both parties, get back what is due them. No questions asked.

M2C.