[TommyMaggyMommy]

Here is the press release I just received from Rite Aid Corporate. Take a look. To me, it looks like we’ll have more coupon options, benefit choices, and I know many of you like the added Bronze tier. That’s a nice addition to receive the discount on Rite Aid items with less points accrued. Oh, and the shopping pass, too. Also, I don’t see a word about the UP Rewards having a delayed redemption after receipt. It just says future purchase. That’s the way it works now, so this looks great to me. What do you think?

RITE AID’S WELLNESS+ PROGRAM TO DELIVER MORE VALUE TO MEMBERS IN 2012

Rite Aid Introduces Online Coupon Management Tool, a First for the Drugstore Industry;

wellness+ Members Will be Able to Load, Manage and Redeem Coupons via wellness+ Card

Silver Members Can Now Choose New Wellness Rewards of Their Choice,

Including a Gym Membership or a Health/Fitness Magazine Subscription

Camp Hill, PA (December 13, 2011) – Rite Aid is making exciting changes to its wellness+ program to deliver even more value to its most loyal customers. Starting Jan. 1, 2012, all members will find it easier to shop and save at Rite Aid with exclusive access to the drugstore industry’s first coupon management tool. In addition, members who reach the silver level of Rite Aid’s free customer rewards program will enjoy new wellness rewards of their choosing.


“Wellness+ has been a game-changer for Rite Aid,” said Ken Martindale, Rite Aid Chief Operating Officer. “As we grow the program, it’s important that we continue to enhance its value to members. Through innovative tools and exciting, new wellness rewards, we’ll deliver more value than ever before to wellness+ members – our most loyal customers – in the new year.”


Rite Aid will introduce Load2Card, a new coupon management program that will allow all wellness+ members to save, manage and redeem Rite Aid and manufacturer coupons available throughout the internet via their wellness+ card. Rite Aid is the first in the drugstore industry to offer this tool. Every week, members will have the opportunity to load an average of more than $100 in savings directly to their wellness+ card. The coupon savings will automatically be deducted from applicable purchases when customers scan their wellness+ card at checkout. Paper coupons will continue to be accepted.


To enable the direct-to-card savings, on or after Jan. 1, 2012, members simply need to activate and log in to their online wellness+ account on Rite Aid Pharmacy - With Us, It's Personal. Customers who do not yet have a wellness+ account will also be able to create one at this time and to use Load2Card immediately.


Also new in 2012, when members reach 500 points, they’ll earn a wellness reward of their choice, such as a gym membership, health/fitness magazine subscription or health screening. All members will receive notification of reward eligibility and redemption details on their register receipt and by email.


Members of wellness+ will also be able to enjoy three tiers of savings and rewards in 2012. Adding to the gold and silver wellness+ membership tiers, Rite Aid has created a brand new bronze tier for members who reach 250 points in a single year. Bronze tier members will receive 10 percent off all Rite Aid brand products every day as well as a one-time 10 percent off shopping pass* for use in the store.


The silver and gold tier point levels will stay the same at 500 and 1,000 points respectively. Upon reaching 500 points, silver members receive 10 percent off all qualifying non-prescription purchases every day. After reaching 1,000 points, gold members receive 20 percent off all qualifying non-prescriptions every day. Anyone who reaches silver or gold status by the end of 2011 will retain their status throughout 2012.


All members of wellness+ will continue to enjoy everyday benefits, available immediately upon enrollment, including:

• +UP Rewards, which print at the bottom of a register receipt and are redeemable like cash toward a future qualifying purchase
  
• Members-only sale pricing throughout the store
  
• 24/7 exclusive access to a Rite Aid pharmacist by calling 1-800-RITE-AID

With more than 44 million enrolled members, Rite Aid’s wellness+ program was recognized as the top-ranked and most-recommended loyalty program in the country by Zocalo Group this past February and was awarded the Shopper Technology Institute's 2011 LEADER Award in October. Launched in April 2010, wellness+ has been the drugstore industry’s first and only customer loyalty program to provide health and wellness benefits in addition to the shopping discounts, store and manufacturer coupons, and special prices offered to members. Members earn points every time they shop at Rite Aid. One point is earned for every dollar spent on non-prescription purchases and 25 points are earned for every prescription filled.**

To learn more about all of the changes to Rite Aid’s wellness+ program effective January 1, 2012 or to enroll, visit Rite Aid Pharmacy - With Us, It's Personal or any Rite Aid pharmacy.


*Ten percent off pass may not be used for the purchase of cigarettes, alcohol, gift cards, online purchases, lottery tickets, licenses, money orders and transfers, prepaid cards, stamps, other mail services and items prohibited by law.

** Prescriptions paid for in whole or in part by state or federal healthcare programs such as Medicare or Medicaid and prescriptions filled in NY or NJ are not eligible by law for accrual of points. Visit Rite Aid Pharmacy - With Us, It's Personal for complete details.

Thanks, Eric @ Rite Aid

[solitariblu]

The only problem I'm having with the whole thing is if you'll get to choose whether to use the coupon loaded on your card or a paper Q... I know at Kroger this kind of turned into a headache because you couldn't choose. The one loaded on your card takes precedence. Other than that... things look peachy!

[TommyMaggyMommy]

I agree. That's definitely ambiguous and I think, like everything else, we won't know until we give it a whirl.

[JArble]

so the UPS don't load to ur card...just the coupons? if so that is good news for me...was not really happy about UPS loading to my card instead of printing. anyone know yet if its true about having to wait 24 hours before redeeming ups?

[Cecmer]

The Bronze tier is delaying benefits memebers get now. Now all members get 10% off Rite Aid products from the start and you get a 10% shopping pass for every 125 points you earn. Starting next year you will have to earn 250 points before getting any benefits. I don't see where the bronze tier is better than now.

[tonyyankees1]

Thanks TMM! At least looks ups not card specific!

[TommyMaggyMommy]

JArble - While I'd hate to have to eat this statement, it's not addressed here, so I'm inclined to believe that's speculation.

Cecmer - I didn't mean to imply that it's better, necessarily, only that the changes (overall) weren't as bad as initially discussed.

tony - Maybe... :/

[no1tvfan63]

that is more hopeful than first speculated. like solitariblu suggested, the coupons you load are not always necessarily the coupon you want to use. (locally you might get a higher value q in an insert) which you can not chose which one to use then? or Can we use BOTH? you used to be able to use both E coupons and Paper q's together at giant eagle..but not anymore. it will be interesting i suppose to see how it goes.

Im happy it doesnt seem that UPS will be loaded on the card. that would be a nightmare to keep track of.

[realsweety]

I am hoping that this means we could load vv coupons on the card instead of printing.I haven't been able to print anything out anymore ,so being able to load them onto my card would be a godsend.crossing my fingers.

[curlyd1239]

Originally Posted by realsweety

I am hoping that this means we could load vv coupons on the card instead of printing.I haven't been able to print anything out anymore ,so being able to load them onto my card would be a godsend.crossing my fingers.

I hope so, I got so tired of having to sit & view the commercials to get the VV coupons, so if they allow us to load them without having to view that would make my life so much easier and I do like the point where they say that the ones that have reached their gold or silver status by end of year retain that status so I will remain gold thru 2012

[princess_skrappy]

so whats this about a gym membership? I like that idea!

[Drea]

Like the different ideas, hope you don't have to watch the videos any more and like the idea of a gym membership also.....thanks Tommy for the post

[realsweety]

yeah the gym membership does sound good.next town over is building a brand new ymca would be pretty nice if this were one of the perks.I can't afford a gym membership for myself or family.so between being able to load vv onto my card (hopefully)and the gym membership(awesome) it would deffinately get me back into Ra again.

[sle061276]

I love the idea of a gym membership!

[couponcort]

Per RA's facebook, neither UPs or VVs will go on the Load2Card feature.

[flutterbye88]

maybe will we get lucky and it will be like lowes foods you can use the ecoupon and paper coupon it did say paper coupons still accepted just wasnt very clear im thinking since they are generous with stacking (already let you stack up to 3) maybe they will let you stack paper and ecoupons

[xobklynqt143]

The cashier in my RA told me the ups CANT be used until 6am the following day.

[monkeydawn]

Originally Posted by xobklynqt143

The cashier in my RA told me the ups CANT be used until 6am the following day.

Well if a cashier said it, then it must be true.


Seriously, that cashier could have been correct but I am doubting it. So far there is no indication of this other than random cashiers and managers saying it. And if all the inside knowledge that my cashiers gave me was true, well things would be very different than they are.

[xobklynqt143]

i never said it MUST be true im just sharing what was said to me, she has been there a very long time (atleast 10-11 years) i use to work with her when it was genovese then eckerd then turned to RA i dont think she would just make it up, shes sharing what she heard and im doing the same. I hope she is wrong its a hassle if you need to wait for the next day to use it.

[solitariblu]

Originally Posted by couponcort

Per RA's facebook, neither UPs or VVs will go on the Load2Card feature.

I like this statement a lot.... our cashier seemed to think they would (she said they're not even sure of exactly how it will all work yet though).

[monkeydawn]

Originally Posted by xobklynqt143

i never said it MUST be true im just sharing what was said to me, she has been there a very long time (atleast 10-11 years) i use to work with her when it was genovese then eckerd then turned to RA i dont think she would just make it up, shes sharing what she heard and im doing the same. I hope she is wrong its a hassle if you need to wait for the next day to use it.

I hope you werent offended by what I said, I didnt mean any. I just meant that we all hear all kinds of wacky 'facts' from cashiers and managers that never pan out. A lot of times memos arent written clearly and they are easy to misinterpret. I doubt many that aare spreading the rumors are trying to do anything malicious. It's a "I will believe it when I see it" kind of a thing to me.

It's so hard to interpret tone on some postings, I really hope I didnt offend you.

[TommyMaggyMommy]

Agreed. Personally, I'm looking forward to testing the water. Sadly, for my cashiers (and sometimes managers), I often know more about what's going on than they do. That's not a slam. I think there's a real lack of communication between corporate and the workers on the ground. And honestly, it seems they've always got so much work to do that they can barely keep up with it AND learn new rules that change nearly every week...on top of initialing everything they read, so their very jobs depend on understanding it. That's a heavy burden for light pay.

Also, I can't help but feel there must be some element of truth to the delay in UP use because talk of it is so pervasive. We'll see, I guess. For now, corporate has said nothing about it.

[IHateDrama]

Originally Posted by TommyMaggyMommy

Agreed. Personally, I'm looking forward to testing the water. Sadly, for my cashiers (and sometimes managers), I often know more about what's going on than they do. That's not a slam. I think there's a real lack of communication between corporate and the workers on the ground. And honestly, it seems they've always got so much work to do that they can barely keep up with it AND learn new rules that change nearly every week...on top of initialing everything they read, so their very jobs depend on understanding it. That's a heavy burden for light pay.

Also, I can't help but feel there must be some element of truth to the delay in UP use because talk of it is so pervasive. We'll see, I guess. For now, corporate has said nothing about it.

Definitely a lack of communication. I can go into work and my SM has no clue about things that have been said on this board at times and it turns out completely true ..... Its definitely frustrating for the SM as well as the shift managers.

I am dreading the day that this change goes into effect. So many elderly customers have a heck of a time understanding the program. Taking away the 10% that they get now {Most have state funded insurance so scripts don't help build their points}, is only going to make matters worse. I wish Corp could visit many of the stores on the first so they could deal with it first hand.

[TommyMaggyMommy]

IHD - I know exactly what you mean. I spent 16 years in pharmacy in MI. My first few were in retail and then LTC for several years. You're absolutely right about how this will affect seniors. It's frustrating to deal with (for everyone) and crushing for them to handle - when they're already living on a fixed income. For this, and the government programs, changes are annual, dramatic and not well explained or understood.

On the retail side, I often encounter seniors when I'm shopping who don't even participate in the wellness+ program and are willing to pay reg. retail for vitamins, etc. I'm forever jumping in and asking if he/she would like to use my card. It truly sickens me.

[Andrewrt]

The new wellness books state that the ups are not good until 6am the following day starting 1-1-2012 but I used all the ups i got today over and over and had no problems so who knows. Won't slow me down any