[forevergrateful]

Was at a Wags today that is not "my store" (my usual/the closest to my house that I usually go to), but is the second closest to me; & I go there often enough.

Had alot of $9RR's expiring this coming week & wanted to roll alot of them, since this coming week is nothing thrilling for me.

Did a number of transactions covering 3 Wags I pass all in a row; & was doing the last transaction here. It was about half a dozen items. They were out of the Chapstick; which was one of the items in my scenario; needed the $2.99 amount for me to have just pennies as my OOP (+ tx); & also that I would get the same amount of $3.00 in RR's back; & get back the same amount of RR's that I was using.

Anyway, they didn't have any more Chapstick; & as I said, I really needed it to complete this transaction; so I decided to ask a young man who was an Assist. Mgr there. He said he had a bunch of it in the back & would bring it out. I thanked him. Well, he came out with a number of boxes of each of the 2 flavors; as well as other RR items that were monthly deals ending today, 10/31. I thanked him & was taking one of the Chapsticks. He told me I should take more, because they would be free with the RR's I would get back; & that I should do each in a separate transaction so I could get the RR's! Of course I knew this, but I was surprised that he was telling me to do this!! (I've seen him maybe a handful of times I was in the store; but I don't know him.)

He also asked me if I wanted any of the other things he brought out; which I didn't; but I thanked him. They were also "frees" after RR's.

I then started making my way up to the front of the store & wait on line at the register; & he came up to the cashier & put a number of things there that he had brought out; including the Robi 2 Go's; & he told each customer on line about the deals; buying them & getting the RR's back, so basically getting them for free!

There was a guy on line who was buying alot of large bags of candy; & just the candy; & while the Assist. Mgr was there, the cashier told the guy about the deals with the Robi & the Chapstick; & told him to buy those items, & use the RR's he got to pay for all the candy he was buying!

I couldn't believe that; I never had that happen! I am basically "new" to Wags; only going there for the past couple of months; but of course when you think of how many times you go ;o) numerous times a week, & sometimes numerous stores a day; it is a good number of times I have shopped there, when you add up each visit; & I have never had this experience.

When I mentioned it to my DH, he said they probably had a lot of stock left; which is what I thought.

I also haven't been there the last day of a monthly sale; so I don't know if that is what they typically do.

But it was nice to see that they were doing this! It wasn't with every item; they didn't bring up the Vaseline Lotions, & a good number of other products; but it was really nice to see.

[jeanettebr]

that is nice! Before I started using Q's and shopping WAGS I would go in there to see what clearance they had...and the cashier was doing the same thing..trying to tell all the customers to buy the toothpaste because it was FREE....almost every customer turned her down. I bought a couple of them but really didn't realize how it worked...until much later! mwuahahaha!

I bet that was nice to see them so friendly and helpful!

[freegroceries4me]

WOW! I had a BA explain RRs to me during the Sally Hansen deal. I had never done the RR thing before. I read about it here, went up to my Walgreen's and asked about it. She explained it and I rolled three times that night. She might as well have given me crystal meth. The next week was September 27 and I went to a different WAGS where the night manager has a coupon blog! She was able to answer questions about what rolled into what. So I got off to a great start!

[randomequine]

Lucky!!!!! I went to a local wags (the only one I haven't hit this week - I love living in a big city!) today to get two more lotions and it was like pulling freaking teeth just to find someone to *ask* about it.....and don't even get me started on having them bring up extra stock!

Apparently (as I noticed on my way out) if they brought up stock for one customer and the shelf was empty, whoever brought it up had to restock.....and no one wanted to do that. *sigh*

[forevergrateful]

Originally Posted by jeanettebr

that is nice! Before I started using Q's and shopping WAGS I would go in there to see what clearance they had...and the cashier was doing the same thing..trying to tell all the customers to buy the toothpaste because it was FREE....almost every customer turned her down. I bought a couple of them but really didn't realize how it worked...until much later! mwuahahaha!

I bet that was nice to see them so friendly and helpful!

Yes; it was very nice to see! And it "stood out" to me, as I had never seen it before. Especially when the Assist. Mgr. was encouraging me to buy more than one, & do them in separate transactions to get the RR's for each!! Explaining to me that they each would basically be free after!

I think I will have to look for him whenever I go in there again; especially when I have to do separate transactions!

[forevergrateful]

Originally Posted by freegroceries4me

She explained it and I rolled three times that night. She might as well have given me crystal meth.

You are too funny!

[forevergrateful]

Originally Posted by randomequine

Lucky!!!!! I went to a local wags (the only one I haven't hit this week - I love living in a big city!) today to get two more lotions and it was like pulling freaking teeth just to find someone to *ask* about it.....and don't even get me started on having them bring up extra stock!

Apparently (as I noticed on my way out) if they brought up stock for one customer and the shelf was empty, whoever brought it up had to restock.....and no one wanted to do that. *sigh*

Sorry to hear it doesn't sound like you had a good experience.

I know; I was very lucky; this definitely was not the "norm" for me & my experiences. I usually find when I ask if they have more of an item in stock & it is a free after RR, they usually aren't rushing to look for me; telling me they have to go through a lot of things to find it, & they don't know where it is; etc. etc. I have found sometimes that some of the younger "kids" ;o) are more willing to look for something.

My usual experiences are more like yours. Though everyone is basically nice (with a couple of exceptions; as with anything), this was just really going out of his way; expecially about telling me to do separate transactions, to get each RR!

[LadyRaine]

My favorite store is like that. The manager puts up big displays with the FARR items and a sign declaring them so right at the door. He goes through the store telling customers to purchase a FARR item first, then use the RR to pay for what they came in for. I absolutely LOVE this store!

About two miles away is the absolute opposite. They scrutinize every coupon, don't have a clue about which items have RR deals, and just generally treat me like a thief. I actually had the manager there accuse me of breaking the law by using coupons.

I'm relatively certain these two stores have to share management somewhere up the line, but it sure is amazing what a store manager can do in terms of creating an inviting atmosphere.

[forevergrateful]

Originally Posted by LadyRaine

My favorite store is like that. The manager puts up big displays with the FARR items and a sign declaring them so right at the door. He goes through the store telling customers to purchase a FARR item first, then use the RR to pay for what they came in for. I absolutely LOVE this store!

About two miles away is the absolute opposite. They scrutinize every coupon, don't have a clue about which items have RR deals, and just generally treat me like a thief. I actually had the manager there accuse me of breaking the law by using coupons.

I'm relatively certain these two stores have to share management somewhere up the line, but it sure is amazing what a store manager can do in terms of creating an inviting atmosphere.

Sounds like your "good" store was doing the exact same thing! I wouldn't have believed it had I not seen it with my own eyes!

Yes; I think you are 100% correct; the difference in management made a world of difference.

And, when you think about it, it would really be smart on their part to tell everyone about the great deals; I am sure they would have a steady loyal following.

For so many years, before AFC, I always thought Walgreens' prices were outrageously high & would never shop there.

If I didn't know about Wags what I do now, & I was in there today seeing what I did, I would have definitely become a good customer.

[LVSunshine1]

So ladies - the reason why the SMs are starting to do this is because they ultimately make higher monthly sales. They are exceeding sales goals and/or quotas. They have figured this out - like we have - that it pays for us to be shopping in their store (instead of a different WAGs. It pays for us to be using coupons (which they get reimbursed for) and getting RRs because we turn around and buy more products (rolling over) right there, in their store - ultimately raising the overall sales of the store. Get it? These SMs are smart! They are playing the game with us and we are all winning. You will notice that the SMs who have figured this out have also made sure the checkout clerks are aware of this - because they are friendlier and more supportive of us! They welcome us, help us find products and do everything to keep us coming back to that particular store. Very smart!!!

[forevergrateful]

Originally Posted by LVSunshine1

So ladies - the reason why the SMs are starting to do this is because they ultimately make higher monthly sales. They are exceeding sales goals and/or quotas. They have figured this out - like we have - that it pays for us to be shopping in their store (instead of a different WAGs. It pays for us to be using coupons (which they get reimbursed for) and getting RRs because we turn around and buy more products (rolling over) right there, in their store - ultimately raising the overall sales of the store. Get it? These SMs are smart! They are playing the game with us and we are all winning. You will notice that the SMs who have figured this out have also made sure the checkout clerks are aware of this - because they are friendlier and more supportive of us! They welcome us, help us find products and do everything to keep us coming back to that particular store. Very smart!!!

I agree; but I still found it very surprising that the Assist. Mgr. would tell me to get more than one of the Chapstick, & do them in separate transactions; so I could get RR's for each. That was the strange part to me.

And, this really isn't the norm for this store. While there is one wonderful woman cashier in this store, there is another cashier, as well as a Mgr, who will not let you hand over your q's one by one, as I always do in every store with no problem. They insist upon taking them all; & using them in the order they want; and they will void your order & start over if you hand over a Wags ad q last.

When I do transactions at this store, like with the Theraflu transaction, with every type of q used, & needs to be given in a certain order, I make sure to get the wonderful woman cashier. I will only use these other people if I am just using RR's, or using RR's & MQ's; meaning if the order of q's won't affect my total.

I did have one transaction, where I had MQ's & RR's; & one Wags ad q for the Mentos gum for .99. She insisted on using that first (before my Mentos MQ, & before my RR's). I had figured out my transaction to be .20 OOP (+ tx) on everything I was buying; 6 different items; supposed to get back $12.00 in RR's, which was what I was using as well (just needed to roll these this week cause this next week is yucky for me); & fortunately, everything came out the same; even with her doing a totally different order for the q's.

But anyway, this is not the norm for this store. It is literally different based on the cashier and/or Mgr and/or Assist. Mgr. you get.

The funny thing also is that usually the cashiers in the cosmetics are so much easier going in all the other stores I go to; but here, the cashiers in cosmetics are always scrutinizing everything, even though it is totally legit; as where the wonderful cashier up front doesn't.

I would hope this was a new "personality" for the store; but in this same trip, I had the transaction that I mentioned above; with the Mentos, & the "hand over ALL your coupons first"; & they voided it out when I gave in the Wags q last.

[BoredOOMM]

Originally Posted by LadyRaine

My favorite store is like that. The manager puts up big displays with the FARR items and a sign declaring them so right at the door. He goes through the store telling customers to purchase a FARR item first, then use the RR to pay for what they came in for. I absolutely LOVE this store!.

Our local store put the FARR items out last week and it seemed that I was the only one buying from it. No cashier has been less than amazed at the amount I have bought the last 2 weeks.

There is only room for so much. Nice to hear your WAGs is coupon friendly.

[couponmama62]

The cashier's at my store are friendly and helpful, I point out things to them like when something is rolling and if they think I've missed anything they point it out to me.

[amiebee]

Congrats on the good experience at Wags. It's the good trips that make it worth it.....well, that and all the free stuff

[vigor60624]

It's really nice to hear about good customer service from the cashiers. Wtg , you had a nice and pleasant shopping experince.

[aluv5102]

if they did this at my store i would fall in the floor with a heart attack

[forevergrateful]

Originally Posted by aluv5102

if they did this at my store i would fall in the floor with a heart attack

Exactly!! That's just how shocked I was, & had to post about my trip!!

I still agree with my DH; they must have had a lot extra of these items; & this merchandise probably doesn't move otherwise in this particular store. I mean, it's one thing to tell you about the RR deals (&, they were in the ad); but to tell you to split up your transactions to get an RR for each?? (He needed to move this stuff, obviously.) This happened yesterday, & I'm still in shock!

And again, not the norm for this store.

I mean, after this experience, you would think I could go there; do a ton of separate transactions; & tell him, "I'm doing separate transactions so I can get all the RR's!" Boy; that would make my Wags trips a lot easier; wouldn't have to do to numerous stores & do numerous trips!

Still, gave me a nice chuckle!

[sassikatri]

Good to hear positive things about Wags....I love my cashiers!.....(though I've never heard of anyone being that good!)

[mister_ed]

That's awesome!