The Walgreens system seems complicated but it comes down to a few basic things:
1. Register Reward. This is the term Walgreens uses for it’s catalina program. A catalina is a coupon that prints at the cash register- it can be for products or it can be for a dollar amount off your next transaction. So when I say $2 Register Reward- that means when you purchase that particular item you will get a little coupon after you pay that is good for $2 off your next purchase.
2. You need 1 item for every coupon you use. Coupons are considered any manufacturer coupon or a register reward. So you can not purchase a Colgate toothbrush, use a manufacturer coupon and use a register reward. That would be considered one item and 2 coupons and the register will not accept it.
3. Fillers. Fillers are an item you do not use a coupon on. In the scenario above you need a filler so that you have 2 items and can use 1 coupon and one Register Reward. Fillers can be something super inexpensive like a .10 pencil or candy or whatever you like. Fillers can also be used to bring your total up to use a register reward. If you have a register reward for $3.00- your BEFORE TAX total needs to be at least $3.00. If you have item for $2.99 the register will not allow you to use a $3 reward- you need a filler to get above the $3 mark.
3. Rolling. You can go back and forth between register rewards but you can not roll the same item. For example, you can not buy a Colgate toothbrush and use that register reward to pay for the next Colgate toothbrush. The register will accept the first register reward but it will not print another one. So you will have lost money. Instead you need to go back and forth between rewards. If you want 5 toothbrushes, you might consider buying one and using the reward to get-say a shaving cream, then using that reward to get another toothbrush etc.. etc… This can be a little confusing because it is not just the item but the company. So if Colgate toothbrushes have a register reward and Colgate toothpaste has a Register Reward you can’t go back and forth because it is the same company. You would want to buy a toothpaste, then something else, then a toothbrush etc..
5. Buying multiples of an item. If I did want to purchase 5 toothbrushes, I would need at least 5 transactions. If an item is free after reward you can only buy one at a time. If you buy 5, you will pay for all five out of pocket and only receive one reward. That is why you often see people with multiple transactions at Walgreens. If there is a long line and you have a number of transactions you may consider doing two and then stepping aside. I also like to find the photo center or beauty counter as I am less likely to hold up the line in those areas.
6. If you have a list of several different items that each have a Register Reward you can buy them all at once and you will get each Register Reward. You might want to split up the transaction so that you can spend the least amount out of pocket.For example, if I wanted to buy the following:
Colgate Toothpaste $2.00- with $1 Register Reward
Aveeno Lip Balm $2.00 with $2 Register Reward
Reach Dental Floss $1.99 with $1 Register Reward
I could pay for all three at once- but I would spend $5.98 out of pocket. I would get $4 in Register Rewards for my next purchase.If I split up the transactions and bought:
1st transaction: Aveeno- pay $2 and get $2 Register Reward
2nd transaction: Use $2 Register Reward to pay for Colgate- pay 0 get $1 Register Reward
3rd transaction: Use $1 Register to partially pay for Reach- spend .99 and get another $1 Register Reward
So in that scenario I have only spent $2.99 total and have $1 for next time.
6. The register wins. Most stores allow cashiers to override the register. So if you are at Target buying an item and using a coupon and for some reason the register beeps, the cashier can just push it through. At Walgreens, for the most part, if the register beeps (or rejects your coupon) you are out of luck. If it does beep it is likely a mistake such as two manufacturer coupons (as I discussed in tip #2) or your before tax total wasn’t high enough to use a Register Reward (as mentioned in tip #3) or you simply grabbed the wrong item. I have never had a cashier override a register beep.
The system is fairly straightforward once you get these basics down. One other important note on the register rewards is that you need to pay very close attention to the expiration dates. Once they expire they are useless so be very careful you don’t waste your money!
These Rewards can not be added to a gift card- there is a very specific list of items you can not use them for- gift cards, lottery tickets, postage, alcohol, cigarettes etc..
If you find yourself with a lot of Register Rewards and nothing to buy I like to look for rebate items. Items that offer a mail in rebate on something you can pay for with your Register Rewards- submit the rebate and then you get the full value of the item back.
Click HERE to get more information about Walgreens!
I was wondering if RRs can be used to purchase Gift Cards to select restaurants and stores that are sold near the register at Walgreen’s? Here is the scenario I have $20 in RR (4 @ $5 each) and I want to get a $25 GC to Borders If i get the card and 3 filler item of caramel candies that are 3/$1 that makes 4 items and I can now use all 4 RR tickets, and pay only $6 out of pocket. Will the store allow me to do this?
Thanks
Christina
No, the Register Rewards exclude all gift cards.
I bought a product and used a Walgreen coupon and the register wouldn’t take it. The girl checked the item, it was the right item, it was from their coupon booklet and was not expired. SO the girl adjusted the price of the item down to the price it would be with the coupon applied and just didn’t use the coupon. We have a new Walgreen her near Pittsburgh and they are wonderful. So helpful and patient with my coupons.
I went to Walgreens this past week and had several transactions planned to roll my Register Rewards on different products (first: Huggies diapers, second: Dove Men’s Wash, etc.) The cashier told me the Register Rewards for the second item wouldn’t print if I used my voucher from the first transaction – even for a different product and company. I asked the manager and he verified this policy. This was at a Walgreens outside of Orlando, FL.
How do you know which items will earn RRs?>
I did not realize that the RR are considered coupons which I don’t think is correct. I have never been much of a Walgreens shopper and just got my first RR this past weekend. I will see what my local store does. Thanks for the info! Love your blog!!
Just a suggestion – I noticed that Walgreens CAN adjust down coupons as you mentioned on http://myfrugaladventures.com/2010/08/new-walgreens-coupon-policy/. Does that mean they can adjust down Register Rewards? If so – perhaps that can be updated here for clarity. If not, good to know!
Great post, thank you for sharing!!!!
What about when you are stacking a WG coupon with a manufacturer’s coupon AND using RR? Is that considered 3 items therefore you would need 2 fillers? Or do they consider the stack as one coupon?
i have had cashiers override coupons that beep…just saying 🙂
i do want to know if you get a rain check for a product that is out of stock and is producing register rewards if that sale is over when you use the rain check can you still receive the RR?
oh and do they have to honor an expired coupon for an item they had out of stock given you used it as soon as they stocked that item?
@Annie, yes that is 3 coupons..you ALWAYS need to have as many items as you do coupons(including RR).
@ Lindsay, they will not honor an expired coupon for an item that was out of stock,,,the only thing they will honor is the raincheck itself…so keep this in mind, you might want to try and find another walgreens if you are able if the coupon looks like it might expire…..if the item that you received the raincheck for has a RR attached to it, you WILL get the RR, if the register doesn’t print it, the manager will override it…make sure that when you get the raincheck, that it includes the RR info(in case there is an issue when you redeem it)…..
Ok! so my husband went to walgreens for me today and said that he made his first transaction and got register rewards so on his 2nd transaction he used them but they didnt give him any rewards. the manager told him that you do not recieve register rewards if you made your purchase with register rewards! Please help explain this to me!
Kim, you can’t use the same Register Reward to do the same transaction and get another Register Reward. You can use a Register Reward to purchase a totally different item that is not from the same company. Read the section above called Rolling for more details.
HTH!
Do register rewards work to purchase toys and other non household items at walgreens? For example if a toy costs $15 and I use 6 register rewards equaling $15 and lets just say I also add 5 pieces of cheap candy to equal 6 items/1 item per coupon would that work? I’m just trying to make sure I have a clear understanding and want to know if I can purchase anything in the store beside liquor, ciggs, an so on.