Understanding Register Rewards
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Shopping at Walgreens can seem a little confusing at first but once you get the hang of it you can save some serious bucks using Register Rewards (RR).
Here are some frequently asked questions about Register Rewards.
Q: What are Register Rewards?
A: Register Rewards are Catalina cpns which print from a machine that sits next to the register when you make qualifying purchases. Register Rewards can be used like cash on your next purchase, although there are some restrictions. No loyalty card needed, just make the required purchases and your RR will print. It's like getting an instant rebate on your purchases.
Q: Can Register Rewards be used with manufacturer's coupons?
A: Yes you can use RR with manufacturer's cpns and Walgreens cpns.
Q: Can I purchase 2 of the same Register Rewards items in the same transaction and get double Register Rewards?
A: You can only get 1 of the same Register Reward per transaction. For example: Walgreens offers a $2.00 RR wyb 1 Dove shampoo. If you buy 2 Dove shampoos you will only receive one $2.00 RR. Once your transaction is complete you can buy another Dove shampoo and receive another $2.00 RR.
Q: Can I use the Register Rewards I got for buying an item and turn around and use it to buy the same item and get another RR?
A: No, you can't use a RR you received to buy the same product and get another Register Rewards. For example: You buy the Dove shampoo and get $2.00 RR. If you buy another Dove shampoo and pay for it using the $2.00 you got for the first one you won't receive any more. However, if you pay for it with RR you got for buying something else you get another $2.00 RR. This also applies to products from the same manufacturer. If you buy the Dove Shampoo and use the RR from that to purchase Degree Deodorant (both made by the same manufacturer) you won't get any RR.
Q: What if I buy a $1.00 item and pay for it with a $2.00 RR, will I get the difference back?
A: No change is given when using RR so try and have your purchases as close to the amount of the RR you plan to use as possible.
Q: Will I have to pay tax if my purchase is zero after using RR and cpns?
A: Yes, if your state has sales tax you'll have to pay the tax on the purchase price before any RR and/or cpns have been applied.
Q: What is rolling RR and how can I do it?
A: Rolling RR refers to using the RR you earn one week to pay for the products you buy the next week. If you've never shopped at Walgreens or don't have any RR right this moment then you need to start out with what I call a little "seed" money. That's money you'll spend for products in the ad to get your first RR.
For Example:
Week One: You buy several products from the ad that offer RR when you buy them and use any cpns you can find to use on the items to get your out of pocket expense as low as possible.
Buy 1 Shick Razor for $9.99 - get $4.00 RR when you buy 1
Use $4.00/1 Schick Razor cpn
Buy Dove Shampoo $3.99 - get $2.00 RR when you buy 1
Use $2.00/1 Dove Shampoo cpn
Buy Suave Lotion $4.99 - get $2.00 RR when you buy 1
Use $1.00/1 Suave Lotion cpn
You bought 3 items totaling $18.97 and used $7.00 in cpns for a total of $11.97 out of pocket. The $11.97 is your "seed" money. You also got $8.00 in RR for buying the 3 items.
Week Two: You have $8.00 in RR to spend this week so you look over the ad and see what you'd like to buy that also offers RR when you buy it.
Buy Lady Speed Stick Deodorant $2.99 - get $1.00 RR when you buy 1
Use $1.00/1 Right Guard Deodorant cpn
Buy Colgate Toothpaste $2.99 - get $2.00 RR wyb 1
Use $1.00/1 Colgate Toothpaste cpn
Buy Nature Made Vitamin D $6.00 - get $6.00 RR wyb 1
Use $2.00/1 any Nature Made Vitamin cpn
You bought 3 items totaling $11.98 and used $4.00 in cpns to bring the total down to $7.98. You use the $8.00 in ECB you earned the first week to pay the remaining balance and get all 3 items for just the tax! You also earned $9.00 more in RR to use next week!
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
You’re right about using RR’s for the next week to purchase items at Walgreen’s (different names but the same thing at CVS and Rite-Aid) if there is something you want to buy. However, using your example of $8.00 the next week forces you to buy something even if there is nothing you need or would like to wait until something is on sale. Further, if you use the RR’s and find you need to return an item you used the RR’s on they won’t give you new RR’s to use and so you lose the RR’s. That happen to me when I bought some items for a gift and I had to return them.
I find the RR’s to be a lot of work. You have to keep track of them, you have to use them before they expire which is usually not very long and then not misplace them. The rebates were much better (especially at Rite Aid because all you had to do was enter a few numbers on your receipt to a form on the computer) and you got a check in the mail to spend any way you wanted plus all the rebates were on the one check.
Most of the time the RR are good for about 2 weeks or more so you don’t have to use them the very next week. If I don’t see anything I want the following week I save them for the next.