We hope that you’ve enjoyed our Couponing 101 Series. Going forward, in between some of the other Couponing 101 subjects we’re going to highlight different stores and give you a “How to Guide” for that specific store. This week’s Couponing 101 store will be Walgreens.
New to Walgreens? Here’s all you need to know to start shopping for FREE at Walgreens!
Balance Rewards
Before we even get started you want to make sure that you have a Balance Rewards Card. Your Balance Rewards Card is the Key to the Kingdom so if you don’t have one you will need to sign up for one. You can sign up ONLINE or in the store. Once you have a Balance Rewards Account you can start saving and earning points!
Now that I have a Balance Rewards Account, how does this work?
With Everyday Points, you’ll get 10 points per $1 spent on almost everything — every day. Plus, get bonus points on featured products each week, and use paperless coupons on select items. Due to state and federal laws, points can’t be earned (or redeemed) on some items, including alcohol, tobacco and dairy items. Everyday Points are not earned on pharmacy transactions.
You can keep track of your points by viewing your online account. Better yet, download the Walgreens mobile app and keep track of your points and offers on the run!
To earn points with Balance Rewards, simply provide your phone number or mobile card within the App. If you want a physical card, visit your local Walgreens and ask a sales associate to link a card to your membership.
Check you weekly store ad for Bonus Points offers. When you purchase certain products you receive additional points. The offer may require you to buy a certain dollar amount of a product or a certain number of products.
Now that I’ve earned some points, how do I redeem them?
In Store – Use the pin pad at checkout or tell the sales associate you’d like to redeem your points.
Online – At checkout, use the dropdown menu to select your rewards redemption value.
When redeeming points on a purchase, you will not earn on the portion of the transaction that was paid for using redemption dollars or store credit.
The maximum amount of points that can be redeemed in a single purchase is 40,000 points for a $50 reward. Points cannot be shared with other shoppers.
Before I start shopping, are there any other ways I can save at Walgreens?
Balance Rewards for Healthy Choices – Earn points for the healthy choices you make every day. Get 20 points per mile when you walk, run or cycle. Plus, get 20 points per weigh-in, blood pressure test, or blood glucose test. Do you want to quit smoking? You can earn points for that! Do you have a fitbit or other fitness app or device? You can earn points with that too! HERE are the full details of the program.
Members Only Perks – Sign up for offers and promotions on a variety of products exclusively for Balance Rewards Members.
AARP – Are you an AARP Member? Link your AARP Card and Balance Reward Card HERE for exclusive deals. The benefits of linking your cards include:
Earn 50 points for every $1 spent
Get 1.5x points for the healthy choices you make
Get 100 points for every prescription and vaccination
Plus more!
Paperless Coupons – Exclusive coupons you can send directly to your Balance Rewards Card.
Register Rewards – These are Catalina Coupons issued for purchasing specific items. You can not roll these for the same item (or an item from the same manufacturer). Check you sales circular for weekly offers.
Walgreens Coupon Policy
Every store has their own coupon acceptance policies so it is best to print a copy and keep it with you for reference. Here is the most current Walgreens Coupon Policy
Here is the policy (as of July 2016):
General Guidelines
- All coupons are to be presented to the cashier at the time of checkout.
- Walgreens does not accept expired coupons. Coupons expire at 11:59 p.m. on the expiration date at the point of sale, whether in store or online.
- Walgreens will not accept fraudulent or counterfeit coupons as determined by Walgreens.
- Unless otherwise specified, all coupons have no cash value. Coupons and their face value cannot be exchanged for cash or gift cards.
- Competitor’s coupons shall not be accepted by Walgreens.
- The number of manufacturer coupons, including Register Rewards®/Savings Rewards manufacturer coupons, shall not exceed the number of items in the transaction. The total value of the coupons shall not exceed the value of the transaction. Sales tax must be paid, if required by state law.
- Walgreens will not accept coupons that exceed the selling price of an item and no cash back is ever provided in exchange for any coupons.
- Coupons that appear distorted, blurry or altered in any way shall not be accepted; all coupons must have a clear and scannable bar code.
- For offers when multiple items are purchased and additional items are free (buy 1 get 1 free; buy 2 get 1 free, etc.), the number of coupons applied to that offer cannot exceed the number of items required in the “buy” portion of the offer.
- Coupons may not be applied against any free item received in any offer (See 7 above).
- Paper coupons will be processed before digital coupons.
- Walgreens shall not accept coupons for items not carried in our stores.
- Walgreens reserves the right to limit quantities to customers and employees.
- Manufacturer coupons must include a valid redemption address.
- Coupons may be subject to advertised offer limitations and all other limitations and restrictions on the applicable coupon or product.
- Walgreens shall accept manufacturer coupons for items that are on sale.
The General Guidelines apply to the categories below and are to be referenced in addition to the specific coupon category guidelines.
Multiple Coupons
The guidelines below are to be followed in addition to the General Guidelines listed above.
- When purchasing a single item, Walgreens accepts one manufacturer coupon and applicable Walgreens coupon(s) for the purchase of a single item, unless prohibited by either coupon offer.
- When purchasing multiple items, Walgreens accepts multiple coupons for multiple qualifying items, as long as there is sufficient stock to satisfy other customers, unless a limit is specified on the coupon. Management reserves the right to limit the quantity of items purchased and/or prohibit the purchase of excessive quantities. An excessive quantity is any quantity above and beyond normal household usage.
The guidelines below are to be followed in addition to the General Guidelines listed above.
When items are featured in a Buy 1 Get 1 Free promotion, at least one product needs to be purchased. A maximum of one BOGO coupon is permitted per two qualifying items in a BOGO offer.
Internet Printed Coupons
The guidelines below are to be followed in addition to the General Guidelines listed above.
- Walgreens shall not accept “free product” internet printed coupons.
Register Rewards®/Savings Rewards coupons
The guidelines below are to be followed in addition to the General Guidelines listed above.
Earning Register Rewards®/Savings Rewards
- Register Rewards/Savings Rewards will only print for in-stock merchandise during the promotional period.
- Register Rewards/Savings Rewards can only be earned for eligible items. No substitutions are permitted.
- There is a limit of one Register Rewards/Savings Rewards coupon per offer per customer per transaction.
- Customers redeeming a Register Rewards/Savings Rewards against the same offer may not receive another Register Rewards/Savings Rewards coupon.
Redeeming Register Rewards®/Savings Rewards
Customers redeeming a Register Rewards/Savings coupon against the same offer shall not receive another Register Rewards/Savings Rewards coupon.
- The number of manufacturer coupons, including Register Rewards/Savings Rewards manufacturer coupons, shall not exceed the number of items in the transaction.
- Register Rewards/Savings Rewards shall be forfeited if the qualifying merchandise is returned.
- Register Rewards/Savings Rewards can be redeemed for eligible items only. Ineligible items include but are not limited to:
-
- Alcoholic beverages
- Dairy products
- Gift cards/phone cards/general purpose reloadable cards
- Health care services, including immunizations
- Lottery tickets
- Money orders/transfers
- Postage stamps
- Prescription Savings Club membership fee
- Prescriptions
- Special event/entertainment tickets or passes
- Tobacco products
- Transportation passes
- Any items prohibited by law
Digital/Paperless Coupons
The guidelines below are to be followed in addition to the General Guidelines listed above.
- Only digital coupons, attached to your Walgreens Balance® Rewards account, shall be honored. Digital reproductions of offers shall not be accepted (such as using a mobile application to reproduce an image of an offer/coupon).
Total Store Offer/Coupons
The guidelines below are to be followed in addition to the General Guidelines listed above.
Total store offer/ coupons cannot be combined, i.e., 20% off your whole purchase (circular coupon), Seniors Day, Friends and Family, Veteran’s Day, employee discount, etc.
Now that I understand how Balance Rewards work, how do I shop for FREE at Walgreens?
Make sure that you are following the weekly Walgreens Forum posts at HowtoShopforFree.net
Join our Walgreens Freebies and Deals Facebook Group
Now that you have found out the best deals at Walgreens by using our Forum and Facebook Group, put your list together using our Printable Shopping List
Make your first purchase and start saving!
Once you get home, snap a picture and post your success on our Walgreen’s Freebies & Deals Facebook Group with a breakdown of how you did it. This will help out any Members that want to duplicate your success. After all, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Who knows, maybe we’ll even front page your brag at HowtoShopforFree.net!
Happy Shopping!
Leave a Reply