That's What You Call a Promotional Item?

CVS - DBF's card

• U by Kotex $4.99, used $1 coupon and $1 CRT and got back $4.99 EB (Limit 1) = $2 profit
• English Muffins $1.99 - didn't see this price in the circular but the store had a big display of them
• M&M's $0.50
• Used $5 EB, total was $0.51

New card

• U by Kotex $4.99, used $1 coupon and $1 CRT and got back $4.99 EB (Limit 1) = $2 profit
• CVS Pantiliners (22 count) $0.50, got back $1 EB (monthly deal, WYB 2, Limit 3) = FREE *Bought one separately on a previous trip
• Used $0.99 EB and $1 EB, total was $1.50 - tried to pay using an e-gift card I bought online ages ago. The cashier, shift supervisor AND manager could not figure out how to use it, even with the instructions printed right on the page. I asked if they were following those steps (after about 5 minutes of them fumbling around) and they said they were. When the manager started asking me if I'd used the gift card with any other CVS cards, I realized they didn't know what they were talking about, gave up and paid for my total in cash. Things do, stuff to buy people! :p

Acme - back for more Secret. I haven't posted all my trips, but I've bought a bunch of Secret towards this $10 rebate.

• 3 Secret Deodorants $3.29 each, used three $0.75 coupons (7/4 P&G) and got back $5 cat (good until 7/31, WYB 3)
• Cat treats $1.29
• Paid with $5 cat

Walgreens

• Craisins $3
• 2 Walgreens storage bags $0.99 each
• Knee Highs - clearanced to $0.20
• Used $5 RR, total was $0.32

For the first time, I filled a prescription with Walgreens. I've been increasingly frustrated with my local CVS' pharmacy, especially when they made me wait over an hour for an Rx that had been called in by my doctor 45 minutes before I even got there. I was actually sick that day, so I didn't want to come back later for it. They were helping customers who came in after me as I sat there and fumed. I asked about my prescription several times and they assured me it was "almost ready." By the time I left, I was livid. Anyway, I learned my lesson and won't be going back there any time soon.

Last Friday, I dropped off a new Rx at Walgreens. There was some confusion about one item, since the doctor had told me there was a generic version as well as the brand name of the item. He gave me a $30 rebate off the brand name, so before the Rx was filled, I wanted to see which was cheaper. While discussing this, the pharmacists realize that the doctor didn't put any specific dosage for the item, so they had to call the office to clarify. That was taking forever, so the Pharmacist said she'd call me when it was all straightened out.

A couple hours later, she left me a message saying there was no generic version of the item and gave me a total for my prescriptions. I won't even tell you how much they cost because you all would totally lose your faith in my money-saving abilities and never read another word I type.

Everything was ready today so I swung by to pick them up. The Pharmacist gives me my total - a full $150 over what I was quoted the other day. Egads! Turns out she'd only given me the total for two out of the three items. My insurance reimburses me 60% of the cost of prescriptions, so I'll get a good chunk of the money back, but still! That's a lot of money! Its been several hours and I'm still reeling from the sticker shock. As I was swiping my credit card (and crying inside), the Pharmacist went off to a back room and came back out with these two boxes. He put them in a bag and said, here are your promotional items. "Sweet!" I'm thinking, maybe I get some free samples or related items to make me feel better for spending so much.

Then I opened the boxes. And found, not one, but TWO Walgreens mugs. I don't want no stinkin' mugs! Give me another rebate or a box of samples or coupons. MUGS?!? Are you trying to add insult to injury Walgreens?

MUGS!!!!

Just kidding Walgreens, you know I love ya!