would you spend $12.99 for a $25 gift card or.....?

[cpnmaniac44]

I've got a prescription that is $4 every where except Rite-Aid.
I've got a coupon for a $25 gift card with a transferred Rx. for Rite-Aid.
They charge $12.99 for this same med, and Eckerd used to honor other pharmacies prices, "if you asked", it was not advertised. I've tried to get $4 meds at Rite-Aid before using this same coupon, but they only allow one of these:
1. They'll honor another pharmacies price and refuse the coupon.
2. or accept the coupon and I accept their regular price on the med.

It seems like I should go ahead and pay $12.99 out of pocket to get the gift card. Then again, I rarely shop at Rite-Aid. So, I was thinking just pay the $4 out of pocket and do nothing more.
I'd be spending $8.99 ($8.99 more than the $4 med I can get elsewhere) for a $25 gift card at Rite-Aid. I'd guess 100% of the people out there would gladly pay $8.99 for $25 in Rite-Aid merchandise, but based on my shopping habits and the types products I use, and the prices at Rite-Aid, and their restrictions on what the gift card can be used for, I am not seeing this as a 100% slam dunk in favor of $8.99 out of pocket for a $25 card. Now if the card could be used on stamps like Walgreen (if Rite-Aid sells stamps), I'd jump. I have over 80 rolls of paper towels, can get 10 cents a roll bathroom tissue, etc.

What would YOU do?

Let me guess....you'd spend the $12.99 for the med and a $25 gift card to Rite-Aid........am I right?

(taking a poll here I guess)

[kktl32]

I would spend the 12.99 get the card then buy FAR items and let them send me a check for buying their stuff and get all my money back plus some free stuff that just me though,HTH

[bethanyam]

I wouldn't do that because I don't shop at rite aid whatsoever so I wouldn't be saving myself any money, but you might call around to stores that you do use, I have heard that some CVS will honor competitors coupons. Good luck in whichever way you choose to go. :)

[missmitz]

Personally I'd do it in a hearbeat.
Even if you don't shop there often... go in one time... get 25.00 worth of FAR items, toilet paper, Sunday papers... etc.
I always take advantage of using store money instead of my own

[cpnmaniac44]

I wouldn't do that because I don't shop at rite aid whatsoever so I wouldn't be saving myself any money, but you might call around to stores that you do use, I have heard that some CVS will honor competitors coupons. Good luck in whichever way you choose to go. :)

yes, some will take other's coupons, but not give the $4 med price.
If I went to CVs, I'd have the same problem, their high prices on the med.

to others: what are FAR items?
Rite-Aid monthly rebate book?
Newspapers are FAR items?

[petergabrielfan]

what are FAR items?
FAR items = Free after rebate items. RA runs something free after rebate in their ad almost every week, and often more than one FAR item. I highly recommend trying RA. I don't pay for toiletries EVER thanks to RA. I agree with what a pp said. RA has tons of money makers. Use the gift card to buy some money makers up front and then they will send you a check that you can cash and spend elsewhere if you'd like. Stop by the RA forum. It's very active and there are tons of deals posted!

Rite-Aid monthly rebate book?
I'm not sure what you're asking here, but yes, RA does have a monthly rebate book you can pick up.


Newspapers are FAR items?

See above :smile:

[vickib50]

My CVS has a banner which reads "Why transfer out prescriptions? We honor all competitor coupons."

I've had Rite Aid GC and I've still got CVS GC. I use CVS a lot more than Rite Aid. They just don't have any thrilling deals for me. Besides, my CVS people "treat me right."

[manders13]

you can always trade the gc....

I do that once in awhile. When i need a gc to someplace else i through it up in the trade thread.. but yes IF i had the oppurtunity u have i'd do it!

[pwetypweas]

Absolutely would do it - then when you're done with the GC transfer it somewhere else to pay the lower price (Walmart I'm guessing is one of your options) -- just don't try to transfer it BACK to Rite-Aid after that (you can only do the Rite-Aid transfer every six months)

Go for it! It's almost double your money back (more considering you'd still spend the $4)

[stitch1769]

I would do it only because w/ xmas coming you could use the gc for either stocking stuffers, teachers gifts etc. I did the gc coupon once w/ a similar situation as yours, and I also dont shop at rite aid much, so I saved the gc for when they had a sale on random items that I had a coupon for and ended up getting a good deal on peanuts of all things.

[cpnmaniac44]

there is only 1 refill left, so it can not be trasnferred again to another Rite-Aid.
I'm going to call Walgreen and see if they will accept it. They have gift cards too.
and they have milk on sale regularly, like next weekend a gallon is $1.89.
If they won't take it, I think I'll go to CVS as long as their price on this "very" inexpensive medication is not more than $12.99. It is a low cost medication, and the $12.99 is crazy, coupon or not.
Even the grocery stores have this med at $4, not just Walmart and Target.

[XUfan]

I haven't read everyone's responses, but I've had the same issue several times. Our Kroger, Target at Walmart all have my husband's prescription for $4/month. Walgreen's wants $15.99, CVS wants $12.99, and Meijer wants $10.99. Most of the time, it honestly depends on how much money I have on hand. If I don't have $12.99, it's not an issue. I just go to Kroger and get it filled for $4. If I do the extra money, I fill it wherever I can get the GC (usually CVS). This time of year, I'd probably use it for stocking stuffers.

[cpnmaniac44]

my, my, my........the CVS pharmacist asked ME to spell the name of the med....and it is only 6 letters...WHERE do these people go to college?
Walgreen is $11.99
Rite-Aid $12.99
Walgreen won't accept the coupon.
CVS is $10.99 and the pharmacist again gave me SHAKY info by saying they THINK they take competitors coupons.
I'll go to CVS for the $10.99 and use Rite-aid gift card coupon.

[mrsjschultz]

I would do it. I actually just did a few days ago. Then again, our HSA account pays for my Rx co-pays so I didn't actually pay for the Rx oop =D

[leqet]

Sounds like you already figured out what to do. I would try to use it at CVS for personal reasons. Everytime I have used the Rite Aide pharmacy (twice) they messed up. One time they told me there was no generic and the script wasn't covered my my insurance so the bill was $180 (I knew they were wrong on both because I had gotten it from Target before for $10). The second time I tried to transfer to get a gift card, they gave me someone else's prescription! I was halfway out the door when I noticed I had gotten some type of dropper instead of a bottle of pills and decided I should go back to ask the pharmacist how to use it properly. Good thing I did because he started to describe how to give the meds to my infant...I don't have an infant...:shrug7:

I hope you can use the coupon at CVS. They've been much better to me anyway. I still have part of the Rite Aid gift card left. I guess I should go use it on some FAR items like pp's suggested.

[cpnmaniac44]

something is fishy about med prices:
I was taking 40 mg once a day = 30 tablets = $4 at a community pharmacy for medicaid, unemployed, etc. but the pharmacy accepts anyone.
The doctor wanted me to take 60 mg a day so 60 at once a day = 30 tablets was $39 at the same low cost pharmacy that matches or beats Walmart. Their $4 meds are $3.99.
I checked the cost for 45 tablets of the 40mg. I was shocked to be told $4.
So, 60 mg once a day = 30 tablets = $39
and 60 mg once a day by getting 45 tablets and breaking in half = $4 at the same pharmacy as the $39. So how the prescription was written:
45(40mg) instead of 30(60mg) saved me $35 a month. SHAMEFUL as to why this is true.
I've always found Walgreen, CVS, and Rite-Aid to be very high.
EVEN Food Lion and Bi-Lo have tons of $4 meds like Target, Walmart and K-Mart.

So, a question is.....WHO uses Rite-Aid, CVS, and Walgreen?
People with insurance?
rich people who care less what something cost?
people who have no other store to go to?