Good time to get off of the Merry Go Round?

[rcbrad]

I just thought that I would post this, as perhaps some people like myself who have not received any CRT'S or e-mails in months may feel kind of left out. I am not trying to complain, as I know that you can still get some great deals and it is a great place to shop, but without the CRT'S and $$ off $$, it seems less enticing to shop as much at CVS. I have been shopping WEEKLY for almost two years and would look forward to a new $$ off $$ and other coupons on almost every trip during those years on my card and my Moms card. (I shop for her) Just like clockwork, we would get a new $$ off $$ regularly for the bulk of these last two years. I have been so accustomed to using these, that I feel like I am missing something without them. It seems too harsh to cut these out completely. My loyalty is diminishing. To go weekly, that is quite often! There are other stores to shop.

I phoned customer service twice recently to have them create ECB'S that did not print. I mentioned the lack of coupons. They mentioned that I have a check mark on my account not to receive any coupons. He said that was the problem. I guess this is the mystery as to why we do not get any more CRT'S!! He said that he would remove it, but I am still not getting anything. It becomes kind of stressful to try to use your ECB'S each week to try to maximize their use. I guess that my OOP is too low for me to get any CRT'S, but alot of that comes from carefull planning and manufacturer coupons. I have never super stacked or abused the coupons, but I use alot of CVS and MFG coupons. I feel like trying to spend down my ECB'S on anything that is reasonable and be done with it!! Anyone else feel this way?

[neesie03]

Originally Posted by rcbrad

I just thought that I would post this, as perhaps some people like myself who have not received any CRT'S or e-mails in months may feel kind of left out. I am not trying to complain, as I know that you can still get some great deals and it is a great place to shop, but without the CRT'S and $$ off $$, it seems less enticing to shop as much at CVS. I have been shopping WEEKLY for almost two years and would look forward to a new $$ off $$ and other coupons on almost every trip during those years on my card and my Moms card. (I shop for her) Just like clockwork, we would get a new $$ off $$ regularly for the bulk of these last two years. I have been so accustomed to using these, that I feel like I am missing something without them. It seems too harsh to cut these out completely. My loyalty is diminishing. To go weekly, that is quite often! There are other stores to shop.

I phoned customer service twice recently to have them create ECB'S that did not print. I mentioned the lack of coupons. They mentioned that I have a check mark on my account not to receive any coupons. He said that was the problem. I guess this is the mystery as to why we do not get any more CRT'S!! He said that he would remove it, but I am still not getting anything. It becomes kind of stressful to try to use your ECB'S each week to try to maximize their use. I guess that my OOP is too low for me to get any CRT'S, but alot of that comes from carefull planning and manufacturer coupons. I have never super stacked or abused the coupons, but I use alot of CVS and MFG coupons. I feel like trying to spend down my ECB'S on anything that is reasonable and be done with it!! Anyone else feel this way?

Yes, it is less enticing but I've also gotten used to it. I'm so far ahead of the game in terms of the things that I've stockpiled from CVS that the new changes haven't really affected me.

I can afford to bypass many of the deals. I don't even plan to max out the FREEs from the May Monthly book. I just don't need/want to any more. So, even if they become more stringent with the extracare program, oh well. I'm at a place now where I could care less.

I'm

[couponaddicted10]

I didn't get too reliant on the emails and $/$s, because I don't have a reliable printer... But even if CVS gets "slow", I'll still shop occasionally. I like going.. I find it relaxing...

[yellobelle]

I feel your pain! I really need the $/$$ to keep my ECBs rolling, just because there are a lot of things that I like to purchase at CVS (like dh's expensive facewash) with them because they go on good sales. the monitors mysteriously disappear off the shelves whenever there is a sale, only to reappear the first day of the next month, so no making money there. I can't imagine how I would have gotten a "check mark," as I did have occasional OOP costs and hadn't ever gotten many $/$$ off coupons to begin with (I've never stacked, much less superstacked).

has anybody tried opening a new card to see if you eventually start getting CRTs? i would be tempted to spend my few ECBs, toss my card, and start over.

[yellobelle]

Originally Posted by couponaddicted10

I didn't get too reliant on the emails and $/$s, because I don't have a reliable printer... But even if CVS gets "slow", I'll still shop occasionally. I like going.. I find it relaxing...

see, i find CVS'ing stressful...it is the price I pay for freebies. i spent most of my ECBs on Christmas gifts, so now I don't have many to roll. So it has become a lot of work to build up my ECBs enough to purchase something I need while still hanging on to a few bucks to roll.

[momofalltrades]

Well, this is just MTC, but I'd have to answer that with an emphatic, "Nope". I've only had a couple $/$$ in the time I've done this and I feel like I can do plenty of deals without them. I DO get frustrated with peeps who post several transactions with $/$$ off on each one and I wonder, "How in the world are they getting all those $/$$?" because it's a cinch to make money on stuff when you've got a billion of those suckers! And since they've gotten so stingy with them, it makes me think that it's the people who are getting a ton of those maybe aren't getting them the way CVS intends which is what has made them tighten it up for everyone. SO I asked my BIL, who is a store manager and he confirmed that, at least in our area, the $/$$ abuse was so heavy that they have cut it off and we will only get one with a welcome e-mail or if we update after a year or more.

Anyhow, I feel like CVS is the most user friendly place to get tons of free stuff, they have had the nicest cashiers and managers, and they are the most consistent about applying the rules. I haven't been doing this very long, but each and every week, I've been able to make money at CVS...WITHOUT $/$$ q's and so I'll be a loyal customer until they start doing stuff that's worth complaining about, like rude cashiers, or putting limiting and confusing restrictions on how you can use ECB's. I'll be taking all my free stuff and extra play money with a smile on my face!

[extechy]

I haven't bought much of anything from CVS since the Gold Emblem bottled water a couple weeks ago.

I decided to circumvent this situation. I ordered a new card. I'll report back in a couple weeks if I magically start to get new coupons.

[vickib50]

You got a check mark by your name? What are they running, a pre-school? I'd like to know more about this "check mark" thing.

[couponaddicted10]

I just don't need/want to any more. So, even if they become more stringent with the extracare program, oh well. I'm at a place now where I could care less.

I agree... I also find it less stressful to put as little 'into' the program as possible. I put very little in, so if I do have difficulties, or can't find items, I remind myself that I'm playing with "their money", and have gotten loads of stuff with little investment... I see it as a scavenger-hunt like game....

[rebate_queen]

I am starting to think this way, but not so much because of the lack of $/$$ coupons. Of course I miss them, but I am usually able to still get good deals. I just have so many ECBs that I am having a hard time rolling them all and there just isn't anything I need at CVS that I don't already have tons of, so I am stuck I guess!