CVS -seedlady's wagon train (a guide for newbies.)

[seedlady]

Originally Posted by wasanurse Seedlady or others: can you tell me why the meters (breeze etc. ) are so hot? i must have not kept those cpns or missed them....I wouldn't need them in my house....so do people buy them for the rebates to get free or MM? I am struggling with why I would spend maybe $20 cash to get $20 back in rr or ecbs.....is it only to roll the rr or ecb to a better week? but then why not hold onto my cash? this one confuses me..thanks for the help!

sure. i have a note on my computer to mail a coupon for 30 dollars off a monitor to a friend. he had called and asked if i had an extra monitor, since he wants to check his blood sugar a few times. i sure do- i have 7 of them sitting on a desk.


then i noticed cvs has the monitor for 14.99 in a couple of weeks. i will mail him a coupon, and he can just pick one up and pay the tax.



BUT- though he will get it for just tax- cvs will give him an extra care buck for 5 dollars!

so, he can pay $1.50 or so, and get 5 dollars. even if he didn't want the monitor, he'd make a profit.

[seedlady]

something new to discuss- back on the trading theme.

this is from a mod's view, and i want to show you where my view is different from your view.

the hcw trading policy is that all trades need to be done in the trading forum. that sounds, and is, reasonable. you can understand why- to protect both traders.



bbbb uuuuu ttttttttt, then we get into problems with raok offers, and coupon requests.

in your view, all you did is say " hey- i have 15 extra coupons for cascade- pm me if you want some, and i'll mail them right out."

beautiful, lovely, kind, eh? seedlady will be proud of you- so generous!


then, i get a report that there is TRADING going on outside the trade area, and i HAVE to send you a warning letter!

look at MY view- now i have to write a note to you, and maybe even send a warning letter and give you "points" ! and i hate to do that- i KNOW it was a generous offer- but-

and even though i don't type well, i can type "all trading needs to be done in the trading area" without even looking.

i do NOT like to issue warnings, and i do not like to issue infractions. i really don't. i get a funny feeling in the pit of my stomach when i have to press that send button. and, most of the time, i know good and well that it WAS a generous offer. nobody is mad at you, at all. but, all trades need to be done in the trading forums. period.



you are most welcome to pm someone to offer coupons- that's private. but, i do get a notice when someone asks or offers in the visitor message area. so, please keep all coupon trades, requests, and offers in the trading area.

my stomach and i thank you.

[seedlady]

Originally Posted by 4formom How do you "sneak peek" an upcoming ad? You mention up to 10 weeks in advance! Wow! That would help in planning, but I have only seen the following week preview, nothing beyond that. ???? Newbie

try this link CVS - Hot Coupon World


it has whatever we have available, in stickies up at the top.

whenever a helpful clerk hands over an early ad, one of our crack squad of typists leaps into action and types that puppy out. then the camera guy snaps a photo.....

the store manager gets a "10 weeks out" heads up, and sometimes we get to see a copy . a lot can change in the 10 weeks, but we always love to see them anyway.

[seedlady]

Originally Posted by nmeadows0101 HOw is the best way to spend a $2/10 any cvs purchase? I have $12 ECB now plus this and $1 any 3 roll of cvs papertowels and $1 gold emblem water - would it be best to use them next wk.

the 2/10 is off cvs house brands, so you might want to look at a list of them. they have between 3 and 4 thousand items that are ok to buy with this.


i used mine this week toward 3 bags of almonds, which are on sale. the next morning i saw that there were also cvs toothbrushes giving ecbs, so i would have done better with 2 almonds and one pack of tbs. oh, well.


what you can do is keep mental track of cvs things you want, or that you would be willing to try. then, whenever 2 or 3 are on sale, add them up, and figure out how much more you need to get to 10 bucks. add in small things to hit 10. they have pretzels, and single gauze pads and tissue boxes and purse pack sizes in the travel/trial area- junk like that. you just need to make sure you hit 10 in cvs brand, then you can pay only 8 dollars for them.

the paper towels have not impressed me- very scratchy. doesn't mean i won't take them if they are free, but i don't like them. the water seems to make a decent deal- i used a stack of them on clearance flavored water a few months back. do the math, and see if you can use the coupon to get water for an amount you are willing to spend for it. me, i refill bottles from my brita pitcher.

[seedlady]

Originally Posted by thankfulmom31 When I'm in the coupon database I always see "booklet" or "homemailer". Was just wondering how and where I would get these? I would assume that homemailer would be something you would sign up for on the their websites but I haven't ever received anything so maybe I'm wrong!

booklets are sometimes found in the grocery store.

homemailers are signed up for. you might go to P&G Everyday Solutions - Samples & Coupons, Articles & Tips, Tools, New Product Information and look around. they usually have some available.


(i'll click on the link that comes up and check .)

[thankfulmom31]

Originally Posted by seedlady whew! that was more work than i thought! took me 4 tries to get to the right page. but it should work now, and you can sign up, and get your own home mailers to post about. btw, in the database, did you see there is a dropdown so you can choose ONLY inserts, if that is all you are looking for? or only home mailers, if you wonder what is available? etc.

No, I never noticed the dropdown. Thanks for all your hard work and expert advice. You are so AMAZING !!

[seedlady]

this week, i want to teach you to do what i call "series buy".

this is just to explain the concept.

suppose cvs offered pencils for $.99, with $.99 back, and a limit of 3.



you might wander in, buy all 3, and get an ecb for $2.97. ok.


but, you might wander in, buy ONE, and get a .99 ecb. then use IT to pay for the next one, and use the second ecb to pay for the THIRD pack, and leave with an ecb for .99.


you do the math!

[renee_anthony]

I was directed here by seedlady in a thread where I was unknowingly asking about what is called "series buy" and I have read all 10 pages. WOW! I learned some stuff I didn't know and refreshed on items that I forgot. Now after reading I have a few questions. Here goes nothing:

1. What happened to the CVS threads that contained a spreadsheet with the match ups and prices? I have been MIA for almost 2 years and I loved those spreadsheets.

2. How in the world so some CVS shoppers get $150 in ECBs without spending extremely high OOP?

3. Where did the monthly deals go (again I've been MIA with CVS shopping for almost 2 years-my local store was run by mean not so smart people and I just quit)?

4. Is the purpose of a "series buy" to keep OOP low?

I think this is all I have for the moment. I will check back and add if another question comes up. I'll be repping seedlady for all this wealth of knowledge. You rock.

[PeachySteph]

Originally Posted by renee_anthony I thought of another question.... How do you take advantage of the Buy $xx and get $x ECB deals in order to have a low OOP? Are the deals done all at one time or do you break the deal down and purchase items needed in multiple transactions. I have not been able to ever take advantage of these ECB deals because in my opinion I would be paying too much OOP to make the deal worth it in comparison the ECBs I would get back. Maybe I'm missing something.

Most ECB deals aren't done unless they can be combined with coupons, or the item comes out free (or pretty close). If there are many ECB deals to be had (with coupons), most are split up into separate transactions so the ECB from transaction #1 can go toward #2, and so on.

[seedlady]

the spreadsheet people quit doing them, so it died a natural death. if anyone wants to start it up again, be my guest. this whole site is a compilation of volunteer efforts.

cvs changed the monthly deals over time, and they have pretty much torn the heart out of them. clipless coupons my foot.

and i think most of us don't have the big ecbs we used to have. i know i have gone form 80 to 100 at a time to 10 , 15 or 20 at a time. i can still do the deals, but it takes more work.