[quote=cuzisaidso;211637]
Even if you disregard the $71.76 in products you can see that its worthwhile because for $3.46 you now have $25.49 to spend on almost anything else in the store. Now you can buy those items that you do need/want but, don't spend them all. You'll need to save at least $10 in ECB's so that you can roll and grow them. /quote]
I'm an accountant,
so forgive me for analyzing this example to death! I wanted to understand this example because it is key to understanding CVS. Here is what I gleaned:
1. The 7 trips are important to end up with a smaller and more manageable $ of ECBs ($25.49); otherwise you would end up with $57.79 if it was done in one transaction. It is much easier to roll $25.49 in a month without the risk of ECBs expiring.
2. Even if all this product was stuff you did not want, you are really up $22.03 (the ECBs are higher ($25.49) because you paid $3.46 OOP).
3. Where did the $22.03 come from? $8 from $/$ coupons; and $14.03 from coupons which was not needed to offset product cost. In other words, you did not get full ECBs back on every product. Total Qs used were $28, but you used $13.97 to offset product cost.
4. If all this product is stuff you do not want, you are ahead because you are using coupons you would not use at discount stores (because it is harder to get overage at a discount store merely from a coupon), and in addition, you are getting $/$ coupon benefit. [I am ignoring consideration of giving stuff to family members or charities for purpose of this analysis.]
5. If all this product is stuff you want, I think you need to consider if you could do better elsewhere. If the ECBs are equal to the cost, that's a no brainer. CVS is the best deal (even if there is the same deal at RA or WG with a full rebate due to sales tax explained below). If the ECBs only partially offset the cost, I look to that net cost and compare it to the lower prices at other stores. [For this reason, I keep a price book of normal/sale prices (not taking into account rebates or coupons)]. I view my ECBs as cash, and I never waste them on overpriced items at CVS where that net amount is lower at another store. I would do this only in an emergency (i.e. an ECB was expiring!)
6. But the $/$ coupons are an important consideration at CVS. A $15/$75 coupon used every week would offset $780 of product cost annually.
7. I find all the big 3 drugstores (CVS, RA, WG) are about 40-60% overpriced compared to BJ's, Target, or Wal-Mart. So, it is only the ECBs, the $/$ coupons, the rebates, and limited sales that make it worthwhile to shop at any of these drugstores.
8. You could buy stuff at RA or WG that you don't want and combine it with a coupon if there happens to be a full rebate and get some overage, but on a smaller scale, unless you have unlimited coupons and can do all the deals. [I am not operating on that level. I don't mind building my stockpile a little slower.] But you will not be able to have your pre-ecb price build up to an amount (say $50) and use a $10/$50 coupon to increase your savings by $10. That would be a lot of overage at RA or WG.
9. Reduction of sales tax is one other important reason to shop at CVS. At CVS, ECBs operate as a store discount and serve to reduce the amount subject to sales tax (true in a lot of states, maybe not all). At RA and WG, you have to pay sales tax on the pre-rebate items. For example, if I purchase an item at CVS for $8.99 and happen to have an ECB for $8.99, there is no sales tax...and you owe nothing. At RA and WG, you purchase an item for $8.99, pay sales tax of $.45 (5% in VA), and apply for a rebate of $8.99. Sales tax can really add up!
9. I find CVS a little stressful because of the risk of ECBs expiring. Of course it helps to get a sneak peak a week or two in advance.
10. Of course RA and WG are a hassle to pay in advance and apply for the rebate.
11. Bottom line: CVS is unlike the other drugstores (RA and WG) because I think it has more free after ECB deals in a month compared to the free after rebate deals at RA and WG and has (in the past) allowed $/$ coupons. Hopefully this continues.
Of course I do take advantage of all free deals wherever they are for things that I want.
But I definitely take advantage of more deals at CVS for things I don't want in order to roll my ECBs (to push out the expiration date), to build up to take advantage of a $/$ coupon, or to get overage from a combination of ECBs and coupons. The items I don't want can be donated, given to family members as gifts, or sold at garage sales (further helping my budget).
I hope this helps someone. I have read other newbie posts discussing the reasons to buy things you don't want. I can see the reason for this at CVS.
Re: CVS For Rookies 101 
seedlady, in so. cal
You guys make it so much easier!
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