cvs-The Best Way to Calculate Your Total and Present Your Coupons

[DarcyDog]

Originally Posted by tuckll I am trying to catch on. I don't know why I am have difficulty understanding. Recap. The first time I use my card, I will earn ECB, so I will have to pay out of pocket. Then the next time I can use my ECB's? Then I need to watch how I give my coupons to the cashier? I am amazed by all the free stuff or low priced receipts everyone is getting. Help Me, Please.

Let me piggyback on these questions with my own. I have no ECB's, so I will be totally OOP on my first transaction. If I split my stuff into two transactions, will I be able to use the ECB's from my first transaction immediately on my second one?

[seedlady]

Originally Posted by Thuyle The answer is YES, with the exception is that you don't use the same ECB for the same items. For example, you can not use the ECB for 2 Smart Rinse bottles in the first transaction and pay for another 2 bottles in the 2nd transaction. Because if you do that, then you will not receive another ECB for the 2nd purchase. Hope this makes sense. I just start doing this since begining of this year...

excuse me, yes you can. you could buy one smart rinse, pay for it, and use the ecb to buy another smart rinse, and use that ecb to buy a third smart rinse, then use THAT ecb to buy your fourth smart rinse, and leave the store with 4 bottles, and the final ecb, for the full purchase price. and if you have coupons for each one, you can buy something else each time, for the amount of the coupon- if you had a dollar coupon, each time you bought the rinse, you could also buy any one item from the dollar area, and the whole thing would be free.


i have "series bought" colgate, and qtips, and razors, and softsoap, and shampoo, and...............

[upinthetreetops]

Originally Posted by vizionheiry I did my first scenario today. I just looked at my receipt. Even though I gave her my CVS coupons first, she rang them up last. I even separated them. Should I speak with the manager about this next time? Also, I didn't do the Johnsons scenario right. I still have 8.50 to purchase. When I do buy $$ get $ ECBs back, is the initial price based on the pre-coupon price or post-coupon price? It is ridiculous that sales people are so crazy about ringing up coupons in their order. It's not as if these folks earning minimum wage benefit from what I have to pay.

Why don't you try dealing it with yourself first? What's ridiculous is how many people around here want to run to the manager/DM/CS over every little issue. Would you want your boss called over such simple little things? Without having the other person try to solve it another way first? Hand over your coupons one at a time or in batches grouped the way you want them used (all man Q together, then all ECBs together). If they won't scan them until you have handed them all over run as fast as you can to the manager.

However it might not help. The manager at one of my stores is the one who wants to see all coupons and scan them in his preferred order. He must have trained his employees that way too because I have noticed that some others in that store, and only that store, do the same thing. I guess that's when you call CS.

[ayenbe]

Originally Posted by vizionheiry 1. I did my first scenario today. I just looked at my receipt. Even though I gave her my CVS coupons first, she rang them up last. I even separated them. Should I speak with the manager about this next time? 2. Also, I didn't do the Johnsons scenario right. I still have 8.50 to purchase. When I do buy $$ get $ ECBs back, is the initial price based on the pre-coupon price or post-coupon price?

1. The best way to control the transaction is to hand over your ECBs and coupons one at a time - none get skipped, no question as to what has been scanned and what hasn't. If you aren't comfortable with that, hand them over in small batches - such as all ECBs first, then wait, hand over coupons, then wait. If they refuse to let you pay your bill with your money in your order, ask to speak to the manager. In a *non-confrontational* manner, ask what their policy is on coupon redemption (in front of said cashier). If it is still an issue, get the number for the District Manager and give him/her a call to voice your concerns.

2. Spend $x Get $y back is based on PRE-coupon prices.

[cpaige]

Originally Posted by RutgersKittyn Great thread...it adds a whole new dimension to the CVS "game"! Although specific to NJ, I hope this can help a few people out. It's a great, detailed list of "commonly found" items, and whether they are taxable or exempt (starts on Page 6): http://www.nj.gov/treasury/taxation/.../sales/su4.pdf I found this on the State of New Jersey Division of Taxation's website, under their FAQs. I assume most states have a similar website, so maybe that would be a good place to start looking!

THANK YOU SO MUCH!! I saved it so I can go back and check it when needed. I'm still confused as to how to hand in all the Q's and ECB's for NJ though. My brain hurts!! lol

[seedlady]

Originally Posted by lexinkalebsmommy 2 questions: 1. Why don't you give ECB's last? I understand that Man Q take care of tax(most of the time). But if your using ECB's to pay the rest, why not give them last. Is this why you want to know how much you are spending before you get the register?? 2. DO you get 'change' back on a ECB. meaning if you have $1 ECB and you needed .39 do you get the difference or is it a loss?

answer 2 first, because it's easier- no change. if you spend a 20 dollar ecb on a pack of gum, too bad, so sad. they "throw away " the rest of the value.


now to question 1. we like to use the manufacturer's coupons last because we pay less that way.

the ecbs remove tax, but the manu can actually PAY the tax.

it only matters when you are keeping very close to zero. when you first start, i'd recommend just holding back one or 2 coupons to use at the end.

[poetangel]

Originally Posted by luckimomma FWIW- Went to CVS yesterday. DH handed my coupons to cashier, before my ECB's. I had kleenex, excederin, candy & Just for Men. $13.24 in taxable items (no medicine tax). (@6% = $.79). Figured what the heck. My total after coupons was $12.82. Handed them a $12 ECB, figuring I'd need to pay the $.82. Nope, my OOP was $.10. Any guesses? I'm in FL if that makes a difference.

Yup, ECBs are store discounts thus reducing your taxable amount

[luckimomma]

Originally Posted by poetangel Yup, ECBs are store discounts thus reducing your taxable amount

So, I'm guessing the order I give stuff in doesn't matter (well, other than the $/$$ ones). That would be sooo much easier!

[thecoop]

Originally Posted by momoftrouble My question is what happens when i have a transaction where after I give my ecb's the remaining is amount is so low that my coupons will put me way into the negatives like by $3 or so? Do I just use a coupon that will cover the tax and go over into a negative a little or do I buy something else to consume all coupon value?

most cashiers will say iit is negative and you have to get the amount positive. So I just start ading candy bars until it is in the plus column.

[specialk1st]

Originally Posted by SaraO This is exactly what I've been looking for!!!! I should know, but what items are NOT taxable?

Visit this site & click on your state: www.SalesTaxReference.com