Tips & Tricks for Rookies (and Vets, too)

[FunnyFace]

I am new to all of this but I plan to do some heavy shopping on Thanksgiving. I worked it out to separate what I'm going to get into 3 orders to keep my oop low. Do you find that the cashiers get annoyed if you try to do so many orders? None of my planned transactions has more than 6 items. If there are more customers should I go to the back of the line? Should I just pick up all of the things that I need for the first transaction and then go back and find the rest or just grab all of the stuff and stay up at the front? Thanks for your advice, I just don't want cashiers (and/or other customers) to get annoyed...

I always let them know I have several transactions. Some cashiers just do their job and others are very friendly and excited to see the savings. If there are others that I know are walking up to check out, I welcome them to go ahead and explain it takes me awhile with my coupons and checking my receipts. They are always grateful. If a line starts to form, I just step aside and finish up after the others are taken care of, but it doesn't happen too often.

Do what you are most comfortable with. ;)

[coupon*clipper]

TY for all yout tips everyone! I've only been doing this for a couple of weeks, and I AM NOT an organized person, lol. But this is what has worked the best for me to keep me organized while paying.

Before going in, I sit down at home, write out specifically what I will need to buy for Purchase #1, Purchase #2, etc. I write this on a tiny piece of paper, for example, half a Post It note. I paper clip that tiny list to the appropriate coupons and/or ECB, and label them #1, #2, etc. Put them, in order, and off you go.

Now, while at the register, I know exactly which items to put on the counter for each purchase, and have the coupons waiting to hand over. Since the paperclip and paper are tiny, I just shove them in my jean pocket when it's been used, and I don't leave any incriminating evidence behind, lol.

HTH!

[$saver]

For people asking about paying for the sales tax...I really think that must go by the state you are in. I never get charged sales tax on free items. It used to confuse me when I saw people posting on here saying they had to pay for the sales tax in cash. So it must go by your state.

[bscabl]

I found out a couple of weeks ago (during the Viactiv deal) that if the store is out of stock they can take the numbers off of the price tag on the shelf and ring it up; you pay for it as if you got the product; they write a raincheck that says paid and you turn it in for stock when it is in stock! I was able to get all 5 viactivs using $1 coupons this way! I think this will be a big help. My manager didn't know how to handle out of stock ECB items, but there happened to be a higher up CVS guy there when I asked.

i dont know where this "policy" came from, but yea.. not policy.. in fact, its something LP would frown on..

[bscabl]

i call this the "last chance to pay full price" tag.

i dont put these up in my store, statistically they only confuse people, and cause customer service headaches, annoying the customer, and the staff.. and they help very very few.

[givprayz]

what is an ecb, i'm new at this

ECB means Extra Care Bucks. These are printed out on your receipt and spend like cash at CVS. Keep track of the dates though, because they expire, and try to use them in the most efficient manner, matching the value of the ECB to the total you spend as closely as you can. There are other threads that tell you more about using them, earning them, rolling them, ETC. I got out of this for a while, but I'm back and planning to earn about $60 in ECB's this week.

[Sandra Hinckley]

Thanks for the tips, this newbie needs them!

GB,
S

[nikki_nikk]

Newbie here too....so much to learn. Im going to have to dedicate a day for this all to sink into my brain!

[Robbied]

HELLLP. I am new to all of this and either have adult ADD or beginning Alzhiemers or BOTH. I totally do not get this.
Anyone live in the south florida area?
What do you mean when you ring different purchases? purchase #1 purchase #2 . I dont understand why..and yes, I read through the posts.

I wish there were a step by step instruction.
Well I did register my card online and ask my husband to print out the 4.00 coupon for me..computer and printer issues here at home. At least I did get that far.

Did you feel this way when you first started or am I really dense..be honest on all accounts now!

[rrpate]

we do this to minimize out of pocket expense... you use the ecb from the first transaction on the second and so on and so forth...but we also get out of line . and back in line when people come up behind.after the one trans .so as not to make people upset about the wait time... also it helps if you dont want to get all one big ecb when the limit is more than one on an item..to ring in seperate trans.. so you get little ecbs easier to use... hth!

HELLLP. I am new to all of this and either have adult ADD or beginning Alzhiemers or BOTH. I totally do not get this.
Anyone live in the south florida area?
What do you mean when you ring different purchases? purchase #1 purchase #2 . I dont understand why..and yes, I read through the posts.

I wish there were a step by step instruction.
Well I did register my card online and ask my husband to print out the 4.00 coupon for me..computer and printer issues here at home. At least I did get that far.

Did you feel this way when you first started or am I really dense..be honest on all accounts now!