Using Register Rewards at Publix or places other than Walgreens?

[johnfdeluca]

I was at my supermarket (Publix) yesterday and there was a couponer in front of me in the checkout line. She handed over a bunch of MQs, and then some Walgreens Register Rewards. That definitely caught my eye. The cashier scanned the RRs just like the other coupons and the woman paid practically nothing. When it was my turn to check out, I asked if they accepted Walgreens RRs and they said yes. I was able to pay for my groceries with my Walgreens RRs.

What I was unclear on is if the store would get reimbursed for them...while they are technically manufacturer's coupons, they don't have an address for the retailer to submit them (but they do have instructions to the retailer about reimbursement). If my Publix Supermarket will get reimbursed for them, then I'd love to use some at the supermarket...but if not, then I don't want to bleed them when I can use them at Walgreens. But it sure is nice to know, when I am pressed for what to spend RRs on at Wags and I can't find anything I need/want, I can use some extras at my supermarket which has a huge selection of things I do need/want.

Does anyone know if the supermarket would get reimbursed for these RRs or if they won't (and just treat them as a competitor coupon and eat the loss).

[disabledvetswife]

hmmm.....I'd like to know this too. I don't want to use them if they won't get reimbursed though - that's a lot of money (I have lots of RRs)...it's not like the Albie's $5/$50 or WD $10/$50 (to me anyway).

[nrpeace17]

You are fortunate that your Publix store accepts Walgreens RR's as competitor's coupons. My area stores don't take Pharmacy store coupons at all.
It is our understanding that they may not be reimbursed for these, since there is an agreement between Walgreens and Catalina Marketing for the redemption of these coupons. I have been told personally by many Publix managers, that they won't be reimbursed for them. If they do take them they are probably taking a loss as they would for other competitor's coupons. This is the reason we only allow posting about using them as competitor's coupons at stores other than Walgreens. HTH.

[sherr717]

I only have 1 Publix in my area that will accept them. All of the one's I have now & one's I have used in the past at Publix ALL have Manu. Coupon on them & ALL have a name & address of where they are to be submitted for reimbursement. I have had a conversation with the CS Mgr. at the Pubs that accepts them & that is why she says she does, because they say Manu. Coupon & because of the address on them. I do know for a fact that a girl I went to HS with uses them at Publix in the So. Alabama area. So to me I do not think there should be a problem, why would they have the info. on them that they do & say Manu. Coupon on them if they are only to be used at Walgreen's? The only other reason I have been given at other Pubs as to why they do not take them is that have the Walgreen's "W" in the corner & Walgreen's is not considered a competitor to Publix.



HTH,

Shella

[joshmamabear]

We have a WAG store right across a SWM and the SM told me a story. The SM of WM came to him one day with a stack of WAG RRs which apparently came back to his store unpaid. He was asking the WAG SM what he can do about it. The WAG SM told him he can't help him since he cannot control his store from taking these WAG RRs. Even if they say redeemable at WAG, people will bring them to other stores because it says MFR COUPONS. Therefore, the control is at the store level. If they take it w/o knowing if they will get paid or not, they are taking the risk and might as well take it as part of doing business. Now that they know the RRs come back to them, he can give all cashiers a memo NOT to accept RRs and catalinas from other stores.

I cannot tell whether this happens to all stores. Its only when the RRs come back to their store do they realize they have not been paid.

[JenVi]

The girl at my local Wags told me that the Jewel in our town accepts their RR's but Walgreens doesn't accept Jewel coupons. I had no idea.

Jen

[johnfdeluca]

This is not my typical Publix location...My Publix won't take Walgreens coupons (of any kind). But I happened to be in another neighborhood and decided to stop in to see if they had any coupon booklets and get some .19 ruffies (just be careful how you pronounce 'ruffies' when you ask for them...I guess I called them roofies, like the date rape drug...oops!)....but I digress.

I don't want to bleed Publix with them if they are not getting reimbursed. Publix is too good of a supermarket and so many good deals to do that. And I can accumulate over $100 in RRs. So I'll stick with my primary plan which is to buy Nicorette Gum and Blood Glucose test strips (for my neighbor) with my extra RRs.

[jolly321]

My Publix will only take one RR per visit. I almost always use all my RR at Publix. I normally consider this a coupon toward meat. :)

[johnfdeluca]

I sent the following question to Catalina Marketing:
[I'll update when I get a response from them]

Greetings,

I shop at Walgreens where I earn Register Rewards Manufacturer Coupons issued by Catalina Marketing. I know I can use these Register Rewards at Walgreens. My question is this...Can I use the Register Rewards Manufacturer Coupons at other retail stores...such as supermarkets? My supermarket scans them at the checkout and they scan just fine so they accept them but I don't want to use these at my supermarket if they will not be reimbursed from the manufacturer. Can you confirm if retailers (not just Walgreens) are reimbursed for these Manufacturer Coupons (Register Rewards)?

[gctattoo]

I asked at one of my stores once. They said no. That store is now closed and I have never bothered to ask the other two still open. I doubt they'd take them either although they do take any Winn Dixie coupons.