Rite Aid/Save-A-Lot test area

[loaslaen]

Just thought I'd start a thread about the new test area so people in that area could post their experiences and questions and others could see what may be coming to their area if this starts to take off in other areas as well.

[loaslaen]

From what I've seen, the makeover basically left two front to back aisles which contain HBA items and candy and the rest of the store is a grocery store, not including the pharmacy in the back. Produce and meat at the front, boxed and canned items in the middle and refrigerated and frozen items on the side and towards the back.

I actually found some pretty good deals compared to the grocery store:

1 cucumber .59 compared to .88 at grocery store
bananas .39/lb compared to .59/lb at grocery store
3 lb bag of red apples 1.99 compared to 2.99 at grocery store
Duke's mayo 2.99 compared to 3.39 at grocery store

saltines .89
64 oz apple juice .99
canned tuna .55
hot dogs .79

This is just a few items I picked up along with some others that I didn't list. I also wrote down a few prices of things I didn't get to compare prices. Milk was 2.99 compared to 3.39 at the grocery store. If these prices stay the same, then it seems like a good place to get some of the items cheaper when there aren't sales at the grocery store. News articles state that prices will be about 40% cheaper than in the grocery store.

I don't know where the stores stand as far as accepting coupons. I don't know where they stand with the current Single Check Rebate, Wellness Program,+up rewards, etc...either. I haven't seen any sales ads for these stores and I didn't see anything in the store and was in a hurry so didn't ask any questions.

As far as the food, they do carry some national brands as well as store brands. I noticed El Monterey burritos, Fast Fixin Chicken as a few that I recognized.

I'm looking over a brochure that I did pick up and it does say:

Earn up to 20% off on all drugstore items for an entire year by simply filling prescriptions and using our wellness+ rewards card.
***please note that the wellness+ card is not valid on grocery items.

So since the stores are now 75% grocery, that is going to scale down the savings and items that count toward rewards.

The checkout area in my store was also changed to have 3 grocery-style checkouts with the conveyor belts. The store basically looks like a mini grocery store with a pharmacy in the back so they really don't fall into the CVS/Walgreens type pharmacy anymore at all. Individual stores may vary in size and setup, but this is just an idea of what is happening.

[tori729]

I posted this in another thread, but I heard that the ad is indeed way different and it doesn't have the same deals as the regular Rite Aid. Which makes sense considering what you said. Sucks b/c the closest Rite Aid to me is now a combo store.

[loaslaen]

Just checked and next week's ad is online. The ad runs Wed, November 3-Tues, November 9, so it looks like they've changed when the ad begins to compete with some of the local grocery stores as well. The ad lists the food deals as well as Rite-Aid deals that have +UP Rewards. So it does look like there will still be rewards to earn.

I just compared next weeks RA/SAL with regular Rite Aid ads and there's a few items that are +UP Rewards at both , but they run cheaper at the RA/SAL. some of the other sales are similar and run cheaper at RA/SAL as well. For example:

Pantene- $2 +UP WYB (2) Pantene Shampoo, Conditioner, or Stylers at $3.50 (RA)
Pantene- $2 +UP WYB (2) Pantene Shampoo, Conditioner, or Stylers at $3.00 (RA/SAL)

Pampers- $3 +UP WYB Pampers Big Pack Diapers at $19.99 (RA)
Pampers- $3 +UP WYB Pampers Big Pack Diapers at $17.99 (RA/SAL)

Dove- $2 +UP WYB (2) Dove or Caress Bath Bars 4 pk., or Dove Body Wash 12 oz., at $5 (RA)
Dove- $2 +UP WYB (2) Dove or Caress Bath Bars 4 pk., or Dove Body Wash 12 oz., at $4 (RA/SAL)

Duracell- $1 +UP WYB Duracell Batteries AA or AAA 10 pk., 9V 2pk., C or D 4 pk., at $4.99 (RA)
Duracell- $1 +UP WYB Duracell Batteries AA or AAA 10 pk., 9V 2pk., C or D 4 pk., at $3.99 (RA/SAL)

Suave- Suave Hair Care 22.5 oz., $1.50 (RA)
Suave- Suave Hair Care 22.5 oz., $1.00 (RA/SAL)

Always- $1 +UP WYB (2) Always or Tampax at $5.50 (RA)
Maxi Pads 20-48 ct., Always Liners 68-80 ct., or Tampax Tampons 40 ct., excludes Pearl
Always- Always or Tampax at $4.99 (RA/SAL)
Maxi Pads 20-48 ct., Always Liners 68-80 ct., or Tampax Tampons 40 ct., excludes Pearl

[Ilovemyboys]

I am also in the test area. I am not a big fan of the new store ( and have told them so). I swore I would never step foot in the store however I went today to get the huggies deal. I found out there is no limit ( so far) on the UP's. I got 4 pack of huggies and 4 ($3) Up Rewards. So that is a nice thing. I am not sure how long that will last but I will take it for now!

[tori729]

I'll have to look at the Huggies deal. The last one wasn't included in the combo stores. It seems like there are LOTS of combo stores around here! (Greenville area)

[loaslaen]

The ad for the combo stores shows
Huggies 7.99 - 3 UP+ = 4.99

while the regular RiteAids are 8.99 -3 UP+=5.99. Of course, it's a better deal when you add coupons to the mix as well.

The ad ends on 11/16 though, so only a couple of days to get in on it.

[tori729]

Thank you thank you for that info! Hope I can still print some Huggies qs since the last ones I printed for the RA Huggies deal expired on the 11th. Reps to you!