Walgreens Vent

[Wolfsnaps]

Ok, I had quite the experience today.


Last time I went to Walgreens, I was told they had a limit to four transactions for a visit. This is my local Walgreens close to my home. I also go to a Walgeens close to my place of employment. Its demographic has more money which I guess means less couponers? (Not sure) Actually, they just built another one not too far from that one so this area has two walgreens (haven't visited the new one yet). The Walgreens by my work does not limit transactions as long as the line keeps moving.

Anyways, its my day off today so I thought I would do some coupon shopping and visit my Walgreens. I had all my transactions lined up in my cart, waited in line at the checkout (just like last time) and finally, when its my turn, I tell the woman I have four transactions. She said she was not allowed to do that. I had one person behind me and said I would do one transaction and then go to the back of the line.

She said no.

Ugh.

So I went to the cosmetic counter. The MOD team lead was there with a cashier. I said I had four transactions. She said they are only allowed to do two. WHAT?!?!?!? I told her that last time I was here, they told me four. She said now its two. I asked for the manager. She said that was here. ARGH. I complained. and then some. She gave in and said just this last time I could do this. The cashier was my silver lining. He was awesome! I do not think I will go back to that walgreens. I will just go to the one near my work. What a pain in the butt though.

OH! And rite aid was a mess too. I got a $3/15 survey coupon and guess what? They are not printing anymore and they are not going to do them anymore! I talked to someone from the company and they told me to take my survey to the store where the employees knew how to handle them. Guess what? They didn't. That was another 15 minutes of my life. LOL


So I wrote to Walgreens corporate. I don't know about other retailers, but ifsomeone complians to my store, it gets heard. SO I thought what the hay? Blows off steam anyhow. So this is what I wrote. When they contact me with some generic email of apology, I will let you know

My letter to corporate:

I will try to make this brief. I regularly visit my local store. I play by the rules and was told I could do four transactions there. I also shop at a store near my place of employment (which is in the retail industry so believe me, I DO understand). That store does not limit my transactions. However, my local store does and thats fine. I know the limit is four, no problem. I shop for an invalid friend so thats one of the reasons I break up my transactions. After spending the time to figure out how my transactions would go (and also be efficient and quick because I do not want to hold up the line and even offered to go to the back of the line even though there was no one else there) the team lead informed me I could only do two transactions. What upsets me is that I do play by the rules, I do take into account other customers' time and also the sanity of the employees. I have everything ready to go to be quick and she informs me that they decided to change things. I do not appreciate this. I understand this may be at the General/store managers discretion but it makes things more difficult for me. Why is it that at one store there are no limitations and at another store, they can change their limitations as much as they want? Makes it hard for me to keep up with the rules. Perhaps its about the register rewards? I believe these are in place to create incentive for the customer to come back to the store? If so, no worries here as I am generally a very store loyal shopper. As are all my blogger friends. If this is so we can not get many register rewards, then why not make them one per household instead? Is this a store issue or a manufacturer one where the register rewards are creating problems and need to be limited? All I want is to know the rules so I can shop accordingly. If this can not be done, I will have to shop elsewhere that has a more welcoming feeling. There are plenty of options around. I will be sure to let all my blogger, youtube, and forum friends know about this incident.
One bright light of this experience was my cashier. I wish I knew his name. He was personable, accomodating and friendly, UNLIKE the team lead MOD. I understand there are pressures and stressers but I as a PAYING customer should not be treated like I was. If there is anyway to get this back to my cashier, he deserves praise, a raise, or something. He was AWESOME!
Thank ou for taking the time to read this. I rarely EVER complain as I do understand the business. And you can not please all the people all the time. But really, there should be consistancy to your policies. I am so aggravated and I should not be on my day off from work.

[CSchunk]

Honestly, you would get a lot farther with your complaint if you were to reread before sending, and also if you were to avoid making threats.

[mom2lucas]

I agree that saying you will let all your blogger friends/Youtube/etc know can be seen as a threat. Also, speculating that the RRs is the cause will probably be viewed negatively. I've found that longer complaints are often misunderstood when it comes to terms of what the actual problem was. For example: Was it the change in policy? Was it the inconsistency in policy? Or was it the attitude of the employee? Hope this helps you formulate your complaint to get the best response. I've been in a similar situation myself with Walgreens.

[CW&M Mom]

Are you trying to get the same rr's in multiple transactions or just trying to do multiple transactions. To me there is a difference.

[Wolfsnaps]

I was just trying to ring out four times. I was doing three of the Oral B indicator deals so they had to be seperated. Then, on the fourth transaction, all the rest if my stuff and use the RR that printed for the toothbrush deal. Nothing was said about the RR's, just that I could not ring out four times. Only two times.

[Wolfsnaps]

And they were NOT busy, I should add. I am a very conscience shopper and would gladly let someone ring out had there been anyone. I want to give couponers a good name in my area

[$Saving!]

While there may be corporate policy on most things this one sounds like a store mgr policy and he/she may have that leverage.

I probably would not have argued with them but said I was confused because last time it was permisable to do 4 transactions.

Then I would inquire from corporate if they have a policy on the number of back to back transactions permitted or if store managers set their own policy in that regard.

No matter what the answer truly is, you have to abide by the policy at the moment, whether it's right or wrong which you can determine later. But getting all worked up doesn't change much and leaves the employees with an impression of you as being a hard customer to deal with. It won't help in the future should you return to that store.

A lot of stores are clamping down because of the massive amount of new coupon users who go into the stores and demand to be allowed to do as they think is acceptable. Not saying you did that, but when you argue with them, you're put in 'that group' because believe me, employees are talking about the new wave of couponers and not in the best of terms

[Jenjill]

In my opinion, we do not have to abide by the policy, and figure it out later. That feeds the problem. So all the copies of Walgreen's policies don't amount to a hill of beans when you get to the register. It all depends if the manager is in a good mood today . That doesn't seem right.
I would promptly leave all the items in the cart or better on the cashiers station and walk out.

I had problems with Walgreen also. I am new to them, have always used CVS. Much as I complain about CVS they are at least true to their policies. I finally got the clerk at Walgreen to explain how Catalinas work Spent over $100.00 Monday, not one catalina came up. I understand why, but it seems to me in reviewing the register tape, I would have gotten a better deal at CVS. My sister was with me today, now she is really short of breath and taking into account my inability to scramble the aisles, we went to look for paper plates that were on sale. Of course, we get to the spot and shelf is empty. Back to the register to ask cashier, she calls and another clerk goes in the back to get them. I find the shelves are not restocked on sale items. Sometimes they have them in the back and haven't put them out. It's a loss of time to wait till someone goes in back to bring out the item.

I would think when shelves are out of stock, they be be in a hurry to restock them. Mind you the same thing happened to me for the Maxwell House coffee 5 weeks ago. They had them just not on shelf so you have to walk more to find a clerk who is loading shelves to stop what they are doing to go get me some. She brought out exactly what I wanted not one tub more. I don't get their math. Are they afraid that if the sale items are reloaded, that someone will come in and by them all. It's not fair to the next buyer or the clerks who are loading shelves to be interrupted.

Since I have been to Walgreen twice in a week and the same issues prevail, with what is been described as far as safety, and allowing the individual store managers to make the policies up on the fly. I have decided to go back to CVS. At least I always come out of there with a ECB of some kind or a daily deal , also you are able to find clearance sale items much easier. IMHO, they are the better organized of the stores, and I also believe they have the same policies in place whatever store you go to at least even if it's only locally. Their RC never expire. I asked Walgreen about theirs today, they didn't seem to know. Hah, I talked myself right back into my old mainstay. lol

[CW&M Mom]

Walgreens corp has no policy.

I can tell you my wags only allows me one rr per item per day.

ask me the last time I went to walgreens...

[$Saving!]

There is a corporate policy but as to the number of transactions per day, that is not addressed.

You can read the policy here:

Coupon Policy Help | Walgreens