Back in April, several trade publications reported that Walgreens had finally announced a rollout date for the end of its Register Rewards program.
(Here’s one from Retail Info Systems News: Walgreens Plans Q3 Launch for New Customer Loyalty Program)
Walgreens’ Bonus Points program has been in the works for nearly two years, and last year Walgreens tested it out in some areas of the country. Instead of Register Rewards, buying certain items featured in the ad result in points being added to your Walgreens loyalty card. One thousand points (1,000) equals one dollar in savings, and you needed to accumulate at least 5,000 points ($5) to spend them on something else at Walgreens.
As a coupon shopper, I’m less than thrilled — I much prefer the “use as cash now” Register Rewards, or CVS/pharmacy’s Extra Care Bucks, which again can be used as cash in the store again right after you receive them. Rachel over at Mashup Mom has an excellent post up outlining the changes, with some images illustrating the way that the new loyalty rewards will work.
But under the new Bonus Points system, buying the same razor at $8.99 generates 500 Bonus Points, which only results in a .50 reward.
Rachel has some additional examples with ad scans on her site, none of which are likely to make you any more excited about these changes, unfortunately.
CouponClipper says
…I’ll bet they lose a few. They’ll lose me for sure.
I’ll have no reason to shop with them anymore. Everything will be cheaper at Walmart.
nix12618 says
Once again a JCP move! I always liked CVS program much better than Wags anyway.
Hey, am I the only one who didn’t know this……when I tried to work a recent “spend $15 get $5 RRs” promotion at Wags, it didn’t print the RR as promised after I bought five $3.00 items. When I asked the store manager she said that it was because I really didn’t spend $15, I spent $14 with the coupon. I didn’t realize that it was the amount AFTER the coupon not before. Does CVS do this? I don’t seem to recall running into this before with their promos. To me this was a ripoff.
CollegeCouponer says
RR’s are ending? Do you think the Mayans were right?
hwendt12 says
I GUESS the bright side is that I’ll have one less store to ‘run to’ each week-my DH will be happy about THAT! It is a bummer, though-I’m pretty much in agreement with the others. I only go there for the RR stuff or free after q (hope THAT doesn’t change, too!) It’s really getting more complicated these days-booooooo! :(
Supermom10 says
Looks like I may not shop at Walgreens anymore… I usually went to get an RR and then use it! I am liking CVS more and more….
Cheapolak says
well, at least it makes me a little less bummed that jewel won’t be accepting them any more…
saver21 says
I’m sad to see Walgreen’s Register Rewards program go. I actually shop at Walgreen’s way more than CVS because of the RR deals. I don’t know what I will do now. :( Not liking the changes.
someonehastobethegoodguy says
Well this will slow down the shelf clearing of “money makers” and also stop supplying the flea marketers with free merchandise to sell.
It will even help with the IRS because the flea marketers are writing off “retail” prices of the items they can’t sell. They average $18 per $100 claimed “donation”. Not bad for things they got for free?
For a while WG scammers were placing their credits, returned items,and scammed RR items on gift cards. This was a multi step process that they rolled and worked until they were able to purchase large electronics.
I mean when WG had people in the parking lots sleeping to be there at opening time, then changing clothes so they can do multiple transactions? What else could they do?
Did you know that RA has scammers waiting on the delivery of adds? The adds come weeks in advance if I understood what a manager told me. They steal the entire cardboard box full before the manager even has time to pick up the box.
someonehastobethegoodguy says
Jill will you please do a story on shady couponers misusing our military commissaries?
They are working and scheming deals, clearing shelves, getting overages, then reselling the merchandise. Isn’t this a misuse of our government? I cringe when I see the deals they post and where they resell it all.
ConE says
This will speed up the checkout lanes, but I probably will be there less. The register rewards were always my main reason for going and I was guara
nteed to return within two weeks to redeem them, although very few are in my hands for that long.
Carrie77 says
Now I really want CVS to open a store in the McHenry area … the closest one is Randall and Ackman! And meanwhile, I have at least 4 Walgreens stores that are closer to me than that one CVS. Ugh.