CVS Rewards, Extra Care Bucks and Coupon Programs

CVS pharmacy has an excellent customer loyalty program called ExtraCare, in which participants receive mailers featuring special coupon offers and health information. They also receive exclusive cardholder savings on select merchandise and will earn "Extra Bucks" (ECB, EBs) for purchases they make during designated shopping periods.

The Extra Bucks are not rebates but actual coupons which print out at the bottom of your receipt when qualifying items are purchased. The ECBs can then be used to purchase almost all merchandise sold at CVS with some exceptions including alcohol, lottery, gift cards, money orders, postage stamps, pre-paid cards, prescriptions, and special order Home Health Care items, including footwear. The Extra Bucks can be redeemed on purchases in-store or online at CVS.com.

Be sure to check the weekly CVS Sales and Coupon Matchup page before your next trip to CVS.

ExtraCare Bucks Step-by-Step

Apply for an ExtraCare card by visiting the CVS website and clicking on "Extra Care" at the top.

When you apply for the Extra Care card, you will see the question, "Do you wish to receive valuable offers via email?" and you should check "Yes" to receive additional coupons and special offers via the internet along with the mailer you will receive in snail mail.

At the time of purchase, give the cashier your Extra Care card so that you can earn your Extra Bucks. If you forget your card, you can give the cashier your phone number, and he or she can look up your account information.

Earn Extra Bucks Rewards Three Ways:

• Earn two percent back with every purchase in-store and online at CVS.com. Excludes purchases of alcohol, tobacco, lottery, gift cards, money orders, postage stamps, pre-paid cards, prescriptions, and special order Home Health Care items, including footwear.
• Earn one Extra Buck for every two prescriptions purchased in-store and online at CVS.com. Excludes purchases of pharmacy items paid for in whole or in part by state and/or federal health care programs and prescriptions purchased in-store in NJ and NY, and controlled substances in Louisiana.
• Your account will be updated with the above Extra Bucks rewards every three months and will print on your store register receipt, or you can visit CVS.com to print your Extra Bucks online.
• Earn Extra Bucks on select brands advertised in CVS's weekly ads. Your Extra Bucks will print on your receipt immediately following your qualifying purchase(s) and are redeemable in-store only.

ExtraBucks Rewards Tips

Combining manufacturer coupons, items from the weekly CVS sales ads, CVS coupons and rebates will help build the amount of ExtraBucks Rewards you accumulate.

Look for promotions on items that you buy for an amount that is less than the amount of Extra Bucks you will earn. It can often be accomplished by looking for "Free After Extra Bucks" promotions or by combining manufacturer coupons on your purchases.

Extra Bucks cannot be rolled over or refunded.

Using Coupons at CVS

CVS accepts the following coupons:

• CVS coupons.
• Manufacturers' coupons.
• Internet printable coupons (can refuse if coupon legitimacy is questionable)
• Competitors' coupons on new or transferred prescription drugs.

More Tips

Coupons can be used on most sale merchandise and buy-one-get-one promotions.

The amount of coupons you use per transaction cannot exceed the number of items you are purchasing. At times, it may be beneficial to include a low-priced item in your purchase for all of your coupons to be accepted. A little arithmetic will help you determine when this is worth doing.

You cannot collect money back on coupons when the coupon dollar amount exceeds the dollar amount of your purchase. However, the total should reflect that you get the item(s) for free.