So many people have mentioned that their CVS stores have told them they cannot issue rainchecks for extra buck items that I just had to call Customer Service and ask.
She said, yes, a customer may receive a rain check for any regularly carried item in the store that is advertised as on sale and is not in stock.
I then asked again, even if it is an extra buck item? She said yes.
I told her I had friends who were told at their stores they cannot receive them. I then asked her what they should do? She said to call them and they will contact the store and train them on the use of the rain checks.
So any of you who have been told this, try again and then call customer service. You don't want to report a store to Customer Service unless you can't resolve an issue yourself or they are really bad at customer service because CVS comes down hard on their managers. CVS is super big on great customer service.
The new rainchecks that came out about a month ago has a place for the extra bucks to be listed and the event code which is the number next to the deal in the ad. Before this some stores just wrote the final cost in and rang it up for that. If it was free after extra bucks it would ring up at $.00 which is not good if you have a coupon--you couldn't use it. It also does not help rolling extra bucks.
An example of this is yesterday my daughter was getting something and the gal just rang it up as zero. I came up just then and my daughter said, "what do I do the coupons won't work." So I explained to the cashier how it worked and told her the other assistant manager who was also on duty knew how to do it if she had any problems. My other daughter was there and said, "I know how to do it"---she had taught a new cashier the other day how to do it: the cashier turned the screen around and from what my daughter had been told by other cashiers she figured what she needed to punch to get it print the extra buck. So she walked her thru and she learned how--when my husband went up later with an extra buck rain check she had no problem. So my daughter was able to use a $2 coupon and a $4 extra buck and received a $6 Extra Buck back.
So even if they start issuing the rain checks they MAY still just ring up the item at the final price--if they do and you'd rather they do it the regular way check with customer service again.
So when you use an extra buck rain check this is how it is supposed to work. They ring it up at the sale price listed on the rc from the ad. You finish the transaction and pay just like for a normal extra buck. Then they scan the bar code on the receipt and enter the event code in the cash register and it will walk them thru issuing the rain check. Often it says code not found--then some get confused. We have been given cash back if they can't figure it out. But the one assistant manager said when it says that and she clicks the "ok" (I think that is it) but then clicks "cancel" and then it says "enter extra buck amount" and it works just fine. So it may not be a breeze at first to use them unless CS trains them totally when the contact them.
An interesting thing about these extra bucks is they are rounded up to the next dollar. So if it is $3.99 it will be $4.00. My husband picked up a drink for me once that was $1.29 get $1.29 and the extra buck didn't print and she entered the code and it issued a $2.00 one.
Maybe if you need to call CS and name the store you could give them a compliment, too, at the same time. Even if it is just that the store is neat and clean.
If you have any questions, I know I can be confusing at times, ask and I will try to answer and/or clarify.
Learn all about CVS shopping: CVS 101 Tutorial Series and visit CVS Extra Bucks Make Cents for current information.
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Comments: 33
I can honestly say, I've never requested a raincheck from CVS. The limits are usually so low and my stockpile is "healthy" so I've never felt the need to ask.
I do ask for them at Walgreens though... no limits, no expiration... it's a great deal there!
Tammy, I don't do Walgreens so CVS keeps my stockpile full so I need them--especially since there are limits.
I also have a goal to have veryl little out of pocket and so need to keep my extra bucks rolling before they expire so rainchecks help a lot. They also are great to have if you get a $5 off $30 or something like that because you can get up to $30 with them and get extra bucks back.
Oh, and CVS rain checks don't expire either, just so you know.
Thanks for the info CLR. What happens when you get a coupon that says cvs brand purchase. Like $4 dollars off $20 CVS brand. They told me it has to be cvs brand. Is that true?
Yes, if it says CVS brand it does, but I have been told by managers and have seen in the ad a list that many items are CVS exclusive and are included as CVS brands even if it doesn't say CVS. Like Cristophe, Lumene, Gold Emblem, Blade...oh, my mind is blank. My daughter had saved one of the lists from the ad, if she still has it, I will come back and add the others, there are several.
If you ever get an answer that doesn't seem right always check with customer serivce--you don't have to identify yourself or the store if you don't want to.
You may want to call and ask what all brands are CVS exclusive. They are usually well informed and helpful.
Tammy's comment made me remember: rain checks do not expire at CVS either.
Thank you so much. I am listening to you and learning.
Wow, thanks C.L.R for the explaination, that was a lot of work.
Thanks for the info. Great explanation.
Thanks CLR, this is an awesome post. I have not run into any out of stock items (with CVS bucks) at my new CVS, but if I do I will make sure to ask for a raincheck.
The manager at my old CVS was horrible, rude and the store never had anything in stock. I did call to complain, and things certainly changed at that store.
My new store seems cluttered, but so far they have had the items I needed, and I have already found out, which manager who knows his stuff.
Glad you don't have to go to the rude manager store. I have read some stories about rude managers and they don't want you getting all the deals--my manager tells others about my daughters and I and tries to tell them how to do it the best that she can.
Great that yours is well stocked. If I have the ad early enough I can have her order what we need--if there are free after extra buck deals she now just orders extra knowing we will want them and a lot of others will, too.
Customer Service will get on them and the district manager will, too, they are soooo big on customer service. I like that--great customer service.
Yes, I am happy not having to deal with the rudeness. I don't know the details, but I do know that before we moved they put in a new manager at my old store, and it was amazing what a difference it made. I noticed that they had some people come in to the store from the outside to do inventory etc., and all of a sudden things started running smoothly. The new manager was very polite and would not be rude in any way.
Thanks so much. I was told that sale items were limited to instock items and to come back later in the week when another shipment would be coming in.
Sometimes I think people make things up as they go. I do know that once the district manager was in my store and I was raving about the store and added that they are so nice to issue rain checks if they are out and his reply was, "we don't want you to have to get a raincheck, we want it to be in stock when you come in." Oops, I goofed there. But anyways, that showed me that maybe if the district manager sees rain checks coming thru too much the manager is confronted. So maybe your store wants to not use them for this or similar reasons.
My store will issue the rain check but also tell me it might be in later--but our truck day is Monday and I usually go in the afternoon, but it isn't always all unpacked yet, but it helps ensure good stock.
It is pretty rare that I get a rain check (since just about any direction I go I pass at least 1 if not 2-3 stores), and I haven't had to since the new ones came out. This is good to know though.
You sound like you are in CVS Central! Mine is 5 miles away and then there are two more about 15 miles away. Then I don't know where they are:)
Same here, it seems there are CVS and Walgreen stores on every corner!! I just need to start taking advantage of all this info. you give us!
Thanks for doing this!
Wow thank you so much. I will give a call to corporate the next time an item runs out and the manager won't issue a RC.
You're welcome, I just couldn't stand to think that you or others couldn't fully experience CVS savings because of a misinformed or unwilling manager. I decided I'd just call and ask for all my gather friends.
Thanks this is good information!
Thanks for going to all this trouble.
Great tips on making sure you're able to maximize all of your rebate options through the CVS drugstore chain CL!
thanks for the info.
Thanks for sharing this important information.
great info to know. My stores have not given me the ECB Rainchecks in the past....
Thanks for posting to Grocery Deals
wow - I didn't think rainchecks were hard to get. or needed in my CVS stores - I've never had to request one!
Boy, you sure do a lot of work for this stuff! I guess it's worth it in the long run since you get so MANY great deals. You are a pro saver for sure!!
I have never had to ask for a raincheck yet. But I will keep this in mind justin case
Thanks for the information. I had gotten out of the habit of going to CVS but after reading all of the great deals the last couple of months, and knowing I need to get my stock back up has gotten me back in gear.
Do they ever have good ECB deals based around baby items? Like the ones where if you buy a certain amount of cereal or a certain brand of beauty care products, you get X amount of ECB back...? I will be needing baby care items, and also some personal care items for myself after the baby is born, so I'll definitely be looking for those over the next couple of months.
Yes, they do baby stuff. A couple months ago it was Johnson's buy $20 get $10 or something like that and there were printable coupons. Huggies is a big one, too, with diapers and wipes included. We have gotten free stuff. I'll keep my eyes open and let you know if I see anything.
Also, have you checked Johnson & Johnson website? They often have coupons to print.
I don't remember your due date--July? Hang in there a while and see what they come up with.
good to know, thanks for the heads up
Great info C.L.R., Thank You
CVS should try a raincheck the Walgreen's way here. Walgreen's writes on the ad. Ads don't get thrown out in my house.