CVS or Duane Reade? Which Chain DrugStore is the Best?

I'm a Drugstore Junkie. I live in NYC, and we have many Drugstores that offer the same products, and offer good deals.

My top three are CVS, Duane Reade, and Rite-Aide. I have several of all of the mentioned in walking distance.

Which one gets my loyalty?

The one that is the best.

Rite-Aide is, okay, but any specials are only "mail in rebates'. Too much hassle.

The two big guns in the chain drugstore world are CVS and Duane Reade. Both offer store cards, that basically offer discounts by just using the card when you purchase anything.

I have three CVS stores in my direct area. I have two Duane Reade stores in my neighborhood. I also have three Duane Reade near my job. So, as far as location and convenience - they are equal.

Both CVS and Duane offer a 'rewards' system. When you sign up you can get a card to track your purchases and gain rewards with each purchase.
Which one is better? Which drugstore has the best deals?

CVS came out with ECB (Extra Care Bucks). Nice name. Basically, it is saying - CVS cares, and we will give you some bucks when you shop with us with the card.

I have my card on my key chain, so I never leave home with out it. I always use it at CVS even for the smallest of purchases. CVS ECB has a quarterly incentive. Get back 2% on all your purchases. That might not sound like alot of money, but any money back is money in your pocket - or to spend. CVS ECB can only be spent in CVS. They are printed on your receipt, like a coupon. The Extra Care Bucks act like cash, so you can buy anything you like.

Here's where things get great with CVS ECB,- they have weekly offers where you can buy a product and also get back $ in the form of ECB.

Some examples are: Buy a certain toothpaste for $X, and get that same amount back in ECB. It's FREE. Buy $15 of a certain name brand, and get $5 ECB back - so it's only actually $10. And if you use coupons, it's much cheaper. Many other bargains will show up on your receipt after a purchase. You might get a coupon for $3 off of $15, Or a receipt coupon for money off on products you normally buy.

Here's the nice deal with CVS Extra Care Bucks, you get them on your receipt - it's like store money. In the past you had to wait for credit, now it's automatic. You bought an item that gives ECB $, you get that right away. You use them to buy other ECB deals - your rolling them over. You basically are getting things for free or real cheap.

You do need to watch the expiration dates. Use them before they expire.

Another problem is that when they have a great deal in their circular, many times the product is not in stock.

Duane Reade also has a reward program. I also have their card on my key chain. ( both offer credit card size reward cards, buy the key chain one is the best).
Duane Reade seems to have lower prices, in general. So, for me, if I'm just going in there to buy a Snapple, it's a better price. They have great sale items.

The reward program is based on points. You spend $100, ( in a year) you will get $5 to spend in the store. They also have an expiration date on when it could be used. I know I earned $5, and missed using my $5 reward by a day. I was not happy.

Duane Reade will often offer DOUBLE the points on certain products. That is an incentive. They are also making their offers more like CVS, If you buy $X of a product, you will get $X of points added to your account.

CVS is higher priced in general. Duane Reade has better sales and overall prices. But if your a frugal shopper and want the best deals, I believe CVS is the way to go. Just shop wisely. It might be tempting to buy something you really don't need - oh but it's cheap or you get ECB.
My game plan is to stock up when the bargains are good.

The Drugstore WARS are only beginning. They are fighting for us to shop and offering us deals. We deserve those deals. Why not learn to take advantage of them. With CVS I get easily, $3 a quarter of the yr, $12 bucks back to spend just because I shopped there. With Duane Reade, I only got $5 back, and it expired before I could use it. That is lousy that they had such a short expiration date, for a reward that was open for a year to receive.

CVS is the WINNER in my book. If your frugal and want the best deals. CVS offers them. You need to shop wisely, and be aware of the sales and ECB offerings.