How to Roll Register Rewards at Walgreens

Walgreens is a national pharmacy chain with locations in all fifty states as well as in Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico. With over 7,300 locations in operation, it is likely to find one near you. If you have a Walgreens in your neighborhood, learning how to roll register rewards can turn into a great money saver for you.

To roll register rewards, you simply have to find a couple items where the store is offering a register reward equal to the price of the items. For instance, recently Walgreens offered a $3 register reward on a can of Skintimate or Edge shaving creme that cost $2.99. This was a great item to roll with the Colgate toothbrushes that earned a $3.50 register reward and cost $3.49. In some stores, the toothbrush was $3.29.

To successfully roll register rewards on these items, buy the Skintimate for $2.99 in the first transaction. Once you've paid, the Catalina machine will spit out the register reward for $3. Next, buy the toothbrush for $3.49 and use the $3 coupon off the price. You'll have only to pay the $.49 plus tax. Not bad. You'll get $3.50 back as the register reward.

This is where rolling register rewards gets fun. You're ready to buy another Skintimate, but the price of the item is below the register reward amount. You need to find a $.50 filler to complete the transaction. Fortunately, Walgreens has lots of low price items you can use for this purpose. Quite often, they have rolls of toilette paper that are $.50 a roll with the Walgreens coupon in their current ad.

You may also choose a slightly higher priced filler such as the 4.6 ounce size of Colgate Cavity Protection toothpaste that is regularly priced $.99 at Walgreens. Colgate often distributes coupons for $.75 off any toothpaste. With two of those coupons you can use two of these tubes of toothpaste as filler and pay only tax on the purchase.

Keep in mind that you are still one penny short of the register reward amount, but your cashier may be able to adjust the Colgate coupon down. Some Walgreens may even give you the cash back. Your mileage will vary. If not, forget the toothpaste coupons for a moment and buy one tube on that order. Your out of pocket will be under $.60 with the tax and you'll get another $3 register reward for your next purchase.

Some Cautions

Allow Plenty of Time

Rolling register rewards like this can go on forever. It's best not to irk the cashier or the customers who get in line behind you. Doing either can turn this into a very unpleasant experience. When you go to Walgreens with a plan to roll register rewards, make sure you have plenty of time. This way, it won't stress you out to allow other customers to go ahead of you even if you are between purchases.

Be Appreciative

Let your cashier know how much you appreciate him or her for being patient with you. Rolling register rewards can take some time and you don't want the person to be cross with you. It'll make this Walgreens experience much more unpleasant.

Leave Some Behind

Don't go into Walgreens with the intention of cleaning off their shelves of the products for which you're rolling register rewards. Even though Walgreens won't lose any money on your purchases, it's simple courtesy to other shoppers. Plan how many of the items you'd like to get in advance and shop accordingly. Keep in mind that you may need to adjust the number down if that particular Walgreens isn't very well stocked when you get there.

Plan Ahead

If you know a sale is coming in advance, you may also ask the manager to order the product specifically for you. This way you won't be in danger of clearing Walgreens' shelves and it'll also tip the manager off that he may need to have more of that item in stock for other shoppers. It's a win-win.

Be Pleasant During the Unexpected

There are still some kinks in the register reward system so there is a chance that a register reward may not print like it was supposed to. Don't get into an altercation with the cashier over the missing register reward or demand to see the manager. Simply purchase the cheaper of your items outright and start the ball rolling again until you've completed your planned purchase. When you get home, call 1-888-8COUPON with your receipt for the item that didn't print the register reward and give them the information. They will mail the register reward to you so you've lost nothing in the end.

Understand the System

Make sure you know that register rewards do not print when you use one to buy an item from the same corporation. For example, if you were to use the register reward you received for buying the Skintimate on another can of Skintimate, the register reward will not print on the second purchase.

Bringing the Roll to a Close

If you are ready to end your transactions, buy the same product with the register reward you received from a like product. This way you won't have to worry about the register reward expiring before you can use it. If, however, you plan to return to Walgreens before the expiration date, write the name of the product on the register reward and tuck it away some place safe.

Sometimes the item name is listed on the register reward, but if it's not, you don't want to lose track of the manufacturers and use it on another product from the same company if a new register reward deal crops up in the future. To find out which products you can safely roll register rewards between, visit the Walgreens forum at AFullCup.com. One helpful poster has compiled a list to help you keep everything straight.

Forum Post: http://www.afullcup.com/forums/walgreens/206601-where-use-those-rrs-list-products-company.html

With these tips in mind, you'll become a pro at rolling register rewards in no time.

Here's a sample of what you can do by rolling register rewards:
(12) Colgate Cavity Protection Toothpaste [$.99 each, $11.88 total]
(8) Colgate Toothbrushes [$3.29 each, $26.32 total]
(6) Skintimate Shaving Creme [$2.99 each, $17.94 total]
(4) Scunci Ponytail Holders [$2.00 each, $8.00 total]
(2) Packets of Barrettes [$.40 each, $.80 total]

The total out of pocket was $15.20!

Happy Shopping!