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Let’s talk about the ExtraCare Bucks themselves for a moment. ECBs should be treated like cash with one caveat. You must use them before they expire, which is four weeks from the time they are generated. If you lose them or let them expire, you’re basically out of luck. It’s very rare for CVS to replace them or issue new ones. Trust me – I learned this the hard way.
ECBs can be used on just about anything in the store, not just CVS brand items. Items that you cannot purchase with ECBs are prescriptions, alcohol, tobacco, lottery tickets, stamps, gift cards, money orders, and prepaid debit cards, including prepaid phone cards.
When you purchase an item or items that generate ECBs, they will print when you complete all of the parameters of the deal. For example, if you have to purchase $20 worth of a product to earn ECBs, you can break your purchase up in any manner that you’d like. When you break the $20 threshold, your ECBs will print with your receipt for that transaction.
They will print in various amounts by offer. This is definitely something to keep in mind when grouping transactions, because if you purchase several of one item that generates ECBs, you may end up with a very large ECB that will be harder to roll over. Since you can use more than one ECB per purchase, you can more easily group them to pay for smaller transactions.
This brings me to another very important point to keep in mind. You will not receive change from ECBs. If you use a $5 ECB to purchase a $3 item, you will forfeit the rest. In fact, some stores won’t even allow you to use them if you are more than a few cents below the value of the ECB. You can avoid this by adding “filler items” to your transaction, i.e., sample-size items, clearance items, candy bars, gum, or alternatively, you can use the balance towards something you really need, i.e., milk, diapers, cereal, etc. This is what makes the ExtraCare Program so valuable for those of us trying to stretch our budgets.
Are you new to CVSing? Read up on the CVS for Newbies basics!!!
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{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
I always used expired CVS coupons and ExtraCare Bucks. Last week I used a $4 off $20 from December 2008. Perhaps it is just the CVS’ I go to (and they are located south of Boston) but it is worth a shot, I have heard from others they use expired ones as well. You might want to walk on the wold side and try it!
The Nooch
Mine recently let me use an expired CVS coupon. It was a $5.00 off a $15.00 purchase!
I work at CVS in Ohio, and my store will take the Extra care bucks up to 30 days after they expire. Check your store and see what their policy is. Most would take them, rather then loose customers.
So glad you all wrote this – I had my “first batch” of ones from last month, totalling $26 and they expired. I was really bummed. But after reading your posts, I called my store and they took them! Wahoo! I am in San Diego.
If the limit is 2 on a certain item and you buy one then generates an ECB can you use the same ECB to get the second item and have it generate the last ECB since the limit is 2? Very curious
Yep! You can roll ECBs at CVS in this manner.
I had bought a candle for 6.99 and get 6.99 ECB back, when I went back the next day and bought another candle w/that ECB I thought I would get back anothe 6.99 ECB back but I didnt. Cashier told me I would get it back later?
If I return something which I partially paid for with ECB’s, wil they replace the ECB’s, refund me cash for the value of the ECB’s or only refund me what I paid OOP – and therefore loosing my ECB?
Thanks
Meggy, this probably varies by store. They may reissue the ECBs, but most likely they will put the refund on a CVS gift card.
Okay so with the halloween candy buy $20 worth get $5 ECB, does it all have to be in the same purchase? I thought i didnt need anymore candy so i only bought $10 worth but now im thinking i may need more- or thats what my neighbors tell me :)
That’s one of the benefits CVS has over the other drugstores. You can spread your purchases across several transactions to qualify for one ECBs deal. At the bottom of your receipt it should have an update on how much more you need to qualify.