1/05/2010

Well its true, Walgreens has new corporate policy...

An update on the Walgreens post and question.

This is from Becky...
"I heard back from Walgreens. I got a personal phone call and yes it's the new Walgreens policy. The cashiers are supposed to do all Walgreens coupons first and then the manufacturer coupons. The store manager told me that if they didn't follow this procedure, their job would be in jeopardy. I guess the Walgreens shopping is pretty much done for me. I don't have a CVS or Rite Aid close by so I was hooked on Walgreens."

Wow, I am really dissapointed. Walgreens seems to hate their customers, not only are the managers and cashiers (in my area) unfriendly and rude, I am sure they are thrilled that many coupon shoppers will not be shopping their anymore. Any thoughts?

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21 comments:

Scott & Natalie sherwood said...

I must be slow or something but I don't understand why giving the cashier the store coupon before the manufactures is bad. Will the man. coupon not work if given second?

E said...

Wow. All I can say is don't even THINK about buying stock in Walgreens this year. On one hand, though, it's just the reason I need to finally get me to stay away from there, in spite of my blood pressure rising every time I go in anticipating the horrible checkout process.

It'll be interesting to compare last years' profit/loss statements to this new year's, at the end of it. Hmm. I think I know which will be more in the red, assuming they stick with this new policy.

susanmw1 said...

It's kind of like the cows advertising for chick-fil-a. All the CVS employees are cheering on the Walgreen's brainiacs!

Tiffany said...

Very funny Susan!!

Natalie, at Walgreens you have to hand the coupons over in "order" to be able to use both a store coupons and a manufacturers coupon. Most times it will not work. It will beep because you have more coupons than items. When technically you should be able to combine both coupons...

Inspiring You To Save! said...

I'm not a big fan of shopping at Walgreens period. The workers in my store are nothing but rude and I always have problems with my coupons. Sometimes it takes me longer than 5 minutes to check out because they have to ALWAYS call the manager over. So to be honest I'm glad this happened because now I will just stick with CVS. :)

E said...

Well, that is very disappointing to hear! I really like my local Walgreens, so if I can't shop there anymore, I will feel pretty bad. Maybe some deals can still be gotten, even if not as many as before. I hope they change that policy back quickly.

Hillori said...

Augh!!! Walgreens is only 3 minutes from my house, and there is no CVS or Rite Aid anywhere nearby! I think we should all email the corporate office and let them know how we feel. How frustrating! Customers are a force that can cause changes if stores will listen. If not, then they seem to lose their profit margin awfully quick. I used to never go into Walgreens. It's not easy for me to shop with five young kids, but since learning of the deals from you, I did. I spent money there, and bought other things as well, but loved the great deals. Now, I will take my money to Krogers (Smith's here in Utah), Walmart, or Target, where I can get deals from them. What was Walgreens thinking?!

Amy said...

I gave up on them because my cashiers would ring things up wrong and it was always more than I was expecting to spend.

The Coupon Cowgirl said...

I just started couponing last year and had trouble with Walgreens right away. I have fallen in love with CVS due to kindness and the way they allow you to use coupons. Too bad for Walgreens!!! Maybe they should be more concerned with keeping the business of all of us couponing people!

Anonymous said...

hi
i was just wondering how your meeting with the houston chronicle went in regards to the sunday paper.
did they negotiate a deal with you, or did you find a place we can find the sunday paper for less that $2.00?

thank you for all your hard work.
lisa

Tiffany said...

YOu can still shop at Walgreens if you choose. It just makes the deals not very good. Esp. if all the stores follow the new corporate policy. It might take a little while for them to "train" everyone. Who knows. Sometimes the good deals there would outweigh the rude employees. But if the deals aren't that great anymore I have no reason to go.

My meeting with the HC is on Thursday... wish me luck!

Tanya said...

I have only been heavily couponing for about 4 months now but in that time there have been significant changes, such as with Target and now with Walgreens. It also seems daily that I hear from people that their store is "no longer taking internet printed coupons". This is alarming, to say the least!

I suspect that the unscrupulous actions of those few people out there who are using coupons fraudulently (but at a major cost to stores and manufacturors) is fueling the crackdown and new restrictions.

I have heard about the heyday of rebating in which SOME people literally were paying their mortgages with rebates by having dozens and dozens of post office boxes. The result - aside from those people going to prison for mail fraud! - was a major cutback and new restrictions on the rebating system.

Yes, I'm irritated at Walgreens but I'm also furious at those individuals who won't adhere to the rules and thus ruin it for the majority.

Anonymous said...

Thanks Walgreens! I have a Rite Aid and CVS only a few minutes away, and since you are being unfriendly to us couponers, I will save my gas instead of running all the way across town to be treated like a thief. Thanks for saving my time and gas money!

Megan said...

Today I had my worst experience ever at Walgreens! They did indeed treat me like a thief because I was getting the Reach Floss for free! Never again will I shop at that location, and I have written a LONG letter of complaint! CVS, here I come :)

Money Saving Maine-iac said...

Unless it's a flat out freebie with a manufacturer's coupon I do not shop at Walgreen's. It is frustrating to hear it works well in one store and not in another. The inconsistancy has done me in.

Katie said...

Here in Florida we've been having problems for a while with Walgreens. In fact, I've basically boycotted the store for the past 6 months. I actually went this week because I needed to stock up on the Electrosol and had a problem with them not rolling my RR with my manf coupon. (the RR actually says Manf coupon and that is why according to the manager). But....we found a way around it. As long as I have products for the amount of "coupons" I'm using, it isn't a problem...I'm just now finding the cheapest thing 10 cents or so as a filler and it hasn't been a problem for my friends who have been doing it. I'm actually going to try it later because I NEED more Electrosol. But, after these transactions, I'll be done to. I even told the Manager that I had noticed that in the past week many couponing blogs were boycotting their store because of their new policy and now I know why. She apologized and said it was out of her hands. But, they will soon close because when you can get things for free at another place without the hassle, why go back right? They suck!

Anonymous said...

I am a retail worker for a major store (not grocery) and corporate policy is such an evil. I pride myself on customer service but I also work for the company and I absolutely hate it when I have to inforce a policy that seems so customer UNfriendly and rediculous. I dread when a customer takes a corporate policy out on me. (although I have been guilty of this from time to time at other stores). I reach my frustration level quickly when met with a stupid new store policy and a poor employee attitude to match. From a retail perspective I think the best way to deal with Walgreens would be an email or letter to its corporate office and voting with your dollar. They will feel the impact.

SandS said...

I found that my Walgreens was already doing this to me for the past several weeks they would ask, "Is that all your Walgreens coupons" before they rang my manu's...I haven't had too much trouble getting the prices I expect.

Joy said...

This is disappointing, Walgreens is closer to me than CVS. But I'm going to CVS more often now.
There are a few ladies that work at my local Walgreens that are wonderful. One even keeps a folder of coupons behind the counter and if there isn't a line she will look in it and give you a coupon you may have missed.
I will say everytime I check out there with coupons it is a major event. It never goes smoothly. I think I'll just go there and buy posterboard when they have it marked down. Always need those for school.

Bernie said...

yesterday after reading all of this and feeling much dread, i still went to walgreens to do the stayfree and tabs deal. NO ISSUES. i handed the mani first and then the walgreens in ad coupon... no issues whatsoever. i was hoping not because i had a co-worrker with me showing her how to do deals. i didnt speak to that manager and check on the changes though i did ask a friend of mine who works at another wgreens. She said that there is no new directives for the staff.
i am thinking that perhaps this just didnt filter down yet. I expect that changes will be coming.
in the ATL area.

Oakley said...

So far no changes at my Wags...and I am not going to ask either! :) Got my fingers crossed!