How To Maximize Savings At Rite Aid and Coupon Policy

Rite Aid is a great place to shop.  Many people find it confusing and complicated, however, it is really quite simple once you learn!

First Things First:

When shopping at Rite Aid – most deals that we purchase are using a rebate in addition to using a manufacturer’s coupon.  This is the simplest – straight across explanation.  Makes sense, right? But there are a few rules, and explanations that follow.

When shopping at Rite Aid and purchasing items that you will get their Single Check Rebate (SCR) on, you will only be able to get 1 rebate per offer time period (typically 1 month).  What this means is that you will not have the ability to “stock up” at one time in that shopping trip.  However, we always get really awesome deals here – even if it is 1 pack of diapers, or 1 bottle of lotion, 1 toothpaste, 1 pain reliever,  in that shopping trip etc. We say this because most of our shopping trips we are “stocking up” on those products and typically buying in groups of six (6). It’s just that Rite Aid is an exception with their rebate items, but no less, a killer deal!

Let Us Count The Ways …… That Is To Save At Rite Aid!

1. Sale price
2. Manufacturer’s coupons
3. Single Check Rebates (SCR)
4. Rite Aid Video Values
5. In-Ad Rite Aid Coupons

Here is how to maximize those savings.  Basically, the more options above that you can combine – the better savings.  Here is our scale rating on a good deal at Rite Aid on just 1 product.

1. Getting something on sale – Ok deal
2. Getting something on sale and using a manufacturer’s coupon – Good Deal
3. Getting something on sale, using a coupon and getting an ESR – Great Deal

We typically will combine 3 (or more) of the 5 options above to warrant a Great Deal every time!

How To Combine

Here is an example from the ad:

On this page, they are showing a few examples at the bottom of products and then the rebate that would apply.  Using the lotion on the bottom left as an example, you will purchase this product for $4.99 – this is your oop (out-of-pocket). You will then qualify to get a $4.00 SCR by mail, this makes your final cost .99.

To show an example now with combining sale, SCR, and manufacturer’s coupon, you can see the top right corner of the ad with the Huggies.  In this example, they are even pointing you in the direction on of a manufacturer’s coupon. First, the diapers on sale for $9.99, then you qualify for the $3.00 SCR, finally, you can use a coupon for an additional $1.50 off – making your total on this product $5.49.  Now, your oop on this product will be $8.49 (sale of $9.99 – instant savings from your $1.50 off coupon = $8.49).

So How Do I Get My SCR?

This is the part that we love about Rite Aid – their Single Check Rebate program is soooo easy to use!

You do not have to mail anything in (there is a mail-in form in the store as an alternative, but if possible – make it easy on yourself and go on-line)!  Yea!!!  It can all be done on-line.  If it is the first time that you are going to redeem a rebate, you will need to register HERE.  Create a log-in and then just make a habit of putting the information from your receipt into the Rite Aid website.  They are going to ask you 4 easy questions about the trip – all of this information is found at the top of the receipt: Store #, Register #, Transaction # and Date.  It will automatically find the receipt and calculate your upcoming rebates! It takes just a minute!

There is one catch – you can only request your check 1 time per month during each rebate period.  Rite Aid will typically run each period about a month (verify the dates in your ads as it is not Nov. 1- Nov 31^st it is typically a 4 week period starting on a Sunday towards the end of one month and ending on a Saturday 4 weeks later).  So, if you shop the first week of the new period and have racked up some rebates, go home and enter the information from your receipt and then request your check, you will no longer be qualified to receive any more rebates for the remaining 3 weeks of the rebate period.  We make it habit to request our check towards the end of each month, then we have the opportunity to shop throughout the whole period and qualify for rebates all month long.

When you request your check – it will be 1 big check from all of the rebates combined throughout that rebate time period. This is much easier and more convenient then a bunch of little checks, which is why you can only request 1 check a month!

What Are Rite Aid Video Values?

Rite Aid Video Values is a program in which you watch different brand’s commercials – typically 30 seconds, then you can print off a coupon to use at Rite Aid on that product.  Most are high value coupons! Also, each video that you watch – you also earn bonus points that go into a cue. Once you have earned so many points, then you can also print off an additional coupon for your total purchase at Rite Aid – for example, right now, when you earn 20 bonus points – you can print a coupon for $5 off your rite Aid $20 purchase! You can use this coupon in combination with all of the above ways to save!

You can sign-up for this HERE.  You will have an account that will store all of your “earned coupons” and then you can print them – BE CAREFUL though because once you print one (1), it will disappear – so only use it when you are ready! The coupon typically expire the end of the next month.  So you have a fair amount of time to use them.  We check the ads, then go to the video library to see if any of the commercials coincide with sale items (to maximize savings) and watch 30 second commiercials, print off the coupons and take them to Rite Aid to use them.  While at the same time, building our bonus points for our Total Purchase Coupon which we will be able to use once enough points have built up!

Anyway, we hope this helps to clear confusion and to get you excited about saving TONS of money at Rite Aid.  Again, the best way to learn is to DIVE IN!!

Have Fun Saving a Ton!

The Thrifty Couple!

Here is Rite Aid’s Coupon Policy updated as of August 2010.

Rite Aid – Coupon Acceptance

To Our Valued Customers:

Rite Aid gladly accepts the following coupon types as detailed in the coupon acceptance guidelines listed below:

COUPON TYPES:

Manufacturer Coupons

·         Manufacturer coupons are found in newspapers, magazines and even affixed to products. The UPC on these coupons begins with a “5.”

Rite Aid Manufacturer Coupons

·         Rite Aid Manufacturer coupons generally appear in our weekly circular, on our website and are sent to customers via e-mail. These coupons are labeled “manufacturer coupon” and have a UPC that begins with “49.”

Rite Aid Valuable Coupons

·         Rite Aid coupons are labeled “variable coupon” and have a UPC that begins with “48.”

Internet/Print at Home coupons

·         Rite Aid will accept Internet/print at home coupons up to the equivalent value of $5.00 off.

·         A Rite Aid coupon (with the Rite Aid logo) is NOT considered an Internet coupon (even if printed off the Internet) and is therefore not subject to the $5.00 maximum.

+UP Reward Coupons

·         +UP Reward coupons are special coupons earned by a customer in a prior purchase that can be used for any nonprescription purchase with a small number of exclusions that are listed on the +UP coupon. Multiple +UP coupons can be used (subject to the printed exclusions) up to the amount of purchase before sales tax.

Buy One, Get One Free

·         We accept two coupons for the purchase of two items that are on Buy One, Get One Free Promotion.

·         We accept a Buy One, Get One Free Coupon with an item that is in our flyer as Buy One, Get One Free, meaning both items are free. The cash register will compute any sales tax due, which varies by state law.

Total Purchase Coupons

·         Rite Aid may feature total purchase coupons which discount the total purchase amount based upon meeting specific requirements. For example, $5 off a $25 purchase price threshold coupon.

·         These coupons are accepted under the following conditions:

o   The coupon is valid and in date; only one total purchase coupon per transaction.

o   Total purchase equals or exceeds $25 before tax (before any coupons are applied).

o   Coupons for individual items can also be used including another “48” coupon that is tied to an item in the transaction.

o   Provided the total of items purchased is equal to or greater than the purchase requirement, other coupons can be used in conjunction with the total purchase coupon.

ACCEPTANCE GUIDELINES:

General Guidelines:

·         Coupons must be valid and in date; Coupons cannot be exchanged for cash.

·         Register will validate coupon through scanning or keyed entry of the coupon UPC number.

·         In the event that any item’s selling price is less than the value of the coupon, Rite Aid will accept the coupon in exchange for the selling price of the item. Coupon redemption can never exceed the selling price of an item and no cash back is allowed.

·         When making a return for a product that had a coupon attached, Rite Aid cannot refund cash for the value of the coupon and cannot return the coupon that was used.

·         Rite Aid reserves the right to not accept any coupon where the validity or the coupon cannot be established.

Multiple Coupons

·         More than one coupon can be used on the purchase of a single item under the following conditions:

·         All coupons match the item being purchased.

·         The total of the coupons is equal to or less than the selling price of the item before sales tax.

·         No more than one “48” Rite Aid valuable coupon, one “49” Rir,eAid Manufacturer coupon, and one “5”manufacturer coupon can be used on a single item.

·         Rite Aid may accept multiple identical coupons for multiple qualifying items as long as there is sufficient stock to satisfy other customers within the store manager’s sole discretion.