Official Word from Rite-Aid on Changes to The Gift of Savings Program

Here's the word directly from my Rite-Aid Corporate Mole's fingers.....

"We heard your feedback and we've changed our Gift of Savings coupon policy. To best reward you for shopping at Rite Aid, manufacturer coupons will not be subtracted from your total spend amount. Check your accounts within the next 48 hours to see your recalculated balance. We understand you have a choice of pharmacies and thank you for your continued support of Rite Aid."

That is all.....carry on......

Sluggy

The Pistaschio Nazi & Rite-Aid "Scrooge"is No More!

Ok, so she wasn't exactly the Pistaschio Nazi but I so like that episode of Seinfeld about the Soup Nazi and I just wanted to call her that.
Yes, I need a life.....

So I went to Rite-Aid last night to see if they put out the 1lb. bags of Pistaschios yet.
I heart pistachios.....

So the Asst. Manager was there and stocking the seasonal shelves.
Ugh.
Now, I KNOW she doesn't like me.......can you believe it?  Who could NOT like me?  Come on!...I am just so, so....likable! ;-)
But I like to think that it's not just me that she doesn't like...that she hates people in general!

Anyway, so I smiled real big and asked her ever so nicely if they put the "Extravaganza" bags of Pistaschios out yet.
She twisted up her face, glared at me and and snipped, "They're gone!"
And went right back to ripping a box open.....I bet she was imagining that box was my head all the while.

So because I didn't go in early on Thursday, I missed out on the Pistaschios.....*whimper, whimper*.
The Pistaschio Nazi, striking fear in my heart.
Heck, maybe I'll just refer to her as the Rite-Aid Nazi from now on. ;-)

I'll check out another R-A later today for them nuts, after I finish this post, get dressed, finish baking cookies for the band to sell at the high school play tonight and do about 15 other things first.

Here's what I bought instead at R-A last night....

3 x Dove Holiday Chocolates on sale=$8.97
2 x Hershey's Bliss Chocolates on sale=$5.98
2 x Bic Pens w/wellness disc.=$3.18
1 x Bob's Sweet Stripes  on sale=$2.88  *shhh, don't tell #2 son!*
2 x Tugaboo Diapers w/wellness disc.=$1.58
3 x John Frieda travel size w/wellness disc.=$3.57
SubTotal...$26.16

Coupons Used
1 x $5 off $25=$5.00
1 x $1/2 Dove Choc. AdPerks/VV Q=$1.00
1 x $1/2 Dove Choc. Flu Booklet Q=$1.00
1 x $2/3 Mars Choc. ManQ(12/6 inserts)=$2.00
2 x $1/1 Bliss Choc. ManQ(12/6 inserts?)=$2.00
2 x $1/1 Tugaboo diapers Q inside package=$2.00
Coupon Total...$13.00

$26.16-$13.00=$13.16
I used $13 in +Up Rewards and put the $.16 OOP on my Rite-Aid gift card.
I received $9 in +Up Rewards back(5 x $1 for each bag of chocolate, $1 for Bob's Sweet Stripes, $3 for buying 2 Bic products)
I also qualified for SCR #58($5 wyb 3 JFrieda items).
I spent $13 +Ups, got $9 +Ups back and a $5 SCR, so this transaction was a $1 moneymaker.

And in other developments....it seems Rite-Aid heard all of us customers grumbling about the way they were running the Gift Of Savings Promotion this year.
In years past, they counted any Manu Qs used as a form of payment, and thus all Qs counted toward your spending total to reach a Certificate Award of $5, $10, or $20.
This year, they were deducting all Qs you used to pay, so if you got your Out of Pocket down to pocket change after Qs, that pocket change was all that they were counting toward your Certificate Reward.
Big bummer!

I wake up this morning to find a bloggy friend & reader asking me if she should quick request her Certificate(since suddenly all her Qs in her transactions were showing in her GOS account now)before this apparition disappeared!lol

Then I checked my emails and saw that Rite-Aid had sent me an email that they went ahead and requested my GOS Certificate for me as a courtesy.
Well, thanks alot!, I thought, since the last time I looked I was barely to the $10 Certificate level.
I was hoping to try to get to $20 but heck, but not now if you've cashed me out already!!!

So I went to my account and saw my qualifying purchases had jumped from $69+ to over $340!LOLOL
Which meant I had topped out at the $20 level, so yah baby, bring on the cash out! 8-))

So if you are doing the Gift of Savings Certificate Promo, go check your account.  You might be pleasantly surprised that your Qs are qualifying now from previously Scroogey Rite-Aid.
Bless us all, everyone....

THIS TRIP
Total Spent....$.16 (put on free Rite-Aid gift card)
Value of Items....$40.37
SCR qualified for...$5.00(John Frieda)
Other Rebates earned...$0.00
Gift Cards earned....$00.00
+Up Rewards earned...$9.00
+Up Rewards spent...$13.00
+Up Rewards left to spend....$48.00

GRAND TOTALS--December Rebate Period so far

Number of Transactions......11
Total Spent....$4.16  put on free Gift Cards/Certificates so ZERO OOP
Value of Items purchased....$459.84
SCR qualified for....$10.00
Other Cash....$0.00
Gift of Savings Reward...$30.00*both me and BIL account*
Additional Rebates....$0.00
Additional Non-Cash Rewards....$0.00

+UPS Totals for Dec. SCR period
+Up Rewards carryover from 12/8.....$52.00
+Up Rewards spent....$66.00
+Up Rewards earned....$99.00
+Up Rewards left....$48.00

Sluggy

What is Sluggy "Buying" at Rite-Aid This Week?

Maybe I should make that post heading "What is Sluggy Taking Home from Rite-Aid This Week?" instead.  Saying "BUYING" seems a little misleading to me. lol
Or maybe "What is Rite-Aid Giving Sluggy This Week?"
I just can't choose..... ;-)

Had to brave the bone-chilling cold and make a trip to Rite-Aid after dinner tonight.
And I finally got my Christmas tablecloth out too! 8-)

My Transaction

2 x Pot Of Gold Chocolates on sale $3.99=$7.98 *
2 x Revlon Nail Polish on sale BOGO50%=$7.18 **
1 x Airborne on sale=$4.99
1 x Chloraseptic Spray on sale=$3.99 ***
2 x Tugaboo Diaper packs w/wellness discount=$1.58
SubTotal....$25.72

Coupons Used
1 x $5 off $25 purchase Q=$5.00
2 x $1/1 Pot Of Gold Chocolates(1ManQ/1 IPQ)=$2.00
2 x $3/1 Revlon Nail Polish wellness Q emailed to me=$6.00
1 x $1.50/1 Airborne IPQ=$1.50
1 x $2/1 Airborne Wellness IPQ=$2.00
1 x $1/1 Chloraseptic Spray IPQ=$1.00
2 x $1/1 Tugaboo Diaper items inside previous diaper packs=$2.00
 Coupon Total...$19.50

$25.72-$19.50=$6.22

+Up Rewards used...$6.00
OOP......$.22 put on free Rite-Aid gift card

Received $10 in +Up Rewards(2 x $2 Pot of Gold, $4 Revlon wyb2, $1 Airborne, $1 Chloraseptic)
"Spent" 6+Ups, Got 10+Ups back=$4 moneymaker.

*It was a treasure hunt this evening trying to find these boxes of chocolates.  Supervisor said they were out and the truck is due in tomorrow(truck usually comes on Thurs/Fri.)and they might get more in(though I've heard reports that the warehouse is empty of this item already).  These boxes of Hershey's choccies are not a regularly stocked item, they are seasonal so I don't have much hope that there will be anymore showing up on store shelves.  If you find some, buy them!
I did find 2 boxes however that someone had hidden behind larger different brands of chocolates.  No doubt they were coming back later to buy them.hehehe

**I used 2 of the $3/1 emailed Wellness Qs, one for each bottle.  Some stores let you use 2, some don't so YMMV.

***This item was NOT in the sales flyer here this week but it IS on sale and giving a $1 +Ups and qualifies for SCR #82.  You can also buy the LOZENGES AND GET ANOTHER $2 SCR!  The lozenges are #81 and they are also on sale for $3.99 and giving the $1+Ups.  Limit of one of each type of Chloraseptic product.  I didn't realize both items had separate rebates until now.  I guess I'll be heading back to Rite-Aid later this week. ;-)

And the Colgate Toothpaste that's on sale this week and giving a $2 +Up?  My store is already out and it's only Monday!
Argggghhh

There isn't a whole lot I want this week from the sales flyer.  Maybe some more nail polish for Daughter's stocking(sshhhh, don't tell!!)  This week, as will be most weeks leading up to Christmas, the sales are all about gifts and seasonal stuff like lights, decorations, candy/food and gift sets.  I don't necessarily "need" any of that stuff.  None of my +Ups expire at the end of this week so don't have to roll any.  The +Ups you get this week(unless they are month or longer deals)will expire on 12/25.  Keep that in mind so you don't end up forgetting to roll them within the next 2 weeks.

I have managed to get to the $5 level with the Gift of Savings Promo.  Not because of how much(or rather how little)I've spent OOP.  But because I have found some receipts outside in the parking lot that were thrown away.

I call it my community anti-litter campaign.  I am simply beautifying my town and I'm starting with the parking lot by Rite-Aid. lolol
And if that doesn't get me anywhere, I am not above getting a tin cup and holding a sign down by the traffic light that says, "Will work for Rite-Aid receipts."


THIS TRIP
Total Spent....$.22 (put on free Rite-Aid gift card)
Value of Items....$46.44
SCR qualified for...$2.00(Chloraseptic)
Other Rebates earned...$0.00
Gift Cards earned....$00.00
+Up Rewards earned...$10.00
+Up Rewards spent...$6.00
+Up Rewards left to spend....$42.00

GRAND TOTALS--December Rebate Period so far

Number of Transactions......7
Total Spent....$2.66  put on free Gift Cards/Certificates so ZERO OOP
Value of Items purchased....$287.78
SCR qualified for....$2.00
Other Cash....$0.00
Gift of Savings Reward...$0.00
Additional Rebates....$0.00
Additional Non-Cash Rewards....$0.00

+UPS Totals for Dec. SCR period
+Up Rewards carryover from 12/4.....$38.00
+Up Rewards spent....$40.00
+Up Rewards earned....$57.00
+Up Rewards left....$42.00

Sluggy 

Rite-Aid Trips.....December SCR Period--Last Week PART 1

Last Sunday was the beginning of the December Single Check Rebate Period.

My 1st trip of last week to Rite-Aid on Sunday has no photo.  It was on my computer when the machine went belly up so I lost it.
Can't recreate it now since half of the cookies/crackers have been vacuumed down the teenagers throats already.

The list of items I bought is easy to remember though...
10 cookies crackers for $1 each
1 Gilette Razor on sale
3 newspapers
2 Dawn Hand Renewal Dish Soap
2 Tugaboos Diaper Trial packs
Total Value...$41.82
Total Before Qs...$25.32
Total of Qs...$24.50
Total OOP...$.82 put on a Rite-Aid gift card
I used $8 +Up Rewards, received $7 +Ups back($5 Gilette, $2 wyb $10 of cookies/crackers).

While my computer was fried, I had nothing else to do.....so I went to Rite-Aid on Tuesday too, to use up those $5 off Olay wyb Secret deodorant, since they expired on the 30th....plus I had a Free Advil Q that was expiring that day as well.  Luckily this photo was still on the camera....

I won't get into the nitty gritty breakdowns on this since the deals are past.
Value of items....$43.19
Total before Qs...$28.96
Total of Qs...$28.19
OOP....$.77 put on a Rite-Aid gift card
I used $0 in +Up Rewards and received $0 back.
I forgot to use my $.50/2 Combos Q too, so it should have been $.27 on the gift card.  Oh well....my Gift of Savings total(which is like $5.00 for 8 trips!lol)can use the extra .50¢ boost. ;-)


Then this arrived in the mail.....

A free pair of No nonsense socks.
And attached to the hang tag thingy is a $1 off coupon for my next pair.
And Rite-Aid had No nonsense products BOGO last week!
I eventually went back on Saturday and got 2 more pair of socks using that coupon, and stacking the AdPerks/VV &/or Flu Booklet Qs, which made both 2 3-pair packages of socks cost me about $1.
A buck for 6 pairs of socks!
Oh yah....

The other FIVE trips last week will have to wait until later this week since my camera software won't work with this new computer(trust me, the camera is ancient!)so I have to download directly into a card reader now......as soon as I locate the card reader on the box here.  It's hell getting old and going blind.....lol



THESE TRIPS
Total Spent....$1.59 (put on free Rite-Aid gift card)
Value of Items....$85.01
SCR qualified for...$0.00
Other Rebates earned...$0.00
Gift Cards earned....$00.00
+Up Rewards earned...$7.00
+Up Rewards spent...$8.00
+Up Rewards left to spend....$25.00

GRAND TOTALS--December Rebate Period so far

Number of Transactions......2
Total Spent....$1.59  put on free Gift Cards/Certificates so ZERO OOP
Value of Items purchased....$85.01
SCR qualified for....$0.00
Other Cash....$0.00
Gift of Savings Reward...$0.00
Additional Rebates....$0.00
Additional Non-Cash Rewards....$0.00

+UPS Totals for Dec. SCR period
+Up Rewards carryover from 11/27.....$26.00
+Up Rewards spent....$8.00
+Up Rewards earned....$7.00
+Up Rewards left....$25.00
 

Sluggy

Oh Virginia, there is no Santa Claus at RITE-AID!

Well as reported on many Rite-Aid reporting deal blogs now, the sad news is that EVERY FORM of PAYMENT on your purchase at Rite-Aid except for CASH, GIFT CARDS or CREDIT/DEBIT CARDS is disallowed toward your total to qualify for the GIFT OF SAVINGS Promotion.

I submitted 1 of my receipts on the Rite-Aid Website and here is my GOS total.....try not to laugh too hard!lol

Purchased	Store	Reg	Trans	Product Name	Qty	Amount
11/26/10 00:00 AM	4990	2	904039	Gil Sensor 3 Sns Skn 4Ct	1	$5.49
11/26/10 00:00 AM	4990	2	904039	Vas Men Xstrngth Ltn 10Z	1	$2.99
11/26/10 00:00 AM	4990	2	904039	Ckp Duracell Aa 4Pk	6	$15.00
11/26/10 00:00 AM	4990	2	904039	Colg 360 Actflx Man Fhm Tb	1	$1.77
11/26/10 00:00 AM	4990	2	904039	$1 OFF COLGATE TOOTHBRSH360	1	($1.00)
11/26/10 00:00 AM	4990	2	904039	WELLNESS PLUS COUPON $1.00	1	($1.00)
11/26/10 00:00 AM	4990	2	904039	MERCHANDISE TAXABL	9	($11.75)
11/26/10 00:00 AM	4990	2	904039	WELLNESS PLUS COUPON $2.00	3	($6.00)
11/26/10 00:00 AM	4990	2	904039	$5 OFF $25 NONPERSCRIPTION	1	($5.00)
Total					24	$0.50

*Sigh*

Oh Rite-Aid......how un-Holiday Spirit of you......
Ok, I won't whine much longer, seeing as I get tons of good deals besides this one case, and I heart the employees at my Rite-Aids around here.

Sluggy