I am so excited to share our interview with John Barron, director of relationship marketing, at CVS/pharmacy.  There is a great question asked by one of our readers about what coupons CVS pharmacy allows us to link to our blogs so we can stay honest while we post our bargains! 

1.    Please explain the ExtraCare Bucks system for new ExtraCare Members who may not understand how the system works.

CVS/pharmacy’s ExtraCare program is the largest consumer rewards program in the nation, with more than 50 million cardholders. Cardholders earn back 2% of non-prescription purchases and $1 Extra Buck for every two prescriptions purchased. These earnings are then rewarded quarterly, delivered in the form of free “CVS money” called Extra Bucks. Quarterly rewards are paid out four times a year – on January 1, April 1, July 1 and October 1. Members can receive their quarterly Extra Bucks in-store or online; CVS/pharmacy sends quarterly Extra Bucks rewards to customers by email when they are issued, if those shoppers have provided a valid email address as part of their membership registration. This allows customers to receive their rewards at home – instead of on their receipts – so customers can come to the store ready to save. Members can check the status of their rewards and coupons at CVS.com by setting up an online account (it’s free) and connecting their ExtraCare card to it.  

Additionally, ExtraCare cardholders receive benefits such as money-saving offers based on products they have purchased on register receipts. CVS/pharmacy introduced a new component to its ExtraCare program, called Extra Bucks Now, in April of 2007; this feature provides ExtraCare cardholders with instant Extra Bucks at the time they purchase specially advertised products. These items are marked with special signs on the shelf, and are also summarized monthly in mini-catalogs called Extra Value Books that are available in-store.

In certain locations throughout the U.S. (approximately 4,000 stores), interactive kiosks called ExtraCare Coupon Centers have been introduced. These ExtraCare Coupon Centers allow shoppers to scan their ExtraCare card at the beginning of their visit and receive coupons and special offers before they shop.

2.    Is there a link to sign up for an advisory panel to take CVS/pharmacy surveys and earn coupons?

ExtraCare cardholders can join the panel at www.cvsadvisor.com. On average, panel members are invited to complete one to four surveys per year. There is additional information at the site. ExtraCare cardholders can sign up for special email savings and alerts by updating their ExtraCare account with their email address at CVS.com.

3.    We really love ExtraCare Bucks. We are wondering how they work from behind the scenes. Does CVS pay the entire amount that is given in Extra Bucks or does the manufacturer help pay for the costs?

Cardholders receive rewards through ExtraCare that are a combination of savings provided by CVS/pharmacy and our manufacturer partners. We developed Extra Bucks as a way to say thank you to our customers for choosing CVS/pharmacy as their drugstore, and we are always working with our supplier-partners to create unique deals and money-saving offers our members will enjoy. We pride ourselves on the fact that the ExtraCare Rewards program is much better than a typical discount program – we are very focused on providing great benefits to our customers.

4.    We want to be honest with our coupon use at all times: does CVS discourage the linking of any coupons? Blog owners are specifically concerned because they don’t want to publish or link a coupon that is not encouraged or honest.

It depends on the coupon. CVS/pharmacy understands that consumers are looking for great deals online and we encourage our customers to share stories and tips for savvy shopping with one another. However, many of the coupons and special offers ExtraCare members receive are not general promotions that can be shared, forwarded or linked to other offers. When special ExtraCare offers and email alerts are issued to a select group of cardholders, these offers are only valid with the ExtraCare cards that belong to offer recipients. These offers will state this in the disclaimer language.  

Again, the CVS/Pharmacy ExtraCare Rewards program is not a typical discount program – ExtraCare actually pays customers back with Extra Bucks for items that we know our members will be interested in. The ExtraCare Rewards program acts almost like a personal shopper, recommending products and providing special offers tailored to each cardholder so that CVS/pharmacy shoppers get the most convenient and personal value. The best way to spread the word about a deal or a coupon is to encourage your friends to register their own email addresses as part of their ExtraCare membership. That way, they will get their own unique deals.

5.    Is there anything else that you would like to share with us?

ExtraCare cardholders received a combined total of more than $1.5 billion in money-saving offers and rewards last year simply by using their ExtraCare card each time they shopped at a CVS/pharmacy location or online at CVS.com. As shoppers continue to seek effortless ways to cut costs on everyday needs, this huge savings amount demonstrates that real dollars can be saved when consumers take advantage of the unique benefits provided by ExtraCare. We work hard to make sure the ExtraCare program continually develops and constantly improves to make it easier than ever for customers to save money every time they shop CVS/pharmacy.

Thanks John and CVS!  Keep an eye out for more tips from on shopping at CVS this week!

Don’t forget to check out Shannon’s Works For Me Wednesday!