So you're looking to score some deals at Walgreens. Well, don't forget the coupons! Before you go in, though, make sure you are familiar with the Walgreens coupon policy.

 

When purchasing a single item, Walgreens accepts one manufacturer coupon and applicable Walgreens coupon(s) for the purchase of a single item, unless prohibited by either coupon offer.

 

When purchasing multiple items, Walgreens accepts multiple coupons for multiple qualifying items, as long as there is sufficient stock to satisfy other customers, unless a limit is specified on the coupon. Management reserves the right to limit the quantity of items purchased and/or prohibit the purchase of excessive quantities. An excessive quantity is any quantity above and beyond normal household usage.

 

There is a limit of one Register Rewards/Savings Rewards coupon per offer per customer per transaction. Customers redeeming a Register Rewards/Savings Rewards against the same offer may not receive another Register Rewards/Savings Rewards coupon.

 

For offers when multiple items are purchased and additional items are free (buy 1 get 1 free; buy 2 get 1 free, etc.), the number of coupons applied to that offer cannot exceed the number of items required in the “buy” portion of the offer. Coupons may not be applied against any free item received in any offer.

 

However, you can use a BOGO coupon with a BOGO store promotion.

 

 

The new posted policy makes clear a number of guidelines that some individual Walgreens stores already had in place. The most notable rule is one that other retailers have had for a while – and now Walgreens does, too: “Walgreens accepts up to four like coupons for multiple qualifying items,” replacing the old verbiage “Walgreens accepts multiple coupons for multiple qualifying items.” In case it’s not clear, the new policy reiterates the new limit: “There is a limit of four identical coupons per household, per day that will be accepted.” 

 

Before now, if your store would stand for it, you could bring a dozen or even a hundred coupons for the same product, and buy a dozen or a hundred of them at a discount. 

 

The new policy also clarifies that Walgreens does not accept mobile coupons except for its own: “Stores cannot scan a coupon barcode from a mobile device that resides outside of the Walgreens mobile app, Walgreens.com Ship to Store ready for pickup email, or myWalgreens account.” And it includes a few points you’d think would have been in the policy before now, such as stating that “items purchased must match the description on the coupon, (i.e., brand, size, color, flavor, scent, quantity, etc.)” and that the store will not accept “coupons that are copied, reproduced, altered, transferred, purchased, sold, or prohibited by law.”

 

And if you make a stink about the new rules when checking out, be warned. The policy now states that “Walgreens reserves the right to refuse, or limit the use of any coupon, including if the customer’s behavior becomes disruptive/confrontational or the items being purchased are deemed not for normal household use.” That’s similar language to what’s used in the policies of retailers like Walmart and Target, but it’s a new one for Walgreens. By empowering employees to shut down couponers who are “disruptive” or “confrontational,” the policy turns the old adage “the customer is always right” on its head. But if you’ve ever witnessed a confrontation over coupons – the change may be for the best. 

 

It will be up to each store to determine what constitutes “normal household use.” The new policy also replaces the definitive rule “paper coupons will be processed before digital coupons” with the vague new wording “coupons will be processed in the order that is determined by Walgreens.” And store management will have the final authority to “determine if a coupon can be used and answer any questions or disputes on the interpretation of the policy.” 

 

One bit of good news is that the new policy clarifies that “returns for items purchased with a manufacturer’s coupon will be processed for the full price paid for the item, which includes the value of the coupon(s),” so your store won’t deduct the value of any coupons you used when you make a return. A potential bit of bad news is that the new policy eliminates a section that stated “Walgreens shall accept manufacturer coupons for items that are on sale.” That would be major news if Walgreens will no longer allow you to use a coupon when an item is on sale – but presumably this is missing from the new policy only because it’s an oversight, or so obvious that it’s not worth mentioning. The same is likely true about the fact that the new policy no longer states that “Walgreens will not accept fraudulent or counterfeit coupons.”