CVS Pharmacy, which is most often referred to as just CVS, has been around since the early 1960’s and currently has over 7000 stores nationwide. While the name suggests medicine and over-the-counter drugs, it also sells many different types of general merchandise, including some food items, greeting cards, beauty products, baby items, and seasonal merchandise. Photo developing is also available at CVS stores. Some CVS stores even feature walk-in clinics available for people who need medical attention.
With stores in forty-five of the fifty states, CVS is not hard to find. The name originally stood for “Consumer Value Stores.” However, present-day CEO Tom Ryan has stated it now stands for “Consumer, Value, and Service. Regardless of what the letters should stand for, CVS has been known by many for their ease of service and values.
The store chain began in 1963 in Lowell, Massachusetts. By 1964, there were seventeen stores opened in the northeastern portion of the United States, and by 1970, there were over 100 stores in that area. By 1988, which was the 25th anniversary of CVS, there were around 750 stores with sales around $1.6 billion. Through the purchase of quite a few smaller chain stores, CVS has grown to become the second largest pharmacy chain in the United States. In 1999, CVS created their website www.cvs.com making the company the first online pharmacy. The website attracts an estimated twenty-six million visitors a year.
There are many different ways to save money at CVS. In fact, in searching the Internet, it is possible to find many different sites and blogs that devote space to detailing the savings found at CVS. Between coupons and the rewards program that CVS offers, many have found ways to get many items for free or nearly free. The weekly ads and store fliers offer many coupons that can be used in the store, and there are also coupons available to print online through their website.
ExtraCare is the name of the rewards program offered by CVS. In order to participate, all a person has to do is apply either in store or sign up online here. In doing so, the person will receive a card that looks like a credit card, as well as additional cards that can be placed on a keychain. There is no fee to sign up. The rewards that come from using the card are referred to as “Extra Bucks” and 2% back is earned on every in-store and online CVS purchase, as well as $1.00 earned for every two prescriptions bought either online or in the store. The more the card is used, the more rewards received, which can in turn be used to make other purchases at CVS.
It is even possible to purchase items that are less expensive than the number of Extra Bucks they will generate, thus allowing a person to in a sense, actually make money. Although actual, physical money will not be put back into the person’s pocket, he or she will be able to use those excess Extra Bucks to make additional purchases. For example, there have been cases where a certain brand of deodorant was on sale for $2.49, but it generated $3.00 in Extra Bucks, meaning that by purchasing the item, one has actually gained $.51. If a coupon had been added to that, even more money would have been added to the Extra Bucks card. In fact, many have learned the art of stacking manufacturer coupons with items that already provide more reward bucks than the cost, which in turn can build up quite a bit of extra money on the rewards card. Blogs such as moneysavingmom.com or dealseekingmom.com will list out each money-making deal for each week according to the CVS weekly and monthly ads.
Although in-store coupons will indeed save you money at CVS, it seems the real money saver is through becoming a member of the ExtraCare Rewards Program. Through using deals offered in the weekly ads, combining with manufacturing coupons, and maybe even adding store coupons, it is possible to save a lot of money at CVS. In fact, for some, it’s even possible to make money!