Walgreen's Balance Points {sigh}

OK. The new Balance Rewards card/program has started at Walgreen's. This is to help you understand it a little better. Keep in mind that this is a NEW program for all of us and we are kind of learning as we go.
 
First of all, you need a card.  You can sign up online HERE or get it at the store. There is even a mobile phone application. This card is needed get the sale prices at the register and to use Walgreen's store coupons.
 
Now, you might want to know what you earn. Points that add up to money.
 
Keep in mind that they are STILL doing SOME Register Reward Deals. There simply aren't as many as we are used to. From now on, some "freebies" will be listed, considering how many "points" you might earn off of them and their rough, equivalent value. Example: an item that gives you 500 points is similar to $.50 in value. If it was $1.50 and you get 500 points, you used a $1.00 coupon, the item would be FREE after all is said and done. (You still pay $.50 at the register). Clear as mud -right?
 
Now, one crazy thing that I can not figure out: if we will still earn all points if we use coupons on products that give points. It's just not clear as I have read yes and no...I'm hoping that since it's not mentioned in earning points section of the terms that coupons won't reduce the amount of points we can earn. Otherwise, those of us that use the coupons will see our points totals climb VERY slow.
  • You DO get 500 points for every prescrtion and immunization
  • Points on thousands of items each week
  • 10 points for each mile you Walk With Walgreen's.
  • Exclusive benefits for AARP members
  • You can purchase as many items as you want and the points will multiply. (They do have the right to limit you.) So, if Product A gets you 1,000 points, buying three of Product A will get you 3,000 points. There's no need for multiple transactions
  • You cannot redeem partial points from the chart above. If you attempted to spend $1.50 after earning 5,000 points, the cashier is not given the option to break it up. You could use it, but would loose the remaining $3.50 value.
Terms and conditions

1. Balance Rewards is open to U.S. residents at least 13 years of age (in Puerto Rico 14 years of age. . If you are between 13 and 18 years old (in Puerto Rico, between 14 and 21 years of age), you agree you have obtained permission from your parent or legal guardian to be a Member of the Program (in Puerto Rico, parents must also submit the application of any member between 14 and 21 years of age)

2.Member is responsible and liable for any tax consequences which may result from Member’s participation in the Program. (getting money back is considered income and megga shoppers could be looking at tax evasion if they don't report it as such)

3.Membership required at purchase to receive promotional pricing. (no card, no deals)

4.Price adjustments are eligible only during that promotional pricing period.

5.Walgreen Co. reserves the right to cancel any Balance Rewards Card for which it has incomplete, inaccurate, false or fictitious Personal Information and all Balance Rewards points earned on that account will be forfeited

6.From time to time, special program offers will be made that will not be available in all store locations.

7. Member must present his/her personal Card to the cashier at a Participating Store before the purchase transaction is completed in order to earn and/or redeem Points
 
8. Points have no fixed value, may not be redeemed for cash, and are not transferable to any other individual or entity. Any transfer or attempt to transfer Member’s Card or Points shall result in automatic cancellation of the Card and revocation of Member’s Points. (It's cash back, in theory. It can only be used on store transactions. No real $$ is ever handed over to you)

EARNING POINTS

9. Items ordered online and delivered to your home will earn Points as they would if purchased in store. Items ordered online using the “store pickup” feature will only earn Points after the items have been picked up from the store.

10. Point Promotions will not apply to rain check items purchased after the promotion has ended. (This is like the Register Rewards. If they are out, you can't get the deal.)

11. Points will not be earned in a transaction where Redemption Dollars or
Store Credit is used. (this sucks - you can't "roll the deals" in this program like we can with Register Rewards)
 
12. Point Promotions will not apply to and Points cannot be earned on purchases of: alcohol; dairy; tobacco; stamps; phone/prepaid cards; money orders/transfers; transportation passes; lottery tickets; charitable donations; pseudoephedrine
or ephedrine product; prescriptions, health tests, contact lenses or any other pharmacy items or services that must be excluded by law as determined by Company (“Excluded Pharmacy Items”) that are paid for in whole or in part by a Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE, or any other state, federal or government-funded health care program; Excluded Pharmacy Items purchased by a Member who at any time in the prior 6 months is or was a beneficiary of Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE, or any other state, federal or government funded health care program. (This is the same as RRs, not biggie. You DO get 500 points for every prescription you pick up)

13. At Participating Stores located in AR, NJ, and NY where points cannot be earned on Excluded Pharmacy Items, Balance Rewards Members will earn 10 points per $1 spent at those locations for every purchase of a nonprescription vitamin or cough, cold, pain or sleep medication.

14. Walgreen reserves the right to add or delete items eligible for Points issuance at any time, at its sole discretion, without notice. (if it is a hot item for us couponers, they may pull it)

15. All Points will be awarded to the Member’s account 3-5 days after purchase. (No instant "rolling" of these deals like we do with the RRs. This bites!)

16. Points will not be awarded if in Company’s reasonable opinion the merchandise purchased will be used for resale or commercial use and any Points awarded on such purchases will be forfeited. Here you go: if they learn that you are selling your stockpile, you get booted.

17. Company reserves the right to limit Points awarded with respect to any offer or promotion to reasonable household quantities. (Stores can set their own limits to how many of each deal you could get)

18. On a return and/or exchange the Points will be deducted from the Member’s account that was used for the original purchase. (This is fair. I have seen people buy with a coupon and then try to return for full price - with out the receipt for cash. This prevents people making money by shafting the store.)
 
 
REDEEMING POINTS

19. Member may choose to either redeem earned Points or continue saving Points to use on a future purchase of items and/or services. If Member elects to redeem earned Points, the Points will be converted into Redemption Dollars and the value of the Redemption Dollars will be deducted from the total price of the Member’s purchase of items and/or services from a Participating Store

20. Earned Points are converted into Redemption Dollars in five (5) tiers:

 

21. Redemption Dollars will not be paid out in cash or Store Credit

22. Redemption Dollars may not be used for the purchase of the following: dairy; liquor; tobacco; stamps; phone/pre-paid/gift cards; money order/transfers; transportation passes; charitable donations; prescriptions; pseudoephedrine or ephedrine products; immunizations, health tests or other health care items or services; Prescription Savings Club membership fee; Take Care Clinic services. (Same as the RRs- I always forget about the milk one. Because I am an idiot.)

23. Upon redemption of Points, the Points will immediately be deducted from Member’s account.

24.When returning items paid with Redemption Dollars, the Redemption Dollars will be refunded to Member in the form of store credit. (This prevents fraud) 

25. Should any Balance Rewards Member not earn or redeem Points for 6 consecutive calendar months, the membership will be deemed to be inactive and all accumulated Points will be forfeited. For active Members, all Balance Rewards Points expire on a rolling 36 month basis. (So, if you are still shopping, you get 3 years. Not too bad)

The bottom line?
It's here and we have no option but to work with it our shop somewhere else. I still plan to cherry pick their Register Reward deals and will look at this as a "bonus".

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Cookie Recipe #21 - Butter Rich Spritz

Chili Dog Casserole

Want a FREE 4 Pack of Passes to Mt Olympus Water Park!