What happens when you have the perfect plan to score a free item at the store, but when you arrive at the store they are all out of stock?
There are actually several things you can do. 1) You can ask a store employee if there are any items in the back or if the item is on an endcap somewhere. 2) You can ask the cashier when the store receives their shipment each week (and when the shipment actually makes it to the shelves) and then go back to the store then, hoping that the item is now in stock. OR 3) Ask the cashier for a rain check to purchase the item at a later time.
What is a raincheck? It is a voucher which will allow you to purchase the item at the advertised price after the store has restocked it. There are several things to be aware of regarding rainchecks:
- Check the expiration date - many times the raincheck if only valid for several weeks. Plus, you want to make sure that your coupon (you are using a coupon, right?) is still valid when you redeem the raincheck. However, sometimes it works to your advantage, because additional coupons become available for the item or it gives you time to order additional coupons from Coupon Clippers.
- Check the quantity limits - sometimes there is a limit on the number of items you can purchase and sometimes the cashier will ask you how many you plan to purchase. I would err on the side of requesting more than you think you'll use, just in case you get an awesome coupon to go with the raincheck.
- Grocery stores are required to give out rainchecks for advertised items that have sold out, unless the ad states "limited quantities per store or only in certain stores. No rainchecks." Other stores are not required to give out rainchecks, but it doesn't hurt to ask.
Here are some of the ins and outs of obtaining and using rainchecks at the drugstores:
- CVS - the raincheck is written and includes both the sale price and the extra buck amount. When you redeem the raincheck, the price should be adjusted to the sale price, and the extra care bucks should print based on the event code (an 8 digit number found in the ad). However, the cashier should be able to force the ECB's to print. To be safe, I would also cut out the flyer with the information and attach it to the raincheck. Also, CVS rainchecks don't expire.
- Walgreens - it appears that many of the raincheck policies at Walgreens stores are different for each store. Some stores will give rainchecks on items where you would earn a Register Reward and some will not. It's best to get to know your cashier and ask him/her.
- Rite Aid - they will write the +UP Rewards right on the rain check
Do you use rainchecks? Do you have any additional tips that you've found when you ask for/redeem rainchecks?
susieshomemade
I use rainchecks!! It's a great way to extend the sale if you missed the boat.
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niki
Great post!
🙂
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Kristin Thompson
I e-mailed Walgreens about their policy regarding rain checks, and didn't get a corporate response. I'd heard from one store you could get a rain check and the other store told me no. I got a letter in the mail from the store manager of the one who told me no with the rain check as a "one time courtesy" because he says that the rainchecks are manufacturer campaigns and the stores don't get reimbursed for them. Basically that the store loses money if they issue rain checks. I guess that's why each rain check says "courtesy of"...I haven't asked any other stores, I have a feeling they thought I was trying to cause trouble when I just wanted some consistency.
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Corrie @ "Cents"able Momma
Kristin - thanks for the update on the Walgreens rainchecks! That's one thing I don't like about Walgreens - their lack of consistency from store to store.
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