The Definitive Guide to Couponing at Rite Aid

With more than 4500 stores nationwide, it’s likely you’ve got a Rite Aid in your neighborhood.

The world of Rite Aid is in a state of flux.  In the last couple of years, Rite Aid has eliminated some of its popular savings programs, introduced a new rewards program, and made plans to be acquired by mega-retailer Walgreens.  (How coupon policies will change at that point is anyone’s guess.)

Maximizing your Rite Aid savings means having the latest information on the chain’s policies and best practices.  And winning at the Drugstore Game with Rite Aid requires a whole different playbook from the one you’d use at competitors like Walgreens.

Here’s what you need to know.

Sign up for the wellness+ program.

Rite Aid’s wellness+ program is both a points rewards system and a gateway to loads of perks for members.  Best of all, it’s totally free.  Sign up in store or online.  Then use your card or phone number whenever you buy from Rite Aid.

The points system is pretty straightforward.  For most purchases, you earn 1 wellness+ point for every dollar you spend.  (Naturally, some exclusions apply for items like tobacco, gift cards, and lottery tickets.)  In many states, you can earn up to 25 points when you fill a prescription with Rite Aid.

Point accumulate over the course of a calendar year, and the number of points you have determines your wellness+ tier:

• When you hit 100 points, you’ve made it to the Bronze tier.  Once you’re Bronze, for every 100 points you earn up to 500 points, you receive a 10% off coupon.
• When you reach 500 points, you’re catapulted into the Silver tier.  Now you’re entitled to a beautiful discount of 10% off almost everything in store until the end of the next year.
• When you receive 1000 points, you’re a winner in the Gold tier.  At this level, you earn an incredible 20% discount off almost everything in store until the end of the next year.

In addition to your tier-related savings, you get all of these great (free!) benefits as well:

• Exclusive pricing:  Access discounts available only to wellness+ members.
• Members-only E-mail offers.
• Chat with pharmacist:  If you’ve got a medication question at 2 A.M., you’re covered.  Your Rite Aid pharmacist is on-call 24/7 via instant messenger, E-mail portal, and phone.
• KidCents:  Rite Aid makes it easy to donate to your favorite kid-focused charity.  If you sign up for KidCents, your purchase amount will be rounded up to the nearest dollar at each checkout.  That extra change goes to one of the 300+ charities that you choose.
• wellness65+ program:  If you’re 65 years of age or older, get 20% off in-store and online on the first Wednesday of each month.  You can also access special products & health-related activities just for seniors and receive a free consultation with a Rite Aid pharmacist.
• wellness+ Allergy program:  Getting the sniffles?  With this program, earn extra wellness+ points when you purchase allergy medications.  Sign up for wellness+ Allergy by having your cashier scan this card.
• wellness+ for Diabetes:  This program grants you access to diabetes specialists via phone and online chat.  Sign up for wellness+ for Diabetes by having your cashier scan this brochure.
• Rewards for Relief:  Heartburn is no fun, but earning bonus points is.  Grab some extra wellness+ points for purchasing heartburn medication.
• Upromise:  Register your wellness+ card with Upromise to save toward a college education with every Rite Aid shopping trip.

Be sure to read the fine print of the wellness+ program for all the details on the wellness+ perks.

Start earning Plenti points.

Rite Aid recently partnered with Plenti to give its shoppers access to the benefits of Plenti’s membership programs.  (Around the same time, Rite Aid discontinued its long-standing +UP Rewards, Rite Aid Video Values, and Wellness Rewards programs.)

Plenti points are bigger than just Rite Aid.  While you can earn them there, you can also get Plenti points at major chains like AT&T, Exxon Mobil, Macy’s, and more.  Best of all, you can use points at any of Plenti’s partners.  Sign up with Plenti through AT&T, shop at Rite Aid, and use your points at Macy’s if you want.

If you sign up through Rite Aid, you can complete the process quickly in store or do it online.  The cashier will hand you a wellness+ card if you sign up in store, but the process isn’t complete at that point.  You’ll need to register your card online with Plenti before being able to access all of the benefits of a Plenti member.

Now that you’ve got your free Plenti membership, how can you earn points?

The details are specific to each Plenti partner.  With Rite Aid specifically, you earn points by buying featured products advertised in Rite Aid’s circular.  A Plenti deal requires you to spend a certain amount (e.g., buy $15 of Kleenex and get 500 Plenti points) or buy a certain quantity (e.g., buy 5 boxes of Kleenex and get 500 Plenti points).

You can also activate specific deals online through Plenti’s Household Offers.  Then, head into Rite Aid with your wellness+ card to cash in on those bonus points.

Points you earn typically hit your account the morning after your purchase and don’t expire for at least two years.

Once you’ve racked up a minimum of 200 points, you can start spending!  Redeem them through Rite Aid or any Plenti partner.  Just tell your cashier you want to cash in some points at checkout.  You’ll be able to convert 1,000 points into at least a $10 discount.

Find more details about Plenti points from Plenti’s YouTube channel and its Rite Aid partner page.

Stack your coupons high.

Once you’re a card-carrying member of the wellness+ program, you have access to Rite Aid’s Load2Card coupons.  Simply select your coupons online, and they’ll automatically ring up at the register when you buy qualifying items.

Couponers rejoice!  Rite Aid allows you to stack up to three coupons per purchase item.

• Manufacturer’s (MFR) coupons can be found all over – in newspapers, in magazines, and on coupon websites.  Some of Rite Aid’s Load2Card coupons are MFR coupons as well.  Identify your coupon type by looking at the UPC.  MFR coupons have a UPC that begins with a “5.”
• Rite Aid store coupons can be found in weekly ads, on Rite Aid’s website or Facebook page, and even on your receipt.  Don’t be deceived, since store coupons are sometimes sneakily labeled as MFR coupons.  If the UPC begins with “RC49,” you’ve found a store coupon that will stack with a standard MFR coupon.  Check your Load2Card coupons to see which of them are MFR coupons and which are store coupons.
• Rite Aid “Valuable Coupons” are rare finds that sometimes appear in ads, on receipts, or on product peelies.  These coupons have a UPC that begins with “RC48.”

Now here’s the bad news.

Unlike many retailers, Rite Aid does not double coupons.  Whereas your supermarket or other drugstore might double the face value of your MFR coupons under $1, Rite Aid will not.

Plan ahead.

To get the most from your money, do a bit of strategizing before you walk through Rite Aid’s doors.

If you’ve got plenty of time on your hands, you can check out the store circular, highlight great deals, look around for coupons to match with those deals, and then hit the store.  If you’re looking for a time-saving shortcut, let someone else do the work for you.

Many money-saving websites spell out exactly where to find specific coupons that will pair with current Rite Aid sales.  Some sites even offer you a preview of the next week’s ad so you can be ahead of the game (and get in the door before great deals fly off the shelves).  These sites are invaluable if you’re serious about making a game plan to save every penny you can at Rite Aid.

Whether you’re a couponing newbie or a deal-finding master, tap into some of these many opportunities for Rite Aid savings!

Photo courtesy of Rite Aid