January drugstore shopping

Warning rant ahead. Today was just one of those days where everything went wrong. I somehow knew that the Wags smooth sailing was too good to be true. Today proved just that.

WAGS

Trans 1 (DH account)

2 x Softsoap hand soap $3.98

2 x Softsoap hand soap B1G50% off 2nd $1.98

2 x Crest t/p 6.00

1 x Revlon kiss balm 5.49

Less Softsoap DQ (0.75)

Less Crest DQ (2.00)

Less Revlon DQ (3.00)

Less WC (Wags Cash reward points) (10.00)

Tax 1.05

OOP $2.75

Earned $4 RR (Crest) and $4 WC (Softsoap)

Softsoap knows damn well that their small hand soap bottles are 7.5 oz, yet they give us a Q for 8 oz or larger. Sneaky, sneaky. I had the Qs with me just in case the bigger bottles were the same price as the small ones (good thing too. see next transaction)

I added the Revlon as a filler, so I could use $10 WC. If my total was below $10, I would only have been able to redeem a $5 reward (It's Wags, It's complicated...lol). I had a grand plan to buy the Softsoap b/w too, but this store was completely wiped out. The b/w is 50c each after rewards, so I completely understand the empty shelves. I actually didn't expect to still find hand soap. 

WAGS - Store 2

Trans 2 (DH account)

2 x Softsoap b/w $7.98

Less Softsoap DQ (1.00)

Less Softsoap Q (1.00)

Less WC (5.00)

Tax 0.48

OOP $1.48

Earned $5 WC 

Trans 3 (my account)

1 x Softsoap hand soap $2.99

1 x Softsoap hand soap BOGO 1.49

1 x Softsoap hand soap 1.99

1 x Softsoap hand soap BOGO 0.99

2 x Colgate t/p 7.98

2 x Softsoap b/w 7.98

2 x Crest t/p 6.00

Less Softsoap hand soap DQ (0.75)

Less 2 Softsoap hand soap Qs (1.00)

Less Softsoap b/w DQ (1.00)

Less Colgate DQ (1.00)

Less Crest DQ (2.00)

Less 2 RRs (8.00)

Less WC (10.00)

Tax 1.53

OOP $7.20

Earned $26 WC ($5 WYS $15, $5 Softsoap b/w, $4 Softsoap hand soap, $8 Colgate - see below, $4 Crest - see below)

This was the mother of all clusters, where things kept going wrong too. This store had lots of b/w, but only 2 of the $1.99 hand soap, so I had to rework my order. So I first did the transaction on my account. My total came to over $23. WTH?! I knew this was wrong. I write out a detailed list with numbers and I knew that I shouldn't pay more than $13 (incl tax), before WC. So I looked at the screen and noticed that my DQs didn't deduct. Very strange. Cashier didn't know why either. I did notice that the register kept asking for my phone number (even though I entered it at the beginning) as she was scanning my items. So I showed her the DQs on my phone and asked if she could cancel that transaction and start over. Sure, so she cancelled and had me enter my phone number (which I did), but the screen kept returning to the home page (this happened about 3 times in a row). So we moved to a different register. Same thing after entering my phone number. I was just about to tell her to first scan one item then have me enter my phone number, when the manager told her to do that. That fixed the problem. So I did the b/w transaction first to make sure that one works. Slick as snot. Then I did my transaction. The DQs deducted, but the total was still high. I told her that I'd just pay the OOP and contact CS, because a line had already formed behind me. Besides, I needed to look at the receipt to figure out what went wrong. I thanked her and apologised for the hassle. I know that sounds weird, but I often apologise to cashiers when things go wrong - especially with DQs or their system. I tell them that I know it's not their fault. Sometimes I joke with them to put them at ease. This cashier seemed fairly new (I saw that she started in 2021 - could've been at the end of the year for all I know) and she was super sweet. I also know that WAGS don't give their staff proper training. I know that things can go wrong at any time and that I have the ability to put the cashiers at ease, when it does. So I'm always nice to them, because I don't want to be that PITA customer who upsets their day. If the cashiers apologise to me when they make a mistake, I tell them it's no problem at all. I can go vent or be frustrated with the hassles when I get home.

I get to my car and realised I didn't get the $4 Crest RR. Ugh, I'm not going back to the store to wait for that long line to disappear. When I studied my receipt, I noticed that the Colgate DQ was $1, not my $4 one I had on my account. The cashier also didn't scan my Softsoap b/w Q. No worries about the Softsoap Q. This whole transaction was a mess, so I understand if she missed a Q. I contacted CS when I got home and they added $8 points for the Colgate & Crest. 

So I basically used $18 rewards + $7.20 cash = $25.20 and earned $26. A small MM. I still need to submit my receipts to various sites. 

Before I got to the 2nd Wags, I stopped at Aldi for a few things. First I couldn't get a cart to work. I'd haul out the cart, but the wheels would lock when I move forward. So I put that cart into the 2nd row and tried the next one. Shut up, there's a quarter already in that cart. Kaching. All I thought was 'Sluggy & Kim would be proud of me'...lol. So I tried that cart, but it had the same effect. Same with the 3rd one. So I grabbed that extra quarter and went shopping without a cart. I'm guessing the wheels are messed up, because it's so cold today. Got my items and at checkout I see a sign for card payment or exact cash payments. Nooooooooo. I had a $100 bill in my hand. I needed to break some $100 bills and Aldi's not helping. 

Then I went to CVS and bought a $50 Kohls gc that earned me $10 EB. So I used my CC to pay and the register said 'Payment cancelled'. Now what?! So the cashier had me try again and it worked. Phew!

So by the time I hit the last Wags, I was like 'stick a bloody fork in me, I'm done'. 

I also stopped at RA earlier this week, as I had $15 BC that was expiring.

1 x Compeed Corn $9.99

1 x Compeed Blister 9.99

1 x Colgate t/p 3.50

Less 2 Compeed Qs (8.00)

Less Colgate in-ad Q (3.00)

Less Colgate Q (0.50)

Tax 1.41

OOP : $13.39 Paid for with BC

Earned $3 BC (Compeed Corn) and $8 Ibotta ($4 for each Compeed).

I get to the register and the Colgate rings up at $5.xx. Ugh!! Cashier looked at ad, checked the toothpaste and couldn't figure out what was wrong. So I asked her if I could grab a different t/p and she said 'sure'. Got back with the new t/p and the manager was there cancelling my first transaction. I told the manager that they should check the shelf tags, because the wrong items are marked with the sale price. So we tried again and everything worked great! So I thanked the cashier and apologised for the mix up. Her whole face just lit up in surprise, then a smile as she thanked me. I guess people aren't nice to them very often. 

Now the manager and other cashier at this store don't like me. This isn't my local store, but I stop there when I'm out that way. Last summer I walked into the store (no other customers in store) and see a woman standing there spraying Root Touch Up on her hair. I couldn't believe my eyes. The HBA section has low shelves and is open for all the world to see. The cashier in front is oblivious and security is nowhere to be found. Then I see her put that same bottle back and reach out for something else to apply to herself. I did my shopping and got to the register, only to see that she's an employee. The store or shift manager happened to be there at the time, so I told this girl that I saw her using products in store and stick it back on the shelf. I told her that's not fair to customers who has to pay full price for half used items. Besides if the roles were reversed, they would call it theft and call the cops on a customer. The manager didn't even reprimand her or do anything. I was livid, but I didn't contact CS. I see this girl still works there, but she just gives me a dirty look when I shop there. Come on. Is it so hard to be a person of integrity. Wrong is wrong!

I also purchased $100 Kohls gcs that earned me $16 BC. I was initally going to use the money from my weekly gc savings, but decided to apply it to my clothing expense budget (which is $0 BTW...lol). I have a plan for these. 

So to recap

Total OOP at drugstores (excluding gcs) $11.43

Total Qs used :$19.25

Total rewards used : $46.39

Total rewards earned : $42.00 + $26 earned from gcs = $68.00

Total Ibotta earned : $8.00

Total retail value : $94.98 (hard to believe these few items retail for almost $100. That's drugstore pricing for ya. 

Plus the gcs also added an extra $26 in rewards to my pocket. You can't beat free money. 

I did shop at Wags last week, but I'm too pooped to take pics and write details of it. I'll do it next time.  I'm about ready to just have a drink and call it a day.