It Pays to Complain

A few months ago, I participated in a survey for the CVS Advisor Panel (check out the link to sign up; it’s worthwhile if you have a CVS nearby). I was promised that $15 in ExtraBucks would be available after sometime in late May. Well, late May came and went, but no ExtraBucks.

So I placed a call to the CVS customer service desk, who took my info and said they’d get back with me. I received a phone call a few days later informing me that they were adding a “courtesy credit” of 15 ExtraBucks to my ExtraCare account.

I went there today and cashed in the ExtraBucks, as well as another ExtraCare coupon for Aquafresh toothpaste that made the product free. So, next time you don’t get the item or discount that’s coming to you, don’t be afraid to call or e-mail customer service. Most of the time, they’ll be happy to fix the problem.

Rebate Program Review: Dollar General

Sorry for the absence, folks – the SpendMiser has been quite busy working for dollars to save.

Anyhow, I was in my local Dollar General a few weeks ago when I noticed that they’ve started offering rebates a la Walgreens’ EasySaver – buy the product, send in the rebate form, get a check. There’s only one problem, though – these rebates aren’t enough to make it worth most customers’ while.

Take this month’s ad. You can get a $1 rebate when you buy TWO Secret or Old Spice deodorants. There’s also a buck-back rebate on five packs of David’s sunflower seeds. The entire catalog runs much the same way. A dollar here and there for buying multiple items. There is a $5 rebate available this month, but it’s for a Tracfone, which -as we know – costs much more than that.

If you’re like me, you shop at Dollar General only for the best deals, which usually means a few items each month. The likelihood that all of these “best deals” will also be rebate items is highly unlikely. Factor in the cost of an envelope and stamp to mail the rebate form, and you might come out ahead a few cents or even a buck.

My advice? Look for rebates elsewhere.