CVS just sent out a sensational year-end promotion via email for CVS ExtraCare Plus — its premium loyalty program — promising customers a $10 monthly bonus reward for a year and it would only cost $2 a month.
Whatta deal — pay $2 a month and get $10 off every month!
CVS maintains two types of loyalty programs. The most common is CVS ExtraCare – a free card with a barcode that most of us have. The other is called CVS ExtraCare Plus – which is a $48 a year program that provides extra benefits, including 20% off on full price CVS brand products, free delivery and shipping, and a $10 monthly credit on purchases.
Since MrConsumer had planned to feature this offer in Consumer World as the “Bargain of the Week,” he tested the promotion on the CVS website to ensure it was giving customers what it promised.
*MOUSE PRINT:
To his surprise, the screen on which customers would finalize the purchase of the plan for a year was charging the full price — $48.
We immediately contacted CVS’ PR folks to alert them to the issue and get an explanation. And the answer was, where else, lurking in the fine print:
*MOUSE PRINT:
So you have to be a first-time “plus” member, and enroll in person in the store. The company could have made it a lot easier for customers if they simply issued a promo code that could be entered on the CVS website in order to get the half off deal.
To be fair, the ad did say “Come in now”!
Certainly
Very
Sneaky
Yes it is…
Wow, that is pretty deceitful. No where in the ad does it say, “new customers can get…” but also they’re sending you an email for a promotion that you can only get in store.
My guess is they’re hoping you’ll look online and either not notice the discount isn’t there or see that the promotion requires you to go in store and just sign up online to save time, but paying more.
20% off CVS regular prices is still 90% higher than you can get the items elsewhere, not to mention any reasonable alternative the store will surely be out of stock on. They’ve been a horrible store for years, and have only gotten worse. You’re better off with Walmart’s club plan the two times a year they offer it at half price. And that one you can get online, and even if you’re not a first time customer
I still can’t get CVS to stop sending me emails telling me about all the special offers at my “local” CVS store in Scottsdale, AZ. I live in CT but I visited Scottsdale once last Summer and used my CVS Extra Care card there so now it thinks I live there. And I can’t get it to stop no matter who I call or complain to at CVS!