Walgreens is changing the Points Redemption Rules starting on November 4, 2018. We will be receiving an email with the details, but there is going to be a maximum redemption value of $5 (5,000 Balance Reward Points) per transaction, and $1 (1,000 Balance Reward Points) will still equal $1. This has been confirmed on their Face Book Page, which mentions a 5 tier structure. It looks like no changes are being made to earning points at this time.
If you have lots of points accumulated, you’ll still have a little over a month to redeem those points with that maximum $50 value per transaction that is still in effect. And you’ll still get the benefit of the extra 20% bonus of using only 40,000 pts to get $50. So, if you are a point hoarder, like me, be sure to spend the majority of your points over the next month to get the biggest bang for your buck!
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
Seriously? Maximum redemption going from $50 to $5? Wow – what a way to reward loyal customers . . . NOT! This stinks. I’ll definitely be using up the $120 worth of rewards that I have built up before that November deadline, but I don’t think I’ll be worrying too much about those bonus offers going forward. What’s the point? I suppose I’ll be spending a lot more time (and money) at CVS. (Can you say “ExtraBucks”?) I might even give Rite Aid a try. I limit my couponing to two grocery stores and two drug stores because I only have so much time to devote to it. It looks like it might still be two drug stores, but without Walgreens in the mix. I’m a VERY disappointed customer, to say the least!
I, too, am quite disappointed, as the high value 40,00-point redemptions have been a major way by which I help a daughter with three kids in diapers (one is severely disabled and will always use them), and another whose escape from domestic abuse means very limited resources. I have been able to get her a printer and kept it supplied with ink cartridges at very low cost after points over the years. Knocking just $5.00 off of these high-ticket purchases is more akin to a coupon discount. But I realize that Walgreens has no obligation to keep this liberal redemption policy in place. I will be making frequent visits to build up my balance as high as possible for redemptions before 11/4.
I am also disappointed with this new change. In the future I will focus on other stores and not on Walgreens as much.
Goodbye WAGS. The ONLY reason I shopped for points was for the build-up so I could buy something I otherwise couldn’t. That measly piddling around is next to nothing compared to what we have now. It gives me absolutely no reason to even buy for points. I’ll be using my huge number of points up with no problem, starting next trip to WAGS. From then on, it will be Rx only, and nothing else from them as they are overpriced and only balanced out with the points. I’m sad to see this, and will be shopping elsewhere.
If anyone has any great ideas on how to use the big points let us all know. It would be greatly appreciated.
Pooh on your changes to make Balance Rewards (BR) more cumbersome. If I can only redeem $5 max at once, what is the point? Stingy nickle and diming. But surely some VP got a bonus because of this! It’s all about paying less to increase your already outrageous margins. Look, you used to have 24 hour pharmacy, but that’s pared down (inconvenient)! I can buy Rx cheaper without insurance at Walmart than with insurance in your store. The wait is the same. Everything else is more expensive and there’s less selection. So at the end of the day, what value is your company?
I’m so disappointed with this new policy. I always had so much fun redeeming $50 for items that I wouldn’t ordinarily buy. I am so angry. I won’t be bothering with trying to earn rewards now!
I have over a quarter million bonus points, but I will cash them all in by November 1, 2018 and n longer purchased anything at Walgreen again.
Why such a drastic jump? Not fair at all. And this is the first I happened to stumble onto this news. I think people will stop going there as much. Me included. Cheaper prices elsewhere.
Very disappointed in this change. Looks like we’ll be going to CVS, too, after we use our points!