It’s hard to find a retail store these days that do not offer a customer rewards card or some sort of rewards program.  In case you are unaware of these customer rewards programs and just instinctively decline the cashier’s offer to join, let’s take a look at how a rewards program works.

In general, a loyalty club or program is a brilliant marketing strategy that many retailers employ to get customer returning to their store.  Typically a “card” is issued to the customer that identifies the card holder as a “member” in the program.  By presenting the card at checkout, the purchaser is usually given a discount on the current purchase, or earns “points” that can be used for future purchases.

While there are many retail stores that offer loyalty or rewards cards, let take a look at the loyalty clubs offered by the big four pharmacies, CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid and Target.

CVS

CVS offers the CVS ExtraCare Savingsâ„¢ with ExtraBucks Rewards.  With the ExtraSavings you get personalized coupons, automatic sale prices and additional savings via emails.  The ExtraBucks Rewards provides you with 2% back in their “ExtraBucks” with every purchase.  Also when you fill 10 prescriptions your earn $5 ExtraBucks.  CVs encourages rewards customers to register online and create an account in order to manage their rewards and prescriptions.

Rite Aid

Rite Aid’s loyalty program, called Wellness+, comes with several great benefits, including members-only savings, 24/7 access to a pharmacist via online chat, and a simple way to manage and redeem coupons with Load2Card (an app that lets you load coupons on your Wellness+ card).   With the Wellness+ program, they start rewarding you with valuable services and members-only savings as soon as you sign up.

Members who reach 1,000 points can save 20% off storewide for a year! Plus, when you use your wellness+ card you’ll earn points toward store discounts and wellness rewards, such as gym memberships, magazine subscriptions, and health screenings.

Target

With Target Pharmacy Rewards, when you sign up for Pharmacy Rewards and fill five eligible prescriptions you get a certificate for 5% off a day of shopping!

Target Pharmacy® Rewards program lets you:

• Manage your Pharmacy Rewards account information online
• View your rewards transaction history and when your 5%-off certificates are issued
• Add secondary guests to your account to accrue your 5%-off rewards even faster
• Pay for your prescriptions in the way that’s most convenient for you: REDcard®, debit or credit card, cash or check
• Link your REDcard to your account for quick checkouts

Walgreens

“Walgreens Balance Rewards” rewards customers for Healthy Choices.  It has the most ways to accumulate rewards.  You can get 500 points for every prescription you fill, 20 points for doing a “weigh-in” and even get 500 points for pledging to quit smoking. Their app has many benefits including 24/7 pharmacist chat, prescription history and refill shortcuts, even a roster of your shots.

You can earn Balance Rewards points just for doing everyday healthy activities. You’ll get 20 points any time you record an activity, 250 points when you set your first goal, and 250 points when you connect a device or app.

There are however limits to how many points you can earn for living a healthy lifestyle.  You are limited to 20 points per mile, 1000 points per month. Limited to 20 points per daily weigh-in that you log, limited to 20 points per blood glucose test, two logs per day, and limited to 20 points per blood pressure test, one log per day. Specific information is provided in Walgreen’s terms and conditions of Balance Rewards.

There is no doubt that each program has its bonuses and its disadvantages. The program that works best for you depends on how you shop and how you manage your health… and your family’s health.

For more information be sure to visit each retailer’s website look in the store for information pertaining to the specific rewards programs.

If you find yourself struggling with debt or would like to find out about becoming debt free, call Debthelper at 800-920-2262, or visit @ www.debthelper.com.