For awhile supermarkets were rewarding shoppers who brought their own bags by giving them money off their purchase. Except for my local Superfresh, which gives me three cents for each bag I bring, not many stores are giving those discounts anymore. But you have to wonder: if a store asked you to spend a little upfront to save in the long run, would you?
The reason I’m thinking about this now is this: I got a press release last week from CVS on the store’s new GreenBagTag program. It’s pretty straightforward. You spend $.99 for one of these GreenBagTags. Every fourth time you use it, you get $1 in CVS Extra Care Bucks. 
But there’s a catch:
- You have to decline a plastic bag and bring your own, or not take a disposable bag at all
- You have to scan your GreenBagTag and your CVS Extra Care Card in order to earn benefits
From what I can tell you can only scan your GreenBagTag once per transaction, not one time for each plastic bag you don’t use. Also, I can’t figure out if the $1 you earn is a $1 off any item you want to purchase after that 4th use of the GreenBagTag or it’s $1 off a specific item related to what you’d purchased recently. (I’d prefer the former, in case CVS was wondering what a customer like myself thinks.)
What do you think? Is spending $.99 on one of these GreenBagTags to save $1 every fourth time you use it worth it? I’m still on the fence about whether or not I should get one. Will you?
READ LEAH ON HOME GOES STRONG
Definitely worth it for me! CVS is my main drugstore, and I receive Extra Bucks on a regular basis. I also already use my own bags, so it’s a no-brainer for me!
The extra care bucks can be used on most anything.
While it may vary by state here is California they can’t be used on prescriptions, alcohol, gift cards, lottery tickets, money orders, postage stamps, pre-paid cards & tobacco products.
OK, thanks for posting a comment.
I’m still on the fence about this. Yesterday, my daughter shopped at CVS using a “$5 off a $30 purchase” coupon I earned through the Extra Bucks program. We had used a product coupon for $2 off, and bought 3 other products that were on sale for a total savings of about $13. The clerk pointed out the GreenBag Tag as my daughter loaded her own market bag with the purchases. Neither of us shops at CVS that often (maybe once or twice a month, except for prescriptions which aren’t included in the coupon deals). I use about 6 or 7 different market bags, some of which are in my car, others at home. So I would have to remember to use the market bag with the GreenTag when I go to CVS or keep the tag in the abyss that is my handbag. I’m probably going to pass on this offer.
If I do the GreenBagTag program, I would keep the tag on my keychain with all of my other affinity cards, like my Giant Bonus Card and my CVS Extra Rewards Card. You can get little fobs for all of them.
Leah
It wouldn’t work out for me, partly because I’d never remember to bring my own bag! I MIGHT just manage to use it four times to get back my own dollar, and then I’d probably quit using it.
Only if you use. for example if you buy the coupon booklet and actually use the discounts its worth it. Otherwise it’s just a ploy, don’t waste your money.
Craig:
So true. Like the Entertainment Book. I totally make my money back on that purchase because I use it all the time. I think with last year’s book, which retails for $40, I must have saved $150, at least!
Leah
I keep looking at that Green Tag every time I go in. Idon’t know either!
I wonder how long the tag will be good for?
I’m confused – do you have to have a particular CVS bag with you, or just the tag? If I just have to carry around the tag, I’d do it, as I have an Envirosax I always use anyway, but if I have to carry around another bag, maybe not.
It is kinda annoying you have to scan the tag; I already feel like a nuisance using my own bag – using their ready-to-go plastic bags is so much faster. And there always seems to be a line a mile long at our CVS.
YES! I got one and will definitely get more than my money back. Going Green (bag) is good for the environment, no matter how ‘easy’ it is to use their plastic.
Not sure how long they will be used, but I see no expiry date so I am guessing indefinitely. If you lose or misplace it, call CVS customer service and they will issue you an ECB on your next transaction in order to get another one. It says right on the tag that you can use ANY bag – you don’t have to buy a CVS reusable bag. I keep all of my green bags in the car. The last thing I do when unloading groceries or drug store trips is put the bags back in the trunk. I will keep it on my keychain with the Extra Care Card. Since they scan that every time, they might as well scan two.
The ONLY drawback I see is that you can only scan one tag a day. So if you use two bags, you can only get credit for one. BUT if you forget to bring a bag and get just a few items, you can scan the card as long as you DON’T use their bags. It’s all about saving the environment.
HTH!
PS – as someone already stated, if you don’t shop there much, don’t use the Extra Care Card, or refuse to carry your own bag, then it will do you no good. Like the Entertainment book: I bought mine last year for half price, but found all the coupons are for places I don’t go to anyway. So in order to “save” money, they would be getting me to SPEND more somewhere I would not have gone in the first place, plus gas money. In my metro area, too many of the ‘good’ places/coupons are over 20 miles from my home!
Rachel, thanks for the detailed reply!
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