Changes to the Walgreens Balance Rewards Program

Last Fall, Walgreens launched a new customer loyalty program called the Balance Rewards Program. Essentially, this is a program where you earn “Balance Rewards Points” for buying certain products. You can redeem these Points at a later date for in-store dollar credit. The most notable way in which the program has recently changed is this: now Points can be redeemed in other, lower increments. If you have not yet signed up for the program, do so in a Walgreens store or sign up online. If you have already signed up online and would like to receive a physical card, you can attach your account to an actual card in the store. Every time you check out, be sure to swipe your card or enter the phone number that is attached to your Balance Rewards account.

To Earn Points

Each week, there will be several items listed in the weekly ad that will earn you Points. For example, earn 500 Points with the purchase of two Betty Crocker Cookie Mixes.
You can earn multiple Points in a single transaction. Certain items such as soda or bottled water do have a limit listed in the ad. Other than that, there is not a limit on how many times you can receive Points from the same promotion.
Manufacturer coupons and Register Rewards do not interfere with any Points earned. In other words, you will still earn Points when using manufacturer coupons and Register Rewards. The monthly Walgreens Savings Book coupons are the exception to this rule. They do count against your total. If you are doing a “Spend X amount of dollars, Receive X amount of Points” promotion, you need to meet the specified total before manufacturer coupons but after the monthly Walgreens coupons.
Your Balance Rewards card does not keep track of purchases. If you need to spend a certain dollar amount to receive Points, you need to reach that dollar amount in a single transaction.
At the end of your transaction, the Balance Rewards Points you earned will show up on your receipt right away! If they don’t, call Walgreens Customer Service, and they will credit the Points to your account. You can also log on to your account online and view a summary of your available Points, look up your Balance Rewards activity, and request any Points that may be missing.

To Redeem Points

Here is the biggest recent change. Previously, you had to have at least 5,000 Points to redeem. Now Points can be redeemed with as few as 1,000! 1,000 Points equal a $1.00 reward. 40,000 Points still equal a $50.00 reward. It is advantageous to save your points so you get more bang for your buck!

(1) 1,000 Points = $1.00
(2) 2,000 Points = $2.00
(3) 3,000 Points = $3.00
(4) 5,000 Points = $5.00
(5) 10,000 Points = $10.00
(6) 18,000 Points = $20.00
(7) 30,000 Points = $35.00
(8) 40,000 Points = $50.00

To redeem Points, follow the prompts on the debit card pad or ask your cashier.
If you are using your Balance Rewards Points reward dollars as payment in a transaction, you cannot earn additional Points. In other words, Points cannot be earned when you are paying with Points. However, you still can earn Register Rewards even if you pay with Points.
As long as you shop at Walgreens and use your card at least once every six months, your Points will not expire for three years.

You cannot redeem or earn Points on purchases of dairy, stamps, prescriptions, alcohol, tobacco, phone cards, lottery tickets, charitable donations, transportation passes, or money orders.
To read more, access the full Balance Rewards Terms and Conditions or read Walgreens’ Balance Rewards Q&A.

Summary

• You will not earn Points in a transaction in which you redeem Points.
• You will earn Points in a transaction in which you use Register Rewards as payment.
• You will earn Register Rewards in a transaction in which you redeem Points.