A Little CVS Tale

I stopped in at CVS today, and it was funny enough to make it onto the blog.

CVS, for those who may not know, is a ubiquitous drugstore chain in the US--they're pretty much everywhere, so they're convenient, though their prices can be on the high side. The other thing they're known for is their ridiculously long receipts, which print and print and print with various coupons and offers. My joke is that someone's brother-in-law is their paper supplier, because seriously, so much paper.

I belong to their rewards program, and so CVS sends frequent emails with general offers and specific ones. Periodically, they send one for $4 off a purchase, and it can be $4 or even less, it isn't like $4 off a purchase of $20 or more, nothing like that. I know that from a marketing perspective, they're trying to get me into the store in hopes that I will buy more, but honestly sometimes I'll just stop by if I'm passing a store and get a cold drink or some gum. Hey, free, why not?

They sent that offer this week, and I had just realized I was low on Kleenex packs, which is not something I want to run out of (my allergies have been super annoying lately, if by 'lately' you understand I mean that I don't remember when they weren't super annoying). Might as well stop in and get some of those for free, right?

It turned out that they were on sale this week, two for $4, which was just made for this offer, don't you think? So I got these for free:

And in case you think I'm exaggerating about the receipt, it measured 29 and 5/8 inches (about 76 centimeters):

And the very first coupon on it?

I may have to go buy more tissues. Why not, for free? It's not like the store is out of my way.

Marketing fail, but thrifty win, I think!