Cvs Extracare Rewards How To Access Weekly Free Products And Birthday Benefits

CVS Pharmacy's ExtraCare Rewards program offers numerous benefits to its members, including free products, birthday rewards, and cash back on purchases. The program, which has been in operation for 20 years and serves 74 million members, recently underwent significant updates that provide members with more flexibility in how they earn and spend rewards. This article explores how ExtraCare members can access free products through the program, including weekly free gift offers available exclusively in the CVS App and special birthday benefits.

Overview of CVS ExtraCare Rewards Program

The ExtraCare Rewards program is CVS Pharmacy's loyalty program that provides members with various benefits, including ExtraBucks rewards (store credit), exclusive sale prices, and access to special offers. The program underwent significant updates in 2021 that changed how members receive their 2% cash back reward. Previously, members received their 2% back on a quarterly basis, but now they can access their rewards moments after each transaction through the CVS App, on CVS.com, and on digital and paper receipts.

Members can choose to use their rewards on their next visit or save them to spend later, within 90 days of each issuance. The program also includes birthday benefits for members who opt in by sharing their birthday information, providing $3 in ExtraBucks during their birthday month that can be used toward purchases of health and wellness products, beauty brands, everyday essentials, and better-for-you foods.

To participate in the ExtraCare Rewards program, customers must sign up for a free ExtraCare card. This can be done at any CVS store at the register, online at cvs.com/extracare, or through the CVS Pharmacy mobile app. Once enrolled, members scan their ExtraCare card during each purchase to earn rewards and access exclusive member prices.

How to Access Free Products Through ExtraCare

CVS offers several ways for ExtraCare members to access free products. One notable promotion was the "ExtraCare Extra Thanks event," where CVS gave out a free product every day for two weeks. During this event, members could receive items such as Ibuprofen and Gold Emblem Gummy Bears simply by having their ExtraCare account linked to the CVS Pharmacy app.

The free products were accessible through the "deals & rewards" section of the CVS App. After downloading and opening the app, members could click the box in the top right corner labeled "deals & rewards" to access their free product of the day. This section also allowed members to link their ExtraCare card by entering personal information or scanning their physical card.

While the "ExtraCare Extra Thanks event" was a limited-time promotion, it demonstrated CVS's strategy of using the app to distribute free products and encourage digital engagement. The event was particularly effective in motivating customers to transition from physical ExtraCare cards to the digital version in the app.

Weekly Free Gift Offers in the CVS App

Starting in late June 2021 and continuing through July, CVS introduced a new feature in the ExtraCare program: weekly free gift offers exclusively available to ExtraCare members through the CVS App. These free gifts range from better-for-you snacks and treats to health and beauty essentials, providing members with opportunities to try products at no cost.

To access these weekly free gifts, members must: - Have an ExtraCare account - Download the CVS Pharmacy app - Link their ExtraCare account to the app - Check the "deals & rewards" section regularly for new offers

The weekly free gifts represent CVS's commitment to enhancing the digital experience for ExtraCare members. According to CVS, the app has seen double-digit increases in downloads over the past year, and coupons sent to users' ExtraCare cards from the app have more than doubled during the same period.

The app also includes a Rewards Tracker feature that allows customers to easily view their progress toward earned rewards from ExtraCare, the opt-in ExtraCare BeautyClub, ExtraCare Pharmacy & Health Rewards programs, and from CarePass (CVS's paid membership program).

Birthday Benefits

ExtraCare members who opt in by sharing their birthday information receive $3 in celebratory ExtraBucks Rewards during their birthday month. These birthday rewards can be used toward the purchase of health and wellness products, beauty brands, everyday essentials, and better-for-you foods available at CVS Pharmacy.

The birthday rewards are delivered through the ExtraCare channels that the member has opted into, including email, SMS text messages, and the CVS App. This feature was introduced as part of the 2021 program updates and represents CVS's response to member feedback requesting more flexibility in accessing and using rewards.

According to Michele Driscoll, VP of Customer Engagement, Loyalty and Personalization at CVS Health, the program changes were based on an in-depth assessment that revealed what members love most about the program. "They appreciate the value their membership provides, and they told us they want more flexibility in how they access and use their rewards," Driscoll stated.

Other Ways to Save with ExtraCare

Beyond free products and birthday benefits, the ExtraCare Rewards program offers several additional ways for members to save money:

1. 2% Cash Back: Members earn 2% back in ExtraBucks on most purchases, which can be used toward future purchases. This benefit is now available immediately after each transaction rather than quarterly.

2. ExtraCare BeautyClub: An opt-in program that offers additional rewards and benefits for beauty purchases. Enhancements to this program were announced for later summer 2021.

3. ExtraCare Pharmacy & Health Rewards: Another opt-in program that provides additional benefits for pharmacy and health-related purchases.

4. CarePass: CVS's paid membership program that offers additional benefits beyond the free ExtraCare program, including free shipping, 3% back in ExtraBucks, and exclusive discounts.

5. Digital Coupons: Members can access exclusive coupons through the CVS App and have them automatically loaded to their ExtraCare card when they scan it at checkout.

6. In-Store Coupon Kiosk: ExtraCare members can access additional coupons at the in-store coupon kiosk.

7. E-mailed Coupons: Members may receive personalized coupons via email based on their purchase history.

The program also integrates with other CVS initiatives, such as the partnership with DoorDash for delivery of non-prescription essentials, demonstrating CVS's commitment to enhancing the shopping experience through both physical and digital channels.

Conclusion

The CVS ExtraCare Rewards program offers numerous benefits to its members, including free products, birthday rewards, and cash back on purchases. With recent updates that provide more flexibility in accessing and using rewards, the program continues to evolve based on member feedback. By downloading the CVS App and linking their ExtraCare account, members can access weekly free gift offers, birthday benefits, and other exclusive deals. The program represents CVS's commitment to enhancing customer loyalty through valuable rewards and a seamless digital experience.

Sources

1. CVS Is Giving Out Tons of Free Products for the Next 2 Weeks
2. Frugal living series: Saving with CVS ExtraBucks Rewards!
3. CVS Discounts and Freebies: How to Earn and Use ExtraBucks
4. CVS Pharmacy Announces Major Update to ExtraCare Rewards Program
5. CVS updates ExtraCare program with faster rewards and a birthday freebie