I've been TRYING to compile some info for a new CVS FAQ... here's what I typed up several months ago. I'm going to get it posted here so that the info is available. I'll type new posts when I get around to it. Then, someday, I (or kdgilles or another mod!) will clean it up and get a decent-looking FAQ around here!!
www.cvs.com – where you can view weekly sales ad and check ExtraCare coupons & balances.
1-800-SHOP-CVS (1-800-746-7287) – It’s on the back of your card, too.
How do I get a CVS card?
You can either pick one up at the store or go register for one at
www.cvs.com. I recommend getting one at the store so that you can use it immediately! AND, sometimes, when you get a new one from the store, you get lucky to get a card that they’ve been using as the courtesy card for a while. This means that whenever someone came up and didn’t own a card, they scanned the courtesy card! So everything those people have been buying have been crediting to YOUR NEW ACCOUNT! Yay for you! That will make your quarterly spending nice and big (more about that later).
If you pick one up at the store, then you can add info to your account by logging in online. It asks for your ExtraCare card number, zip code, and last name. Leave zip & name blank to log in the first time. Update your account details with your address, email address, phone number, and make sure to check that you WOULD like to receive valuable coupons and offers. You will get cool promos via email and great CVS coupons by mail. If you ever forget your card at the store, they can pull up your account with your phone number.
Your online account:
You’ll see a list of all your current coupons. It shows the value, the expiration date, and the coupon details.
The expiration date is about one month from the day the EB appears on your account. However, whenever the coupon actually prints out, the expiration date will change to be about one month from the date it prints out. If it expires (either before ever printing out or after printing), you can call the ExtraCare department to have them reset it.
The coupon details tell you the date that the promo started, and a brief description of the promo (usually just brand name).
Next to this info is the “Access Now” button. If you want your EB to print out at the store, DO NOT CLICK this link. It’s very tempting, isn’t it?

Clicking that link will allow you to view your EB and print it from home, but it will Activate the EB and it will not print again at the store. If this happens, you can either print from home (although some people have problems redeeming these at the store) or you can call to have it reset.
After current coupons, you see your Current ExtraCare Balances. This shows your quarterly spending, plus it will sometimes show points earned so far towards the weekly deals. Lately, for some reason, the weekly points do not always show in everyone’s accounts. You’ll see point balance, end date, and promotion details.
The point balance means different things for different promos. If the promo is “Spend $X on ABC brand, earn $Y EB”, then your point balance represents the dollar amount you have earned towards the promo. If the promo is “Buy two X products, earn $Y EB”, then the point balance represents how many of those products you have purchased (in this case, the point balance needs to say 2 before you’ll earn the EB). If the promo is unlimited, you’ll earn another EB each time your point balance crosses that threshold. However, even if it’s limit 1, if you buy more, your point balance will show however many you bought, even though you won’t earn the additional EB.
The end date is a little tricky. An end date of 12/16 means that the promo ends at midnight on the night of 12/15 (the morning of 12/16). Sometimes, deals will be advertised as weekly, but we can tell by the end date if it actually extends further than that.
The promotion details also help us learn a little more about the promo. Sometimes, we can find out other things besides what’s advertised that will work for a deal, and the details can provide some insight.