Thanks for writing about this one Donna. I read your posts all of the time, and am slowly becoming much more frugal.  I did this with three  different new prescriptions at CVS, each one for a $25 gift card. I used that $75 to start earning, and rolling ECB. I now have $92 in ECB and enough toilitries to last my family at least a year. (and that doesn't even include all of the ones that I have given away) I just received another GC promo from CVS...and am hoping that I can come up with a prescription that I need filled before it expires. I did not know that so many other stores offerd GC though, and now I will be on the look out! Thanks again, and keep the great information coming!!

People should be aware that if they have been prescribed a controlled drug (Class 2 - Class 5) by their doctor like some pain killers or ADD medication that they can only be transferred once.  Ask your pharmacist if the drug you are getting is a "control".  If it is, be sure you are transferring it the pharmacy you want to pick it up from permanently because you can't move it once its been transferred!!

Smart woman! We rarely have prescriptions to fill, but you are right I should be stashing those coupons and ads; just in case!

Excellent post, Donna!  I play the Prescription Transfer Game every month with my monthly prescription.  I then combine my (Rite Aid, CVS, KMart, Meijer) gift cards with manufacturer coupons, store coupons, store sales, etc.  and make out like a bandit!  I haven't paid for shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes, etc. for almost 2 years!  Sometimes I make even more money on the deal by purchasing items (most recently Garnier Fructis Shampoos & Conditioners) that are free after Rite Aid's Single Check Rebate.  Tomorrow I'm actually heading to Kmart for a $10 gift card, then transferring my next refill back to Rite Aid for another $25.  I figure that if the stores want to keep giving me money, how can I say no to that?  I see the same Pharmacists at each store, and they never say a word- they ring up my prescrption, I pay, and they hand me my free gift card and a smile!  

Also many gift cards can now be bought, sold, and/or traded on. I just read about this today. Plastic Jungle, the site that facilitates all this commerce, will even buy out your $25 gift card.

For example, a $25 Kohl's gift card you received for Xmas (but will not use), can be sold to PJ for $13.75 The only catch is that they keep 10% commission and also the gift card has to have atleast $25 in it.

Still, not bad for web 2.0 commerce. Of course, there is also Ebay.

i understand how difficult these times are financially, but as a pharmacist of over 25 years, i do not think it is in your best interest to transfer prescriptions to other pharmacies for gift card rewards......all your medications should be tracked through one pharmacy so that your healthcare providers can make the best decisions for you. Many patients see a number of physicians and do not tell each one anything about what the others have previously prescribed. By going to one pharmacy, your records are there in total and the pharmacist can judge whether your new prescription can be taken with all others, as well as, if any duplicate medications are being filled.  Professionally, I think that you should find a pharmacy you are comfortable with, that provides the service and time devoted to your healthcare and your best reward will be someone who will be there to answer your questions and keep you safe.

I am responding to the post listed in the third paragraph below.

Here is my question: Do I get one gift card just for transferring all of my prescriptions over at once...or do I get a gift card for each of my prescriptions that I transfer (say I tranfer Ambien and Wellbutrin...would that be one gift card or two gift cards?)

Celicia (Posted 03.07.08 3:40 PM )

Thanks for writing about this one Donna. I read your posts all of the time, and am slowly becoming much more frugal.  I did this with three  different new prescriptions at CVS, each one for a $25 gift card. I used that $75 to start earning, and rolling ECB. I now have $92 in ECB and enough toilitries to last my family at least a year. (and that doesn't even include all of the ones that I have given away) I just received another GC promo from CVS...and am hoping that I can come up with a prescription that I need filled before it expires. I did not know that so many other stores offerd GC though, and now I will be on the look out! Thanks again, and keep the great information coming!!

I am glad to hear from LDCRPH, the pharmacist.  I wondered about drug interactions being caught if you use different pharmacies.  Doesn't seem worth the free toothpaste to have a reaction and die.

I have a prescription at Walgreens I want to transfer this month to Target for the gift card.  Can I then transfer back to Walgreens next month for their gift card even though I already had the same prescription with them?  Any info will be appreciated :)

I'm sorry but anyone who thinks this is a good idea is just plain stupid. I'm in my fifth year of pharmacy school and intern at a local pharmacy. Every now and then we see those idiots who bring coupons in every other month and transfer things around like it's their second job. We know who they are, and when we call the other pharmacies to transfer their medications they also know all about you and the little game you play. And believe me... none of us think very highly of you. People like you have no idea what a pharmacist does... you are convinced they count pills all day, when in reality in most pharmacies they don't count anything at all. You have no idea how many drug interactions we catch all day, every day. You also have no idea how many therapeutic duplications we see every day. Your pharmacist can't do his/her job properly if you have prescriptions all over the place. You might think you are being smart by doing this, but in the end you LOSE... unless you ask your family to bury you with your gift cards.