Question- What is a catalina coupon?
A Catalina is a coupon that prints at the register after you are done paying. It prints out of a machine next to the register, after your receipt prints. It is usually triggered by an item that was purchased in that transaction. Most the time you have to buy a certain number of times, like buy 10 items and get a $10 catalina. It also can be triggered when you buy a dollar amount like $20 of participating products and get a $5 catalina back.. Some times it’s a coupon and sometimes a gift certificate that is used like cash on your next purchase. My local stores that participate are Albertsons, and Walgreens. At Walgreens they call them Register Rewards.
If you ever have a problem with the store not printing your catalina, save your receipt and call the Catalina company 1-888-8coupon
Each store is a little different in how you can use these coupons. A few tips that my be helpful.
Albertsons Catalina tips:
- Will not honor after it expires, so watch your expiration dates close
- You can pay with more than one catalina as long as the catalina total does not go over the amount due. They will not give cash back.
- You can use a catalina coupon for the same product – example If you buy cereal and get back a $5 catalina you can buy more cereal and use your $5 catalina coupon, and another coupon will still print.
- Make sure you only buy the amount of items the sale says- example if the sale says buy 5 fruit snacks and get back a $2 catalina, but if you buy 10 fruit snack all at once you will still only get 1 $2 catalina to print. It is best to buy 5 at a time and each set of 5 you will get $2 back.
Walgreens Catalina tips:
- Will not honor after it expires, so watch your expiration dates close
- Walgreens will ONLY take their own catalinas
- You can pay with more than one catalina as long as the catalina total does not go over the amount due. They will not give cash back. But you have to make sure you have more items than coupons, and they consider a catalina coupon. Example- If you try to pay for a your two toothbrushes with 2 MFR coupons and a catalina?the register will beep at you……it is because the Walgreensonly allows one MRF coupon per item. They count the Catalina as a MFR coupon. If you have more coupons than items, some times you have to use “filler” item, find something cheep like a 10 cent pencil. Some cashiers know why the register beeps for this problem…….but most of them don’t. If you get one that does not know, They get flustered a will tell you that your coupon is not good……It is always so important to be an informed shopper!
- DO NOT use your catalina to pay for the same item or another catalina WILL NOT print.
- Make sure you only buy the amount of items the sale says- example if the sale says buy 5 fruit snacks and get back a $2 catalina, but if you buy 10 fruit snack all at once you will still only get 1 $2 catalina to print. It is best to buy 5 at a time and each set of 5 you will get $2 ?back.
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I’m so glad I found this link about what a catalina is! I’m just beginning on this coupon clipping frenzy and have been wondering what a catalina was.
My $10 catalina did not print at Albertsons and they did not know how to fix it. do you know how I can go about getting my $10 cat? It has made my great shopping trip not so great.
Sherri did it not print at all? or did it print a $5 one? I had this happen earlier in the week and it was because one item was the wrong size….we took that items out and then they rang all my items up again a catalina printed for the full $10.00 it is best to try and fix it right at the store. But you can bring your receipt and back ans have them try to fix it for you. If not call 1-888-8coupon that is the catalina company and they can help you too.
I have found what you are saying for the Walgreens catalinas is not true if you are including their register rewards as part of your criteria. My friend in California was told only 1 per transaction and I was told that as well in Oklahoma. So we contacted 1-800-Walgreens and asked – we were told that only 1 per transaction and we asked how come some stores will take more than 1 and they said they aren’t enforcing the program – but that Corporate is starting to come down hard on the stores and expecting them to enforce it or there will be reprocussions. May be time for us all to contact them and let them know this isn’t a good thing they are trying to enforce!
Moffatt Family,
As of April 3 All ablertsons will no longer take any competators coupons…no more Walgreens RR. BUT for them not to take there own double is an issue that need to be addressed. I would suggest you call and talk to a manager.
In Wyoming where I live Albertsons wouldn’t take mine… the manager said “Unless they are pharmacy coupon” I told her Walgreens is a pharmacy – but no go
They also looked at me like I was crazy when I tried to use the double coupons from the newspaper! 
I don’t think they are used to couponers! 
Thanks for all your great tips!
Fred Meyer’s also prints out catalinas. They will accept competitors catalinas ie from Walgreens and Albertsons. Also, Albertsons accepts Fred Meyer’s catalinas just like they do Walgreen’s catalinas.
Wow, I am so in awe about all of this. I am excited to try some of this out
In most cases it is just what the stores ad tell you. Like this week it says right in the Albertsons Ad buy `10 participating items and get $10 back in a coupon for your next shopping visit.
But every now and then they have one that is not in the ad….like the Extra 3.50 on fruit snacks. I find out about those from a forum. From Utah.
How do you know what products and how many will get you a catalina?
In my Area, walmart and Rite aide DO NOT use or take them.
Thank you! That answers a lot of questions.
Do you know if other stores will take these (i.e. Rite Aid, Walmart, etc.)?
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