This is a compensated review from BlogHer and Walgreens.
I don’t think it’s overstating it to say that we are a family that loves Walgreens.
No. Let me rephrase that. We loooooooove Walgreens.
It’s shameful, really. We shop there two or three times a week. We know our cashiers. We know our pharmacy techs. And more than anything else, I know to check out in the cosmetics department when I’m stocking up on shampoo and make-up because they’re always well-stocked with coupons.
There’s one other thing I happen to know about Walgreens – and I know it from first-hand experience.
Their store brand is fantastic. Seriously. I buy the Walgreens Brand of, well, whatever as much as I possibly can, especially when it comes to any sort of over-the-counter medication. The Walgreens Brand is almost always significantly more affordable than a competing name brand, and I’ve never been able to tell one iota of difference in quality. If the Walgreens pharmacist recommends it, it’s good enough for me – especially since the Walgreens Brand has the same major active ingredient as other national brands.
A couple of weekends ago was perfect case in point. My husband came down with the man cold of all man colds – there was all manner of loud breathing and loud nose blowing and loud sneezing going on in our house. He was so congested, and one Saturday morning he just seemed miserable and tired and maybe even a wee bit cranky. That’s understandable, though. All that breathing through the mouth can be exhausting.
Given the husband’s condition, I decided that I was going to Take Action. We had plenty of cold medicine already, but I kept thinking that D would be so much more comfortable if we could get a vaporizer cranked up and running. I’m a big believer in using vapors to help a cold; it’s what my mama always did for me, and I think it’s a great way to get some relief without taking decongestant after decongestant. So I drove to Walgreens, grabbed a cart, and stocked up on some cold remedies. I bought a vaporizer, some liquid vapors for the vaporizer, some cough drops, some ibuprofen for the big man and for our little man (he was feeling a little fever-ish) – and every single item was the Walgreens Brand. I probably saved eight or nine dollars just by buying the store brand.
(If this photograph had a title? It would be “Mama Doesn’t Mess Around.”)
(Because Mama likes it when her people are happy and WELL.)
We weren’t at all shocked when everything I bought worked beautifully. We’ve used the Walgreens ibuprofen and the cough drops for years, but the vaporizer and the vapors were new for us. They’re FANTASTIC. I could get used to sleeping with the vaporizer whether anyone is sick or not; it’s a soothing presence in the midst of all the dry indoor heat, and the liquid vapors smell divine – they’re so, so soothing.
Here’s the best news of all (besides the fact that my husband’s cold is almost completely gone): I get to give away a $100 Walgreens gift card. I can tell you in all honesty that there are few things in life I would enjoy more than a Walgreens gift card. I mean, JUST IMAGINE THE POSSIBILITIES. Anyway, if you’d like to win a $100 Walgreens gift card courtesy of BlogHer, leave a comment that answers the following question: do you typically buy store brands or national brands? A combination of the two? Whatever’s the most affordable? Also, be sure to check out other participating bloggers. This giveaway is open February 18 – March 13.
Happy Walgreens, y’all! And by all means: Try Walgreens Brand Health & Wellness products. Visit the site for more information.
Rules:
– No duplicate comments.
– You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:
– a) Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post
– b) Tweet about this promotion and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post
– c) Blog about this promotion and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post
– d) For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.
– This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older.
– Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail.
– You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.
This giveaway is now closed.
We generally by best priced items or specific brands depending on need.
I tweeted: Walgreens Giveaway http://bit.ly/goikPE have u seen this giveaway @BooMama has posted?
Store brand most of the time. We love Walgreens too!
we just got Walgreens up here in Alaska in the last year or so. love the weekly specials. I mostly buy store brand.
We always give the private labels a chance. We find that they are usually just a good as the national brands.
I’m a store brand girl for most items, but I’m very picky about my cough drops if I have a bad enough cough to use a strong one. With my 2 kids, I especially like to buy store brand meds for them since the name brand ones always cost SO MUCH more than the store brands.
I try the store brands and if they are good, keep buying them.
We generally go with what’s most affordable, but when it comes to healthcare related things, more often than not, we get the store brands from places like Walgreens, Walmart and Kroger. Work just as well and usually cost less.
I buy a combination of both. I prefer the store brands but my husband is convinced the store brands are not as effective as the name brands. I know he is wrong but I but the name brands for him and store brands for the rest of the family.
I love Walgreens, too!
I buy a combination of them. Some things I just can’t bring myself to buy that are store brand because they are a little off, but others seem fine.
I typically buy a little of both. I do like the Walgreens brand and the Target brand.
usually buy name-brand, but may switch now after reading your blog post!
I generally buy the store brand, especially with OTC meds. There are a few national brands I’m faithful to, but not many. We believe in pinching our pennies ’round here!
We had the worst hurricanes to ever hit our area a few years ago. It was so bad that most stores shut down. If they were opened, they had very limited hours. We had friends who had no electricity stay at our house and they had a sick baby girl. Walgreens stayed open for us after hours so we could get some medicine for her! We frequent Walgreens several times a week as well! Love it!
With a few exceptions I always buy store brands.
Walgreens is the only store with my antihistamine (their brand of course) so even IF I might be somewhere else….it’s off to Walgreens when I’m serious! and like you said…shopping the cosmetics aisle is where I am most at home! Love it.
For cold/cough/pain reliver medicines, I usually by the store brand! If the national brand is comparable or cheaper, then I’ll go with the natinal brand (especially if I have a coupon).
sazzyfrazz at gmail dot com
I usually make a weekly trip to Walgreens armed with my coupon binder…..I buy name brands with coupons and I especially love when there is a “Wags” store coupon that I can stack with a manufacturer coupon…and then there are the Register Rewards! Love it!!!
I love Walgreene’s, too. I’m there a couple of times a week and I always buy the store brand. Love, love, love your blog!!
I love Walgreens. I’m there a couple of times a week and I always buy the Walgreens brand.
A combination of both, for sure. Some things I just want the name I trust, others I ‘m willing to take a gamble :)
I use both, It really depends on what Im buying but I have tried Walgreens brand and it is great!!
sweokgrl@gmail.com
Mostly store brands…and I love Walgreens as well
My tweet
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http://twitter.com/bdiane34/status/38793176659673088
Love Walgreens. Thanks for the chance!
Love Walgreens! The cashiers and pharmacy staff know my family quite well and are always wonderful! That being said, I usually buy store brands. At Walgreens I use my W card and you get 10% cash back for each Walgreens brand item you buy!
I will generally buy whatever’s cheaper…which most often ends up being the store brand. I cannot even imagine all the goodness I could get with $100 at Walgreens. I might have to pace myself!
I always try the store brands first. If they are good (and they almost always are), I stick with them. If not, I switch to the name brand.
i almost always buy the store brand. Unless there is a major sale or coupon I think I would rather use that money on something else! Walgreens is great.
I’ve learned that most store brands are just as good or better than name brands. Plus they cost less then the namebrand with a coupon would. Walgreens is a fav of mine too.
I buy store brand a lot, except for what I call “direct foods”. That would be anything I’m going to eat as-is, straight out of its packaging. Condiments, poptarts, canned goods, etc are name brand only. “Ingredients” on the other hand, (cooking oil, sugar, milk, spices…) those are always el cheapo.
A Walgreen’s on every corner where I live – fantastic!
I almost always buy generic, particularly at Walgreens.
Honestly … at Walgreens I buy the store brand. Most stores I do that on meds, I guess. Food … not so much.
LOVE Walgreens! Buy the store brand all the time. My pediatrician actually told me to never buy the name brands (especially Tylenol products) due to all the recalls. What I love most about Walgreens is their cheap milk. Run in all the time and grab a gallon without having to hassle with the grocery store.
A mixture of both – depending on what it is I’m purchasing. Some store brand items (like poptarts) are a waste of tastebuds & money for us. I LOVE Walgreens, too…actually just got back from there & watched my total go from 22 dollars down to 8. Woot woot! I would LOVE to win the gift card & put it to good use!
I usually do a combination of national brands and store brands. I’ve been very happy with all of the Walgreens brand products, too.
Blogged about the giveaway here: http://hopemeyers.blogspot.com/2011/02/chance-to-win-100-dollars-to-walgreens.html
Typically whatever my wife tells me to get!
My love for Walgreens is great too but you may just have me beat. Yay for giveaways!
I buy the store brands when I can.
I like Walgreens & shop their a lot. I buy both it just depends on the price difference and there are still items that I will only buy the name brand.
I’ve slowly begun to use store brands, but I’ve been reluctant. They pretty much have to prove themselves to me an item at a time.
I almost always choose the store brand. Definitely a better value and no difference in the results.
I could really use this since a new Walgreens is being built down the street as I write this!
For drugs, I usually buy store brands on most things. I’ll compare ingredients and if they’re the same for the active ingredients, it’s the store brand for me. Why not save $$$?
I almost always buy store brands; for most products I can’t even tell the difference. But I do love my name-brand mascara and Revlon Pearl Plum lipgloss! :)
Told my Twitter peeps! http://twitter.com/#!/danddgiveaways/status/38939262082613248
I always buy the store brand! We just had a Walgreens move into our community. They opened up a couple of weeks ago. I have not been there but would love a gift card to liven up my first visit! :-)
I am a price shopper, so if the store brand is lower in price, then that is what I go for!
Walgreens is where all my prescriptions come from, so many drug store type items in our house have come from there!
Thanks for the giveaway!
Store brands always.
I too love the Walgreens.
Hi! Thanks for the chance to win! As a general rule, I read the labels to compare ingredients and if they are pretty much the same, I go with the store brand which is almost always a significant savings.
I fell in love with Walgreens when we lived in Houston. It’s not the most convenient drug store to our new house, but it’s worth the extra time to get there b/c they ARE the best! I am not beholden to a name brand; I go for best prices.
I would say I buy the store brands about 95% of the time!
I buy a combination of both name brands and store brands.
I’m a loyal store brand shopper…for most things. :)
I usually buy store brands when it comes to medicine, but there are a couple things I do buy the name brand on, like Advil Cold & Sinus Liquid Gels, and my Claritan Liquid Gels. They don’t sell those in a store brand. But all of out other basic medication is always store brand!
Oh, I almost always buy what’s cheaper. (And this week I discovered the BEST eyeshadow brush in the history of the world at Walgreens!)
I am a HUGE fan of the Walgreens brand of everything. I am also a W card member and pay I think$20.00 bucks a year to get more discounts and I love that! I was so excited to read your post! Love me some Walgreens! ! !
I LOVE store brands!!! And Walgreens is one of my favorite places to shop! Love their brand
Love Walgreen’s and shop there 3-4 times a week…but because of your recommendations, I am gonna try their brand!!!
I almost never buy store brands of anything. But I was sick last week and ran into Walgreens to get some Tylenol Cold and they didn’t carry it so I bought the Walgreens version of it and it worked great. Maybe I should try that more often!
I buy a combination of store and national brands. If it’s not food, I will almost always buy the store brand. I love my Walgreens too!
I typically use the store brand for over the counter medications and use both for food items.
I LURV the Walgreens. Always a good selection of greeting cards, too!! Wish there was one right on the corner…
I’m great at comparison shopping and usually buy what’s cheapest (every penny saved adds up, right?) and try store brands often. After reading this, I’ll give more Walgreen’s brand items a try!
I heart Walgreens! There’s one about a mile from our house which is convenient and dangerous all at the same time! I am definitely a Walgreens brand buyer, too. I completely agree that their products are just as good as national brands and MUCH cheaper. They have super friendly pharmacists who fill prescriptions QUICKLY which is very much appreciated when you’re the one with a 2 year old who’s just been diagnosed with the flu and you’re also dragging your 8 month old along for the fun!?!?! :)
Will be checking into a Walgreens near me soon! $100 gift cards would help!! Thanks!
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blog post
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I typically buy store brands, and I shop at Walgreens alot, I have bought many, many items that are Walgreen’s brand and never had any issues with anything, We love their Ibuprofen, especially when its buy one get one free, I stock up on those, the savings are great, love their health & beauty products too, shampoos, conditioners, ect
Thanks for the giveaway
tweeted giveaway here
http://twitter.com/#!/deb126/status/39048802417643520
Walgreens is awesome, love it! thanks for having this giveaway!
I buy whatever is cheapest. If I have a coupon or there is a sale and the national name brand winds up cheaper then I buy name brand, but other times the generic or store brands are cheaper and then that’s what I buy. I have no brand preference as long as it works the same and it’s just as safe.
I have loved Walgreen’s for years. And I, too, almost always buy the Walgreen’s brand. I watched a documentary once where they showed OTC meds at the factory and they were being bottled with many different labels….same stuff, just some name brand labels and some store brand…..same meds. Decided me right then and there…..why pay double for the same little pills.
I use a mixture of the two, depending on how I can get the best price. Usually the store brand is the least expensive and does work just as well. However, being a huge coupon user and someone who sometimes plays the “drugstore games”, I can often find the name brands for little to nothing combining coupons and sales, at which point I stock up because with three little ones in the house, when someone gets really sick, it’s just a matter of time before it spreads to us all, and I do NOT like going to the drugstore when I am sick, haha!
http://twitter.com/?status=Walgreens%20Giveaway%20-%20http%3A%2F%2Fboomama.net%2F2011%2F02%2F18%2Fwalgreens-giveaway%2F#!/KappaVelvit/status/39066587612979200
It just depends on the product as to whether I buy the store brand or the name brand. I OFTEN buy the Walgreens brand though!!
I am a Walgreen’s fan, too! I tend to buy a combination of store brand and major brands, but mostly store brand. I usually compare the ingredients and most of the time they’re the same. So, it doesn’t make sense to pay more for the same thing. :)
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Walgreen’s Rocks!
I definitely buy Walgreen’s brand products! I also frequent my Walgreen’s at least twice a week. I get my photos developed there, too.
WE use the store brand by default and will only use a national brand if experience has proven that a store brand just isn’t as good. This is pretty rare.
I seek out store brands on all products, from food to cleaning products to HB items. The only time I buy name brand is when the coupons make it cheaper or free!
I tweeted: http://twitter.com/#!/coraliecowan
I love Walgreens! We normally buy store brand, but sometimes it depends on the product!
I love Walgreens Register Rewards!
I tend to buy store brands if it’s possible and if it’s cheaper than buying the name brand with a coupon. Since my dad worked for a pharmaceuticals company for more than 20 years, I still feel kind of guilty if I don’t by name-brand drugs.
I used to use only store brands but I’ve found that I can actually save money buying name brands when I combine a sale and coupons. I also love me some Walgreens!
I am a store brand kindagal. There are only a few products I buy the name brand of. I firmly believe Walgreens sees a portion of my weekly paycheck each week. I heart Walgreens!
I love Walgreens – thanks for the chance at the seepstakes!
I shop at Walgreens all the time! I but store brands most of the time unless I have a coupon or a sale makes the national brand less. An interesting fact -we are on a spetic system and I only buy tp at Walgreens. The one ply is A LOT cheaper!! HA!
I am a total believer in store brands. We have a running joke that when my niece was younger she said to me, “CaCa, we have this cereal at our house, too…but it’s in a box, not a bag.” HAHA! (and yes – she calls me CaCa…)
I would love to win a trip to WAlgreens you find good stuff at good prices . They have wide assortment of things you need.
I buy a lot of store brands. It depends on the item if I’ll buy it or name brand. I’ve found that in the nonfood area, I can’t tell any difference. Sometimes in the food area I can. I try to get the store brand as often as possible because of the huge savings.
I LOVE Walgreens! I just started shopping there in the last year and it’s my favorite place to browse. I have had both knees replaced in the last 8 months (June and December) and my phys. therapy center is right beside Walgreens. Since I go to therapy (clarify PHYSICAL) 3X a week, I stop in at Walgreens 2-3X a week, too. How thoughtful of them to be so handy!! I buy store brand products and absolutely love their holiday decorations (little things for my classroom) and their photo center. Awesome!!
I love Walgreens, too. I don’t always buy the Walgreens brand, but sometimes. It does depend on if the name brand is on sale or not! My fave thing about Walgreens is their cosmetics! They have such good deals! If you catch a BOGO, you can really stock up. I also love their selection, they always have new lines and new palates before any other store does.
I definitely buy store brands! There are some national brands for certain products that have my preference, but for the most part – if the store brand is cheaper at stores I trust (like Walgreens, Publix, etc.) I go with that.
Yep, both for me. Depends on the bargain, and if hubby was happy witht he store brand last time.
I always, always search to make sure there’s no store brand for whatever product I need. I’m pleased that Walgreens is coming out with even more than ever. It’s a rare day when the store brand doesn’t cost less. thank you for this chance!