Walgreens Register Rewards and Thrift Store Value

I don't understand the Walgreens Register Rewards and why people seem to promote as money off the item you are currently buying. If buying a 12-pack of Pepsi is 3 packs for $12 and you get $3 in register rewards back, that doesn't make them 3/$9 it is still 3/$12 because that $3 in register rewards is for the next time you buy an item and not for the current item bought.

I get frustrated when I see people saying:
Aveeno Hair Care, $6.49
Use the $2/1 Aveeno Nourish coupon from the 5-31 Red Plum Insert
You earn $1.50 in Register Rewards to make it $2.99 - Because this isn't true the final price would be 4.49 for the hair care and you would have 1.50 for the next time you buy.

I looked this up and found out some more interesting information about this Walgreens Register Rewards that makes me concerned:
"I went to Walgreens today to use my rewards that I got a month ago and b/c it was expired, I couldn't use it!!"

"In the past you could use these rebates like cash on future purchases. Apparently it has gotten more complicated....."

I didn't like the fact that they were dropping the rebate option that allowed you to build up a shopping card that you could use as cash with no expiration date. I would rather they have gotten rid of it all together and not replaced it. But maybe it appeals to someone other than myself and the above commentary.

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I don't like to buy shoes from thrift store unless they are unworn and come with a box. However, one summer about 3 years ago I needed some sandals and found a gently used pair at the thrift store that were mostly rubber. I bought them with the idea of soaking them and cleaning them up really well and since they were $7, if they only lasted a summer it would be worth it.

This is the third summer and they still fit me well, are very comfortable and will probably go a fourth or fifth summer.

Unfortunately, the sandals I bought at the department store for around $50 are not working out as well. I bought these with a gift card and wanted ones that looked sturdy, however I have found that either my feet were smaller at the time I bought them or they are stretching out too much because they fall off my feet constantly as I walk.

Based on this information, the black, thrift store sandals that were gently used are better than the tan sandals bought new last year. I got a better value from the thrift store sandals than from the department store sandals.

This both did and didn't surprise me. I am finding that clothes I have bought at the thrift store seem to last longer than ones I buy at the store. I buy good quality clothes at both places but it is the value that I get out of them.

If I buy a shirt at the thrift store that has a small tear for $4, I take it home and sew it up; no loss, I know what I bought. However, if I buy a new shirt at a store for $40 and it gets a tear in it, I feel I am not getting my money's worth, even if it was the same brand. I expect more from a shirt that costs $40 as opposed to $4.

This just makes my attitude toward thrift store value even more set in favor of checking them first before buying new.