I know you have all been waiting for this with the same anticipation as the start of American Idol. I had a great conversation with Ravi from the Walmart PR team and cleared up a lot of things. In addition to Walmart’s price matching policy they will honor competitors coupons that are for a specific price on an item, not a dollar amount off of an item. For example Walgreens has coupons in their Sunday ad, Walmart will honor those coupons(similar to a price match) and yes for all you sickos out there you can combine a manufacturer’s coupon to this. (they are hard to match-up!) Here is a bullet point format of what I learned.
- They do and must accept valid internet printable coupons!
- They do accept all valid Manufacturer’s Catalinas, even with other store logos!
- They do accept competitor’s coupons that state a specific price for an item and they can be combined with a Manufacturer’s Coupon. (See the coupons on the bottom of the picture? They will basically “price match” those coupons from Walgreens”
- Walmart IS really trying to enter the coupon world! No, I do not work for Walmart 🙂
- Walmart needs to hire me to go around the country and train all of their managers on how their policy works! (crickets chirping?)
I know this doesn’t answer all of your deepest darkest coupon desires, but it is a vast improvement.
If these things are not being honored at your local Walmart here is what I suggest…
1. Print off the emails I have posted and put them in your binder.
2. Print the Walmart Coupon Policy and carry it with you.
3. Take down the name of your manager and the store number.
4. IF 1 & 2 DO NOT WORK, Call Corporate and ask them to call your Manager to educate them on their policy and request a follow up call to ensure resolution. 1-800-WALMART (1-800-925-6278)
I’m off to try this out at our store, I have never tried to use a catalina before. I will update later with the results!
“Walmart needs to hire me to go around the country and train all of their managers on how their policy works! (crickets chirping?)”
Paul, I wish ALL stores would do this. I would LOVE a job like that!! All these stores all have their own policies (even though there’s a corporate policy), and it makes it harder to use coupons and the store loses business. I know there are certain Walmarts I will and won’t shop because of this.
What about the catalinas that are $5 or $10 off your next purchase?
Exactly! What about Register Rewards???
My husband tried using register rewards at a self checkout at our walmart and the machine didn’t accept it.
They are going to beep, it will have to over ridden by the cashier.
Who could we contact to find our what competitor’s coupons that they will take? I have a REALLY hard time when I go to the Wal-mart in my area. Can only imagine the hassle I would recieved if I tried to use a competitor’s coupon there. 🙁 I wish that someone would really go and teach them on their coupon policy!!! Hint….Hint……I would show them too! 😉
The coupons in the bottom photograph say $x amount off not how much the item is – I thought WM will accept the coupon IF it states how much the item is but NOT IF it says x amount off?
Will they accept coupons for items that are free such as 1.00 on a bottle of Gain when the Gain is say $.98?
I read somewhere that if you give a coupon that is more than the item they give you the overage back. We’ll have to see I guess.
Looks like they are…
Hi Paul,
I just discovered your site a week or so ago. I wanted to thank you for doing the homework to find out all of the info on the WM Coupon Policy as it relates to competitors coupons. It won’t be easy to retrain every cashier and manager in America but I feel confident you can do it since I did it for Target. 🙂 LOL
For the past 3+ years, I have been posting all things Target. I had AttentionTargetShoppers.com (still do only I don’t post there any longer). Last Oct. I moved all of my blogging and deal finding to AttentionDealShoppers.com and still include Target info but have added a lot more, Walmart included.
I’m sure I’ll be doing a lot of linking back to you now that I have found your site. It’s really nice to see a male blogger in the frey! I have become friends with Neal over at STLCouponWizard. He is a WAGS guy.
I blatantly copied/pasted/linked to this post tonight. I didn’t want to get any part of it wrong so I hope you will forgive me for being such a copycat.
http://attentiondealshoppers.com/2011/01/does-walmart-accept-competitors-coupons-part-ii/
Ginger
Way to go! I should probably read all the posts you have on the Walmart coupon policy (and will definitely soon) but is there anything specific about the store ads that say “card price” next to the item? A cashier recently told me they weren’t supposed to do price match those items, which factors out ALL the stores with loyalty cards (Kroger & Randall’s in my area). So the cashier decided to be “nice” and do it anyway. Then I handed her the coupon for the item she price matched and she said I was pushing it and handed it back to me!
I have finally taken the time to read over the policies and on the Wal-Mart website, the Price matching policy states (under the FIRST bullet point): ‘We do honor “Preferred Shopping Card” advertised prices.’ I am a non-confrontational person but when you mess with money that I could be saving, that might change! Thank you for all your work, for addressing this & making it so simple to understand … great job, Paul!
By the way Walmart shoppers, Swiss Miss cocoa is $1 at my Walmart. I used the $ 2 off coupon, no questions asked.
i did this today aswell. Isnt that such a good deal?? too bad that swiss miss coupon is no longer available!
I am SO GLAD you did this review! However I literally was talked to so RUDELY by both the cashier and the Manager at my Upland CA Walmart store today when I tried to use a .50 cent off coke Catalina coupon I had received at Vons! They treated me awful (as usual) and acted as if they were in the right regarding them not taking the coupon! They kept insisting it was a Vons store Coupon and didn’t matter it said Manufacturers coupon on the top! I really dont think I will shop here anymore even though the prices are lower on some items the hassle isn’t worth it! I called customer service and they said they would fwd the complaint as usual. 🙁 So upsetting, but Im super glad you were able to do it!!!
Thanks for the info. about the Catalina coupons. My local Walmart is fairly coupon friendly, so I will have to try that sometime!
I’m confused!! My local Walmart specifically ONLY takes competitors coupons IF they state a $$/off-NOT an advertised price? So are they wrong and I’m lucky they’ve been allowing it? Side note-I’m new to couponing’ & what is a ‘catalina?’ Tks!!
Yes, you have been getting lucky. I don’t expect that to last. A catalina is a coupon that prints out with your receipt at check out from the manufacturer. Its like cash that the coupon gods rain down on savvy shoppers.
Paul,
Thanks for all of the WM info. One question… Have you asked WM specifically what thier stores are supposed to do when a coupon value is greater than the actual price? Should they reduce the coupon value, accept it as is, or reject the coupon entirely?
This seems to be the only problem I have with my WM store.
Anything “official” you have available would be greatly appreciated.
I will send an email off!
any update sir?
Okay, I am on round 3 with my local Walmart. In regards to the Walgreens RR (register rewards), I have received 3 different answers from 3 different managers there, and the last one asked me why I would want to use a “Walgreens” coupon there any way!!!!
OK, I know RR are $ of next in store purchase and are a MFG COUPON, my question is, the back states limit 1 offer offer of like kind per purchase, does this mean that I can only use one of my RR coupons? I have emailed corporate and not getting anywhere fast. One manager took them and allowed me to use all I had until I paid my bill. The next one got mad and told me I wasn’t buying any of the items from P&G, The one that called me tonight said that you can only use 1 RR print off per order.
Does anyone know?????? All were very nice except the last one, surely Walmart has a corporate policy concerning these RR $$ and if they are getting their money back, why would they not accept them???
Can some one PLEASE clarify if they know????
WM is supposed to accept all cupons and price matches in the papers that are WITHIN DATE. If it’s a price from two sundays ago you can forget it. This includes all advertised lower prices AND price off unless it says (when you use cupon in sunday paper). Hopefully one would know they actually have to physically have the cupon. Make sure to read your cupons carefully and make sure that when it calls for two packages of something your not buying ONE two pack… the cupon will NOT ring up. As for having a cupon over the amount of the item its for, policy has just recently changed. At one point in time it was considered cupon fraud and if the cashier didn’t notice they would get into trouble for it later even if the cupon scanned. Now, however, the rest of the cupon is to go toward other items purchased OR!!!!…… If the register prompts it at the end the cashier is supposed to give cash back. This does not count for the cupons that say (value price up to $4.00) or something similar. The cupon HAS TO SCAN not be typed in for over the amount if its a buy one get one free. Iv never seen an RR or catalina but if it says you can only use one per purchase… then thats what im guessing the rule would be if they even take it at all, but since its a competitors add im thinking they dont get the money back for that. If you have a cupon from another store then they have to use it no questions asked. Nydia you got screwed twice. The first time it doesn’t have to scan they can type it in. The second time was with a price match and a cupon which is also fine. In most situations you can call a manager over FAST and most of them will fix the situation for you fast. Remember that its easier for them to give you cupons then to get customer complaints.