Walmart has a pretty broad coupon acceptance policy. Click here for the downloadable PDF file. They'll accept most coupons, including Internet printables. There are some exceptions, so be sure to look over their coupon policy carefully. Unlike the drug stores, you aren't able to "stack" more than one coupon for additional savings. You may only have one coupon per item.
There are some perks to shopping at Walmart. They include:
- Overage: I love this! If the coupon value exceeds the price of the item, the excess may be given to the customer as cash or applied towards the basket purchase. That means you can actually get money back! For example, if shampoo is on sale for $1.50 and you have a -$2.00 coupon, you'll make $0.50 on that purchase. If you have other items in your order (like I always do), that $0.50 will go towards the cost of those items. If you don't, they can actually hand you the change from the register. If you plan on getting cash back, make sure you have the coupon acceptance policy with you. That will hopefully keep you from having issues with the cashier or manager.
- Ad match guarantee: Walmart will match the lower advertised price of an identical product. For example, if another store has Coke products advertised for $2.50 and Walmart has the same Coke products for $3.49, Walmart will match the $2.50 price. Walmart says you don't even have to bring the ad with you. However, I always do in case the cashier wants to verify. The Walmart item must be identical to the advertised item.
Price matching is not as easy as the commercials make it seem. There are certain guidelines you must follow, so go here to download and read over their policy. My Walmart won't match an item's price AFTER Register Rewards (example: $2.99 with $2.00 RR = $0.99), but I've heard that others do. You could always ask your local Walmart and find out.
Walmart's ad match guarantee is great when you want to do one-stop shopping. However, I'd much rather give my business to stores other than Walmart, so I try to buy my items at the advertised retailers.
- Clearance: Be sure to check out Walmart's clearance section! You can probably find clearance items on end caps throughout the store. My Walmart has two aisles near their lawn and garden section reserved just for clearance items. Sometimes prices aren't clearly marked, so take your items to one of the price scanners located throughout the store before heading to the register.
Here's an example of a Walmart shopping trip. It shows how I price matched and received overage on a few items.
September 2, 2011
Walmart Total before coupons: $37.57 + tax
My Out-of-Pocket: $4.91 + tax
Savings: $32.66, 87%
My Out-of-Pocket: $4.91 + tax
Savings: $32.66, 87%
I don't have the exact total with tax. A few of these items were purchased on two separate orders because of the limit of 4 like coupons per transaction.
2 Dannon Light & Fit 4-pk yogurts @ $1.78 (price matched: regularly $1.96) = $3.56
Used (2) -$1.00 mfr IP coupons
Cost: $1.56 or $0.78 each 4-pk (about $0.20 per yogurt)
Used (2) -$1.00 mfr IP coupons
Cost: $1.56 or $0.78 each 4-pk (about $0.20 per yogurt)
2 Freschetta by the Slice pizzas @ $2.08 = $4.16
Used (2) FREE coupons mailed from their giveaway a few weeks ago
Cost: FREE
Used (2) FREE coupons mailed from their giveaway a few weeks ago
Cost: FREE
4 Simply Orange juices @ $1.00 (rollback: regularly $1.28) = $4.00
Used (4) -$1.00 IPs
Cost: FREE
Used (4) -$1.00 IPs
Cost: FREE
4 Simply Lemonade juices @ $1.00 (rollback: regularly $1.28) = $4.00 (Hubby already drank one of them.)
Used (4) -$1.00 IPs
Cost: FREE
Used (4) -$1.00 IPs
Cost: FREE
5 Cascade trial packs @ $0.97 = $4.85
Used (5) -$1.00 mfr Qs
Cost: $0.15 overage (moneymaker)
Used (5) -$1.00 mfr Qs
Cost: $0.15 overage (moneymaker)
Febreze fabric spray $2.00 (clearance)
Used -$1.00 mfr Q
Cost: $1.00
Used -$1.00 mfr Q
Cost: $1.00
5 Febreze Noticeables décor warmers @ $3.00 (clearance) = $15.00
Used (5) -$3.00 mfr Qs
Cost: FREE
Used (5) -$3.00 mfr Qs
Cost: FREE
Polka dot beverage dispenser $2.50 (clearance)
