Wal-Mart posted an updated coupon policy this week, and it’s heating up the coupon blogosphere. Why? The information in the policy is so coupon-friendly that it could likely become a game-changer for Wal-Mart.
While Wal-Mart has always matched advertised prices in other area stores’ flyers, they’ve upped the ante with the new coupon policy, which not only allows for acceptance of some competitors’ coupons (think Dominick’s Super Coupons and Walgreens store coupons!) as well as competitors’ Catalina coupons. And, keep reading… there’s an even more surprising stipulation addressed as well.
From the new policy:
We gladly accept the following coupons:
Competitors’ coupons that feature a specific item for a specified price, for example, $2.99 (photo shows a store coupon for Rice Krispies with another store’s logo on it)
Checkout coupons (also called “Catalinas”) that are printed at our competitors’ registers, have “Manufacturer Coupon” with specific requirements printed on them, a valid remit address for the manufacturer, valid expiration date, and a scannable bar code (photo shows a general “Save $2.00” Catalina)
And, the most surprising of all – coupon overage is addressed, and the policy states that “change may be given” in an overage situation, or the overage may be applied toward the entire purchase:
Coupons may exceed the price of the item. Change may be given or applied toward the cost of the basket purchase.
I have to say that I’m quite impressed. Wal-Mart has had a reputation of being semi-coupon-unfriendly, but this policy? Just about as coupon-friendly as it could possibly be, complete with clear wording, brightly-colored artwork and photographic examples of coupons that any shopper or cashier can easily understand and interpret.
Coupon Maven says
Special thanks to Rachel at Mashup Mom for sending the policy link over, and breaking the news in Chicagoland on this one as well. What a find.
mashupmom says
… I did not. Rebecca at the Coupon Trainer sent me the info, which she got from Hip 2 Save. It’s like a big game of telephone :)
(Whoops, this was meant in reply to Jill’s comment below.)
sylouette says
I noticed one of the rules was that it only accepts one coupon per item. So the downside is that you can’t stack coupons there….correct?
Also, if we bring in an ad that shows a sale price, i.e at Jewel, are we able to also use a coupon on top of the sale ad? Or will Walmart only allow the ad price without the coupon?
flygirl says
At Walmart today, my register rewards were refused. I had my coupon policy with me. Cashier checked with supervisor, then Manager and told me I couldn’t use them. I showed them their store policy and that the RR met all their criteria. I will be sending a note to corporate and let you guys know what i find out.
Linda4583 says
Today I went to Walmart with a lot on internet coupons. I bought the Philadelphia Cooking Creme which was $2.48. My coupon was for $2.00 off. When I got home, I checked my prices and coupons, I was only given $1.50 off. My Walmart in Orland Hills, IL is really bad with not matching prices and if you complain to corporate, they never answer on the store level. Corporate sends them a letter and that is it. The customer is always out.
canadia says
Elk Grove Village is refusing to follow this new policy. I asked and provided a copy and they said that they weren’t aware of a change in policy and couldn’t find it on the Walmart site. They refused to allow me to show them where it was on the site and did nothing to accommodate me after I waited patiently for 45 mintues. I’ve placed a call in to corporate, but be prepared for poor treatment at that store.
brady253 says
I went to walmart tonight and was able to use coupons and RR from walgreens – my RR were from listerine and the cashier asked me if i bought listerine and I explained to her why it said it was from listerine and what exactly it was and she took it without problems. I was pleased that I didnt have any problems.
kewponaddict says
REFUSED to allow me to use overage tonight on the purex even though I showed them their new policy. She said all she could do was give me the purex trial sheets for free….I said NO WAY and left 20 bucks worth of stuff w/them! bah humbug walmart!
moreforless says
Is it true that Walmart and Target don’t pricematch store ads with shopper’s cards?