Tips on How to Price Match at Walmart

I frequently shop at Walmart to price match deals because it saves our family around $500 a year. Here are some tips on how to price match at Walmart and have a smooth experience.

1. Prepare before the Shopping Trip
Take a few extra minutes to put together a list of price matching items, coupons, and ads. Make sure all of the coupons you will be using are legible, have an expiration date, a valid remit address for the manufacturer, and a scannable bar code. Do NOT photocopy or duplicate coupons. Having these items organized beforehand will help the shopping trip and checkout experience go smoothly.

2. Bring Competitor Ads with You to the Store
Walmart no longer requires that you show the ad you are price matching. However, to make some transactions run more smoothly, it’s good to have the ad on hand. If there is a question about what you are price matching, it’s much easier to show them the ad rather than waiting for the cashier to find it.

Make sure the ads are the correct date and valid for that week. If the competitor has a three-day sale, you’ll need to price match at Walmart during those three days.

3. Purchase the Right Brand and Size
Walmart will price match the exact advertised item in the competitor’s ad. Make sure it’s the same brand and size. If Walmart has the product in a larger size, which they usually do at my store, then you won’t be able to price match that item. With fresh produce and meat, the price needs to be in the same unit type such as pound-for-pound and each-for-each.

You can also price match electronics, home goods, and more, as long as they are the same brand and variety as Walmart carries and are advertised in a competitor’s ad. This typically includes Black Friday too.

4. Buy the Correct Quantity
If a sale is advertised as “$1 each when you buy 10” then you may need to purchase ten items at Walmart to get that price. If the advertised deal says “10 items for $10” then that means each item is $1. Be prepared to purchase the total number of products when you are price matching a sale that states, “. . .when you buy # participating items.”

5. Be Selective of Your Cashier
Before choosing a checkout line, look for a cashier that looks good-nature and coupon friendly. Try to choose a cashier that is knowledgeable about coupons and Walmart’s policy. Make sure to smile, be polite, and build a relationship with him or her.

6. Group Price Matching Items Together at Checkout
To have a less frustrating experience, group your price matching items together when checking out and make sure to tell your cashier before he or she starts ringing up the items. With the items I’m not price matching, I place those on the belt first followed by a divider to separate the items I will be price matching.

7. Shop at the Right Time of Day
It takes longer to checkout when price matching, so choose a day and time when the checkout lines are likely to be shorter. Both you and the cashier will both feel less rushed if there isn’t a huge line of people waiting behind you. Mornings are usually less busy, plus the shelves are stocked.

8. Take Walmart’s Price Matching and Coupon Policy with You
Print off Walmart’s price matching and coupon policy here so you have it handy if you need it. Remember that Walmart’s policy allows for overage. If the coupon value exceeds the price of the item you are purchasing, the excess may be applied to the other purchases or given to you in cash.