A look into Store Coupon Policies: Walmart
A Look into the Walmart’s Coupon Policy
Click Here to see the entire Walmart Coupon Policy.
They accept the following Types of Coupons:
- Print-at-home internet coupons
- Must be legible
- Must have “Manufacturer Coupon” printed on them
- Must have a valid remit address for the manufacturer
- Must have a valid expiration date
- Must have a scannable bar code ( I believe all coupons scan now there, right? Including those new bar codes)
- Buy one, get one free (BOGO) coupons with a specified price
- Are acceptable in black and white or color
- May not be duplicated
- Manufacturers’ coupons
- For dollar/cents off
- For free items (except those printed off the Internet)
- Buy one, get one free (BOGO) coupons
- Must have “Manufacturer Coupon” printed on them
- Must have a valid remit address for the manufacturer
- Must have a valid expiration date
- Must have a scannable bar code ( I believe all coupons scan now there, right? Including those new bar codes)
- May not be duplicated
- Competitors’ coupons
- A specific item for a specified price, for example, $2.99
- Buy one, get one free (BOGO) coupons for items with a specified price
- Have a valid expiration date
- Are acceptable in black and white
*What this means is that you can not go in and use a $1.00 coupon from Tops there. But you can use a store coupon that states what price you can buy that item for, like pasta $0.99. (hope that makes sense)
- Soft drink container caps (there’s coupons on them?! lol)
- Checkout coupons (“Catalinas”)
- Printed at our competitors’ registers for dollar/cents off on a specific item
- Must have “Manufacturer Coupon” with specific item requirements printed on them
- Must have a valid remit address for the manufacturer
- Must have a valid expiration date
- Must have a scannable bar code (anyone know if Tops catalinas scan there? I know half the time they don’t at their own store! lol)
- Are acceptable in black and white
- May not be duplicated
*What this means is that those nice catalina coupons that you get after you cash out, say at Tops, you can use at Walmart. But they have to be off specific items that Walmart carries in same sizes (if indicated).
They DO NOT Accept the following Coupons:
- Checkout coupons
- Dollars/cents off the entire basket purchase
- Percentage off the entire basket purchase
*What this means is those awesome catalina offers we get for say $5 off your next purchase….those you can not use at Walmart.
- Print-at-home Internet coupons that require no purchase (free coupons)
- Competitors’ coupons
- Dollars/cents off at a specific retailer
- Percentage off
- Buy one, get one free (BOGO) coupons without a specified price
- Double- or triple-value coupons
Guidelines and Limitations:
- We only accept coupons for merchandise that we sell. ( you can’t use a coupon on a tops brand fruit for a Walmart brand fruit, these items need to match. Ex: Dole/Dole) *Update, others have said their Walmarts allow price match of store brand to store brand…your experience may vary!
- Coupons must be presented at the time of purchase.
- Only one coupon per item.
- Item purchased must be identical to the coupon (size, quantity, brand, flavor, color, etc).
- There is no limit on the number of coupons per transaction. (that’s always good to know!)
- Coupons must have an expiration date and be redeemed prior to expiration. (this is usually the case for all stores!)
- If coupon value exceeds the price of the item, the excess may be given to the customer as cash or applied toward the basket purchase.
*What this means: If you have a coupon for $3.00 off a specific item and that product is sold for only $2.00 at Walmart, you will be given that $1.00 back, or applied to your order. I personally have been given cash back and paid absolutely nothing for an order. I think like $2.00, nothing extreme for me 🙂
- SNAP items purchased in a SNAP transaction are ineligible for cash back.
- WIC items purchased in a WIC transaction are applied to the basket purchase and may not be eligible for cash back. Refer to state-specific WIC guidelines.
- Great Value, Marketside, Equate, Parents Choice, and World Table coupons have no cash value and are ineligible for cash back or application to the basket purchase.
- The system will prompt for supervisor verification for:
- 40 coupons per transaction.
- A coupon of $20 or greater on one item.
- $50 or more in coupons in one transaction.
*All this means is that a manager will need to come over and enter a code or key to allow you to finish.
Walmart’s AD MATCH policy:
They match the price in the following types of ads:
- Buy one, get one free ads with a specified price
- Example: Buy one for $2.49, get one free (BOGO)
- Competitors’ ads that feature a specific item for a specified price
- Preferred shopping card prices for specific items that are in a printed ad
*This is important to know. Sometimes other competitor stores will have prices when you use their loyalty card. I have had someone tell me I couldn’t get for that price because they have no store loyalty card. That is not the case.
- For fresh produce and meat items when the price is offered in the same unit type (lb. for lb.; each for each)
Guidelines and Limitations:
- We will match any local competitor’s advertised price.
- We do not require customers to have the ad with them to honor a competitor’s ad. (funny, but I feel like you should…I always do 🙂 lol)
- Items purchased must be identical to the ad (size, quantity, brand, flavor, color, etc.)
They DO NOT match the price in the following types of competitor ads:
- Items that require a separate purchase to get the ad price
- example: “Buy [item A] to get [item B] for $C”
- Items with no actual price that require a purchase to get free product
- example: “Buy both [items A & B] to get [item C] for free”
- Items that require a purchase to get a competitors’ gift card
- example: “Buy [item A] to get a $B gift card
- Buy one, get one free (BOGO) ads with no actual price given
- Going out of business or closeout prices
- Percentage off
- example: “All mascara, 40% off”
- Competitors’ private label price promotions
They DO NOT honor:
- Ads when the actual price for items cannot be determined
- Internet pricing
- Misprinted ad prices of other retailers
- “Going out of business” sales or “closeout” prices
MY ADVICE:
My advice is to know the coupon policy! Print it off any carry it with you, just in case! Some cashiers like to make up their own rules as they go, and even some managers! I have only once had to refer to my coupon policy when shopping there. I kindly get it out and show to the manager. I also explain where it came from: their own website. That usually works. And as always stores do have the right to refuse coupons. It happens, and sometimes there is nothing you can do about it (even if your coupons are legit!). Now a days with all the coupon fraud going around the stores get scared. I once stood in line for 20 minutes with 4 coupons while they looked and looked over everything. Come to find out they had recently got in trouble as a store because of someone allowing a customer to use coupons fraudulently because “they scanned.” Someone got away with over $200 in overage because they used a $10 whitestrips coupon on a $0.99 toothpaste coupon because “it scanned.”
So be prepared, knowledgeable, and understanding when it comes to using coupons!
I’m a new couponer and at my Walmart where I
live its do confusing cause each person does.it different drives me insane so I went tonight bought some razors cartridges etc I had a coupon for $5.00 off one Venus refillable and one razor then a coupon for free shaving cream if I bought cartridges that was a $3.99 off I had another $5 off for a Venus razor on the coupons it says limit of 4 like coupons per day well any other time I have couponed they have used them all because when you scan it the computer will tell you if it will work or not I’m really confused on this situation can ya help my email is above
Hi Diana, I suppose I am confused when you say everyone does it differently? What do you mean? Couponing? Sounds like some good savings you did! You are correct that some coupons and store policies only allow four like coupons. And that some still allow you to do more than that. It all depends on what you want to do as a couponer, and what your cashier/store will accept.
If you have any more questions please email me at mymommataughtme [at] gmail.com.
Kristy