Walmart Ad Match Policy

Walmart Ad Match is a real thing in their stores. This can be extremely helpful when someone has an item on sale and they are inconvenient to get to or they are out of stock. It is a good practice to print the Walmart Ad Match Policy (NLA) and have it on hand in case you run into problems. While I covered “Working Walmart- Coupon Policy” previously today, we will be diving head first into understanding their Ad Match Policy.

Guidelines & Limitations to Note for the Walmart Ad Match Policy

They will match any local competitor’s advertised price- NOTE each Walmart store will consider different stores their competitor’s. It is best to check with the customer service desk to find out how the store determines their competitors.
They do not require customers to have the ad with them to honor the price- NOTE I know people have run into problems with this at various stores. While the policy does state you do not have to have the ad with you, if you have it available it may be best to have it on hand. This will keep having to argue with a cashier down to a low roar.
Items purchased must be identical (size, quantity, brand, flavor, color, etc)

What type of sales will they match?

BOGO- but only if it specifies a price (Buy One Skintimate Shave Gel for $2.99 Get One Free)
Ads for specific items for specific prices
Preferred shopping card prices for specific items
Fresh produce or meat when price is offered in same unit type (lb for lb or each for each)

What type of ads will Walmart Ad Match Not Cover?

BOGO without a specific price (Buy One Nivea Body Wash Get One Free)
Sales that require a separate purchase to get ad price (Buy One Tropicana OJ Get Pillsbury Biscuits for $0.97)
Items with no actual price that require a purchase to get a free product. (Buy Tide Laundry Detergent get Down Fabric Softener Free)
Gift Card Promotions (Buy HP Printer Ink Get $5 Gift Card)
Going out of business or close out prices
Percentage Off Sales
Competitors private label price promotions (sales on store brands)

What other situations are not honored by Walmart?

Ads when the actual price for items cannot be determined
Internet pricing
Misprinted ad prices

Will Walmart Ad Match RR’s/ECB’s/UP’s?

This is not specifically called out in the policy, but I did speak to a manager and Walmart’s corporate office and was told no they do not. The reason being is that if CVS has Colgate on sale for $2.99 Get $2.99 ECB, even if you went to CVS you would pay the $2.99 since that is the sales price. They will honor the $2.99 price since the Ad Match Policy states they do match “preferred shopping card prices.” The $2.99 ECB you would get is in essence a store coupon and not part of the ad price. To take it a step further cross referencing the Walmart Coupon Policy, they will not accept dollar/cents off competitor coupons and that is what the ECB is.

So now you are armed with knowledge of both Walmart’s coupon and the Walmart Ad Match policies. I hope that having a better understanding will help you have a much more pleasant shopping experience there.

~Cyndi