Cool picture of a Walmart huh?!
O.K. I keep waiting for an official announcement of some sort, that there is a “new” Walmart coupon policy. So far, there has been no change on their website.
But, I do want to let you know that I was on the phone with Walmart corporate for almost an hour this morning and talked to 2 really great ladies that knew what they were talking about! They are sending me info that I will be able to make into a Google Doc and have posted for you to print and take with you regarding price matching and price adjusting.
DO THEY PRICE ADJUST COUPONS?
NO. This is what the Walmart policy is: If you have a coupon for $1 and are buying an item for $.97 the cashier is to scan the coupon and take $1 off. They DO NOT adjust down the price. Walmart’s policy is also that they DO TAKE coupons for more than the cost of the item. The ONLY time that they will adjust the price of a coupon is if you are purchasing only 1 item and the coupon is for more than the item, they will “adjust” the price of the coupon because they can not give you money back if you have a negative balance. In this case, a CSM will be called over to handle the transaction and adjust the coupon.
I know that even though this is the official policy some of you will still have trouble at your stores. Cashiers/managers will tell you that they can not take a coupon for more than an item. I asked the ladies at corporate what you should do if this happens. They said YOU MUST call corporate (1-800-Walmart (1-800-925-6278))and let them know you have had a problem. That is the only way to get it fixed.
This is an email I just go the other day from a reader, whose husbands store seems to be up to date with the Walmart coupon policy :
Walmart is now accepting coupons at full value even though an item might cost less. For example, if you are purchasing an item for 75 cents and you have a $1 off coupon, they will either give you change or apply the amount to your purchase. They will no longer adjust the price of coupons down! My husband works in management at one of the stores, so I know this is true. Hopefully this will be of help to your readers!
Great to hear! I had lots of issues with my last Wal-Mart coupon shopping experience. I know what cashier to AVOID at all costs! Thanks for all you do to keep us up to date. I think all cashiers should subscribe to your blog!
I guess I’ve never had an issue with my Walmart and taking coupons – they’ve never adjusted down from what I can see…but I guess I thought it was that the cashier didn’t care to change it. Good to know it’s clarified – that it’s an expectation as part of their policy 🙂
Paul i’m so glad you post this article. i had a issue with Walmart here in Michigan when the cashier Adjust my Gain that was $ .97 to $ 1.00.
Thanks for all you do!!! I just had this problem at Walmart with the $3 Purex 3-n-1 Q and was purchasing the Purex 3-n-1 sheets for $.97. YAY!! I’m going back to complete this transaction TODAY!
They still might give you trouble, just make sure to take down names and call corporate!
ahh! finally! another reason to love walmart <3 hehe thanks for helping all of us when it comes to our walmart shopping trips. you're the greatest =]]
Did they give you any indication if they might be posting this soon?
WOOHOO! So glad you looked into this! I was beginning to think I shouldn’t have sent that email to you cause it seemed like no one believed me! lol. Can’t wait till you get a printable version up here! 🙂 Thanks!
I work at Walmart and I too have had issues and witnessed issues with cashiers questioning, denying, and arguing about the validity of a coupon. One customer was using an internet printed $5 off coupon for the Hungry Hungry Hippos travel game which was $4.97 and the cashier told her “We don’t take internet coupons” I was blown away! I was working at the time and I told her that we did and so she called the Customer Service Manager. A CSM came back and she was trying to deny it because it was for more than the price of the game. I then showed her that there wasn’t any size exclusions and in front of the customer she started talking to the cashier saying the coupon could be fradulant. WOW! Pretty professional! The customer was very angry and called the store manager to complain. There are still issues at my store with this, so I am excited that there might be a clearer coupon policy that I can print up an give to the cashiers, the CSM’s and management so that hopefully less people have the same issues.
Would it not be considered fraud anyway if they did adjust down? Either they would not be able to be reimbursed by the Manufacturer because they did not accept coupon as scanned, OR it would be fraud to adjust coupon amount down because they would be getting reimbursed for full coupon amount from the Manufacturer? Although I haven’t had any problems with this issue at WalMart, I am glad they are clarifying their policy.
YES you are correct. That is the problem is that Walmart would still be reimbursed for the face value of the coupon.
I know we will all be watching for your policy post. I hate my Walmart in the back of The Woodlands. Snotty and Snobby cashiers.
I’m soooo glad you posted this, Paul. I just had this issue last week with the Dove deodorant. I had 3 $2/1 coupons and price matched them for $1.99. The cashier started to scan the coupons and once she got to the 3rd one she remembered what I price matched them for and said she had to go back and take off the previous two and manually put in $1.99 for each coupon because they cannot be over the item amount. I was blown away because I’ve never had problems at my Walmart so I’ll be looking for the document to print so I can take it with me for future shopping trips! 🙂
Yipeeeeeeeeee! That’s great news. Thank you Thank you for all the time you spent on the phone and for all your trips to Walmart to find the best deals for us.
A cashier screamed at me while a CSM watched 2days ago over the Maalox coupons. I was trying to use (4) coupons before they expired and he told me I cant buy an item that is cheaper than the face value of the coupon. Im new to couponing and was so embarrassed to have this man yell at me. Im not exagerating when I say yelling… he was loud! So loud my 3year old covered her ears, shut her eyes and remained that way until we got to the car. He was so mean, I cant believe he yelled at me! I was being so nice about the situation and told him it was fine, that I wouldn’t take the items and to just Void the coupons.. but no he kept yelling and told me I was trying to get him in trouble by using coupons. HATE walmart #3425 in Houston, Tx! I vowed to never go back but I will once you post the policy up!! THANK YOU PAUL!
Waiting to print out the document so that I can take it to one of the local Walmart stores. I had 1 measly Gain softener coupons left for $3 and they only had the 40 sheet box for $1.87. I was also purchasing 2 Benefiber products and 12 winter mark-down items @ 70 cents each. She absolutely would not ring it up @ $3. The CSM told me that what I was trying to do was fraudulent! I told her to cancel the sale and left very frustrated. They’ve lost my business. Hoping to see the same people in the store – so that I can get their names. Anything in the policy about stacking coupons?
Ex. $3/1 off coupon on Benefiber and using it with another $5/2. The same CSM said that they could only take 2 coupons for the 2 items and to pick the ones I wanted to use most!
If you were trying to use a $3/1 manufacturers coupon along with a $5/2 manufacturers coupon to buy only 2 Benefibers-they were correct in not allowing you to do so. You would need to buy 3 Benefibers to be able to use all 3 coupons. I hope I am understanding your scenario correctly.
I see from the policy that was posted that Walmart will not stack coupons as other stores allow. Think about it – many of us, I’m sure have purchased boxes of cereal, used a coupon on each one, then used one that gave additional $$ of of multiple boxes. Most grocery stores do this -actually every one that I shop at does. Doesn’t hurt to ask!
I think if I bought 3 boxes of cereal with a $1/1 coupon (for example) and then gave them a $1/3 boxes, that would be wrong. I would think you would need to buy 6 boxes of cereal to use those coupons together.
If you used those 2 coupons you would need to buy 4 boxes. If you used 3 $1/1 and the $1/3 you would need to buy 6.
very interesting. When I have called them before they have said that it depends on the Walmart manager… some things are corporate other things are up to the manager. It will interesting to see what they say when we get this new policy.
Thank you…thank you…thank you! I have the worst walmart that I have trouble with all of the time w/ Q’s being more than the item. They have given me looks and were down right rude to me. This really makes me happy! Thanks Paul 🙂
Paul — THANK YOU! Though I’ve never had trouble at my store, I appreciate the time you’re going to take to make a document for me to print and have with me when I shop. I always feel more confident when I am sure of the store’s policy, and when I can show it to the cashier/CSM, if necessary.
Thanks again. Blessings…
Paul – thanks a lot for this article.. I ALWAYS have problems with my walmarts.. its always a hit or miss with them. I usually try to avoid using high value coupons at Wal-Mart because once, even the CSM told me i couldnt use more than one coupon even though i was buying 12+ of the gatorade prime. And these were manufacturer coupons, not printable! Every coupon blog i read has people complaining about their Wal-Mart 🙁 and avoid them rather then deal with their cashiers. Just wish they could all have the same information.
I sooo need this! Walmart has given me nothing but trouble lately. My $3/1 Gain coupons were adjusted down, grrh.
And this last trip I had 5 boxes of Ronzoni pasta and (5) $1/1 coupons and the cashier at first insisted that there could only be one coupon per purchase. LOL Thankfully the manager helped clear that up for her ;P
I can’t wait to have a policy to print!
Always, Always, Always carry the coupon policy with you. Most of the time the employees have to idea what the policy is. And when confronted with a problem you can [politely] whip out the policy and show the employee. Most have never seen it (my experience)
WalMart coupon policy can be viewed and printed at this link:
http://walmartstores.com/7655.aspx
Once it is updated clarifying the price adjusting issue, you’ll need to reprint it and carry it with you (just in case)
I will be interested to see the new policy, if they change it. A manager at the Wal-Mart where I shop told me this past weekend that Wal-Mart is seriously considering changing the coupon policy to not accepting internet coupons. She said they have a lot of trouble with manufactures not paying them. She also told me that they will no longer over ride if an internet coupon beeps. I hope they don’t change their policy and this was told to me as a ‘what might be’ in the future. She also said that supposedly Target and some other major chain stores were considering the same thing, no longer accepting internet coupons. It’s a shame if it does happen, because it would be because of the people who are dishonest and pass on bad coupons to people who may or may not know they are fraudulent. She also said to make sure if you use internet coupons that the little scissors are on the top right corner of the coupon although people are also reproducing this on the fraudulent coupons now. I won’t use a coupon if it is from PDF document, doesn’t have the scissors along the cut line or the dots in the expiration date box. These are all checks that the coupon is a good one.
I’ve been lucky so far that my Walmart has taken the overage on my coupons. I have a problem with Walgreens though. They try to tell me that I’m committing fraud. I got so frustrated that I contacted the C.I.C. myself to find out if it is or not. I figured that since they’re the main prosecutors of coupon fraud, I could get a definitive answer. This was our conversation:
I have a question on whether or not this constitutes coupon fraud. I am an avid couponer and I do not want to commit fraud, and I do not believe I am, but I would like clarification. If a coupon amount is larger than the amount of the product, is it fraudulent use on my part to use that coupon? Is the retailer required to give me the full coupon value? This mostly, but not always, occurs when using a coupon on a clearance item, and sometimes, but not as frequently, on regularly priced or sale items.
For example.
$0.97 Reach Dental Floss
$1.00 Reach Manufactures Coupon
——–
$0.03 profit for the consumer, normally “spent” on other items in the same transaction.
Normally the difference is small such as this one, but I have come across occurrences where it’s even a matter of $1 to $2. Some stores are happy to give me the “overage” towards other items since they will be fully reimbursed for the coupon face value. Other stores have adjusted the value of the coupon down and kept the difference of the value of the coupon. Still others adjust the price of the product up so the coupon and the item is evenly priced. Would you please clarify this issue for me?
Thank you,
~CoupoNewbie
And their reply:
Edmund Miller
Sun, Jan 9, 2011 at 9:53 AM
Thank you for your inquiry CoupoNewbie
This is an administrative problem that the industry has yet to resolve. As you noted, some stores provide overage, others do not and there are reasonable arguments for both sides. Regardless, the manufacturers generally do not consider this to be fraudulent in nature. OF course consumers have to abide by the terms and conditions of both the coupon and the stores’ policies. Regardless of the position, I have never heard anyone in the industry suggest that type of activity is fraudulent.
Of course, stores have the ultimate authority on whether or not they are going to accept a coupon and how many from each person.
Best Wishes
Bud
Wow, I would love to post this! Thank you!
Sure thing! I had made my own post on it here back in January. I don’t get a lot of traffic to my blog (because I don’t update it regularly), so I haven’t gotten any responses yet.
If I have a problem with a cashier, I go to the cashier manager AFTER the transaction. I explain the problem I had with the cashier and she decides if the dispute is valid or not. If I was right and the coupon is valid she can give me the money value of the coupon right on the spot from her register. This saves an arguement with the cashier and lets the people behind me get thru the line faster.
This is great to know. I have a hard time at my walmart with coupons. The also price adjust even if I purchase more than 1 item.
The new policy is up and printable. You can print straight from the website or download it in a .pdf document. Clearly states no price adjusting on coupons, clarifies the “competitor coupon” policy change from a while back, added the acceptance of Catalina’s (Yay, my store wouldn’t take them), and specifically says you can use internet coupons.
They have their new coupon policy online now….they allow overage and they will give you money back wow!!!
Walmart New Coupon policy is up.
Does the fact that they take catalina’s now mean that they will accept ECBs from CVS?
No, ECB’s are a store coupon.
Here is a suggestion for everyone:
Since Walmart has updated the coupon policy, I encourage everyone to Email, Fax and even call Walmart CEO on complimenting the change on policy. Also, please share your horrible experience with Michael Duke. Ask him for his advice on making your future shopping experience smooth as possible avoiding past experience of you and others. Lastly, share this thread, other thread and blogs.
CEO of Walmart
michael.duke@wal-mart.com
479-273-4229
Corporate contact info:
702 Southwest 8th Street
Bentonville, AR 72716
United States – Map
+1-479-2734000 (Phone)
+1-479-2734053 (Fax)
I recently had a horrible experience with a cashier and manager at our local Walmart. I had done my homework and knew the Walmart coupon policy so when using my $1.00 off coupon on Ivory Soap (.97) I was upset to have the cashier argue and yell at me for being wrong. The manager was nice but also told me I was wrong. The line was held up while the cashier re-rang all my items. Customers were becoming impatient. Where can I get a copy of the Walmart Coupon Policy that states they honor the facevalue of the actual coupon even if the product price is below that?
The following are guidelines and limitations:
We only accepts coupons for merchandise that we sell.
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.
Coupons must have an expiration date and be redeemed prior to expiration.
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.
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.
I had a horrible expereince today at my local Wal-Mart! I have 30 Johnson and Johnson red cross Q’s and was buying first aid kits for our churches crisis care kits. I had 18 kits with 9 coupons, plus a cart of other needed firt aid type items as well as some groceries. Yes there would have been overage, but I had way more than that in my cart to cover any overage. It took 5 minutes for the CSM to come over (other customers really not happy with me) and she said they would only take one of the coupons as it was their managers policy to not give cash back. I explainded I had considerably more in my cart and would be paying them in the end and she sadi it could not be applied to anything else either. She said they would only allow one of the same coupon per day per person?!?!? So I could not do multiple transactions. I told her it was Wal-Mart policy that they did not limit the number of coupons, and allowed overage, but she said it was the managers discretion to make the policy. Is that correct? Then why have a corporate policy if each manager can make their own? She went on (very Loudly) to say that they were tryiong to protect the manufacturers as they surely should have put limitations on their coupons for the size and value of the products purchased. So basically she was letting all the disgruntled people behind me in line know she thought I was trying to steal from the manufacturer. What???? Is this happening elsewhere??? Very unhappy here in central PA!
Shannon that is absolute garbage. The MFG don’t need protecting and they cannot just make up their own policy completely. It is up to the manager’s discretion but I would definately call WM corporate and give me the store contact info as well. I need the stroe number, MGR name and a phone number. Thanks and sorry to hear about your experience.
Shannon – that is happening here in my store as well. I had three coupons for cereal, and there wasn’t even an overage — but the cashier would only let me use one.
The short answer is no. coupons are applied at face value
I *despise* Walmart! The Fort Collins store is SOOO unpredictable in which cashier will take what coupons only on the third Thursday of the month and only if it’s before Labor Day… you get the idea.
I’ve argued with cashiers, I’ve called the store manager… you know what he said, He said that they have changed their policy so many times that even his cashier’s don’t know what to do, so they leave up to the discretion of the cashier! REALLY?! unfrigginbelieveable! I won’t go back, I’ll take my $$ elsewhere!