Does Walmart Price Match Grocery Ads? Complete Policy Guide
Does Walmart Price Match Grocery Ads? Complete Policy Guide
What's in This Article
- Quick Answer: Does Walmart Price Match Grocery Ads?
- Understanding Walmart Price Matching Policy
- How to Get Price Matches at Walmart
- Online vs. In-Store Price Matching Rules
- Eligible Competitors for Walmart Price Matching
- Products That Qualify for Price Matching
- Common Reasons for Rejected Price Matches
- Maximizing Your Savings with Price Matching
- Alternatives to Walmart Price Matching
- FAQs About Walmart Price Matching
Quick Answer: Does Walmart Price Match Grocery Ads?
Yes, Walmart does price match grocery ads from local competitors, but with specific conditions. Currently, Walmart will match prices from local brick-and-mortar competitors' printed ads but has discontinued their online price matching policy. The item must be identical (same brand, size, model, quantity, and color), currently in stock at both stores, and not part of a special event like Black Friday. Understanding these details can help you save significantly on your grocery shopping.
Understanding Walmart Price Matching Policy
Walmart's price matching policy has evolved over the years as part of their commitment to providing everyday low prices. While Walmart previously offered more extensive price matching options, they've gradually narrowed their policy to focus on local competitor ads only.
As of 2025, Walmart will match prices from local competitors' print advertisements for identical items. This means the exact same product (including brand, size, model, color, and quantity) must be currently in stock at both Walmart and the competitor's store. The ad must be valid at the time of your purchase, and Walmart reserves the right to verify the competitor's price.
The current policy allows customers to save money without having to visit multiple stores, supporting Walmart's mission of helping customers save money and live better. However, it's worth noting that implementation may vary slightly between stores, as some store managers have discretion in how they apply the policy.
How to Get Price Matches at Walmart
To successfully price match grocery items at Walmart, follow these steps:
- Find a valid local competitor ad featuring the grocery item you want to purchase
- Ensure the item is identical to what Walmart sells (same brand, size, quantity)
- Verify the item is in stock at both stores
- Bring the physical ad with you to Walmart
- At checkout, inform the cashier that you'd like to price match
- Show them the competitor's advertisement
- The cashier will verify the information and adjust the price accordingly
For maximum efficiency, we recommend organizing your price matching requests before reaching the register. Having your ads ready and items grouped together will make the process smoother and faster for everyone involved.
Online vs. In-Store Price Matching Rules
It's important to understand the distinction between Walmart's online and in-store price matching policies:
In-Store: Walmart stores will match prices from local competitors' print advertisements for identical items that are in stock.
Online: As of 2025, Walmart.com no longer matches prices from other online retailers. They discontinued their online price matching policy several years ago.
Walmart does not match its own online prices in-store, nor does it match in-store prices online. This means if you see a lower price on Walmart.com, the store isn't obligated to match it, and vice versa.
For grocery shoppers, this means focusing on local print ads is your best strategy for price matching at physical Walmart locations.
Eligible Competitors for Walmart Price Matching
Not all competitor ads qualify for Walmart's price matching policy. Eligible competitors typically include:
- Local grocery stores within your area
- Regional supermarket chains
- National grocery retailers with physical locations
- Mass merchandisers with grocery departments
Walmart generally does not match prices from:
- Online-only retailers
- Membership clubs like Costco or Sam's Club
- Clearance or closeout sales
- Going-out-of-business sales
- Special event pricing (like Black Friday deals)
- Percentage off or buy-one-get-one free offers without a specified price
For grocery items specifically, local supermarkets' weekly ads are typically your best bet for finding eligible price matches at Walmart.
Products That Qualify for Price Matching
While Walmart's price matching policy covers many grocery items, not everything qualifies. Here's what typically qualifies for price matching:
- Packaged grocery items (canned goods, boxed foods, etc.)
- Dairy products
- Frozen foods
- Packaged meats
- Produce (when identically packaged and sized)
- Non-alcoholic beverages
- Household cleaning supplies
- Health and beauty items sold in grocery departments
Items that generally don't qualify include:
- Fresh meat sold by weight without identical packaging
- Loose produce sold by weight
- Store-brand or private label products
- Items requiring a special order
- Products with value-added services
Understanding these distinctions can help you focus your price matching efforts on the items most likely to be approved.
Common Reasons for Rejected Price Matches
To avoid disappointment at the register, be aware of these common reasons Walmart might reject your price match request:
- The items aren't identical (different size, model, color, or quantity)
- The competitor's ad has expired
- The item is out of stock at either store
- The competitor's price includes rebates, coupons, or loyalty discounts
- The advertised price requires a minimum purchase
- The competitor is not local to your Walmart store
- The ad doesn't clearly state the price
- The item is part of a special event sale
If your price match is rejected, politely ask for clarification on the specific reason. Sometimes it might be a misunderstanding that can be resolved with additional information.
Maximizing Your Savings with Price Matching
To get the most value from Walmart's price matching policy, consider these strategies:
- Check multiple local grocery ads each week before shopping
- Focus on big-ticket or frequently purchased items for maximum savings
- Organize your shopping list by store ad to streamline the checkout process
- Combine price matching with Walmart's everyday low prices on other items
- Use the Walmart app to scan items and check Walmart's own prices
- Be polite and prepared when requesting price matches
- Shop during less busy times when cashiers have more time to process matches
Remember that while price matching can save you money, your time is valuable too. Focus on significant price differences rather than chasing pennies on every item.
Alternatives to Walmart Price Matching
If price matching at Walmart doesn't work for your needs or if you're looking for even better grocery deals, consider these alternatives:
- Use Walmart's Savings Catcher app to automatically scan for better deals
- Check out Walmart's clearance sections for deeply discounted groceries
- Consider shopping at Bargain Boxed for exceptional deals on shelf-stable groceries without any membership fees
- Take advantage of Walmart's rollback prices which are often competitive with other stores
- Use grocery rebate apps like Ibotta or Checkout 51 for additional savings
- Shop at Walmart during seasonal sales for specific categories
At Bargain Boxed, we pride ourselves on offering prices that beat even Walmart's everyday low prices on many shelf-stable grocery items. Our ever-revolving inventory allows us to pass incredible savings on to our customers without requiring any membership fees. While we don't offer returns due to our focus on maintaining the lowest possible prices, the savings often more than make up for this policy.
FAQs About Walmart Price Matching
Does Walmart match grocery prices from competitors' websites?
No, Walmart no longer matches prices from competitors' websites or online-only retailers. Their price matching is limited to local print advertisements.
Can I price match Walmart.com prices in the store?
No, Walmart stores do not match prices from Walmart.com. The in-store and online divisions operate separately for price matching purposes.
How many price matches can I request in one transaction?
Walmart doesn't officially limit the number of price matches per transaction, but some stores may have local policies. It's best to be reasonable with your requests to ensure a smooth experience.
Do all Walmart stores honor the price matching policy?
While price matching is a corporate policy, implementation may vary by location. Some stores in highly competitive markets may be more accommodating with price matches than others.
Can I price match after my purchase?
Generally, no. Walmart's price matching must be done at the time of purchase. They do not offer post-purchase price adjustments based on competitors' ads.
Does Walmart price match during sales events like Black Friday?
No, Walmart specifically excludes special event pricing, including Black Friday, from their price matching policy.
Can I use coupons with price matching?
Yes, in most cases. After the price is matched to the competitor's ad, you can then apply manufacturer coupons according to Walmart's coupon policy.
Does Walmart price match percentage-off deals?
No, Walmart only matches specific advertised prices. Percentage-off deals, BOGO offers without a specific price, or similar promotions do not qualify.
Is there a limit to how low Walmart will match a price?
While there's no official minimum, Walmart reserves the right to verify that the competitor's price is valid and may refuse matches that appear to be pricing errors.
Can I price match groceries for pickup or delivery orders?
No, Walmart's price matching policy applies only to in-store purchases. Pickup and delivery orders are not eligible for price matching.
By understanding Walmart's grocery price matching policy, you can make more informed shopping decisions and potentially save significant money on your grocery bills. While their policy has become more restrictive over time, it still offers valuable opportunities for savings when used strategically.
Remember that for many shelf-stable grocery items, Bargain Boxed offers consistently lower prices than even Walmart's matched prices, making us your go-to destination for affordable groceries online without any membership fees or complicated price matching processes.