I have been saddened lately by the number of Walmart Ad Matchers who I have personally witnessed, or been told of, pulling prices out of thin air, claiming to price match from a competitor's store. It happened again tonight as I went in to a Walmart to help out with the new coupon policy that is being implemented for Utah County. First, let me just say that Ad Matching is a privilege, NOT a right. Walmart does not have to let shoppers price match if they don't want to. However, in an effort to be the "low price leader" they offer this promotion in their stores. Yet, I believe a large percentage of shoppers lie about the price of a product, (and sometimes almost every item in their cart), each week in an effort to save a couple bucks. These shoppers know they might not have to actually prove their ad match price by showing the actual ad so they help themselves to a few extra cents here and there. What's a penny or two to a big company like Walmart right? It won't hurt them will it? I have said it before and I'll say it again, a person's integrity ought to be worth more than a quarter!
You would be amazed at how many times I have been told by shoppers that they know someone (or are someone) who makes up prices on a regular basis. What in the...? Purposefully making up prices at Walmart to ad match is stealing. It's stealing potential revenue from the store, just like shoplifting, but even worse in my opinion, because lying to a cashiers face takes more cowardice than sneaking out of a store with an unpaid tube of lipstick in your purse. I have heard of shoppers driving miles out of their way to go to a different Walmart so they can get in line with the "nice" cashiers that will let a shopper do practically whatever they want. What a sad statement that makes.
If you intend to price match a sale item at Walmart remember, the price you give the cashier should be the actual price of the product, not the price after a coupon you saw listed on my website (you would actually need to have the coupon to get that price), nor a made up price, nor a price you saw last week but weren't able to get. The ad matched price should be the exact price that day as advertised in a sales flier not including catalinas, Register Rewards or Up rewards. Anything else is just plain theft! Why "cheat" the system at any store! When you cheat them you're really cheating yourself.
Great write up and I couldn't agree more!!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you for being honest in everything you do!
ReplyDeleteThank you for posting this. I was in walmart the other day I always take my ad with me just in case. The cashier was visably upset when I showed her the actual prices of some of the items people had mislead her on. She asked if she could keep my ad when I got ready to leave. I don't understand why some believe they need to lie and cheat about something so small.
ReplyDeletethe truth falls hard upon the wicked. There is probably no PC way to title this post because it's an awful thing to call someone a thief, but even more awful to be one. What a sad reality that people are doing this. This kind of deception could ruin this great walmart policy for all of us.
ReplyDeleteThank You! You stated this topic and point well.
ReplyDeleteWell put Amy! As soon as I heard WalMart was doing price-matching without the ad, I knew there would be trouble. When you go meet with the WalMart people tomorrow, I would definitely encourage them to change this policy and make the shopper produce the ad. It will save them a lot of money and keep people more honest. Which is a sad statement to make, but oh so true. Thanks for all you do for us "true" savvy shoppers!
ReplyDeleteYou totally hit the nail on the head. Yesterday I went to Walmart to do some quick coupon shopping. Unfortunately I learned your coupons are only as good as your 2 week trainee cashier is. After further inspection I lost $10.00 in coupons because she didn't know how to price match or enter in B1G1F coupons. Was I irritated absolutely, but was I honest...YES which is the biggest most important thing we should be as ethical human beings. Coupons are important to me, but lying about pricing and being rude to cashiers is not. (sorry about the rant)
ReplyDeleteIf people keep stealing, it may come back to bite us all some day when Walmart can no longer afford to do the price matching anymore! Thanks Amy for your integrity.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing. I've been a little concerned about the double coupon policy at Wal-Mart. I was there yesterday and didn't notice until the cashier was almost done that she was fully doubling all of my coupons ($0.75 up to $1.50 etc.). With as long as it takes to ring everything up when you double, with the long line that was forming behind me and as stressed as she seemed about the whole process I didn't have the heart to tell her she was doing it wrong. I'll be back tonight to talk to customer service to try to straighten it out. I had 70ish coupons to double (I warned people behind me it would take a while). It took almost 30 min and I had everything on the belt in order of the coupons in my hand to make it go more smoothly. Is there anything they can do to streamline the process?
ReplyDeleteAmen sista!
ReplyDeleteI agee with you completely Amy. I've had the same problem as Amanda--not because my cashier doubled the coupons wrong, but because my cashier was so slow even though I tried to be as organized as I could with my coupons. One of the people in line left his stuff on the belt and went and yelled at her and said he had never been in line so long and left. She was so flustered I thought she was going to cry. The problem was the store was so packed, that even if I had told people I would be a long time, they would have had to wait in a longer line somewhere else. I felt so bad after I left.... It makes it hard for me to want to go back again with a lot of coupons on a Tuesday.
ReplyDeleteWell put Amy! I agree. I have gone through and one of the cashiers told me how some people will make up a price for everything in the basket. And It is not worth lying about. Like you said its better to keep integrity than loose it over cents. I think people need to remember if they are stealing about lying about price not only will we loose the privilege of price matching we may also cause them to loose so much money as to require them to make cuts on there staff. We do not need any more people laid off due to people lying. Amy just a question, reading all the comments, is there anything lined up to teach the cashiers at walmart about coupons and how to double them?
ReplyDeleteThanks for everything good that you stand up for!
Yes Our Family. I am will be in training meetings all day tomorrow with all Utah County Walmart managers to hash this thing out. Wish me luck!
ReplyDeleteI had an GREAT experience in the Pleasant Grove/Lindon Walmart. As I was checking on more thing and cute family was looking at the same item I was. The Father was very impressed at the folder and how organized I was with my coupons. Come to find out he was the Manager and was shopping with his family on his day off. They had alot of question for me and he was excited that some one form "Savvy" came and taught his employees how this Double Coupons day worked. Then the casher that I worked with was awesome!!!! Since it was my fist time shopping a double coupon I had a few question and she was very happy to teach me. I could tell that she was a little flustered with all the math but I was so happy how it all turned out.
ReplyDeleteThanks Amy for your AWESOMENESS!!!!
well write. love it. i just can't believe people would do that man, well i have never price match anything coz i always forgot to take my add and then i am always afraid that they would ask for the ad and do not have it. but thanks so much Amy for sharing that it really makes me sad tho. thanks for all the help too. take care and good luck.
ReplyDeleteAmen! When I am not 100% sure on the price (losing my mind in my old age *cough 26 cough*), I won't even price match. I feel terrible if I notice on my receipt after I leave that the price is lower than it was supposed to be, or anything like that. I wish there weren't people out there making it hard for us to do it the right way (Extreme Couponing...)
ReplyDeleteThere have been times that I want to quit or hide my coupons because I am embarrassed about couponing now because of the reputation that we are starting to get from these kinds of people. I hate it when friends want help couponing and want to know the "tricks" or how to get around a policy to make it a better deal! What?! They also make the cashiers a little more skeptical and worried that they are going to have one "pulled over" on them. You are ruining my couponing joy and happiness!!!! The more we are organized, friendly, and HONEST in all our couponing the more stores will be more willing to accept them, the cashiers will be friendly and understanding, and the people that look at us will be impressed with our savings, not annoyed at our "underhand bargaining."
ReplyDeleteSorry for the second post, but I forgot to say THANK YOU Amy. I appreciate every word you said. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks! I would hate to have this wonderful opportunity ruined by others. It saves me hundreds of dollars and allows my family to have lots of fresh produce for a very reasonable price. I have to admit that I shop more at WalMart because they price match. Otherwise, I would be shopping at other stores.
ReplyDeleteI agree, First off I hate when they ask for the ad, but it does keep the person buying in check and when I did bring the ad the chashier looked the ad over like I provided the wrong ad and that ticked me off, what I am suggesting is better cashier training. I think cashier's should be briefed by what is on sale and what isn't or they should have most of the ads at the cashier station or something needs to be done at that end, #1 it provides better customer service by letting the store keep on top of things and doesn't inocnvenince the customer (case in point see earlier) # 2 it keeps the shopper trustworthy.
ReplyDeletethat just makes me angry! I for one REALLY appreciate the policy of not having to have the ad, because where I live some of the stores won't send them to me, and walmart is the closest (at 90 miles away) of all of those stores that I would want to match. I hope they will continue to allow it.
ReplyDeleteAmy, can you clarify how WM accepting other store's coupons works? WM isn't able to get any money back from those stores, are they? If they are just matching the final sales price, do they need the in store coupon, or is having the price printed in the ad enough for them?
ReplyDeleteAlso, I haven't heard about their double couponing policy. What are the details on that?
Great post. I always price match at Walmart but I ALWAYS have my sales ads with me and ask if the cashier would like to see them.
ReplyDelete