Hot off the presses here — I’ve got a copy of the brand new Walmart Coupon Policy that is being implemented now! I’ve been working on this as a part of my involvement with Walmart Moms for nearly 2.5 years, so I’m thrilled to finally have some real results to share.
The two biggest changes that I see are that 1) Walmart will now be offering change back or overage on your transaction when a coupon exceeds the price of a product and 2) Walmart will now accept Catalina coupons that are clearly marked as manufacturer’s coupons.
Walmart will accept the following coupons:
- manufacturer’s coupons
- Internet printable coupons
- competitor’s coupons that have a specific price listed
- soft drink container caps
- Catalina coupons clearly labeled as “manufacturer coupon”
Provided they meet the following criteria:
- one coupon per item
- coupons must have an expiration date and be redeemed prior to expiration
- change or overage will be given if a coupon exceeds a purchase
- coupon must be for an item Walmart sells
- coupons must be presented at the time of purchase
Walmart does not accept the following coupons:
- Internet printable coupons for a free product
- competitor’s coupons for dollars, cents or percentage off, B1G1 free, and double or triple value
Management approval will be required for:
- transactions with 40 or more coupons
- any coupon with a value over $20
- $50 or more in coupons in a single transaction
Of course it’s going to take some time for cashiers to be trained on these procedures, but in the meantime, here’s a nice printable version of the Walmart coupon policy that you can carry with you! I’d recommend setting your printer to draft mode or, even better, black and white when printing.
Some of you may disagree, but I believe this is a positive step for Walmart. Many of you have questioned what stores are doing with the overage from coupons in the past, so I’m thrilled to see a store finally take a positive stance on it. It seems like Walmart is really trying to accommodate coupon users!
So there you have it — what are your thoughts? Walmart wants to hear your feedback on the new policy in this quick survey.
I am a participant in the Walmart Moms program — participation is voluntary. Walmart has provided me with compensation for the time and effort spent creating this post, but all opinions are always my own!
Aimee
My opinion and this is in my area, probably not everywhere, but I will still not be shopping there….I was hoping for something better than this. I shop at a grocery store chain and save a lot more $$ than at Walmart because they take competitors coupons and offer BOGO’s every week. Walmart should consider this as well, they have lost tons of customers in my area due to this.
Dede
I agree using even ONE coupon can be a pain so I avoid shopping there when I have them. The cashiers think that you have to buy only the product that’s pictured when the wording clears states otherwise. They scan the coupon looking for reasons not to accept them or the register just won’t accept them. You can’t EVER go to Walmart with coupons and think you’re gonna get right out, it ends up being a stressful ordeal just about every time.
Shelly
Although walmart has been a hassle…I’m gonna love the extra coverage especially on the dryer sheets. :)
Deborahc
My issue with Walmart is that they have employees clogging the aisles stocking during heavy traffic times. Can’t they do that on an overnight shift? Otherwise I know I save money by shopping at Walmart.
Misty
I am looking for clarification on the catalinas. Can we use the $3(or whatever amount) off your next order..Register Rewards from Wags? I’m a bit confused, sorry! Thanks for all your help!!
Tara Kuczykowski
As long as they are labeled as a manufacturer’s coupon, you should be able to use them.
Brenda
The only thing I’m wondering now is with those $3 coupons that came up with Kroger’s sale recently where you save $3, get $3 for later purchases, can those be used at Wal-Mart?
JennS
I think this will be good if every store sticks to this policy. The one I shop at for the past 2 months has given me the third degree about coupons that I printed from the manuf. website. It took forever and I was really embarrased so I started doing my shopping back at Target and haven’t had any problems. I just run to walmart for a couple items that I know are a little cheaper there. Maybe after a while I will try again. It is just not worth my time with 2 little ones and the hassle.
Kristy
With a Kroger (I LOVE), a Giant Eagle, and a Meijer all equidistant and all doubling coupons, why would I step foot in Walmart? The very few times that I’ve shopped there I’ve had negative experiences (with and without coupons). I regard Walmart one step above Kmart and that’s not saying much. I’m sorry but the customer service is terrible and they don’t double coupons. I will pay extra (if I have to but usually the Kroger prices are good) so I don’t have to endure Walmart. If they start doubling coupons my tune might change.
Laura
I am excited about this in some ways but at the same time I am not sure it will change the overall experience at the store to be worth it? :(
I’ve even had trouble using the Disney Movie Rewards $10 off coupons at my Walmart. EVERY single coupon I use is questioned. Like others have stated, you feel like you are stealing from the employees paycheck by using coupons. :/
I will say, when I had a free coupon with about $2 overage it was definitely nice though! So I may venture back in at some point.
Michele
I like the idea of the new policy…it just remains to see how it’s implemented. I always have a hassle here in S. Florida when I try to use coupons. “I don’t think I can take this coupon. The product will be too inexpensive then.” (Actual quote – product was under a dollar, which is apparently too cheap for that cashier.) Acting like I’m stealing from the store when they’re getting paid by the manufacturer.
rachel
I have had nothing but problems with walmart and coupons. My last BAD experience which wasn’t about coupons but adjusting a price of an item that was tagged on the shelf for 1 price but scanning at another, left a BAD taste for me and I have not been back since. They have terrible customer service and I have been told even if my coupons perfectly match my items, and they beep that I can’t use them. I think I will stick to more friendly stores like Rite Aid and Target.
Kim
The cashier did that to me too, I asked her to change the price..she told me she COULDN’T, she didn’t have the authority..which I know is BS because they have done it before, so I told her to sign herself in and I would show her how… LOL. She said she would call a manager, so i stood there and waited and waited, she looks over at me and says can I help you? ummm DUH you were supposed to call the manager…finally some guy came over apologized and changed it right away, no problem. I only shop there because its literally a 2 minute drive from my house, but they really are bad and so RUDE!
I Ditto all the comments about them not wanting to take coupons, if it doesnt scan, they don’t want to be bothered to enter it manually..
Shantel
I used to buy EVERYTHING from Walmart for our family of six. Not anymore. The Southern Las Vegas store (arroyo parkway) is HORRIBLE with couponers. After some convincing from some Mom’s in our playgroup we now buy everything at Target and Smith’s. And we keep spreading the word. Stay away from Walmart, it’s not worth the trouble.
Ann
Yep, it’s pretty obvious that Walmart needed to make changes, but I doubt this will help when you get to the register. I actually had a cashier that became so hostile, I had to walk away leaving all my goods at her register.
She chased me as I went to Customer Service, waving her arms and screaming at me. Nobody did anything about it.
The poor Assistant Manager was scared to death of her.
She was insisting that I put a white shirt and two others down on her conveyer belt, and I politely said I prefer to hold it. After 3 times of insisting, she ripped the shirts from my hands, threw them down on the belt anyway, then after scanning them, she began crumpling them up into balls and wildly throwing them into the bag as if to say, ” I’ll fix you lady”, that’s when I walked away and she chased me. It was nightmarish!
Long story short, she still works there!
Irion
Thanks so much for posting this! I just printed it and will keep it with me next time I shop at Wal-mart. I have had some bad experiences there with coupons, but since they are trying to get couponers back, then I’ll give it a go! Thanks again for all you do!
Becky
I drive 20 miles not to shop at Walmart when I am doing major grocery shopping. It’s not worth the hassle at all. It doesn’t really matter to me if they changed the policy. It doesn’t change the attitude I see when trying to use coupons. Walmart corporate could benefit from doing some training to help their employees with providing great customer service (a lost art these days) and with knowing their coupon policy.
Sandra Roberts
My daughter worked at Walmart 5 yrs ago and she told me that they do a crap job at training their cashiers. NO training on coupons and well, customer service is something that you are’t trained in. It’s mostly COMMON SENSE! Treat people as you would like them to treat you!
Athena
So let me get this straight.. If I cut out a safeway coupon for let say “Ragu” that’s a safeway coupon for 99cents and take it to walmart they will honor it? Cause I called 2 weeks ago and they told me they don’t take other store coupons.
Tara Kuczykowski
That’s right, Athena. If it has a specific sale price on the coupon like “get Ragu for $0.99”, they will accept it. If it’s for 10% off of $0.50 off they won’t accept it though.
Marlene
I just hope corporate Walmart informs all of it’s stores. My sister is a cashier for Walmart and they have been told nothing about the new policy.
Krystal
I think a new policy is great. However, like other comments have said, if the cashiers/managers choose not to follow it, it doesn’t really help. Walmart definitly needs to invest in training their employees on proper customer service. Even before I started using coupons I hated going to Walmart, but I thought I had to for the best prices. Now that Im using coupons I know I can get better prices (and no hassle) by shopping at Target or Randalls. I only go in to Walmart if I am VERY pressed for time because it is right around the corner from my house. Other than that I avoid it.
ann b
think they will ever accept CVSs’ ECBS?
Sandra Roberts
They are building a Target near me, should be open by Summer! I can’t wait! I’ll finally be able to go get the same deals you all are getting there and less Walmart shopping! lol I don’t mind Walmart, I really don’t guess I am a lucky one, but if I can get free products and better prices with coupons, why the heck not swap! Target is #2 next to Walmart and so Target is watching what Walmart does so they can better themselves! That’s what my husband heard on a special he recorded on Target!
Linda
I’d say the new policy is a step in the right direction (except for the free product ban), but it’s about two years too late for me. I stopped buying groceries at Walmart over coupons, and it would take a lot more than this to get me to go back.
Kandice
I love how Wal-Mart has changed their coupon policy. It is a wonderful addidtion to what they already do. I have been reading alot of posts about the cashiers. I guess I am one of the lucky ones. I have a favorite cashier, here at the Davenport, Iowa Walmart, Roxanne. She is the best. You organize your stuff according to price adjustments, coupons whatever, and she does everythign with a smile on her face.
Sharon C
I went 8 months & did not step a foot in Walmart here in TN due to CSM issues. I fornd everything I needed at Kroger,Dollar General & Kmart. I wanted to give Walmart a try again which I live in the middle of 2 of them & again I was treated like I was stealing from them by using coupons. Hello Walmart not everyone has money to burn & we have to save anyway we can.
Manufacturer’s try to help us while selling more of their product & Walmart doesn’t want to take the coupon.I called a manufacturer one time about Wamart not taking their coupon they sent to me & they told me to take it to Kmart forget Walmart.While trying to revist shopping back at Walmart again the coupon that Aveno mailed to us for a free lotion protiom the cashier did the coupon then went in & voided the entry. As I looked at my receipt she done that on several of my coupons, she went back & voided the entry on. So am I going to be a Walmart shopper again? No way. Just because I live in a very small rural area with only Walmart & Kmart being our biggest stores around I am liking Dollar General more & more. Good Luck ladies & gents with their new policy sure wish they would work on training for the pepole too.
EM
It seems my coupons @ Walmart haven’t been cut-off @ the product calue, but they have rejected manufacturer coupons from Kroger and HEB, because those stores are now printing the so-called manufacture coupons with a bar code only their systems will recognize and Walmart’s does not.
EM
Additionally, that’s too bad about competitor coupons-I don’t recall seeing any with a specific price, all $ off. AND…do they still accept competitors’ advertised sale prices with the flyer?
Linda
Just today, again, I wrote to Walmart b/c their customer service refuse to take Albertsons coupons for 79cents eggs, and 99cents Mission Tortilla chips. I went to Albertsons, and will NOT return to Walmart. The CS rep wouldn’t even look at mt Walmart coupon policy print-out, and insisted they only took Walmart coupons!
Tara Kuczykowski
Thanks, Linda — I’ll make sure that this information is passed along. If you could provide a store location or, even better, the store number, I’m sure that would be very useful.
Karen
First, our Piscataway, NJ Wal-Mart wouldn’t accept ANY coupons printed from the internet. Then, like others have posted here, when I took a coupon cut out of the Sunday circulars, I could only use it if the item matched the picture on the coupon, even when the wording indicated otherwise. So, they lost me as a customer! My question is this: there was a coupon policy in place when the Piscataway NJ WalMart was doing this, why should I believe they will follow the policy NOW?
Tara Kuczykowski
You have a valid concern, Karen, and that’s why I’ll be pushing for more training for the cashiers now. It will take some time, but hopefully things will start to get better.
Trish
I know I am replying to an old comment, but I had an issue with this as well earlier in the year. The coupon was for $2.00 off any two of those Reece’s minis candies (well, it was good for any of the minis like the Hershey’s candies and the Almond Joy ones as well). The coupon pictured three different of the minis, but the coupon stated it was good for ANY of the candies in that line. The cashier tried to argue with me that what I purchased wasn’t shown in the picture, even though I pointed out the print to her. She eventually took it with the ‘I’ll accept it this one time’ speech and made me feel very stupid, like I was trying to steal. I really dislike shopping at Wal-Mart with coupons and rarely get anything from there except things things I wouldn’t normally have a coupon for anyway, like printer paper or lemons, and the price is cheaper on those items.
Janell Poulette
I was at Walmart today and they refused to take a $10 RR reward I had from Walgreens. It said it was a manf coupon and it had an address. They said they would not take it because it just said valid on next in-store purchase, not for a specific product. They told me it was a gimmick to get me to go back to Walgreens. Well yeah it is and it works. So why wouldn’t Walmart take it so I dont go to a competitor’s store? I showed them my copy of my their coupon policy and the CSM asked me what it was. I said it’s your new coupon policy. My cashier did not realize she could give me the coupon overage until I showed her the policy. She said she had heard nothing about the change and was happy I let her keep the copy. I understand that Walmart is a huge company but this is a huge change. A company like Publix makes sure all their employees know about major changes. I can understand they may not want to release the details, but they should tell their employees that there will be a change. I would love clarification from Walmart about the Walgreens Register Rewards. I will go to Walmart when I have coupons with overage, but I will stick with Publix.
Tara Kuczykowski
Yes, change is going to take some time. I still don’t have any clarification on the Register Rewards. They’re not paid for by the store issuing them, so I see no reason for Walmart not to accept them.
Luv Movies
This is great news for Walmart. Here is the sad thing, some competitors like Safeway and it sister stores are going other directions. They are being more coupon unfriendly everyday. Some of their sister stores are the worst culprit of giving worst harassment and attitude toward coupon users.
I read horror stories form Dominick’s, Randall and others. The worst offenders from several websites are Vons/Pavilions chain in Southern California. E.G. Worst story, some Vons Cashier calling Coupon User Un-American and Socialist.
This is very good for Walmart. Walmart want your business from the struggling poor to the affluent. Kudos!
Sandra U.
Was SO excited when I read about the new coupon policy. I have $37 in Walgreens Register Rewards saved up ($ off ones, but clearly state Manufacturer coupons on them). I have a large family with 8 kids and my shopping trips are never light, usually 2 carts full. Was so excited today to use my saved Register Rewards….only to be flattened down to the size of an ant when I was told not only by the cashier, but the CSM, and then the store manager that NO they will NOT accept them. I even showed the printed copy of the new coupon policy. NO GO. Just not right that all won’t follow the new policy.
Sandra U.
Mine is store #0125 if that helps.
Luv Movies
Hello Deal Seeking Mom:
Try sharing this thread with Walmart management. Seeing all the difficulties people having on using coupon.
It might get them to encourage better training.