This is definitely useful information to be aware of. If you’d like to print it off so you can carry it with you (as I always do!), here’s a direct link to the Walmart corporate coupon policy.
Walmart accepts the following types of coupons (see guidelines below):
- Manufacturer coupons (Cents Off)
- Free merchandise (or Buy-One-Get-One-Free) coupons
- Store coupons
- Pharmacy (Advertising and Promotional) coupons
- Internet coupons
- Soft drink container caps
The following are guidelines and limits:
- Walmart only accepts coupons for merchandise we sell and only when presented at the time of purchase.
- Coupons should have an expiration date and be presented within the valid dates. Walmart will not accept expired coupons.
- Internet coupons should be legible and say “Manufacturer Coupon.” There should be a valid remit address for the manufacturer and a scannable bar code.
- Only one coupon per item is permitted.
- Use of 40 or more coupons per transaction will require approval by Customer Service Manager.
Although it’s not explicitly stated here, in my experience, if your total savings are more than 50% off your total purchase price, your transaction will require approval by a Customer Service manager as well.
Tara Kuczykowski
No, they cannot, Maggie. If they’re telling you that, you definitely need to contact corporate.
Maggie
Good to know. Because they don’t let me use my coupons, I haven’t go to Walmart for a long time. I hate when they give me a hard time to use any coupons. Thank you.
Maggie
Good to know. Because they don’t let me use my coupons, I haven’t go to Walmart for a long time. I hate when they give me a hard time to use any coupons. Thank you.
c young
I just had a bad experience at Walmart. The cashier would not let me use most of my internet coupons. I tried to purchase 2 of the same dog treats with 2 different internet coupons. They would not take them and loudly stated that by law a person can only print out 1 internet coupon. If you print out 2 you are violating a law. I was so embarrassed by this because they were talking so loudly and made me feel like a theif. The funny thing is that the woman in front of me used internet coupons – 8 of the same item.
Karrie
Maggit and Tara,
I work at Walmart and the store Manager can set his own policys if he wants too.
Tara Kuczykowski
I’ve talked with my corporate contacts at length on this topic, and they’ve assured me that the managers do not have the authority to deviate from the posted corporate coupon policy. The policy is across the board and cannot be changed at the store level.
Maggie
so what is the policy? Can we have it in writing?
Tara Kuczykowski
Maggie, the policy is outlined in the post above, along with a link to where it can be found on the Walmart web site.
Melissa
Maggie, I have a copy of the policy in my coupon book in case I have problems. Being that Tara has a working relationship with Wal-Mart I trust her to be “in the know”. As I have suggested to others here, at the front of your Wal-Mart (in customer service) there is a board with the District Manager’s name & phone number for your store. Call that District Manager. They should be able to help you. It is especially frustrating when you have a coupon printed directly from a manufacturer’s website and they tell you that you can’t use it because the address is fraudulent. I had that happen once. I will not let it happen again. Do not copy coupons. I have been told that each internet coupon has a unique PIN# associated with it and stores will quit taking these coupons if they are getting charge backs for the same repeated PIN. I don’t know if Tara posted that info or if I got it from another couponing blogger.
Melissa
Maggie
I just hate that I have to take the policy out and ask for manager every time I use coupons at Walmart. That’s why I don’t go there anymore.
Thank you, Tara and Melissa.
Gina Marie
What IS up with Walmart (especially)??? I am tired of being made to feel like a criminal and/or bicker with the cashier EVERY time I go in with coupons (and MOST of the time it’s not even the internet coupons that are the issue). Then on top of that, you feel badly for holding the customers behind you up. The lady behind me today snarked that there should be a seperate line for people with coupons (well Hello, I was clutching them bad boys in my hot little hand when you got behind me, so if that was an issue for you, pay closer attention). But really is it the coupon holder’s fault that the cashiers are not trained properly, the registers don’t recognize matching products & coupons, and even the management is unclear on the policy? It is ABSOLUETLY infuriating!! Can you tell I’m still pretty steamed over this? And this is far from the first incident (more like the straw that broke the camel’s back). Walmart markets itself as a place to go to find savings, but don’t dare try to use your coupons too! Obviously the manufacturers print the coupons with the intent that people are able to redeem them….what should be a simple transaction has become a demonstration where all common sence has dissappeared.
Thank you for posting the 1-800 -Walmart number, their coupon policy, and for sharing that the store info is in the front of the store – they will definately be hearing from me!!
Maggie
Gina Marie, I am totally agree you. I hate going to Walmart to use coupons because every single time I have problem with the cashiers and manager. Not just one location but 2 surrounded area. Please keep us post how is the call to Walmart CS go. Good Luck!
cheryl justice
Okay. I went to Wal-mart a couple of days ago and let me tell you, it was a pleasure. I had a cashier that was the best I have ever had at their store and this is the same store that I had to call 1800walmart on because of a butt of a cashier named Norma. Her name was Teresa and she had me out of there with my 240 dollars worth of stuff that cost me 49 dollars with price matches and coupons all it took her a whole ten minutes. She is the BEST!! She knew what she had rang up and when the coupon gave her a problem, she entered them by hand because as she says, “I know I rang it up and it’s there so I will just enter it by hand”. I hope that from now on she is there when I go because she is my favorite cashier of all times. Friendly, sweet and knew her job. All what you want in a Wal-Mart cashier or any cashier for that matter. If you are in Dalton Georgia by chance stop by for a great experience but don’t got through Norma’s line!
meckinzie
Does anyone know what Walmart’s policy is when the cpn is a higher amount than the item? Are they supposed to adjust down so you get the item free? I can’t seen to fins this info anywhere.
Cynthia
I would like to know the answer to that question as well. Tonight they wanted to adjust the coupon, so I ended up keeping the coupon and leaving the item. The only reason I got it in the first place was because of the overage, which would help cover the cost of the produce I was buying. When they adjust the coupon, do they still get the face value from the manufacturer?
Talia
I don’t believe you should ‘expect’ overage on a coupon. Most of the time they take the price of the item off, even if the coupon value is higher. Sometimes they take off the full value of the coupon (bonus), but I would never expect my overage on one item to cover another. Expecting this type of treatment is what will make coupons extinct before you know it.
Jessica
So glad I found this info, I stopped using walmart because the CSM said they didn’t accept internet coupons. I am going to try again and if they give me a hard time I’m calling their 1-800 number. I mean really, what is the big deal? I’m just trying to save my family a bit of money and it does cost my time and ink to print these coupons.
brighteyes_22
I can’t believe i am still in a bad mood about this, but three hours later I’m still steaming! I have been spending hours on end searching for coupons online, printing them off and then cutting them. And they’re all from reputable sources (www.coupon.com and the manufacturer’s website). After shopping, I went through the line and the girl started scanning the coupons. They beeped like they went through, but I watched the screen and nothing came up! I held my tongue, thinking that they may be added at the very end, but after I payed and the receipt was printed out, they didn’t! I showed them to the girl and she said that they must have gone through because they beeped when scanned. BUT THEY WEREN’T ON THE RECEIPT! Finally a manager came over and I showed her the online coupons that “supposedly” had been accepted. She said they couldn’t be accepted because the barcode below the date showed that they were forged. I was under the impression that the barcode was proof that they were real! Finally after arguing and showing her the manufacturer’s website at the bottom of the coupon, she sent me to guest services where I got my money back. The lady at GS said I needed to come over to her after every purchase so I can get my refund. EVERY TIME! I printed off the Wal-Mart policy to show them the next time I go (if I ever do) and hopefully someone will be smart enough to see that you CAN, in fact, punch in the coupon if it isn’t accepted by the scanner.
Jake
I too took internet coupons and Sunday newspaper coupons to the Walmart on S. High in Columbus, OH today after recommendations from this web site that I could get a few items free. Normally I don’t even take coupons to Walmart because while in theory they have the lowest prices that is not usually the case and besides they do not double.
The cashier, wearing a 10 years service badge, immediately asked if I had coupons and I told her they were on the conveyer at the end of about 65 dollars of merchandise. Upon seeing the internet coupons she told me that “no Walmart” accepts internet coupons. Well, usually expecting trouble from that Walmart (like having to show a receipt for 20 dollars of merchandise on the way out the door while at least four customers in front of me walked out without having to produce a receipt (I told her to stop me and I’d end up owning a Walmart)), I showed her a copy of the Walmart coupon policy. Her response? “That only applies to Walmart.com.” I wasted no time in asking for a manager only for her to yell three registers over and ask if they take internet coupons. Again, I asked for a manager and was told by the approximately 17 year old girl three registers down was the manager. (If she was a manager, she was the assistant manager of that register.) I walked over and showed her a copy of their own coupon policy and again was told that policy only applies to Walmart.com and that I could use the coupons if I ordered on line and had the products shipped to their store for pickup – cheapo products that walmart.com doesn’t even carry on line. Sooooo, I told the cashier to cancel my sale, give me back my coupons and I went next door to Kroger’s (a store I normally despise) and found better prices AND used my coupons without incident.
Now I’m not exactly young, but I can still detect BS when I smell it and I also know that most store managers don’t have to do their school homework when they get off shift. (I worked at Target long enough to know that everyone is a manager and I was even forced to pose as “the store manager” when the real store manager’s cojones shrivelled up on him.)
Point is: after several hours I’m still mad and I called the 1-800-walmart number and made my grievances very clear. Time will tell if the call had any impact. Personally, I don’t care anymore. I’m taking my business and coupons elsewhere.
USMCMom
I went to Walmart in Plano, Texas, yesterday morning to pick up a couple of things and had with me coupons for $1.00 off ANY Tide detergent and one $2.00 off any Bic disposable razors. As I went to check out, my first clue on how this was going to go should have been the cashier’s attitude. I placed my items on the belt, several of the travel sized Tide packs, one package of Bic disposal razors, and a couple of loaves of bread (which had .55 off peelies on them). After running the items through, I handed over my coupons. Coupon #1 beeped. It was the $1.00 off any Tide. She sat there and read every single word of that coupon several times over. After several minutes, I asked if she would call a supervisor or manager over to help. I was running out of patience fast. The CSM was much nicer and explained to the cashier that it was beeping because the item was .97 and the coupon was for $1.00. She said the coupon amount would have to be adjusted down if the price of the item was lower than the value of the coupon. After the CSM walked away, the cashier reluctantly scanned and adjusted each coupon. I had to point out to her that she missed the two peelies off of the bread as well. After the sale was totaled and paid for, I got to looking at the receipt and remember the $2.00 off Bic disposal razors? The razors rang up .97 yet the register deducted the entire $2.00 coupon! I turned around to show the cashier what had happened, that their register did take the coupon at face value and she just shrugged her shoulders and continued ringing up the person behind me. I ran into the CSM on the way out, showed her the receipt and told her what had happened. She began to explain that some manufacturers do not allow coupon overages, while others do. It just depended on the manufacturer’s policy. How can they possibly keep up with each manufacturer’s policies when they can’t keep up with their own?!!! I walked out of there exhausted. Next time I want a butt whooping like that on a Saturday morning, I’ll just go to the gym, then hit Target on the way home.
Sheri
I had the same experience with Wal-Mart this week. The cashier was rude they have no idea what they are doing when it comes to coupons. I did call corporate and they said if the product is over the amount they have to take off the face value of the coupon. She read it off to me but the one online policy does not give you all that information.
Angie
Sometimes all I can say is “WOW!!” To USMCmom: I had the exact same coupons yesterday although my razor coupon went right through the cashier I had would not even attempt to scan the tide coupon. She called the CSM (2 of them as a matter of fact) and they both said they could not take the coupon because it was worth more than the 97¢ tide! I said of course, YES YOU CAN and they said no. I then went out to my car and brought in my policy, and then I told them I would be calling corporate, which I did and they said they should have taken the coupons. NO ONE AT WALMART KNOWS WHAT THEY ARE DOING!!
Emily
I used to work at a Wal-mart. I feel the problem with Cashier’s not understanding the coupon policy comes from their training programs. The only real training I received was being forced to watch powerpoints on a computer for about 6-8 hours and then being quizzed over them. Luckily I had prior cashier experience or I would have been LOST!!
Janis
I went to Wal-Mart yesterday with a coupon on Wheat Thins……….It was printed off the internet and had every thing your policy called for……..the cashier immediately told me that they didn’t take them……I told her they had been taking them and then she said …………well it has to have “sci-fi” printed on it………..What the heck is this??????? I ‘ve never seen it on any coupon…………..Then she said………….well it is a copy………….and i said ……..of cours it is……….i printed it off the internet and how can it not be a copy……..//????????????????
She then went to the service desk after i insisted that they do take them…..and she came back and refused to take it……..
What’s the problem in Philadelphia, Mississippi Wal-Mart???????????
Can you please let them know that your policy is to take them???????
601-656-4166 Wal-Mart in Philly,,,,,,,,,,,,,,I get very upset when other Wal-Marts follow your policy and ours refuses…………………….
Tara Kuczykowski
Janis, I don’t work for Walmart, but you can find the contact information for corporate here:
https://dealseekingmom.com/walmart
Tom
Not “sci-fi” “Veri-Fi” Hope this helps ya’!
tina
I had this exact promblem at my walmart! I sent a very strongly worded letter to cooperate and recieved a phone call to apologize for their mistake and a gift card for $20 2 days later! I suggest you do the same. If you work for a company you make it YOUR JOB to know the policy at all times!
Nancy
Walmart’s newest stupid coupon policy is one coupon per item per purchase. Period. Total. And they consider your entire basket of groceries to be ‘a purchase’. So if you have 5 cans of Maxwell House coffee and 5 coupons, too bad for you, because although you can buy all 5 cans, you are only allowed to use ONE of those coupons.
I had 2 boxes of Cheezit crackers & 2 coupons, & the cashier handed me back one coupon & explained their new policy, when I tried to argue the foolishness of it, she got very upset, ranting about how they had to attend a conference & training on this & she wasn’t gonna lose her job over it, yadda yadda. I had to split my order in two just to get both boxes and use both coupons! I went right to a supervisor after this, and she confirmed everything the cashier had said. One coupon total for any identical items for your entire purchase.
Tara Kuczykowski
It sounds like your cashier was confusing a purchase with a transaction. You can absolutely use coupons on all purchases within a transaction. If she pushes it, just sweetly tell her you’ll wait while she rings them all up separately then. I’m betting she’ll change her tune pretty quickly then!
Molly
Everyyyyy once in awhile I’ll get a cashier who will stick to that policy like glue Nancy. One time I had 2 -55 cent off coupons for Mentos gum, each coupon had a different picture/flavor of gum, and she STILL would not let me use both coupons, even though I had purchased 2 of the gum! Arghhhhh! It’s really frustratring, luckily like I said though, it rarely happens.
I’ve pretty much learned which cashiers know what they’re doing & won’t give me a hard time, I know I’m not doing anything wrong. I like to find what I call ”coupon friendly” cashiers. Most know me by now. I’m the coupon lady & they know I’m likely to have a good stack. I rarely buy anything w/o a coupon.
Amy Partipilo
I recently went to Walmart with a stack of coupons. I was told Walmart doesn’t accept printed coupons anymore. Anyone hear this?
JFA
They refuse my internet coupons last friday also.
EC
They refused mine tonight as well.
Jennifer S
I have this problem in Iowa and sent a very nice email to corp. office. The email I got back from them stated that they do take internet coupons so I will try it again. I will let you know.
Tam
They are still confusing the per purchase with per transaction and sticking to it. Even their policy says one per item, but they insist that all coupons are “per transaction” not per purchase as the coupon plainly states.
Tonight I was told that no longer can you do back-to-back transactions either, that their policy had changed recently (though a look at the corporate policy shows no such change). You have to physically leave the store, come back in and use the next coupon. I don’t think so….not worth my time or aggravation, there are more coupon-friendly stores out there more than happy to take my money.
Bibi
Last night I went to my local walmart in Houston, Tx. After months of using internet coupons, they were denied last night. The cashier called the ass. mngr. as soon as she saw my coupon.com coupon. He completly denied them and just gave me a lame “we are no longer taking them” excuse. I know Walmart’s Corporate Coupon policy states that they DO accept online coupons; so, I decided to call walmart’s customer service line. A representative informed me that although their policy does states they will accept them, the final decision is left to each individual’s store management.
So, no luck fo me…. I’ve decided to start shopping at their competitor’s store.
lica
Just wanted to say I was also denied my coupon that I printed online. The manager just glanced at it and said they don’t take them. I went directly next door to Target where they took my online coupon with no problem. From now on Target is my 1st choice, and Wal-mart the last. Very upsetting. ..