With Walmart ending price matching, first at 500 stores, then at an additional 300 stores, it’s time we all prepared for the worst. I wasn’t worried when the initial 500 stores stopped but once they expanded the test to another 300, I think that means they like what they saw with the first 500 and wanted to expand it. There are all kinds of rumors flying around that Walmart will end price matching company wide by the end of the year but so far those are just rumors.
So perhaps you don’t have ad matching anymore or maybe you found this post in the future when price matching has ended company-wide and are looking for some pointers on what to do next. Hopefully you will find some helpful advice here.
It’s worth noting before we start that the reason Walmart is ending ad matching is to be able to focus on undercutting their competitors on price directly without having to use ad matching and from what I’ve seen so far, they are actually doing that. If they continue on this path, we may not end up missing as matching at all.
Don’t be Afraid to Shop Around
I’ll be honest, 90+% of my shopping will continue to be at Walmart but if the Kroger has a great deal on pork chops one week, I’m going there. I wouldn’t stop flipping through the ads every week and taking advantage of any loss-leaders at competing stores.
Keep Using Coupons
This probably goes without saying if you are a regular reader of this blog but those coupons are going to be even more important moving forward. Don’t stop getting your Sunday papers and printing those coupons.
Use Walmart Savings Catcher
It looks like even if price matching ends, the Savings Catcher program will continue. If you don’t know what it is, it is built into the Walmart app or you can access it through a browser here. All you do is once you check out at the register, you scan the QR code at the bottom of your receipt with the Walmart app and Savings Catcher will compare what you bought with the sales of the local competitors. If someone has something on sale for less than what you paid at Walmart, you get the difference back in a Walmart eGiftcard.
If this is really the end of ad matching, I know I’ll miss it but there will always be ways to find great deals and the Grocery Shop for :fr: team will be here to share them with you!
:ebook2:
Annb says
When we say price matching, it’s just referring to bringing in the ad to match them? Savings catcher will remain active? I thought they were the same thing except if you brought to their attention, we got the difference then and there.
Aarn Farmer says
They are the same thing buy once ad matching ends at your store (if it does) you will no longer have the option of matching at the register. Savings Catcher will be your only option.