My frugal friend, Shawna, inspired my take action post regarding Wal-Mart’s wacky coupon policies. Well, she most certainly took action! Shawna was kind enough to chronicle her adventures to share with my readers.
Here is her journey thus far:
May 3rd – New to couponing…I took my Internet coupons to Wal-Mart today and they were refused. I am NEW to internet coupons, but this is ridiculous. So…instead…I shopped at Kroger and at Tom Thumb. I used printables…I got the majority of the coupons from coupon bar and coupon bug.
May 10th – I went to Wal-Mart to pickup the All You magazine. You might remember that last week I had an unfortunate experience at Wal-Mart (which is NOT my favorite store because I used to work there years ago and know how the run the place). My Internet coupons had been refused. But, I spoke to a manager today and was ASSURED that they would take my Internet coupons.
I didn’t have much today…just a Rice Krispies w/ Strawberries, Light Chocolate Silk, LiveActive cheese (my addiction!), Whiska Lickins for my cat and my magazine. I hand the cashier my coupons and she refuses the Internet coupons. So, I have her take everything off except for my Whiska Lickins, LivActive and the magazine. I had mfr. coupons for everything left except the magazine.
I go out to the car and see that she has not scanned my LiveActive coupon (but took the coupon!) I called the store…while sitting in the car perusing my All You magazine. I spoke with a manager who assured me they would accept my Internet coupons and he would meet me at the register.
Well, he did not meet me. He sent the head cashier to meet me to check the cashier’s bag for the LiveActive coupon…which was behind her, on the floor…and I got my $1. Then, the head cashier proceeded to tell me that they do not accept ‘electronical’ coupons. I told her these were not ‘electronical’; that they were printed off the Internet and that I have been reassured by management that they will accept them. No ‘electronical’ coupons was again the line.
Wal-Mart has lost any business from me. Tom Thumb, Kroger and CVS all honor the $4 generic pricing Wal-Mart offers…so I have NO NEED to shop there again.
May 12th – I spoke to a manager at the Arlington Wal-Mart this morning and also contacted Wal-Mart customer service to let them know the issue I have been having with my ‘electronical’ coupons. I have been assured by both the manager and corporate Wal-Mart that the company’s policy on Internet coupons will be reviewed with the front-end cashiers and supervisors of this store and that they appreciate my call.
Results – TBD.
Thank you, Shawna! I wonder why my Wal-Mart always accepts my “electronical” coupons?
Stay tuned! Do you have a Wal-Mart story to share?
I don’t have any walmart stories- haven’t been there since we moved away from our super walmart. I go mainly to Publix here in FL and CVS for all the stuff we need. My budget for the grocery store is $60 I’ve been able to keep under that. =)
Goodness! Electronical coupons? Although I always have problems with IPs at Walmart, I’ve never had them called electronical. For some reason that just makes me giggle. Walmart’s coupon policy inconsistencies is exactly why I carry their official policy from their website in my binder. Some will argue still, but they usually back down. Sadly, I often pass up great deals there because it’s such a hassel to fight them to honor their own policy. Those of you who can use IPs at Kroger are so lucky!
I was having the same problems… I went to walmart.com, printed up their coupon policy and showed everyone and their momma at walmart. No more problems now… good luck!
I printed off the free Scott toilet cleaner and gave to my mom and she went to walmart and the cashier said they didn’t take internet coupons, so I then printed off the coupon policy from their website and gave my mom a copy to take with her back to walmart. So hopefully she won’t have trouble again.
I have horrible problems with the Walmart in Grand Prairie off of I-20, they are so rude. Finally I started going to the Walmart in Arlington South Cooper (I think) and they are wonderful. I actually checked out with the manager and told her what happened in Grand Prairie and she responded Does Not Sound New, I’m so sorry. The management in GP is horrible, they do not care one bit. I was about to end Walmart right then and there but figured the drive to Arlington walmart (3 miles difference) was well worth it. The GP WM treated me as I was a 3yr old, I’m telling you they made me almost lose my religion, But I left saying “GOD BLESS YOU”
I havent’ had problem with my walmart takeing internet coupons from me, my kroger however will not take any that make a item free.
Anybody know the link to print off the free scott cleaner with starter kit? My friend wants to print them off as well, and I can’t remember where it is. Thanks!
Saph- I hear so many great stories about Publix! I wish we had one in DFW. Maybe then I could give up Wal-Mart.
Anonymous #3:
Go into my Wal-Mart archives, there are 2 posts titled “Dear Wal-Mart…”.
You should find the link for the toilet scrubber in either post.
Luckily, my Wal-Mart took those coupons without hassle. They are also carried at Kroger near the mops.
I have to say my argument with Wal Mart is that they honor others ads but sometimes they want to read every one & the dates & sometimes they don’t need to see them at all. Now when I have had 3 kids in tow for a 2 hr wal mart trip to buy 2 weeks worth of graceries that extra 15 mins standing still in line while showing them every ad is horrible. I too have spoken with many managers there only to get different replies from each one. I do go to Wal mart on Davis & Kathy one of the CSM’s there knows us by now so I just say “Call Kathy please!!!”
We had quite an interesting walmart experience yesterday. I had a ton of coupons that were going to expire, so we decided to make an afternoon of it and hit 3 walmarts that are around us. Combined with a few trips to my normal walmart (which we didn’t go to yesterday) we cam out with 31 of the scotch brite toilet scrubbers, 17 Schick 10 packs of razors, 44 packs of postits, and 60 travel packs of wipes. Over $300 worth of stuff, with travel, buying & printing coupons cost us about $25.
The interesting part of this story is the different treatment we got at different walmarts. At the one on Tuscarawas street in Canton, OH (don’t ever go there, i probably wont be going back!) the cashier refused to give me any overage and had problems with the internet coupons, it took 4 “associates” and 35 min to get it all straightened out, and when i got home, she didn’t take off 4 $1 coupons that i know i gave her, so i will be returning those items today. Now we had the opposite experience at the walmart in North Canton, OH. We did two transactions (my hubby and i) to stay under the radar and one came to .66 and the other .67! We bought postits, wipes, all kinds off stuff. The cashier asked to shake my hand! She told me how impressed she was! It was a great way to end the day!
I will be going to Wal-Mart tomorrow to see if I get treated the same way. After that the one in Arlington gets my business!!!
-Shawna