Walmart and Coupons
LMKIA and Nickels-N-Dimes
LMKIA and WhiteTrashMom
Blissdom has been so much fun…and I’ve learned SO much! One of the best moments today was when I met John Andrews, the head of Social Media and Marketing for Walmart.. During the session, he told us that if someone has a complaint about Walmart., we were to let him know and he’d get it addressed. One of the most common complaints I get every week is that someone’s Walmart. didn’t accept their coupons for one reason or another. Most typically they say Walmart. told them they don’t take internet printables. Its just not true–their corporate policy allows them.
So, holding John true to his word, I told him this. And he totally agreed! He listened, he took notes, and he promised to pass it on. In fact, he told me to take his card with his email, and to have YOU contact him so he can forward on specifics about which stores are doing it wrong! Now, that level of caring about individual customers makes me want to know more about Walmart.! If you’ve had trouble at your Walmart., contact me using the contact button at the top of the page. I’ll send you his email so you can let him know your story!
He and I also had an interesting chat about the future of coupons at Walmart.. Let’s just say–its good!
I also met a representative of Shortcuts…that was a fun talk! Blissdom has just been full of great contacts and wonderful women. I’ve learned a ton and I hope you’ll be pleased with what you’ll be seeing here in the future. No huge changes, just taking what I already do that you love and making it better!
And don’t forget to send me your Walmart. stories!
It’s soooo wonderful to hear that you are having such a blast!!!
My Wal-mart does not allow me to use internet coupons so I have chosen other stores to shop at in the meantime. I live in Vandalia and my home store would be the Vandalia – York Commons store. The first time I tried to use internet coupons, the cashier got really rude with me and told me that she couldn’t take them and that’s what she has been told by all of management so she wouldn’t honor any of my coupons. I asked her if there was anyone that I could talk to and after much hesitation, she called for a CSM and that lady told her that “WE ARE NOT ALLOWED TO ACCEPT ONLINE COUPONS SO DO NOT TAKE THEM FROM HER.” After sharing with them my knowledge of coupons and showing them that the coupons were legit, they still didn’t care, so I nicely asked the lady to void my transaction and to have a wonderful day. They weren’t nice and they didn’t seem to care or want to help me or resolve anything. I guess losing a customer is easier than having to deal with an issue. Now that you have met John, can you help me??
Thanks and I hope you have safe travels coming home.
I too have had a bad experience with Walmart. My sister inlaw had told me she didn’t think they would take an internet coupon, so I went to the service desk and ask if the coupons I had would be excepted. I was told as long as they scanned they would be. He scanned it and said that it scanned so go buy buy buy. Well I just needed two chocolate mixes that would have been 2o cents after coupons. I stood in line and was told by the cashier that she couldn’t except the coupons. I than told her that I had been to the service desk and they said they would take them. She said sorry she was told no printed coupons. I than went back to service desk to purchase the items. At that time the line was almost out the door. I put my items on service desk and walked out. It will be awhile before I step back into Walmart. If my coupons are not good enough for them than neither am I.
Thanks so much!!! You are a TREMENDOUS help and I appreciate all that you do for everyone!!!!
So glad to have met you! I also was impressed with John and his level of caring about the customers.
Briana’s last blog post..T.G.I. Fridays B1G1 Free Coupon
I had a problem twice last week regarding coupon use. I filed a complaint online and was called back by an assistant manager but I think she was going through the motions. The first problem was the checker wouldn’t take an valid internet coupon (she said it was not Wal-mart policy). The second time another associate wouldn’t take valid newspaper coupons (again, not Wal-mart policy). Both times there was a lot of eye rolling, sighing, and flat out ugliness towards me. I coupon a lot, sometimes stores won’t take coupons for whatever reason. The difference between them and Wal-mart is they treat me with respect, they call a manager, they TRY to maintain a good relationship. We always part on good terms whaever the outcome. Wal-mart associates treat you like you are trying to steal, they honestly act like they don’t care if you walk in the store again or not. My husband owns a business and buys a ton of things that he needs from Wal-mart, he said after the way I was treated last week he would not be back. He’s serious. Last night he needed recordable DVD’s, he drove 20 minutes past our Wal-mart to spend the $15.00 with another store. I want to say that I am talking about my Wal-mart store in Georgetown, SC. I have been to the 501 store in Myrtle Beach and also the Surfside Beach store and was treated kindly. Most of the cashiers at the Wal-Mart in Georgetown are quite horrible to customers and most everyone I know is in agreement with this. We are such a small town though that there isn’t much choice. It’s a very sad situation to be in. To rely so heavily on a business but for them to treat you badly. I guess they do it because they know you need them more than they need you. Just about everyone I know has complained to management at one time about the shear hatefulness of the cashiers and absolutely nothing has changed. I think they are now using this coupon thing to twist the knife a little more.
Jennifer, I’ll pass this on to John. I’m sorry you’ve been treated like this. I once had a situation where the cashier kept handing the coupon back to me, telling me she could only take it if it scans, without ever actually scanning it. Its one of the funniest stories I tell, after a few years of developing a thick skin about coupons and cashiers.
I went to our Walmart In Campbellsville, KY. They will not honor any internet coupons. They were very nice about it. I asked why and was told it was company policy, because so many people were creating the coupons on the websites. I just went to Kroger; although sometime Walmart has the better price.
PRHELM, here ya go–print this out and take it in with you! I’ll pass the store info on to John!
http://walmartstores.com/7655.aspx
I’m not a big coupon user, but I have gotten soooo frustrated at the few I’ve tried to use at Walmart. Twice now the cashier ‘forgets’ to run my regular $1.50 coupon. I looked on my way out and notice she had forgotten…..i go back to the cashier and she does apologize, and gives me back the coupon, but my options she tells me are #1. save the coupon and use next time (ARGHHH) or # 2. go stand in the 10 deep customer service line with a cart full of groceries!!!! both times i was told the only way to get my $$ was go stand in the long customer service line. I wonder too what happens if i don’t realize the mistake….does Walmart still turn in the $1.50 coupon essentially keeping the money for themselves!!
My wife had the misfortune to shop with coupons at WalMart and was refused by the checkout person with the same old addage: it’s walmart policy: WELL: I checked with Wal-Mart corporate headquarters and they say they will honor any manufaturers coupon and online coupon and store flyers. EXCEPT gimmick adds, those which make you buy one and get one free with the purchase of 10 products and the such. My wife now carries the emaail from walmart with the refence numer on it and shows it to the checkout person when they start the garbage about policy. When a manager come over the tune quickly changes and the smart allick attitude disapears.
I went to Walmart last night, tried to use two online coupons, and the cashier would not take them. She said too many people are trying to defraud the system. I asked to talk to the manager, and she said, sorry he can’t talk to you right now. I was so pissed off, I will never shop at a walmart again. I walked out! It was the walmart in Bloomington in St. George Utah. What horrible customer service! I have never been treated so badly in my life. Now I know why my sister-in-law won’t step in a sams club nor walmart. She seems to think, because of the walmarts, our country is going to pot! They are making all of the small companies go out of business, for what? At least those small companies always treated me with the respect I deserve.
Hi I am so glad I have this sight!!! I do have a BIG problem with store4609 .I wanted to get a computer -from the toy dep.–I already tossed my Sunday adds so I got on toys r us’s add on the internet and copy their page that the computer was on It had the date, it had the price ect. BUT even the manager would not let me get it because it was from online.Sorry but I am still mad
I ran across your post as I was trying to find out information on Wal-mart’s internet coupon policy. There are 2 stores in Norfolk, VA (Military Highway and Tidewater Drive) that do not honor any internet coupons of any kind–even the ones that would meet the policy posted online. I had been using internet coupons at the Tidewater location for a year or so, but recently they changed the store policy, according to the rep, due to issues with fraud. The Military Highway store stopped taking the Internet coupons about a year ago (which is why I stopped shopping there). I have contacted Walmart using their toll free number (no response) and the internet (just wrote the email today).
Hi! I went into Walmart in Lexington, SC on Sunset Blvd. I was purchasing the following
11 Reach dental floss that were on sale for 1.00 and I had 11 1.00 off manufacture coupons
7 Sure Mens Deodarants and I had 7 1.25 off manufacture coupons
11 A1 Sauce and 11 2.00 manufacture coupons
6 Bengays and 6.00 2.00 off manufacture coupons
6 Rubbermade bottles and 6 1.00 off manufacture coupons
All coupons went through, however at the end of the transaction, the computer/cash register beeped error or something. So, cashier called manager to come help. Manager stated that I could only use 1 coupon per purchase. I explained yes that is what I understood. But, she was saying that a purchase meant the entire order. I explained that a purchase meant the item. That all of the purchases together made up the transaction. She would not relent. So, I told her to forget the whole thing and that I would like my coupons back. I was so mad! So, I have decided that we can do it her way, and that I am going to take my coupons back up there and get the items again, and have her ring each item up with the coupon, until I have all items I need at the savings that I am expecting. I am also going to take the Walmart Coupon Policy with me. If this is how they want to play, then I am happy to do it their way. They drive me crazy!!!
I had 2 internet coupons at the Ashland, KY store #1426 and was told by the cashier that they are no longer accepting them. She proceeded to hand the coupons back to me and scan the 2 items. I said I don’t want those and she rolled her eyes and voided the items. I’ve always used coupons at this Wal-Mart with no problem. I called and spoke to a CSM when I got home and was told that they DO accept valid coupons and to make ANOTHER trip in to clear the matter up. NO THANKS……..I’ll shop somewhere else from now on.
I, too, went through the ole “One coupon per purchase” issue….
I was buying (6) Louis RIch Chicken Strips and had (6) $1 Manufacturer coupons.
The cashier told me that I could only use ONE of my coupons…
I asked to speak with a CSM…. so she called over a CSM…
The CSM agreed with the cashier… even after I explained that a “purchase” is each item that is scanned…
At the bottom of receipts it reads the “# of items PURCHASED”…
The CSM still refused… and was rather loud, arrogant and belittling about it..(which wasn’t neccessary)
I wasn’t rude or loud or arrogant, etc…..I just had them cancel the transaction…
AND…to top things off… as I was leaving the register, I heard the CSM start talking ABOUT ME to the CUSTOMERS that were behind me in line!
(Seriously? Are ya kidding me? lol….. how immature and innappropriate)
I went to my car, used my cell phone to call 1-800-WALMART and explained what had just happened…
The Cust. Service Rep. that I spoke with told me to go back into the store and go to the Service Desk and that she would have the Store Manager meet me there…
I complied…
After reviewing my coupons and the items I was purchasing… the Store Manager agreed with ME.
I was allowed to use all (6) of my coupons for my (6) purchases AND…because of the attitude/behaviors of the cashier & CSM, I was given a $20 Gift Card for my troubles…
I no longer tolerate cashiers or CSM’s refusing my coupons. It is NOT *MY* fault that they are not informed or trained properly…
And as a consumer, I have every right to redeem coupons at Walmart….per their policy. (which I keep a printed copy of IN my coupon binder). And I’ve been a couponer for over 20 years, so I am well educated in how to properly redeem coupons.
A smart consumer is one of their best shoppers! And the “higher ups” realize this….
Because more times than not, us couponers will buy multiples of an item, because of the savings we will get by using our coupons with those items…
And Walmart gets reimbursed FACE VALUE of the coupons, regardless of the item-price…
So they profit MORE from us consumers who buy in bulk.
It doesn’t matter to Walmart whether the cash comes directly from a consumer hands or from a coupon redemption center…. it’s PROFIT either way!
Some cashiers and/or CSM’s seem to “take it personally” when we “smart” shoppers do our homework PRIOR to shopping and buy ONLY items on sale and/or items that we have coupons for ….and when we get to the register… have our “purchases” and coupons scanned… and then pay very little out-of-pocket…. the cashier (and/or CSM’s) sometimes assume that we’ve done some type of criminal act or fear that THEY’VE done something wrong… and get snippy, tense, rude and/or accusatory….
Ahh – I will not tolerate that.
And since I shop for my family of 5, my handicapped mother, my aging father in law and for donating to friends & other family… it’s nothing for me to buy 50+ of the same item(s) at one time… using coupons.
I save by MAXimizing my savings during sales & using coupons…. which prevents me from having to buy the items at full price later down the road.
The way I see it….
“Bait & Switch” is 100% illegal….. They simply cannot BAIT customers into the store by advertising that they will accept coupons and/or price-match….then SWITCH the rules when we get to the register…
…therefore, they HAVE to accept my coupons as long as I am abiding by their coupon policy and the terms stated on the coupons and as long as the purchases I’ve made correspond with the coupons I am using….and as long as none of my coupons have expired.
AND…..they should NEVER be rude to a customer….regardless!
I am not ONLY a smart shopper…. I am a SMART woman… and will never allow a cashier or CSM to “change the rules” because of some random excuse/reason they “think up”…
Part of my being a smart shopper is learning AHEAD OF TIME….the store policies related to coupon use…
I own my own business and have to abide by state and federal rules/regulations…
And so does Walmart and ALL of it’s employees!
So, it’s wonderful that “John” is so customer-oriented….but he is only ONE man..
We can’t possibly expect him to bear the ENTIRE burden of ALL of the coupon issues we come across while shopping at Walmart.
We can assist him….be our own advocates….
Utilize your cell phones/home phones … if you encounter an issue…and are confident that you are in the right….and/or you question whether or not a cashier/CSM is correct…. and/or the employees (at the store level) are giving you problems, being rude, etc….
Call 1-800-WALMART …
Have the “higher ups” assist you… and get you your discounts and/or whatever else you need.
AND…inadvertantly….
By making that call… you could very well cause changes to be made at YOUR Walmart…
Disciplinary action may be made (when needed)…
If the employees have been misinformed by managerial level employees…and are only abiding by what they were taught… then it’s NOT the cashiers fault… ya know what I mean?
Perhaps the managerial level employees need an inservice meeting to properly inform them of particulars related to coupon policies/use/acceptance.
I know that *MY* Walmart has a whole new respect for me and 90% of the cashiers enjoy watching how much I save… whereas there’s still a handfull of cashiers/CSM’s who are what I term as “Perma-cranky” – never smiling or happy no matter WHAT….
So I just avoid their lanes and let them steer their crankiness to others.
They DON’T HAVE TO like me…. but as long as they are an employee at Walmart… and when I am a shopping customer at Walmart… they DO HAVE TO respect me while I am in that store.
And I will not accept anything less.
I think it’s silly to dislike someone JUST because they are smart savers and use coupons!
Especially when the dislike is coming from people who make just above minimum wage! ha!
They should be asking me HOW to save …. instead of judging me BECAUSE I save ! lol
(**Please ~ NO OFFENSE INTENDED by anything that I’ve said….. AND It is NOT at all my intent to insult those working for minimum wage or just above…. my point is that I would be more than willing to help teach people how to save….and I have…. on mannny occassions.)
Happy Shopping!
I went to Wal-Mart today with my friend and had coupons I printed out from the actual manufacturer’s website. I went to one register and my friend went to another one. The one I went to accepted the coupon. It wouldn’t scan, but when the cashier typed the UPC code into the register it worked. The cashier my friend went to called a CSM and she said they couldn’t accept it because it wasn’t a manufacturer’s coupon. I thought it was awfully weird because my friend and I had the same coupons, but yet one cashier could accept it and one could not? I went to the cashier that rung me up and told her about it and she thought it was weird. She was about to ring us up again, but the CSM came up and told her not to because they weren’t suppose to accept those kinds of coupons. We went to Target afterwards and they took the coupons with no problem. Can you send me John’s e-mail, I’d like to send him a message about what happened and tell him which store it was.
Thanks.
Jessica, I will forward this on to him!
Patty, which store was it. I’m compiling a list to send to John.
Here is a link to their policy. I have found that having it on hand in my binder waylays a lot of issues. Anytime someone says ‘we can’t do that’ I pull out their policy and show them they can. Usually that’s when manager shows up, and things get a LOT better.
From there, you need to call the corporate office. Walmart has to know about these problems, to be able to fix them. Call and get this corrected!
I’ll pass this on to John. Thanks!
Thanks Candace. I’ve forwarded these on to the higher ups!
Tara I’d call or email the corporate office before you go up and get their definition of purchase or transaction before you go. Email would be good as then you’d have it in writing. OR, call/email the manufacturer of one of those coupons and get it in writing from them. Then KEEP that in your binder. It will help you more times than you know!
And next time, you can go over the head of the ‘manager’ you spoke with. That was a customer service manager, but not a store manager. Not even an assistant manager. There are lots of people over them (they are one of the lowest on the ‘manager’ totem pole at Walmart) that can overrule them. Or even just ask for a different CSM as there usually are 2-3 on duty at once!