General Coupon Policies at Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart does embrace most of the coupon policies found in the majority of retailers. The coupons must not be expired and must display a scannable bar code. You must also redeem coupons for the exact brand and size indicated on the coupon. Substitutions are not generally accepted by Wal-Mart or any other store. It is also important to present your coupons at the time of purchase. You cannot go back with your receipt and a coupon and expect to be given a refund.
It is also important to note that, for the most part, if a coupon exceeds the sale price of an item, you do not receive the different in cash. There are some exceptions to this rule, but for the most part, coupons contain the words “no cash value” and so you probably cannot receive cash. There may be some instances where the extra value of a coupon can be applied to the rest of the transaction, but it is unlikely that you will receive any refund based upon coupon discounts.
Wal-Mart's Manufacturer Coupon Policies
The most common kind of coupon is a manufacturer’s coupon. These can be found in newspapers, flyers, on or in packaging for other products, and can even be ordered online. Wal-Mart will accept almost all coupons regardless of where you found them. However, they need to include the correct information. They have to specify the product and size and identify the exact discount. For example, the coupon must state how much you’ll save by using the coupon or, in the case of buy-one-get-one or similar coupons, how many items you must purchase to qualify for a free item.
In addition, all manufacturer coupons must have an expiry date or specifically indicate that the coupon does not expire. Also make sure that all your coupons have a scannable bar code and address. This address is necessary for Wal-Mart to be able to redeem the coupons at a later date, so the store will not accept them without this. Coupons issued by manufacturers are also required to state that they are "manufacturer's coupons" in most cases.
Printable Coupon Policies at Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart prides itself on accepting a variety of coupons, so most stores will accept coupons that you print at home. But you’ll have to follow the rules. First of all, obtain your coupons from a valid coupon site such as Coupons.com or another recognized site. Never purchase coupons off the internet, as many times these coupons are photocopies or otherwise forged. Make sure that all coupons have an expiry date and bar code as well as an address for Wal-Mart to redeem the coupon. If any of these things are missing, your coupons will probably not be accepted.
There has been some concern recently over coupons printed on black-and-white printers. This is not an issue at Wal-Mart. As long as your coupons are printed clearly and are not photocopies, the bar codes should scan well enough that they will be accepted at Wal-Mart.
Wal-Mart's Register Coupon Policies
Sometimes you will see a coupon printed at the bottom of a receipt when you purchase items. The receipt may be from Wal-Mart or elsewhere, but the coupon was printed from a register. Wal-Mart tends to accept these coupons even if they are from competing stores. The same basic rules of all coupons apply. The coupons must have expiry dates, bar codes, and a valid address for remittance.
Do not attempt to photocopy these or any other coupons. It is in clear violation of the rules and may result in you not being able to redeem coupons at that particular store. Also, photocopied coupons tend not to scan well, so they probably wouldn’t work anyway.
Competitor Coupons and Price Matching at Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart accepts most competitor coupons. They will generally do this according to the terms listed on the coupon. The only real restrictions are that all competitor coupons must indicate a price (include buy-one-get-one coupons) and Wal-Mart must sell that specific item. This means that you cannot use a coupon for a competitor’s brand at Wal-Mart.
If a competitor advertises a product at a lower price than Wal-Mart offers, take the advertisement to Wal-Mart. In almost all cases, Wal-Mart will match the price, preventing you from having to shop at multiple stores. The advertisement has only to indicate the specific product on sale and the dates of the sale.
Coupons Not Accepted at Wal-Mart
Despite accepting almost all coupons, Wal-Mart still has its limitations. Wal-Mart does not accept coupons that do not specify a product. For example, a coupon that state “50% off entire purchase” or “$10 off your next purchase” will not be accepted at Wal-Mart. Also check any printable coupons for free items. If they do not require a purchase, they are not valid at Wal-Mart.
While competitor coupons are accepted, any coupon that states that it is only valid at a specific retailer or offers a percentage off any product is not valid at Wal-Mart. Competitor coupons will not be accepted if they state that they can be doubled or tripled, and buy-one-get-one coupons must state a specific price.
Wal-Mart accepts almost all coupons for almost all products. There are very few coupons that cannot be used, though there are some instances where you will require the approval of a manager to use your coupons. If you’re using more than 40 coupons in a single transaction, or the total value of the coupons exceeds $50.00, expect to wait a few minutes for a manager to approve your coupons. In addition, any single coupon worth more than $20.00 must be approved by a supervisor or manager. For current details, consult the current Wal-Mart Coupon Policy.
