Frugal Friday! What is Price Matching?

When you first start trying to shop with coupons, or even just shop frugally, it can be a little daunting.  There are so many stores with so many sales.  It gets stressful thinking about the many grocery stores, drug stores and super centers, all with a sales ad that changes weekly.  How on earth are we going to make it all these different stores in a week?!

It’s easy. You don’t!

The solution is called Price Matching.  Have you seen the commercials? Price matching is when a store agrees to honor a competitor’s lower price, so that you can get the best deal at their store! This is a great solution for when you have a list of grocery store sales and don’t want to run all over town to get them!  Both Walmart and Target price match in the DFW area (check your area for other participants).   Today, we’re going to focus Walmart.

Walmart will match your out of pocket price for any product they carry in store.  If Walgreens has a 4 Pack of Charmin Toilet paper on sale for $2, just tell your cashier as they’re ringing up the item, and they will automatically change the price for you.  Then after, price matching the Charmin Basic 4 pack, don’t forget to use your coupon on top of it for even more savings!

The Rules:

1. All products must be the exact brand, size, type, color, and quantity as listed in the ad.  (I.E., If it specifies “Crest 4oz” it’s only for the 4oz.  Not the 3 oz or the 5 oz).
2. Walmart must be able to tell your “Out Of Pocket Price.”  If it’s Buy One Get One Free, but the ad doesn't specify how much the first item is, then they are unable to price match that item.  This also includes percent’s off sales.
3. Although you don’t need to bring an ad, the sale must be printed in the current ad and from a local store (don’t print an ad off from a store in the next state over, or save an old ad from a month ago… it won’t work!).  Most Walmart stores will price match within a 10-30 mile radius.  It’s best if you have any questions to call your local store’s customer service and ask before planning your trip.
4. Walmart price matches meat and product also!  Prices must be calculated the same as Walmart in order for the computer to process it.  To explain, if Walmart prices apples by the pound, then they cannot price match a store that prices them by the piece.  Their computers just don’t know the conversion for that.
5. Some will also match a competitor’s store brand for great value brands, but not all locations do this.  Check with your location before planning your trip.

When Not To Price Match:
Sometimes it’s just a better deal to go to the actual store offering the sale, and it’s important to know when it’s worth  it.  There are three big reasons to truck it to the competitor’s store.

1. They’re offering a reward.  Both CVS and Walgreens have their own shoppers reward programs.  Every week, their ads are full of products that you pay for, but get a coupon back for dollars off your next purchase.  Walmart will only price match your out of pocket price, since there is no guarantee that you will come back and use that reward.  If you know you’ll use it, then it’s worth it to buy the item at the drug store.
2. Your coupon will double or triple at a grocery store.  Walmart does not double or triple coupons, so it is worth it to use the smaller value coupons on items on sale at your local grocery store, rather than getting less savings at Walmart.
3.  It’s a close out or clearance sale.  Walmart can’t price items on clearance or going out of business sales, so grab them while you can at the store you found them at!

All in all, price matching, just like other aspects of couponing, takes some work but it worth it in the long run.  Make your first few trips small and make sure to learn your local store’s policy before getting really creative.  Most of all ~ have fun and keep saving!