You’re scrolling through Amazon, and you’ve found the perfect item at a great price. But then you think, “I could get this from Walmart and have it today.” It’s a common dilemma in modern shopping. This leads to a very important question: will Walmart match that lower price you see on Amazon?
The short and direct answer is that Walmart does not have a formal, nationwide price matching policy for Amazon or any other online competitors. Several years ago, they phased out their general ad match program. However, that doesn’t mean you’re completely out of luck. Walmart has developed its own strategies to compete, giving you other ways to save.
How Walmart Competes with Amazon’s Prices
Instead of matching prices at the register, Walmart focuses on being competitive from the start. The company has a dedicated team and automated systems that constantly monitor prices on items sold by Walmart.com and shipped by Amazon. When they identify a lower price, they often adjust their own online price to match or beat it. This means the sale price is already available to everyone, with no need to show proof or ask for a match.
Your Best Bet for Getting the Lowest Price
Since you can’t rely on an in-store price match, your strategy should shift. Always check the price on the Walmart app or website for the exact item you want. Often, you’ll find the price is already very similar to Amazon’s. Look for tags that say “Rollback” or “Special Buy” for temporary discounts. For online orders, also keep an eye out for a “Price When Checked Out” note, which guarantees that the price you see now is the one you’ll pay, even if it goes up before your order ships.
A Clever Alternative: The Walmart+ Subscription
If you’re a frequent shopper, a Walmart+ membership can be a great value. For a yearly fee, you get free shipping with no minimum order, much like Amazon Prime. This can instantly make a slightly higher price at Walmart a better deal if you were going to pay for shipping elsewhere. Members also get perks like free grocery delivery and fuel discounts, adding to the overall value.
While you can’t walk into a Walmart and ask them to honor an Amazon price, the competitive landscape works in your favor. By checking Walmart’s online prices directly and considering the benefits of memberships like Walmart+, you can still make an informed decision and often get a fantastic deal without the wait.
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