[phoopaugh]

I live in a very small town in north ga. we only have walmart,bilo,ingles and save a lot within 60 miles of us.today my local walmart informed me that as of today they will no longer price match to kroger,publix,or aldi.Seems that lots of folks are taking advantage of price matching..and its hurting walmart's profits..
they will only price match to a store that is 50 miles or less away.kroger is 52.publix about the same.The store tried this once before,it only lasted less than a week.well today I was told they were going to stick with it,and you now have to bring along your ad if you do price match.I've lived in this town long before walmart,and I can survive without it.But here's my debate..should I make the drive maybe once a month and do a big shopping trip at kroger,publix and aldi. or should I just suck it up and deal with this new walmart policy..? I have also thought about joining sam's club or costco Any body have any thoughts or which would be better make the long trip to a wholesale club,or a long trip to kroger,publix and aldi ?

[jasesmema]

i thought the price match ad or no ad was nationwide They even have a commercial about it. i have a sams club memberschip but do not buy much bulk there because as a general rule it is more expensive. and they do not accept coupons.

[phoopaugh]

i'm not sure,i thought it was nationwide as well.does anybody know can it vary from store to store? should I call corporate ..I was thinking that would probably just be a waste of time.I 'm leaning more towards bj's since they take coupons.anybody shop bj's?

[kj_quilts]

I think that it is nationwide, but I think they only price match to "local" stores. This walmart has drawn the line of "local" at 50 miles. I don't think I agree with their decision, b ut I think they haven't actually broken the rules.

[DarrellsGirl]

Call the higher ups of walmart... how can their profits hurt it's WALMART for crying out loud - they're going to take over the world someday

[polydoly13]

I would call corporate - that won't cost any money, just a little time.

As far as Sams/Costco - there are some pros and cons - for me I live 1.5 - 2 hours from ANYTHING so I have to plan big shopping trips no matter what. I also can't hit every sale so some things like TP & trash bags, I just find the best deal at the time, usually Sams is the best price on both of those things so I STOCK UP. I also LOVE LOVE LOVE the produce at Sams - don't care if I save money because it's WAY better quality and lasts alot longer than anything I can buy anywhere else. There are a few other things that I can get there for the same or cheaper than anywhere else, even with coupons. I think once during the year they have a week where anyone can shop even if you don't have a membership and so you might want to check that out, or see if you have a friend you can go with. But it is a hit or miss game - there are a lot of things that are a bigger quantity but the same price per oz/lb, whatever as Walmart. There are also things that are more expensive, so you have to be careful. For the $35 membership, I think it's worth it.

And as far as boycotting Wally World - you boycotting because they are jerks isn't going to hurt them. If you need to shop there for convenience - just shop, if you are willing to drive further and feel better about that - go for it. I realize ppl have to have convictions and principles, but they aren't going to care about one person. Hope that doesn't come across as rude, I don't mean it to be, just that they won't care what you do. Do what works for you.

[crazy8kids]

I make the trip 60 miles once or twice a month. It is a big trip, I do a lot of planning and go to several stores. I posted the same questions a while back for different reasons, the stores know in our town know that many people just can't afford gas to drive any where else. Plus people are stealing newspapers here, taking all the tearpads, etc...so many store employees are very difficult to work with. I couldn't not get the buy1 get 1 deal at a local store, because the pantene was 5.29 and the cashier told me that the coupon only goes up to products that are 4.99 (the coupon stated it would only pay 4.99). I contacted corporate but they are not doing anything. I have heard people all the time talking about calling corporate store offices but they are not doing anything for couponers to make things easier or better for us.
So...it is worth it to me to drive that far but like I said I make it a big, big trip. I do a lot of planning, and buy a lot of merchandise. I look ahead and order coupons and it is a long day. So if you do drive, make it worth your while, but also realize it can become a long, long day. It is not a day to take the younger ones on, I couldn't do it if I had younger children.

[Lindsey16]

I have to say if you have a bj's join them or get the free trial they always do! You can use your coupons and they send out their own monthly coupon books and their prices are comparable to sams. I have been a member at both, sams I mostly use for gas and contacts it's well worth the $40 a year for those for me and bj's because I can use coupons and they have awesome chocolate chip cookies! Oh and if your trying to boycott Walmart they own sams.. It really all comes down to personal preference tho and I would call and ask about trial memberships to each before committing so you know what club u like best if any. Hth

[LOPEZ380]

I'm actually glad to hear the definition of "local". Finally, I now know that 50 miles is the range. I live in a region where there are at least 11 Walmarts all within a 50 mile range from me, not to mention the other grocery stores. I always get hassled over price matching. I once got denied price matching at Walmart from a grocery store that was a building away. I like Walmart but, they need to get their act together, beginning with management.

[LOPEZ380]

I just finished reading the Walmart ad matching policy and, it states that you are not required to bring the ad!!! Print the policy and show it to the person who informed you in regards to it. Better yet, make two copies, one for yourself to carry and one for the manager there.

[LOPEZ380]

It seems you have four Krogers near you that are under 50 miles from you. You should be able to use the Kroger ad.

[phoopaugh]

Thanks for all the comments and suggestions.They have all been very helpful.

[missyp997]

Well you asked what would I do! I would drive 100 miles before I would go to Walmart. By people price matching, it is hurting the other stores. What would/will happen when the others go out of business? Walmart can charge what ever they want, what choince will you have to pay it. I will go anywhere before Walmart! Sorry you asked and it's the truth, and that is what I would do.

[momma2jaxx]

Is there anything written in stone in the wm ad match policy saying within how many miles they will pm? My town only has a wm and an expensive grocery store, but the town a few miles away has a kroger, albertsons and a target but my wm will not pm. Id be nice to have something to show them.

[OctoSquishy]

Both of those things they're changing are actually nationwide, and corporate guidelines, meaning they have to obey or their store will get in some pretty big problems. I work at subway, and that would be like us telling people we don't have $5 footlongs
I would honestly call corporate and ask about that, myself.

[deneisetorres]

Originally Posted by LOPEZ380

I'm actually glad to hear the definition of "local". Finally, I now know that 50 miles is the range.

From what I understand, the definition of "local" in Walmart's terms is left up to the discretion of each local store manager. So unless you shop at the exact same store as the OP, don't assume that your Walmart has the same definition.

I am lucky to have a very good Walmart, but my store definition is only 25 miles. That works out ok for me because all of the major & most of the minor store chains that exist in Florida have at least one store within 25 miles.

[kaz]

What I would try: go in on a Sunday and check out the local Sunday papers in the rack. If the competitors ad is in that paper, you may be able to make a good case for matching...since they are selling it as a local paper and the newspaper considers it a local store. Worst they can do is say no...

[sammiekay101]

Originally Posted by missyp997

Well you asked what would I do! I would drive 100 miles before I would go to Walmart. By people price matching, it is hurting the other stores. What would/will happen when the others go out of business? Walmart can charge what ever they want, what choince will you have to pay it. I will go anywhere before Walmart! Sorry you asked and it's the truth, and that is what I would do.

I try to use the stores first, but if they are out of stock, the I PM at walmart. They are usually rude and hateful when they see you have a few coupons.

[Kayline]

Originally Posted by missyp997

Well you asked what would I do! I would drive 100 miles before I would go to Walmart. By people price matching, it is hurting the other stores. What would/will happen when the others go out of business? Walmart can charge what ever they want, what choice will you have to pay it. I will go anywhere before Walmart! Sorry you asked and it's the truth, and that is what I would do.

^This^

While I realize it's not always an option, I advocate avoiding WalMart like the plague. Their goal seems to be to monopolize as many areas as possible. Monopolies are NEVER a good thing because, as missyp997 said, they can then inflate their prices and the consumer will have little or no choice but to pay what they're asking.

[pelady07]

From your description we live in the same town. I was just at Walmart today and had no problem price matching. I do know from experience though that people are taking advantage of the policy. I've had cashiers tell me of "better" deals that others told them and from my own knowledge I know they weren't true. I sure hope this isn't going to be their policy change. I'd call corporate if I were you because it's a shame that the stores are two miles over the fifty mile limit.

[joshmamabear]

Originally Posted by kaz

What I would try: go in on a Sunday and check out the local Sunday papers in the rack. If the competitors ad is in that paper, you may be able to make a good case for matching...since they are selling it as a local paper and the newspaper considers it a local store. Worst they can do is say no...

Our WM used this solution on the "no ads needed" to counteract people without ads to present and give them a chance to go over ALL local ads in the paper in case the cashier doesn't have all local ads @ the register.

What they mean by no ad needed is as long as the ads can be found in local papers which they have copies @ customer service, then by all means, if customer has the time, they can all look for the ad match price @ customer service. This finally clicked on me. There's NO need for ad IF the ad comes out of local papers since they have the papers and can easily browse all ads found in it. If the ads do NOT come out of any of the local papers, it is reasonable if they turn down the ad match. So it is really up to customer to bring their own ads in case they are asked for proof. NO ad? then be ready to spend time @ customer service to show them where it is in local competitor's ads.

I find this reasonable enough because of the abuse being done by people who "invent" ad match prices and use the line "I don't need to present the ad according to policy" Now, WM found a way to challenge that..."if you don't have the ads, then we have it @ CS. just point to me where you found it in the papers" NO proof, no match. Next time, bring your own ad if you don't want to be inconvinienced. Pretty clever, IMO

[bitter_melon]

Originally Posted by OctoSquishy

Both of those things they're changing are actually nationwide, and corporate guidelines, meaning they have to obey or their store will get in some pretty big problems. I work at subway, and that would be like us telling people we don't have $5 footlongs
I would honestly call corporate and ask about that, myself.

We had a Subway like that actually-- the original manager is no longer running it!

[Lindsey16]

Lol that just made me think of seinfield and the soup nazi but no $5 subs for you!!

[bitter_melon]

Originally Posted by Lindsey16

Lol that just made me think of seinfield and the soup nazi but no $5 subs for you!!

It was very reminiscent of it!

[phoopaugh]

I totally agree with you about not price matching at walmart.my town also has a bilo and ingles.i will NOT price match any of their items at walmart.i just go to bilo and ingles and get it.I don't want my bilo going out of business.I love my bilo.They are super coupon friendly.The only items I do price match at walmart are items found at kroger,publix,and aldi -and that's only because we don't have any close by-if we did I would go there.I survivied just fine before walmart came to town,and I CAN do it again.

Originally Posted by Kayline

^This^

While I realize it's not always an option, I advocate avoiding WalMart like the plague. Their goal seems to be to monopolize as many areas as possible. Monopolies are NEVER a good thing because, as missyp997 said, they can then inflate their prices and the consumer will have little or no choice but to pay what they're asking.