14 Hacks and Secrets for Shopping at Walmart

By Andrew Lisa February 14, 2018

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Walmart store — Photo credit: Ken Wolter/shutterstock

TRADE SECRETS

Walmart is known for low prices and huge inventories, clearance items, and its famous Rollback discounts. But there are more than a dozen other ways to save real money on a regular basis, as long as shoppers know the tips and tricks that open up savings beyond the obvious sales and discounts.

Walmart Savings Catcher app with grocery items — Photo credit: CatLane/istockphoto

USE THE SAVINGS CATCHER

Sign up for the Walmart Savings Catcher to see the best prices. Just download the app and, after buying, simply scan a receipt (or an online purchase code); if the item is on sale somewhere cheaper, Walmart will deposit the difference to an egift card.

Murphy USA gas station — Photo credit: fluffbunny/flickr.com

BUY MURPHY USA GAS

Murphy USA has partnered with Walmart to give steep discounts on gas to the store's most loyal shoppers. When Murphy stations run specials throughout the year, anyone paying with a Walmart gift card or credit card saves big. In early February the savings were 3 cents a gallon.

Rows of soft drinks in plastic bottles — Photo credit: Kwangmoozaa/istockphoto

SAVE WITH CATALINAS AND SOFT DRINK CONTAINER CAPS

Catalinas are coupons that the clerk prints out at the register while putting through a purchase. Walmart will accept manufacturer coupons printed on catalinas from the registers of their competitors. Bring along coupons or discounts inside soft drink caps too -- Walmart will honor them.

Comparison of Pam spray and Great Value cooking spray — Photo credit: brraveheart/flickr.com

SHOP THE GREAT VALUE AND EQUATE LINES

Equate is Walmart's store brand for drugstore items, including everything from cough medicine and cotton swabs to smoking cessation products and vitamins. The ingredients, directions, and recommended dosages are the same as in name brands -- in fact, everything is the same but the price. For food and household goods, shop Walmart's Great Value line, which has products that are the same as familiar name brands, but with considerably lower prices.

GET A DISCOUNT WITH MANUFACTURER'S COUPONS

Walmart accepts manufacturer coupons for buy-one, get-one-free deals, for money off, or even for free items, though those BOGO deals won't be accepted if they don't specify a price. Keep in mind that manufacturer coupons must have a valid expiration date, barcode, and remit address.

Target coupon for body wash — Photo credit: krobertson3/flickr.com

USE COMPETITOR COUPONS

Walmart will honor competitor coupons, provided they haven't been duplicated and come with a valid expiration date and price for the bargain item. The coupon can be color or black and white.

Cutting coupons out printed from home — Photo credit: payphoto/istockphoto

PRINT AT-HOME INTERNET COUPONS

Before heading to Walmart, scour favorite shopping sites for print-at-home coupons. Walmart will honor them as long as they're legible, have a valid expiration date, and are manufacturer coupons. They're even good for BOGOs, provided they're printed with a specific price.

Woman showing coupons on phone at grocery store — Photo credit: Steve Debenport/istockphoto

GET THE LOWEST PRICE WITH PRICE MATCH

Before you head to the register, do a quick search of Walmart.com and Jet.com for the item. If they're selling it online for less, let the cashier know. Walmart will match the price for an identical item, which means shoppers always pay the lowest price possible.

Walmart receipt — Photo credit: jfmdesign/istockphoto

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF PRICE ADJUSTMENTS

After buying something from Walmart.com, stay alert for price drops there or on competitive online retailers -- contact customer care and get the difference matched through the store's price matching policy. Price adjustment doesn't apply to clearance items, Value Buys, Specials of the Day or 1-Hour Price Guarantees, and the item can't have been bought through the Marketplace or a third-party seller.

Pick Up department in Walmart — Photo credit: l_dawg2000/flickr.com

PICK UP AND SAVE

When buying online, save money on eligible items by picking up an order at a local Walmart instead of having it shipped. Just look for the "Pickup Discount" emblem on anything bought on Walmart.com.

Walmart website — Photo credit: LarryHerfindal/istockphoto

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF FREE SHIPPING ON WALMART.COM

If it's not possible to pick up an online purchase at a local store, that's okay -- Walmart offers free two-day shipping for most items on order of $35 or more -- and membership isn't required.

Loaf of bread — Photo credit: Jamesmcq24/istockphoto

BUY DAY-OLD BREAD

Several Walmart shopping experts, including those at the Penny Hoarder, encourage shoppers to buy bread -- and bakery products such as muffins -- made the day before. The logic is that since Walmart is eager to move them fast, they sell at a discount even through tasting the same as when fresh.

Refurbished iPad — Photo credit: Courtesy of walmart.com

SHOP FOR REFURBISHED ELECTRONICS AND GADGETS

There's a good chance there's a factory refurbished version of an item that works and looks like new, but costs much less. Just type "refurbished" into the search bar on Walmart.com to see a variety of steeply discounted refurbished devices and more, including video games, vacuum cleaners, phones, tablets, and computers.

Woman at the pharmacy talking about medicine with pharmacist — Photo credit: PeopleImages/istockphoto

GET $4 PRESCRIPTIONS

Walmart offers generic prescriptions for $4 across 20 categories of health conditions. The full list of $4 drugs contains hundreds of prescriptions. The discount can be used by anyone, with no membership is required. Walmart says the program has saved customers a combined $3 billion.

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