Do you dislike shopping at Walmart, but love their low prices? If you fall into this large (and growing) group of consumers this article is for you. What if I told you that you could stay out of Walmart altogether and still take advantage of their low prices? Well, by getting a price-match on Walmart prices, you can do exactly that. Here are all the popular retailers that will happily price match Walmart’s low prices.

3 Keys to Your Success:

Download the Walmart App

Download this app (iOS, Android) and use it to quickly see what Walmart is selling the item for, and if applicable, use that pricing information to get your price-match at one of the retailers listed below.

The app is very easy to use and lets you scan the item’s barcode and instantly shows the Walmart price.

While some retailers will want to see a printed Walmart ad showing the lower price, the majority will accept the price on the Walmart app, especially if you’re polite.

Save Time In-Store When Asking for a Price-Match

Many “on the floor” employees are either not equipped to give you a price match, or simply aren’t familiar with their own store’s policy.

This is why I always recommend heading straight to the customer service/relations desk, typically located in the front of the store.

These are the employees that can help you with your price match quickly and efficiently.

Save Those Receipts (Especially on Large Purchases)

Always hold on to your receipt as many of the retailers below will give you a Walmart price-match days, or even weeks, after your original purchase.

While it’s too time consuming to constantly check for a Walmart price drop on smaller purchases, it definitely makes sense on larger purchases like electronics, laptops, sporting goods, and home appliances.

Without your receipt in-hand, you’re going to be out-of-luck when trying to go back to the store to get your price adjustment.

All the Stores that Will Price Match Walmart:

Best Buy

The Best Buy Price Match Guarantee absolutely includes matching the price at your local Walmart.

Here is what you need to know.

• Update: The Walmart does NOT have to be within a 25-mile radius of your local Best Buy location in order to get a price-match. As a matter of fact, you do not even need to have a Walmart in your town to get a price match at Best Buy.
• The best way to show proof of the lower price is to bring in Walmart’s current ad, or show them the price on Walmart.com or their app via your phone.
• They reserve the right to call the local Walmart and verify the price independently.
• Product must be identical, and in-stock, in order to get the lower Walmart price.
• You cannot use a Best Buy coupon on top of a price match.

Cabela’s

Cabela’s recently instituted a solid price match policy and it absolutely includes Walmart.

• When getting an in-store price match, you must have a Walmart within 100 miles of the Cabela’s store you’re standing in.
• Show evidence of the lower price to a Cabela’s employee and they’ll verify that it’s in-stock at Walmart and identical.
• Item has to be the same brand, model, color, size, and quantity.
• Bonus: If you’re a Cabela’s Club Member they’ll even deduct another 5% off the lower Walmart price.

PRO TIP: BASS PRO SHOPS POLICY IS THE SAME AS CABELA’S

Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s have the same ownership group and their price match policy is identical. So you can add Bass Pro Shops to your list of retailers that’ll price match Walmart as well.

Dick’s Sporting Goods

I was happy to see that Dick’s now has a price match policy in place and it includes Walmart. You no longer have to shop at Walmart for the lowest prices on sporting goods. Here is the skinny at Dick’s.

• The item must be identical, this includes the brand and model number.
• Just bring in the Walmart ad, or evidence on your smartphone, at the time of purchase and show it to a store associate.
• Exclusions: Rebates, coupons, bonus offers, gift card offers, clearance, including closeouts and used items, limited-quantity or out of stock items, prices advertised only as a percent off or dollar off, services or another retailer’s pricing error.
• Unlike their coupon offerings, I was happy to see that they don’t have a long list of brands which are excluded from a price match.

Home Depot

Here is how to get a Walmart price match at the Home Depot.

• Home Depot will price-match Walmart, but they won’t beat their price by 10% anymore.
• Show evidence of the lower Walmart price at the customer service desk at the front of the warehouse or call them at 800-466-3337.
• Item must be in-stock, and only works on the regular retail price at Walmart.
• Exclusions to be aware of:  Special orders, bid pricing, volume discounts, open-box merchandise, labor and installation, sales tax, rebate and free offers, typographical errors and online purchases.

JCPenney

Look to price match kitchen and home items at your local JCPenney as they have many of the same items as Walmart.

• JCPenney will match Walmart pricing on identical items. This is defined as the same brand, style, color, quantity, size, model number, weight, etc.
• Bring in a print-out or advertisement showing the lower Walmart price. Smartphone versions may also be used but will be independently verified before they give you the lower price.
• Exclusions: Sephora, Salon, Optical, Portrait or Custom Decorating.

Kohl’s

Kohl’s will gladly match Walmart pricing on specific items.

Here are the details.

• Kohl’s will only match the in-store pricing at Walmart. They will not match Walmart.com.
• Item must be identical to the product sold at Kohl’s.
• Unfortunately, there is a long list of exclusions. Big ones include Nike, Levi’s, Acer, Netgear, Canon, Samsung, and Fitbit.
• Always check out our Kohl’s coupons as well and try to stack one on top of your purchase.

Lowe’s Home Improvement

The Lowe’s price-match policy is quite similar to The Home Depot’s. Here are the details.

• Just bring in evidence of the lower Walmart price via their ad or from your smartphone.
• Not only will Lowe’s beat Walmart’s price, but they’ll beat it by a cool 10%.
• They limit the number of items in your purchase that you can get a price-match on to what they term “reasonable quantities”.
• If you have any questions about the vagueness of “reasonable quantities” you should call and speak to them directly at 1-877-465-6937.
• Exclusions: Installation labor, closeout pricing, special order, discontinued, clearance, liquidation or damaged items.

Michaels

Buried deep on the Michaels Terms and Condition page is their in-store price match policy which includes Walmart. Here’s what you need to know to make it happen.

• While you traditional think of Joann, Hobby Lobby, and AC Moore when price matching at Michaels, Walmart does indeed have many identical products worth price-matching.
• Simply present a Walmart ad or evidence of a lower Walmart price via a mobile device to a store associate.
• The lower price must be available at your local Walmart location and not solely available at Walmart.com.
• Exclusions include “Online Only” specials and private label brands. If they turn down your price match, use a Michaels coupon (in-store and online) to get comparable savings.

Office Depot

Once you understand the Office Depot price match policy, you’ll never troll the crowded aisles at Walmart again shopping for office supplies.

Here are the instructions to make it happen.

• The item being price-matched must be identical, in-stock, and brand new.
• Bring in evidence of the lower Walmart price via a printed advertisement, printed in-store signage, receipt of item purchased, picture of in-store signage or online offer from mobile device.
• They also give you 14 days after your Office Depot purchase to get a price adjustment if you find that Walmart has undercut the price you originally paid.
• Exclusions: Service plans, computer services, or other services which include delivery, copy and custom printing, installation, and extended warranties.

Petco

When shopping for pet food and supplies, be sure you’re getting Walmart pricing at your local Petco. Here is how their policy works.

• While kinda vague on their website, Petco will gladly match Walmart and Walmart.com pricing on identical items.
• As long as there is a Walmart within a “reasonable” distance, Petco will honor their lower price.

PetSmart

When shopping for pet food and supplies, keep in mind that PetSmart absolutely will price match Walmart.

Here’s how their policy currently works.

• Product must be identical and in-stock at both Walmart and PetSmart, they won’t price match Walmart.com.
• If the Walmart price is a clearance or liquidation price they will NOT match it.
• Just approach any PetSmart employee and they’ll show you what to do to get the lower Walmart price verified.
• This works great for dog and cat food especially as both retailers sell a number of the same top brands.

Staples

Staples will also price match Walmart, plus throw in a cool little bonus.

• If you find a new and identical item that they sell for less at Walmart, see an associate at the Staples customer service desk to get your price match.
• There was a time when Staples would actually beat Walmart prices by 10%, but unfortunately this went away.

Target

Target’s “Shop With Confidence” price match policy is definitely worth knowing if you’d rather shop at Target than Walmart.

Here is what you need to know.

• Take evidence of the lower Walmart price to the Guest Services desk at your local Target.
• Item must be identical, down to the size, color, and model number.
• They’ll then use their iPad to verify the lower price, the price must be available on the primary Walmart website.
• Also, keep your Target receipts as they’ll price match Walmart at any point within 14 days of your original purchase date.
• If you want a Target.com price match, they ask you to call them at 800-591-3869.

Tractor Supply Co.

Surprisingly, Walmart and Tractor Supply have many of the same tools, outdoor equipment, and ranch supplies so I was happy see that they price match Walmart.

• Tractor Supply not only price matches Walmart but pretty much every other retailer except eBay and Amazon 3rd party sellers.
• Item cannot be a Walmart clearance item, special order, or closeout special.
• Must also be in-stock and identical.
• Just show a TSC employee the cheaper Walmart price and they’ll hook ya up.
• Only works on TSC purchases made less than 30 days ago.

West Marine

I was happy to see that West Marine will price match Walmart, here are the details worth knowing.

• If you have a Walmart location within 50 miles of your local West Marine location, they’ll give you the lower Walmart price, even works on sale pricing which is unusual.
• Simply provide the Walmart address, item number, and base price of the item and they’ll independently verify the price.
• You can also call them at 1-800-BOATING to discuss your price match.
• From their website, “Price matching does not apply to online auctions, liquidation sales, refurbished or used merchandise, shipping charges, taxes, or promotions such as: mail-in offers, gift-with-purchase, financing offers, installation services, or typographical errors.”

Happy savings.

By Kyle James

Photo by Mike Mozart.

There’s no doubt that warehouse clubs like Costco and Sam’s Club offer great deals for savvy shoppers. Savings that can easily pay for the annual fee if you shop smart. But as with any store, there are going to be things NOT worth the money. So I set out and chatted with over a dozen employees at Sam’s and Costco and got their opinion on the worst buys in the warehouse. I think you’ll find what they had to tell me very interesting.

I was actually surprised with the large number of products that employees told me steer clear from at Sam’s and Costco.

Here are the items that I found the most interesting…

The WORST buys at Costco:

1. Books

I had a Costco employee tell me that the books they sell are “like literally .001% of what Barnes & Noble carries. If you’re looking for the current top 10 bestseller books, Costco is fine, but that’s about it.”

I hate to say it, but she’s kind of right, Costco has the current popular books that you’ll buy on an impulse, but you’d never go to Costco looking for an obscure title or something that was popular last year.

Instead you’re best bet is going to be your local bookstore or online at Amazon or ThriftBooks.com.

See Also: Sam’s Club Return Policy: We Figure It ALL Out For Ya

2. Canned Goods

Jared, a Costco employee I found doing inventory checks in the dry goods section, said the canned veggies are a hard pass for many Costco shoppers.

He went on to explain, “Who has room for 12 cans of beans or corn? Unless your shopping for a Thanksgiving feast it’s just not a great idea”.

I did some price comparisons with my local grocery store and the per unit price on canned veggies was very similar, especially when bought on sale.

The takeaway: Buy canned goods from your local grocery store when you see them on sale and avoid having to find space for them in your pantry.

3. Name Brand Cereal

A had an employee loading my cart at checkout tell me his wife often gets better deals on cereal at Grocery Outlet – Bargain Market.

He also said the Costco selection is very limited and “you better like it cuz you’re getting a bunch of it”.

My Take: It really depends on what cereals you like. For example, I love me some Honey Bunches of Oats and the Costco price is the cheapest I’ve found anywhere.

4. Diapers

This one was interesting and came from a new Mom who also works at Costco.

She was surprised that the price of Kirkland diapers wasn’t nearly as cheap as she thought it might be.

She said for size 1 diapers, the Kirkland brand comes out to $0.18 per diaper, BUT she can get the Parent’s Choice diaper at Walmart for $0.10/each.

She said she actually finds the Parent’s Choice brand to be a much better diaper and is her current go-to.

See Also: 7 Costco Bakery Hacks That’ll Make You Look Like a Genius

5. Fruit and Veggies

The fruit at Costco looks so beautiful, the peaches almost look fake they’re so perfect.

And shoppers tend to think that the large packaging must mean a good deal. Wrong.

The problem is the fruit tends to go from under ripe to over ripe with no in-between.

In actuality, the only produce at Costco that is a good deal, price wise, is bananas and apples.

For everything else, you’ll find better prices at Aldi, Grocery Outlet, and even Trader Joe’s.

6. Soda

This one I actually didn’t need an employee to tell me.

Grocery stores like Safeway and Walmart often give away Coke, Pepsi, Sprite, Dr. Pepper with a buy 2, get 1 free promotion.

This promotion is usually the 12 can boxes, so you get 36 cans for the price of 24 which is always cheaper than what Costco sells soda for.

See Also: The Costco Return Policy is Getting Worse…But Not Much

7. Some Electronics

Surprisingly, I had an employee working the returns desk tell me to beware of some HDTVs and portable speakers.

She said to always check the specs as some items have specs that aren’t as good as you’ll find at Best Buy, for example.

Things to check include how many HDMI ports are on the TV, proper resolution, and the battery life of portable speakers.

Also, keep in mind that Best Buy will price match Costco, so you can get the Costco price without even having a membership.

The WORST buys at Sam’s:

1. Vitamins

According to a friendly Sam’s employee that I talked with in the parking lot, Vitamins are typically not a good buy at warehouse club.

While the unit price is typically low compared to the competition, he said to make sure and determine if you’ll actually use them all before they expire.

While the FDA does not require vitamin manufactures to put an expiration date on the product, but most still do.

Depending on the supplement, many have an expiration date within 12 months of manufacture.

It’s NOT a great deal if you end up throwing some away or take an expired vitamin that’s loss its potency.

2. Snacky Foods

This one really surprised me as my wife and I have been snack foods from warehouse clubs for years and always thought it was a good deal.

When it comes to chips, granola bars, and crackers I had a Sam’s employee tell me that she always get a better deal at Aldi’s and Grocery Outlet.

She explained it this way, “similar to Sam’s, the selection can change, but I always get stuff for my kid’s lunch 20-40% cheaper compared to here”.

3. Clothing

Lands’ End, DKNY, Nine West, Eddie Bauer – these are just some of the clothing brands you’ll find at Sam’s Club.

But I had a Sam’s employee anonymously tell me that while the brands seem good, the quality is 2nd rate.

He actually told me to think of Sam’s as an outlet store where name-brands sell cheaper quality stuff, but they know many shoppers will still buy it because of the brand recognition.

Just something to keep in mind the next time you’re shopping for apparel at Sam’s.

See Also: The Brands That Make Member’s Mark Products Will Surprise You

4. Coffee

Unless you’re brewing coffee for an entire office, I had an employee warn me against buying bulk coffee at Sam’s.

Beans or ground coffee typically goes stale in less than 2 weeks, especially if you’re not storing it in an air-tight container.

Plus you have to buy so much of it that you don’t get the variety that many coffee connoisseurs crave.

For the freshest coffee possible, you’re better off buying smaller portions from your grocery store or better yet, your local roaster.

5. Cheese

I had an employee at Sam’s also tell me that buying cheese just ain’t cutting it any more.

The price keeps going up and is now on par or above your local grocery stores.

He actually told me that the only place he buys cheese now, especially specialty cheeses, is it at Trader Joe’s.

See Also: 8 Trader Joe’s Shopping Tips That’ll Help You Save

6. Condiments

And finally, on a whim, I asked a parking lot attendant what item at Sam’s is a terrible buy….he immediately said, “ketchup, mayo, and mustard…unless you’re eating hot dogs three times a week you’ll never use it all.”

So beware of anything that comes in large vats or containers as there’s a good chance you’ll end up throwing it away before you use it all.

While Sam’s and Costco has gotten better at selling more reasonably sized containers, this is still some pretty sage advice if I don’t say so myself.

Ask the Reader: Do you agree or disagree with these bad buys at Costco and Sam’s? Let me know.

Have you ever found a coupon and thought to yourself, “Wow, this bad boy is going to save me a ton of money!” Perhaps it was the 50% off store-wide Target coupon that was floating around Facebook recently. Or maybe it was an online coupon code that promised something for free, or Oakley sunglasses for 90% off the retail price. I almost fell for the latter.

The truth of the matter is that fake coupons exist, always have, and probably always will. But if you’re an informed couponer, you can easily spot a fake coupon and avoid falling prey. Here are eight ways to identify a fake coupon…every time you shop.

1. It Doesn’t Link To the Retailer’s Website

If you see a killer coupon, like the Target 50% off above, and it doesn’t link directly to the Target website, or a legitimate coupon website, it’s almost surely fake.

In the case of this Target coupon, it was floating around Facebook and being shared liked crazy.

The link associated with the coupon pointed to a shady “survey” website that promised free products if you completed an online survey.

There was no mention of the 50% off coupon anywhere on their site and those who did print it and take into their local Target were quickly informed by store employees that it was indeed fake.

2. Coupon is Photocopied

Whenever you stumble upon a printable coupon that has clearly been photocopied, stay away as it won’t be honored by the store.

This falls back to the idea of making sure you get your printable in-store coupons from a valid source like Coupons.com or KrazyCouponLady.com.

You’ll often find photocopied coupons shared on shady online forums and discussion groups, so beware of those and always be skeptical if the coupon looks copied.

See Also: 8 Retailers That Let You Stack Coupons To Double Your Savings

3. It Flat-Out Looks Fake

Things to look for include a missing bar code, text font that doesn’t match the rest of the coupon, and a design that simply looks like it was homemade by an amateur Photoshop user.

98 times out of 100, the coupon is gonna be fake if you see any of these things.

4. It’s Blacklisted

Yes, there is actually a database of counterfeit coupons that consumers can access for free.

The list is created and kept updated by the Coupon Information Corporation and includes a ginormous list of fake coupons from manufacturers like Pepsi, Revlon, Proctor & Gamble, Kraft, Nestle, MillerCoors, and dozens more.

So if you find a coupon that looks a little suspect, come check out this online database and do a quick search to see if your suspicions are accurate.

See Also: Forgot Your Coupon? These Stores Will STILL Help You Save

5. Coupon Offer is Simply Too Good

Let’s be honest here, do you EVER think a store like Target or Kohl’s would release a 50% off coupon to the general public?

No, of course not.

Trust your gut when you stumble upon a coupon that looks too good to be true, because it probably is.

6. It Costs Money to Get

When it comes to paying money to save money it’s important to understand the risks.

Not only are many coupons that you have to pay for fake, but legit versions are often found online for free.

Paying for coupons on eBay is the biggest culprit.

While there are many legit coupon sellers on eBay, there are also a few bad apples that will happily rip you off.

Pay attention to the sellers feedback rating to determine their legitimacy and avoid coupons that appear too good to be true.

For example, coupons being sold on eBay which are good for a “high dollar amount” off your entire purchase are often fishy.

I recently found a couple bogus coupons on eBay for $50 off your entire purchase at Lands’ End and $45 off your Sports Authority purchase.

I knew that both retailers never have coupons this good, so I knew to avoid them.

7. There’s No Expiration Date (or 11/31)

I recently found a fake American Eagle coupon that had an expiration date of 11/31/22 and it made me laugh.

I guess counterfeiters are going after people who aren’t incredibly familiar with the Gregorian calendar or simply don’t look at it very closely.

Also, if a printable in-store coupon has no expiration date on it, you’d be wise to tread lightly as it stands a great chance of being fake.

See Also: 17 Stores That Let You Return Used Items for a Full Refund

8. The Coupon Promises a Free Product

If the coupon promises to give you a free product after you register with the website offering the coupon, you should run the other way quickly.

These types of coupon offers have been floating around Facebook and Twitter a lot recently and you need to be aware of the risks.

Often times it works like this:

1. Click on the coupon offer on Facebook, and get redirected to a website you’ve never heard of.

2. Register with the website, including your credit card information, in order to get the “free” product.

3. Get promised the free product in a couple weeks.

4. Product never arrives and now they’ve got your credit card number. Avoid these fake coupons like the plague.

Very little in life is free and the risks are not worth the possible headaches.

Ask the Reader: Have you ever tried to use a fake coupon and were denied? If so, which one of the above fake coupon categories did it fall into?

By Kyle James