Debunking 12 Walmart Shopping Myths and Urban Legends
Walmart is one of America’s largest retailers, and it has accumulated its fair share of myths, urban legends, and even some humorous lore. Despite these stories, Walmart remains a shopping destination for millions who want affordability, convenience, and a vast selection of products. Let’s delve into some of the most common myths, surprising ways to save money, funny anecdotes, and urban legends associated with this retail giant.
Myth #1: Flipped Products on Top Shelf Aren’t for Sale
The Myth: “Walmart flips around products on the top shelf so you won’t buy them.”
The Truth: In actuality, Walmart does this to try and draw your eyes to a product and have it stand out, especially if they’re overstocked and want to move a product quickly.
They’ll also do it if they want you to buy the older stock first and flipped around stuff that has a further out expiration date.
Savings Tip: Grab the product off the top shelf, especially if it’s flipped around, and you’ll get a fresher item that won’t expire in the near future.
NOT A MYTH: CLEARANCE ITEMS OFTEN HAVE WRONG PRICE ON THEM
Items are often discounted further than the Walmart shelf tag shows, but the price reduction isn’t always advertised. To find these hidden deals, download the Walmart app and scan items in-store. Sometimes clearance items ring up at even lower prices than marked.
This works best in categories like electronics, seasonal items, and clothing. You might find items up to 90% off that weren’t advertised as on sale.
Myth #2: Walmart Limits How Many Items You Can Buy
The Myth: “Walmart has a strict limit on the number of items you can buy in a single transaction.”
The Truth: While Walmart does sometimes limit the purchase of certain high-demand items (like electronics on Black Friday or specific products during supply shortages), there’s no universal rule restricting the total number of items you can buy at once.
Shoppers can fill their carts as much as they want, although in rare cases, limits are put in place.
Funny Twist: Some people believe Walmart has limits because of stories where shoppers tried to buy entire shelves of products (like snacks or seasonal decorations) and were politely asked to “leave a little for others.” This has led to the myth that Walmart enforces transaction limits across the board.
See Also: Smart Ways to Save the Next Time You Shop at Walmart
Myth #3: “Hidden Discounts” at Midnight
The Myth: “If you shop at Walmart at midnight, you’ll get access to special discounts or ‘hidden’ deals.”
The Truth: While shopping during late-night hours can mean less crowded aisles, there are no exclusive discounts that magically appear at midnight.
Walmart’s discounts are generally scheduled as Rollbacks or marked on clearance items, visible to all shoppers during regular store hours.
The midnight discount myth likely stems from certain items occasionally being restocked or rotated after hours, which can lead to finding previously unavailable deals, but it’s not an intentional policy.
Funny Twist: Some die-hard bargain hunters stay up late hoping to snag an elusive midnight discount, but they’re more likely to find better deals by checking the store’s clearance aisles or looking for markdowns during seasonal sales.
Myth #4: The In-Store Brand Is Low Quality
The Myth: “The Great Value and Equate brands are low-quality versions of name-brand items.”
The Truth: Walmart’s private label products, like Great Value (for food) and Equate (for health and wellness), are designed to provide quality at a lower price point.
Many of these items are produced by the same manufacturers behind popular name brands.
Savings Tip: Try out Walmart’s private label items for staples like pasta, canned goods, and personal care products.
You may be pleasantly surprised at the quality, especially given the cost savings.
Check out online reviews or join local social media groups where people discuss which Walmart-brand items are the best.
See Also: 3 Ways to Make Money Off Your Walmart Receipts
Myth #5: Cents Column on Price Tags Reveals Discounts
The Myth: “The cents column on Walmart’s price tags tells you if an item is on clearance, about to be discontinued, or specially discounted.”
The Truth: There’s a popular belief that if an item’s price ends in a specific number, like $0.97 or $0.88, it indicates a hidden discount status—such as a clearance, a discontinued product, or a special markdown.
While some stores, like Costco, do use specific cents endings to signal such things, Walmart doesn’t consistently follow this practice across all stores or departments.
Pricing at Walmart is typically based on standard markups, or to make you feel like you’re getting a great deal, rather than a “hidden code”.
Reality Check: Walmart’s Rollbacks and clearance tags are generally clearly marked with bright signage, so you don’t need to decipher cents to spot discounts.
However, you can often find deeply discounted items by checking the clearance aisles, especially after holiday seasons or during end-of-year sales.
Myth #6: All Walmart Stores Are the Same
The Myth: “Every Walmart is just like every other Walmart.”
The Truth: While Walmart stores are designed to have a consistent layout and experience, not all stores are identical.
Walmart Supercenters, Neighborhood Markets, and Walmart Express each offer different selections and vary in size and design.
Even store policies can sometimes differ slightly based on the region.
Savings Tip: Different locations have unique clearance sections where they discount overstocked or seasonal items. Always ask store associates about any hidden clearance sections.
Neighborhood Markets often have markdowns on fresh produce and meats near the end of the day, offering excellent deals on fresh food.
See Also: Clever Savings Hacks for ALL Walmart Shoppers
Myth #7: The Best Deals Are Only During the Holidays
The Myth: “You have to wait for Black Friday or Christmas for Walmart’s best deals.”
The Truth: Walmart offers deals throughout the year, not just during the holidays.
Clearance events happen regularly, and “Rollback” prices are available on popular items all year long.
Savings Tip: Look out for clearance events at the end of each season.
For instance, back-to-school items often go on sale in September, and summer gear can be found at discounts starting in August.
You can also check out Walmart’s online clearance section for exclusive web-only deals.
Myth #8: Walmart is Always Open 24/7
The Myth: “Walmart is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.”
The Truth: While some Walmart stores used to be open around the clock, this changed after the COVID-19 pandemic, when many stores cut back their hours.
Most locations now operate on a more traditional schedule, closing overnight.
However, hours can vary by location, so it’s always best to check before making a late-night trip.
Fun Fact: Some Walmart stores have returned to extended hours, and a few even remain open 24/7, but these are rare and location-dependent.
NOT A MYTH: SHOP ON WEEKDAY MORNINGS
Early in the day, during the week, Walmart restocks shelves and updates clearance items. You’ll have first dibs on fresh markdowns, especially in high-demand sections like produce, meat, and dairy.
Early morning is also quieter, so you can shop more efficiently without crowds, and you’ll have a better chance of finding clearance items before they sell out.
See Also: We Breakdown the Complicated Walmart Return Policy
Myth #9: They Tracks Your Every Move
The Myth: “Walmart has sophisticated technology that tracks you as you move through the store to monitor your spending habits.”
The Truth: While Walmart does have security cameras and loss-prevention measures, it’s not tracking every shopper’s exact movements or purchases on an individual level in the way some rumors claim.
It does use general data collection to analyze shopping trends, and it tracks online behavior more than in-store behavior.
Fun Fact: The self-checkout lanes can feel like you’re under surveillance, but that’s mostly to prevent shoplifting rather than tracking your shopping habits.
Myth #10: They Accept Any and Every Coupon
The Myth: “You can bring any coupon to Walmart, and they’ll accept it.”
The Truth: Walmart has a specific coupon policy and doesn’t accept all coupons, especially if they seem suspicious or aren’t from verified sources.
Some shoppers mistakenly believe they can use extreme couponing tactics to get items for free or nearly free, but Walmart has strict policies to avoid fraud.
Savings Tip: You can still stack some manufacturer coupons with Walmart’s Rollback prices to save extra, but always check their policy online before attempting any extreme couponing tricks.
See Also: How to Find “Hidden” Walmart Clearance Deals
Myth #11: Walmart is Always the Cheapest Option
The Myth: “If you shop at Walmart, you’re guaranteed to get the lowest prices.”
The Truth: While Walmart is known for its affordability, it isn’t always the cheapest option for every item.
Many people assume Walmart will have the best deals on every product, but competitors like Target, Costco, and even Amazon sometimes offer better prices on specific items.
Savings Tip: Use price-comparison apps like Honey or ShopSavvy to check if you’re really getting the best price.
Walmart also has its “Rollbacks” and weekly deals that slash prices, so keep an eye on the store’s flyer.
If you’re serious about saving, consider signing up for Walmart’s Walmart+ membership, which offers benefits like free shipping, discounts on fuel, and early access to special offers.
Myth #12: Self-Checkout at Walmart is the Future
The Myth: “Walmart self-checkout is so popular that it’s going to overtake the actual “cashier powered” checkout lines.”
The Truth: Walmart is actually rethinking the self-checkout aisles and have removed them completely from some locations.
Turns out many customers hate the self-checkout lane and how often they encounter an error that a Walmart employee has to come over and fix.
As retail theft is still on the rise, it’s pretty obvious that self-checkout has something to do with this. I personally have seen someone steal from the self-checkout lane a half-dozen times. It typically involves slipping something into their bag that they don’t scan.
5 Urban Legends at Walmart…
Walmart’s status as a cultural icon has given rise to some entertaining and strange urban legends. Here are some of the funniest:
1. Closed Walmart Locations Have Become Re-Education Camps
There’s an odd rumor floating around the web that closed Walmart locations are becoming re-educations camps or a FEMA prison camp.
Just read the comments on my article detailing all of the Walmart locations that have closed in recent years. I can’t make this stuff up, the comments are pretty wild.
2. The Walmart “Secret Aisle”
One myth claims that every Walmart has a hidden aisle with extreme discounts on items like electronics, clothing, and big-ticket goods.
In reality, there’s no secret aisle – but there are clearance aisles (and sale sections that aren’t marked as such), usually located near the back of the store, where you can find discounted items.
3. Walmart “Greeters” Are Secret Security Guards
Some people believe that Walmart’s friendly greeters are actually undercover security guards tasked with spotting shoplifters.
While it’s true that Walmart places a high priority on store security, greeters are primarily there to help customers feel welcome, provide information, and answer questions.
4. The “People of Walmart” Phenomenon
There’s no denying Walmart has a reputation for attracting a colorful variety of shoppers, sometimes in bizarre or outrageous outfits.
The People of Walmart website celebrates this phenomenon, featuring photos of some truly memorable characters.
From people dressed in superhero costumes to individuals who clearly threw caution to the wind with their wardrobe choices, these sightings have cemented Walmart’s reputation as a place where “anything goes.”
5. The “Spaghetti Incident”
One humorous legend tells of a shopper who allegedly spilled an enormous pot of spaghetti in the middle of the grocery section, only for Walmart associates to use bags of rice and Great Value tomato sauce to mop it up.
It’s an absurd story, and there’s no proof it ever happened – but it’s funny to imagine nonetheless.
Ask the Reader: Did I miss any fun Walmart urban legends or shopping myths? Let me know and I’d love to investigate.
By Kyle James
