By offering some of the lowest retail prices on the market, Walmart helps shoppers save money everyday. But did you know that by taking advantage of coupons, you can save even more money at Walmart? That’s right–Walmart accepts a wide variety of coupons to help you maximize your savings with every trip to the store. Keep reading to find out what kind of coupons Walmart takes and how to use them.
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Walmart Coupon Policy
The following comes directly from Walmart’s Policies and Guidelines:
“To help our customers save money and live better, we gladly accept valid paper manufacturer coupons issued by manufacturers of products that Walmart sells.”
Now that we know that Walmart accepts coupons, keep reading to find out what kind of coupons they accept, where to find them, and how to use them.
Types of Coupons Accepted At Walmart
Here, we will dive into what types of coupons are accepted at Walmart.
Before we get into the details, here’s the basic breakdown – Walmart accepts paper manufacturer coupons that offer a percentage-off or buy-one-get-one-free deal. Walmart does not accept competitor coupons or coupons with complex terms.
Now for the details…
The following is summarized from Walmart’s coupon policy:
Paper Manufacturer Coupons
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- Only one coupon is allowed per item (no coupon stacking)
- Manufacturer limitations (printed on the coupon) determine the coupon’s usage
- There is no limit on the number of coupons that can be used per transaction as long as each coupon is used for a different item
- All coupons must have the following information printed on them:
- The words “manufacturer coupon”
- A scannable barcode
- A valid manufacturer billing address
- A valid expiration date (must be presented before expiration)
- All coupons must be presented to the cashier at the time of purchase
- Coupons cannot be applied after the transaction is completed or to previous purchases
- Items purchased must match the coupon description (brand, size, quantity, color, flavor, etc.)
- Coupons must scan at the register
- Coupons cannot be copied, scanned, altered, transferred, purchased, or sold
Print-At-Home Coupons
- Walmart accepts valid internet-based manufacturer coupons that contain barcodes that scan at Walmart registers and are not expired
- Walmart does not accept internet coupons granting free items with no purchase requirements
- Internet coupons that display any of these characteristics will not be accepted:
- Blurry
- Out of proportion
- Not scannable
- Altered in any way
Buy-One-Get-One-Free (BOGO) Coupons
- BOGO manufacturer coupons cannot be combined (you cannot use two BOGO manufacturer coupons on two items and get both for free)
- Unless stated otherwise, the use of one BOGO coupon requires that two valid items are presented at the time of checkout
- A BOGO manufacturer coupon and a Dollar/Cent-Off coupon cannot be combined (you cannot use a Dollar/Cent-Off coupon on an item that is already being claimed as part of a BOGO transaction)
- Walmart does not accept percentage-off BOGO coupons (ex: buy one get one half off)
Now that we’ve sorted out all the details, let’s put things into some simpler terms…
Walmart accepts the following types of coupons:
- Paper coupons
- Manufacturer coupons
- BOGO coupons
- Print-at-home coupons
Keep reading to find out what kind of coupons Walmart does not accept.
Walmart’s Coupon Policy Restrictions
While Walmart certainly accepts a wide range of coupons, there are also plenty of coupon types that Walmart unfortunately does not accept.
Walmart does not accept:
- Competitor coupons
- Coupons from retailers other than Walmart
- “BOGO50” coupons or any coupon that combines “buy one get one” with a percentage off the second item
- Digital coupons or mobile coupons
- Expired coupons
- Counterfeit coupons
- Vouchers
- Coupon stacking
Lastly, if you find yourself wondering how the returns process works for items purchased with coupons, Walmart has an answer for you…
- If you return an item purchased with a coupon, you may receive the full price of the item returned to you in your original form of payment
- Coupons are not returned to the customer when an item is returned
- Walmart reserves the right to decline returns on items purchased with coupons
Coupon Expiration
If you have ever used coupons, then you probably already know that they have an expiration date.
These expiration dates are super important to pay attention to because Walmart does not accept expired coupons. Their policy specifically states that expired coupons cannot be accepted, so make sure you get to Walmart in time to use your coupon while it’s still good.
While some coupons might remain valid for up to one year, others might have a much shorter time frame, such as two weeks or one month.
How To Use Coupons Wisely
The first thing you need to know about using coupons at Walmart is where to find them. Of course, manufacturer coupons can be found just about anywhere, from a manufacturer’s website to a newspaper or coupon aggregator (just make sure they’re printable).
But if you want to try finding the right coupons more directly, Walmart provides instructions for accessing and printing valid and up-to-date coupons.
The following screenshot was taken from Walmart.com, and the instructions apply to Walmart’s online homepage.
Now let’s dive into how to make coupons work for you when shopping at Walmart…
Extreme Coupon Prep
If you really want to maximize your savings with coupons, then you’ll want to stay on top of the ball. Coupons often expire after just a couple of weeks, so you’ll end up missing out on a lot of savings if you don’t plan your shopping trips ahead with your coupons in mind.
Another extreme couponing technique that’s popular at Walmart is taking advantage of Walmart’s coupon overage policy.
So, what is coupon overage?
Here’s an example…
If you have a coupon for $5 off an item that’s only priced at $4 at Walmart, you can actually get that $1 back in cash or as credit towards the purchase of other items in your transaction. Pretty cool, right?
Many extreme couponers use this coupon overage policy to their advantage to further reduce the cost of their shopping trips. To learn more about extreme couponing at Walmart, check out this LiveAbout.com article.
Watch For Low Base Prices
Another great way to maximize your coupon potential at Walmart is to keep an eye on shelf prices. The “shelf price” of an item typically refers to its current retail price at a given location, before sales, discounts, or coupons.
If you have a coupon for a certain item and the shelf price (or base price) of that item drops while your coupon is still valid, you’ll end up saving even more money (and you might even get the difference back in overage). Of course, it’s not always easy to predict when things are going to drop in price, but if you keep a close enough watch, you won’t have to rely on luck.
By using your coupons when the prices of your items are already at their lowest, you’ll guarantee yourself the lowest possible price.
Use Coupons at Self-Checkout
Another important thing to remember when using coupons at Walmart is that you don’t have to use a traditional checkout stand in order to redeem them. Walmart only accepts coupons with scannable barcodes, which means that all of these coupons can be used at self checkout stations.
So, even if you plan on using self checkout, make sure to bring your coupons with you on your next Walmart shopping trip.
Walmart Savings Catcher
A once-popular program helping Walmart shoppers save money on everyday items, Walmart Savings Catcher officially ended in 2019.
You can read the full story about what happened to Walmart Savings Catcher on GoBankingRates.com.
FAQs
Does Walmart have a coupon app?
No. All Walmart coupons must be printed and used as traditional paper coupons.
Does Walmart have double coupon days?
No. Walmart does not honor coupon stacking.
Does Walmart accept competitor coupons?
No. Walmart accepts coupons from participating manufacturers for brands sold at Walmart, but they do not accept competitor coupons.
Can you use coupons at self-checkout?
Yes. Your coupon should have a barcode on it that can be scanned manually at any self checkout station. If you have trouble, you can ask a Walmart associate to assist you. Coupons without scannable barcodes are not accepted at Walmart.
Can you use coupons on Walmart grocery pickup?
No. Walmart coupons cannot be used for any orders placed through Walmart.com or the Walmart app.
