Wal-Mart has the image of being a store where there are “always low prices,” but is it really frugal to shop there? In general, I have to say no. Here are my reasons and how you can get around a Wal-Mart policy that could cost you an extra 25 percent.
Low Prices When They Want
Sure, Wal-Mart does advertise some low prices on hot items. But you need to shop smart. There are two things that can go wrong. The first is the fact Wal-mart may be misleading when it comes to these hot prices. They may only be available online or in certain stores, although the advertising for that price is broadly marketed. The second is the fact that the majority of products at Wal-mart can usually be had less expensively elsewhere.
Here is the first point.
Take for example the recent Disney DVD movie, Enchanted. If you go to the Walmart.com site, it will tell you that the price for this move is only $14.96, a very good deal. Imputing your zip code, it will even give you a list of local stores and tell you that these stores have the movie in stock. However, when you actually drive to the store to make your purchase, the movie rings up at $19.95, an approximately 25 percent increase. (Yes, this is a true story, can you tell by my outrage at feeling duped? My kids, after seeing the movie through a library copy, wanted to save up for it. I’ll be shopping at Amazon.com instead.)
While Wal-Mart advertising and customer service makes a big deal of price matching, Wal-Mart will not price match against another local Wal-Mart store or against its website. My husband attributes this to the fact that they will get your sale one way or another. I could get around this weird pricing by ordering the DVD from the website and selecting the “ship to store” option. Then they would have shipped the DVD to the store at no extra charge to me, costing them administrative time and energy, but saving me that 25 percent. And, I wouldn’t have to pay shipping.
Check back for the next blog in this series, coming up later today.
Mary Ann Romans writes about everything related to saving money in the Frugal Blog, technology in the Computing Blog, and creating a home in the Home Blog. You can read more of her articles by clicking here.
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