Adventures in the New Wal-Mart Price Policy

As gift giving season rapidly approaches I encourage all of you to get out early and buy your gifts.  I usually use this pre-season (the period between Halloween and Thanksgiving) to pick up last minute things and also to gather items for children's birthday gifts.  I never have to go out the day before or the say of to purchase a birthday gift, I just open my gift closet and pick something out.  This saves COUNTLESS amounts of time and money!!

I have never been a big fan of the retailer Wal-Mart.  The stores are just not very nice and while they do have everything and are open 24 hours, I don't always find the quality and the "experience" to be worth it.  They also use some questionable work related practices in some areas of the country that I know have gotten them into trouble in the past.  However, they have just unveiled a new price matching policy that may have some of us considering Wal-Mart for early shopping. 

The company has said that if you find lower print-advertised prices at its rivals' stores in local markets on any identical items you purchase between Nov. 1 and Dec. 25, Wal-Mart will give you a gift card for the difference through Dec. 25. Normally, the company matches prices only when the purchase is made at the same time a competitor's ad is running.  What does this mean to you??  It means you can be confidant that you will have the lowest price on any items you purchase in the store.  So far, from what I understand, this means just in store purchases and advertisements. 

Now, here is where it gets even better for online shoppers.  Many online companies will price match too, so if you see an item in a Wal-Mart ad that you would like to order online and have shipped to your recipient, check to see what the price matching policies are.  This also means that Wal-Mart will be staying on top of prices to make sure that no retailer out does them, FROM THE BEGINNING of the holiday shopping season!!  This is exciting to me, because you do not have to wait to purchase your gifts.  you can do it now and know that if you find it cheaper later in the season you can take your receipt and the ad in for a gift card!  Just make sure you are holding onto receipts, which you should do for gifts already.  Now, go out there and price match!