Walmart 1/29/10

Walmart is dead to me. It is now known as Worstmart. Okay, I'm sorry, it's lame, but it's the best I could come up with. Boy, did they leave a bad taste in my mouth on my last shopping trip. And don't worry, I am telling everyone about it!

I had no particular reason to go to Walmart except I had a zillion coupons that were about to expire and I thought I should use some of them, knowing that Walmart's prices are usually considerably lower than other stores. Most of my coupons I couldn't use, but I did find some pretty good deals, especially considering the fact I wasn't spending my money - I have a gift card to Walmart I've been using recently. So, here is my sad tale of my coupon experience at Walmart.


Nestle drumsticks
RP $2.74. I had a Nestle "Lil Drums" coupon for $1.00. Not something I would normally buy but they looked really good. Also, Walmart doesn't sell "Lil Drums" but I assumed the coupon would work for the regular size as well. Nope. The cashier wouldn't even scan my coupon. She did leave the coupon out to ask the manager about it, who agreed with the cashier that she shouldn't even try to scan it because it wouldn't work. Void the item - I don't want it anymore.

A big ol' slab of ribs
RP $4.61. Definite splurge but they looked sooooo good. No problems with this item. Duh.

Bananas
On sale for $0.49 a lb. Wahoo!! One of Bri's favorites! I only bought 1 pound but wish I had bought more. No problems here either.

Nabisco animal crackers (x2)
RP $1.00. I had a $2.00/2 any Nabisco crackers product. The cashier looked at my coupon and said, "This isn't going to work. These aren't Nabisco." I took a deep breath and pointed out the big Nabisco logo in the corner of the box. She said, "I'm going to have to ask my manager about this." The manager came over and looked at the coupon and said, "This coupon won't work. It's for Ritz crackers." Nooooo, Ritz crackers are in the picture on the coupon but the coupon clearly states "any Nabisco crackers." I politely told her - there are hundreds of boxes of Nabisco crackers. They can't put each one of those on the coupon, but it certainly doesn't mean they're not valid. Finally she sighed and said, "Well I guess just scan it and see if it goes through." To my utter shock and amazement, the coupon goes through with no problem. (End sarcasm.)

Coffee-Mate sticks
RP $0.98. I had a $1.00 coupon off one package of Coffee-Mate liquid or powder. The cashier refused to scan the coupon because I bought Coffee-Mate sticks (single serving size). She said the coupon was actually referring to larger sizes of Coffee-Mate. I refrained from asking her more about her psychic abilities. Void the item - I don't want it anymore.

Ivory soap
RP $1.18. Minus $1.00 coupon. No problems with this item. It's a miracle!!!!

Olay body wash (x4)
RP $0.97. I had a $1.00 coupon off any Olay body wash excluding 30 mL size. Walmart just happens to sell Olay body wash in 50 mL sizes for less than $1.00. The cashier ran one coupon through accidentally, and then looked at the price of the body wash and said, "This won't work." and proceeded to void the coupon. What?? It just went through! It obviously will work! She said, "This coupon isn't for this size." I pointed out to her that the coupon said only to exclude 30 mL sizes, and no matter how small she thinks this bottle is, it is not 30 mL. She has to talk to the manager. The manager comes over and after looking at the bottle and the coupon tells me I can't use that coupon on that size. Again, I point out that nothing on the coupon states that I can't use it for the 50 mL size. She refuses to let me use the coupon and says that she can't enter $0.97 to be taken off my total order and she can't allow the computer to take off $1.00, so I can't use the coupon. I think about telling her that it's okay to use it - that I promise Walmart will be reimbursed $1.00 PLUS $0.08 for handling. But then I think she will probably think I am even more crazy then I have already proven to be. Void all 4 items - I don't want them anymore.

Powerbar Gel Blasts (x2)
RP $1.28. I got $1.00 coupons for these in the mail a few weeks ago and Walmart is one of only about three stores that sell them so far. The cashier looked at my coupons and said, "I don't think these will work." Why in the world wouldn't they???? The coupons were for the exact same thing I am buying! JUST RUN THE DARN COUPON!!! She runs the coupons and to my utter shock and amazement, the coupon goes through with no problem. (End sarcasm.)

Starkist tuna (x2)
RP $1.73 and $1.33. I had one $1.00 coupon and one BOGO coupon. The $1.00 coupon went through with no problem - I think she accidentally scanned it because she didn't even interrogate me before she did it. Then she scanned the BOGO. She said it wouldn't accept it. Why? The coupon states that it is for "2.6 oz or 6.4 oz" and I purchased a 3 oz. I pointed out to her that they don't sell either of those sizes, and the $1.00 coupon which also specifies "2.6 oz or 6.4 oz" went through with no problem. Of course all that did was make her void the coupon. And the manager was in total agreement once again with the cashier. Void those items - I don't want them anymore.

I walked up to the cashier with 16 items. I left with 7. And as I handed over my gift card to be scanned, I said, "This is the worst coupon experience I have ever had." The cashier looked at me like, "You're tellin' me." Everything I've ever read online has shown Walmart to be a very coupon-friendly store.

I'm here to tell you, it AIN'T true for Aberdeen, NC!!

Also, I wasn't rude, although my voice definitely shook a couple of times when I was really aggravated. But I was polite and really only raised my voice one time (Nabisco crackers!) I don't want to say I'll never use coupons at Walmart again because I feel like one day I'll need to, but at this point, I can see why people don't shop there often.

Final shopping total - somewhere around $11 (Walmart doesn't show on receipt how much you saved)
OOP - $6.18 (although technically not OOP)
Saved - Around $4 (which would be about 36%).

So, what do you think? Was I crazy for trying some of those coupons? Am I right in having a strong urge to boycott coupon use at Walmart? Have you had an experience like this? One experience like this can ruin coupons for someone, I know. I hope you never experience anything like this!