Secret Walmart Shopping Hacks to Save Yourself Time & Money

Headed to your local Walmart to pick up a few things? You’re probably looking to score a great deal and keep your budget in check. This retail giant is famous for helping people save money on groceries, pet toys, household items, and more.

But did you know you can use secret Walmart hacks to pay even less than the price tags say? That’s right! You’ll get better prices on everything from everyday items to clearance purchases.

The Walmart discount hacks you’re about to learn will leave you wondering why you didn’t shop this way before. Here are five Walmart tips to help you keep more money in your pockets. You’re welcome!

1. Check Prices Online

Unfortunately, Walmart doesn’t offer price matches to local competitors anymore. However, you can still check Amazon and the Walmart app for lower prices. A Walmart store will price match similar items with lower prices on Amazon or the online store.

Of all the Walmart hacks, checking online might be the most overlooked. Why? Because it’s easy to get in a hurry and distracted while you’re shopping in a store. You don’t think there’s going to be a difference between Walmart’s online and in-store prices.

However, that’s not always the case. With the Walmart app, you can scan price tags to see if the website’s prices are lower. Better yet, organize what you want to purchase before visiting the store. You can add Carrot’s browser extension to curate wish lists, compare prices, and plan your shopping trips. You’ll also get alerts when prices drop on items you’ve got your eye on. Cool, right?

2. Use Free Delivery and Pick-Up Options

If you’d rather skip in-store shopping and the Walmart price scanner hack, take advantage of free home and site-to-store delivery. You can shop from the website for the lowest prices. Then, ship your purchases directly to your doorstep or local Walmart.

You can get free shipping on purchases of $35 and above. No more fighting crowds or waking up early to get the best deals. Use your curated lists to shop online when prices are at their lowest. And if you’re worried about porch pirates, ship to the nearest store for free.

Pick up your items after work, during your lunch hour, or whenever it’s most convenient. Plenty of shoppers have found secret clearance items and exclusive online prices this way. Simply search for the word “clearance” in the site’s search bar. You could also seal the deal on things that are hard to find or out of stock at your local store. It’s a win-win!

3. Beat the Markdown System

Nearly everyone knows that stores don’t mark down items once. Store and department managers tend to lower prices several times to get items off their shelves. Walmart is no exception.

But to beat Walmart’s markdown system at its game, you’ve got to know the rules. When you see prices that end with a “7,” those are the original price points. Tags that end with a “5” reflect the first markdown, while “1s” and “0s” are the final deductions.

Armed with this knowledge, you can leverage it with other Walmart hacks. Wait a while longer to buy items with prices like $20.97. See if there’s a cheaper price on Amazon for things priced with a “5” at the end. Know with confidence that you’re getting the best deal on something with a price tag of $3.01.

4. Watch for Price Drops

Once you’ve shopped from your wish lists, don’t delete them. Keep your lists and receipts for at least seven days after buying something. If one or more of the prices drops, Walmart will refund the difference.

Admittedly, this is one of those Walmart discount hacks that requires some vigilance. Yet, it works for anything you buy and in any Walmart store. Apps and online tools like Carrot can make it easy to keep tabs on things.

Carrot sends you price drop alerts on all your saved items. So, all you have to do is pull out your receipt and head back to the store. Show the service desk the lower price and your receipt to get your money back. It’s like having an extra payday on your calendar!

5. Ask Walmart Sales Associates

Many wise quotes say “you get what you ask for.” There’s nothing wrong with asking Walmart employees where the clearance items are. They work the store nearly every day, so they’re pretty familiar with where all the markdowns are.

Some of those items might be on end caps or in other unexpected locations. Don’t be afraid to approach a sales associate and let them know what you’re looking for. They’re there to help you out!

They might tell you about upcoming sales and markdowns. Or be willing to give you the deal a little early and tell you about available coupons. Sales associates might also know an out-of-stock clearance item is still available at a nearby store. The best employees will arrange for a transfer so you can pick it up at a later date.

No one likes to find out they’ve paid more than they should have. Shopping at Walmart is one way to stay within your budget and spend less than your friends and neighbors. With the above list of Walmart hacks, you’ll be on your way to reaping even more fantastic rewards.