When it comes to home improvement supplies, two retail giants often come to mind: Walmart and Home Depot. Both offer a wide selection of products at competitive prices, but which one truly has the best deals? And what happens if you find a lower price at one store after purchasing from the other? Enter price matching.
In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll dive deep into Walmart‘s price matching policy, particularly as it pertains to matching prices from their biggest home improvement competitor, Home Depot. We‘ll cover all the nitty gritty details you need to know as a savvy shopper, and reveal insider tips for maximizing your savings.
Walmart‘s Price Matching Policy: The Basics
First, let‘s review how Walmart‘s price matching policy works in general. As the world‘s largest retailer, Walmart has built its empire on a foundation of "everyday low prices." To maintain this reputation, they offer price matching both in-store and online.
Here‘s how it works: If you find a lower price on an identical, in-stock product from another retailer, Walmart will match that price. This applies to both local brick-and-mortar competitors, as well as major online retailers like Amazon. Simply bring in the competitor‘s ad or show the lower price on your mobile device, and a Walmart associate will verify and adjust your price at the register.
There are a few key requirements to keep in mind:
- The product must be identical in brand, size, weight, color, quantity and model number.
- The item must be currently in-stock and available for purchase from the competitor.
- The lower price must be an everyday retail price, not a limited-time offer, closeout, or clearance deal.
As consumer savings expert Andrea Woroch explains, "Price matching is a great way to streamline your shopping and avoid traveling from store to store to chase the lowest price. By knowing Walmart‘s policy inside and out, you can strategically plan your purchases to get the best deal every time."
To understand the significance of price matching between Walmart and Home Depot, it‘s helpful to look at the bigger picture of the home improvement retail industry.
According to data from the Home Improvement Research Institute, the total home improvement products market reached $457 billion in 2020, with steady growth projected in the coming years. Of this massive market, Home Depot holds the largest share at 17%, followed by Lowe‘s at 12%.
While Walmart doesn‘t break out its home improvement revenues specifically, it‘s estimated that they hold around 5-6% market share in this category (Source: IBIS World). However, Walmart‘s share has been steadily growing as they‘ve expanded their offerings and leveraged their extensive retail footprint.
As the leading home improvement retailer, Home Depot‘s prices serve as a key benchmark for the industry. This makes Walmart‘s ability to price match Home Depot a powerful differentiator, especially for more casual DIYers and homeowners.
Does Walmart Price Match Home Depot?
So, on to the main question: Will Walmart match Home Depot‘s prices? The answer is yes, with a few caveats.
Walmart‘s price matching policy does extend to Home Depot, both for in-store purchases and online orders from HomeDepot.com. If you find an identical product available for a lower everyday price from Home Depot, you can request a price match from Walmart.
However, there are some specific limitations and exclusions to keep in mind:
- Online only: Walmart can only price match items sold and shipped directly by HomeDepot.com. In-store only prices or prices from third-party sellers on Home Depot‘s website are excluded.
- No promotions: Walmart will not match any limited time offers from Home Depot, including percent off or dollar off promotions, rebates, flash sales, clearance events, or special buy offers.
- No exclusive discounts: Home Depot‘s professional contractor discounts, military discounts, employee discounts, or other exclusive promotional pricing will not be matched.
- Identical products only: As with all price matching, the item you find at Home Depot must be exactly the same as the one sold at Walmart, down to the model number and specs. Closeout, discontinued, used, or refurbished items are not eligible.
Here‘s an example of how this might work in practice:
Let‘s say you‘re planning to buy a new cordless drill for some home repairs. You do your research and find that Home Depot has the DeWalt 20V MAX XR Lithium Ion Brushless Drill/Driver on sale for $159, compared to Walmart‘s everyday price of $179.
You could bring this lower price to Walmart‘s attention, either at the register in-store or by contacting Customer Care before placing your online order. The associate would then verify the live price on HomeDepot.com, confirm all product details match, and adjust your price to $159.
On the other hand, if that $159 price was a special "buy more, save more" promotion, a Manager‘s Special deal, or a limited-time Cyber Monday sale, it would not be eligible for price matching under Walmart‘s policy.
The Price Matching Process
If you‘ve found a price at Home Depot that you‘d like Walmart to match, the process is relatively simple. However, being prepared and informed can make it go even more smoothly.
In-Store Price Matching
To request a price match in a Walmart store, follow these steps:
- Bring the ad, printout, or mobile device displaying Home Depot‘s lower price to the register.
- Tell the cashier you‘d like to price match before they begin scanning your items.
- Allow them to verify the lower price and check that all product details match.
- If approved, they‘ll override the price in their POS system and you‘ll see the adjusted price on your receipt.
If you‘re having trouble or don‘t see the price adjustment, ask politely to speak with a manager or supervisor who can assist.
Online Price Matching
For online Walmart orders, the process is slightly different:
- Contact Walmart Customer Care before placing your order. You can reach them via phone, email, or live chat.
- Provide the URL and all relevant product details where you found the lower Home Depot price.
- If verifying the match is taking some time, the agent may have you place the order at Walmart‘s price, then issue you a credit for the difference once the price match is approved.
- If the price match is approved upfront, you should see the matched price in your cart at checkout.
Again, it‘s important that the item be sold and shipped by HomeDepot.com directly in order to qualify for an online price match from Walmart.com.
Why Price Match Home Depot at Walmart?
Now that we‘ve covered the logistics of how to price match, let‘s explore some of the reasons why a savvy shopper might choose to do so.
First and foremost, price matching allows you to access Home Depot‘s highly competitive prices without sacrificing the convenience and perks of shopping at Walmart. This is especially beneficial if you live closer to a Walmart store than a Home Depot.
Walmart also offers several key advantages over Home Depot, including:
- Greater accessibility: With over 4,700 stores in the US alone, Walmart has a much larger footprint than Home Depot‘s 2,200 locations. 90% of Americans live within 10 miles of a Walmart store.
- Wider product selection: In addition to home improvement supplies, Walmart carries groceries, clothing, electronics, toys, and much more. This allows for easy one-stop-shopping.
- Free 2-day shipping: Walmart+ members get free shipping on all orders over $35, with no markup on items (unlike some Prime-exclusive prices on Amazon).
- Generous return policy: Walmart offers free 90-day returns on most items, compared to Home Depot‘s more restrictive 30-day policy.
- More financing options: The Walmart Credit Card offers 2% cash back at Walmart stores and up to 5 cents off per gallon at fuel stations. Home Depot‘s credit card gives deferred interest on large purchases, but has more limitations.
However, Home Depot still has the edge when it comes to selection of professional-grade tools and materials, lumber/building supplies, and home services like equipment rentals and installations. They also offer exclusive credit options for contractors and bulk discounts that Walmart can‘t always match.
Ultimately, the choice between the two will depend on your specific home improvement needs and shopping preferences. But with price matching, you can rest assured you‘re always getting the lowest possible price on identical items.
Price Matching as a Business Strategy
For Walmart, price matching is more than just a customer service perk – it‘s a key component of their "always low prices" value proposition and overall business strategy.
By leveraging their massive economies of scale, advanced supply chain, and relentless focus on cost cutting, Walmart is able to secure products from suppliers at lower costs than their competitors. They then pass these savings on to the customer in the form of everyday low prices.
Price matching serves as a guarantee to customers that they‘re always getting the best deal possible at Walmart. It also keeps Walmart‘s prices honest and transparent, as customers can easily fact check and hold them accountable to their low price promise.
At the same time, price matching acts as a competitive moat against rivals like Home Depot. By being willing to match any competitor‘s price, Walmart neutralizes one of the main reasons a customer might choose to shop elsewhere. Even if Home Depot runs a sale or promotion, customers can always get that same price at Walmart – without having to sacrifice the convenience and added perks of shopping at their preferred retailer.
As Doug McMillon, President & CEO of Walmart, has stated: "Price leadership is core to who we are. Everyday low price is our pricing philosophy. We‘ll match a competitor‘s price if a customer finds the same product at a lower price somewhere else. We won‘t be beat on price."
Expert Tips for Max Savings
To conclude, here are some final expert tips for getting the most bang for your buck when shopping for home improvement supplies at Walmart and beyond:
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Always compare prices. Even with Walmart‘s price matching policy, it‘s still wise to compare prices at Home Depot, Lowe‘s, local hardware stores, and online retailers before making a purchase. Walmart won‘t always have the absolute lowest price on everything.
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Stack coupons & discounts. Before requesting a price match, see if you have any manufacturer coupons or Walmart-specific promo codes that could lower the price even further. These can often be applied on top of the matched price.
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Maximize credit card rewards. If you have a cash back or rewards credit card, consider which one will give you the most points or perks for your Walmart purchase. Some cards offer bonus rewards on home improvement purchases.
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Join Walmart+. For $98/year, Walmart+ gives you free shipping on all orders, plus mobile scan & go, and fuel discounts. If you shop at Walmart frequently, this can add up to major savings.
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Know when to buy. Certain home improvement items tend to go on sale at predictable times of year. For example, indoor furniture is often cheapest in January, paint goes on sale around Memorial Day, and Christmas lights are a steal right after the holidays. Timing your purchase right can score you an even better price to match.
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Don‘t forget the coupons and rebates Walmart and Home Depot both offer a variety of coupons and rebates, especially on energy efficient appliances or fixtures. These can often save you 10-20% or more on top of the sale price.
By combining Walmart‘s everyday low prices, price matching policy, and these additional savings strategies, you‘ll be well on your way to achieving home improvement victory without breaking the bank.
