I just asked a similar questoin on the Walmart Canada Facebook page, and got a completely different response.
I wrote:
You responded to an earlier question about online ad matching. Here is what you said on October 25th: "We will Ad match items from a mobile device provided that the item is identical, in-stock and we can validate that the advertising is current, You can show the current pricing on the mobile device or bring in a printed copy of the offer with a current date. This applies to Canadian online flyers, and Canadian retailers that offer online purchases." In reading this, it sounds like if I wanted to price match with No Frills Atlantic, which is not in my immediate area, I can do so because they have an online flyer that you can see on their website each week. Is this correct? Or do they also need to offer online purchases as well? Please clarify. Thanks!
Their response:
Hello! We have not changed our customer ad match policy. The ad match policy you see written on our flyers and in store signage has not changed. We have always encouraged our store managers to be empowered to run their stores in a manner that gives the best customer experience possible. We want our customers to trust that Walmart offers everyday low prices. If you have a current flyer that advertises a lower price for an identical item, then please bring it into your local Walmart store and the front-end team will be happy to assist you. Thank you. Walmart Canada.
And based on that response, here is their Ad Match Policy from their website... so they have totally contracted themselves on their Facebook page between October 25 and October 27... so yeah, Walmart still doesn't have it's together. See the two bolded, red, underlined parts below:
http://corporate.walmart.com/ad-match-guarantee
We’re committed to providing low prices every day. On everything. So if you find a lower advertised price on an identical product, tell us and we’ll match it. Right at the register.
We gladly match the price in the following types of ads:*
- Buy one, get one free ads with a specified price
- Example: Buy one for $2.49, get one free (BOGO)
- Competitors' ads that feature a specific item for a specified price
- Preferred shopping card prices for specific items that are in a printed ad
- For fresh produce and meat items when the price is offered in the same unit type (lb. for lb.; each for each)
*The following are guidelines and limitations:
- We will match any local competitor's advertised price.
- We do not require customers to have the ad with them to honor a competitor's ad.
- Items purchased must be identical to the ad (size, quantity, brand, flavor, color, etc.)
We do not match the price in the following types of competitor ads:
- Items that require a separate purchase to get the ad price
- example: "Buy [item A] to get [item B] for $C"
- Items with no actual price that require a purchase to get free product
- example: "Buy both [items A & B] to get [item C] for free"
- Items that require a purchase to get a competitors' gift card
- example: "Buy [item A] to get a $B gift card
- Buy one, get one free (BOGO) ads with no actual price given
- Going out of business or closeout prices
- Percentage off
- example: "All mascara, 40% off"
- Competitors' private label price promotions
We do not honor:
- Ads when the actual price for items cannot be determined
- Internet pricing
- Misprinted ad prices of other retailers
- "Going out of business" sales or "closeout" prices