Complaint Review: Walmart

I have observed several different approaches by Walmart staff at Round Lake Beach, IL superstore that avoids the transparent and fair implementation of price matching. It is especially insidious when the new superstore opened it demanded and got a significant amount of subsidies aka. corporate welfare and while marketing itself as good corporate citizen. 

I have seen the "price match" policy not honored and then honored on generic brand items. First they alleged that the off-label product will not be matched and referred any issues to their policies (exact the same item). From about a month ago as many people complaint they now accept generic for generic match. It is not all items and it varies depending who is at the helm.

The price match is also avoided when the final price is derived after coupon used although consumers does not have a coupon to redeem. Their policy does not state/address this issue but the store management will interpret it as no-no and will always charge a higher price.

The produce is also another minefield. The produce will not be matched if it is price coded per package and not weight : for example 16 oz per package item will not be price matched with a different item whose price is listed as advertised  per pound. It can be a bunch of celery, strawberries, berries, meat etc. So if the product is exactly the same it will not be price matched contrary to the official policy. 

Second excuse is that if the produce is packaged vs advert says it isn't: for example green onion, celery, carrots it will not be price matched. I was told that packaging implies brand so "it is not the same."

The most insidious is the lack of product. I have noticed a pattern of produce not being available if any store nearby has a price below what is Walmart's, making it a de-facto loss leader. For example plum tomatoes were available only for the first day for price match until the stock ran out. Then for the remainder of the sale week (Wed-Tue) it became unavailable although employees of several occasions made a suggestion to come back next day as the truck will be arriving tomorrow with a stock. It is a deliberate policy of price analysis and loss prevention that Walmart plays games such as this, despite its claims that it is competitive and it welcomes business based on prevailing market conditions. Instead it is a monopolist and shrewd deceiver.