Walmart's 'Christmas Price Guarantee' Goes Far Beyond Black Friday Savings

Walmart has a deal for customers this holiday season that goes far beyond mere Black Friday savings: a price match guarantee that assures its customers that they will receive the lowest price no matter when they buy an item during the holiday season.

Walmart said Monday it will match prices on many of its products, for shoppers who buy something at a Walmart store between Nov. 1 and Dec. 25, but then find the identical product elsewhere for less. However, customers won't receive a refund, but instead they can get a gift card in the amount of the difference. That sort of assures Walmart of more shopping, so in a way it is a win-win situation for Walmart.

Let's not forget the other, less obvious fact: each year, billions of dollars worth of gift cards go unused, either lost or expired, or simply out of disinterest. Meanwhile, even if the gift card is used, odds are the shopper will wind up spending more than the balance on the card during a trip to Walmart. That is yet another win for Walmart.

The Christmas Price Guarantee includes all items but grocery and food items. To be clear, it does not cover Black Friday deals at competitor stores. However, Walmart said that its Ad-Match policy would be in force that day.

In a press release, Duncan Mac Naughton, chief merchandising officer, Walmart U.S. said, “The greatest gift we can give our customers this holiday is great low prices on the things they want most. Walmart is easing shopping stress this Christmas by allowing customers to shop when and how they want, all while guaranteeing low prices through the entire holiday season.”

Notably, Walmart will allow even items placed on layaway to be eligible for the company's "Christmas Price Guarantee" program.

However, Walmart holiday price matching excludes Internet retailers such as Amazon.com. Heading into the 2011 holiday season, a number of brick-and-mortar retailers, including Staples and Bed Bath & Beyond have announced they will even match prices with online-only merchants like giant Amazon.com. While Black Friday deals are huge for bringing in customers, the holiday season as a whole can bring in as much as 40 percent of a retailer's revenue for the year.

Image Source: Wikimedia Commons

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