YOU In Bloom ~ Letter to Walmart
Most Room For Coupon Improvement
Thanks to your participation in last week’s “Most Room for Coupon Improvement” survey I have a winner (or loser?! 😉 )…. Walmart received the most votes tallying 1,230 of the 3,461 votes that we received. With this information and a slew of reader comments, I am emailing corporate headquarters a letter requesting that they consider reviewing and revamping their coupon policy based on the recent Hip2Save survey.
This week’s YOU in Bloom topic is All About You… part of putting yourself first is knowing how to have a voice and use it. It is empowering and gratifying to share your views and opinions. It helps build confidence and self image. So, with that being said, I have an opportunity for you to take your voice and put it into action. Power is in numbers…if each one of us writes an email to Walmart, think of the impact that we will make! I suggest that you copy and paste the paragraph below and then add to it an additional note with your personal view and/or experience(s). Together, we CAN & WILL make a difference!
In addition, the actions we take will hopefully help to improve customer relations and increase business…. It’s a win, win. 🙂
Below is the paragraph that you may want to copy and paste into your personal email:
My name is “your name here“ and I am a reader of a coupon and savings blog called Hip2save.com. Last week, Hip2Save hosted a reader survey asking which of six national department stores (Walmart, Walgreens, Rite Aid, CVS, Target & Kmart) had the most room for coupon improvement. Walmart received the majority of votes totaling 1,230 of the 3,461. I am writing today to encourage you to use this information towards improving your current coupon policy. I would also strongly advise you to make it a priority to provide ongoing education for your employees regarding your coupon acceptance policy. I appreciate you taking the time to consider my request. With some positive changes to your current coupon policy, I will be much more inclined to offer my patronage as both a shopper and deal seeker at Walmart stores in the future. Below this paragraph I urge you to please add your own personal comments or experiences to your letter.
Please use the contact information provided below:
President & CEO of Walmart Stores/Supercenters USA
Michael Duke
Email Address: michael.duke@wal-mart.com
This is my letter to Walmart President & CEO, Michael Duke:
Dear Mr. Duke,
My name is Collin and I run a coupon and savings blog called Hip2Save.com. Last week, I hosted a reader survey asking which of six national chains (Walmart, Walgreens, Rite Aid, CVS, Target & Kmart) had the most room for coupon improvement. Walmart received the majority of votes totaling 1,230 of 3,461. Hip2Save readers are dedicated to saving money and prefer to shop at stores that support their thrifty goals. In addition to voting, many Hip2Save readers also left comments. Below are a few of the comments that I would like to share with you. Please keep in mind that these are only a few of MANY that I received.
“My biggest complaint is Walmart, of course. I can’t stand the coupon limit per transaction; they limit you on the amount you can save, but not on the amount you can spend?”
“My Walmart questions every insert, peelie, blinkie, or tearpad coupon, and now they refuse to take online coupons. Even though you show them the coupon policy on the corporate website, even if it’s printed that day, they will not take printable online coupons.”
“I voted for Walmart. Their cashiers are not trained on coupon policies and it’s always a huge hassle to use coupons and always ends up taking a lot of time. It’s too bad because I always find so many things to use coupons for at Walmart, but honestly it’s just not worth the trouble I have to go through to use the coupons. So I don’t shop at Walmart.”
“One Walmart I shop at is just not consistent. I can go one week and they take all coupons…the next week they have to ask the CSM if they can take internet coupons (and the answer is yes if they scan)…the next week they hand them back to me and say they don’t take internet coupons……today they took them no questions asked…next week…your guess is as good as mine……”
After personally reviewing the comments left by Hip2Save readers, the top 3 complaints about shopping at Walmart are the following…
1. Inconsistency of accepting internet/printable coupons; Although the Walmart Corporate Coupon policy clearly states that Walmart accepts internet coupons, many readers have had cashiers and/or managers refuse to accept valid and scannable internet coupons.
2. 40 Coupon Limit at Checkout: Many readers have complained about the fact that Walmart requires a manager override if more than 40 coupons are used at checkout; Often, the cashier does not understand why the cash register is beeping and thinks that it is due to an invalid coupon…there have been many occasions where readers have had to educate the cashier as to the fact that a manager override is required. This makes the checkout process take that much longer and causes frustration for both the consumer and the employee(s).
3. Lack of details and specifics surrounding the Walmart Corporate Coupon Policy. One area to note is that the coupon policy clearly states Walmart accepts “Store Coupons”. However, Walmart employees seem to have no clue as to what “Store coupons” are. As far as I know, Walmart doesn’t have their own store coupons, so I would assume accepting store coupons would mean that Walmart accepts other store coupons, such as Target coupons. This needs to be clearly detailed and explained in the coupon policy.
I hope that you decide to use this information towards improving your current coupon policy. I believe that if you make a few necessary changes to your policy and create greater consistency with your cashiers by providing ongoing employee education about your coupon policies, the “couponer and deal seeker” patronage will greatly increase.
Many thanks for your time and consideration,
Collin
In an effort to keep track of how many of you are participating in this email event, please let me know by providing a comment below. Thank you!! 🙂
I sent my email to them to. I want to Thank You for starting off the paragraph with that copy and paste section. You rock Colin!
I jumped on the wagon too! We are going to need a bigger wagon. LOL Maybe this will help ALL us couponers and deal seekers.
Just sent off my e-mail… Thanks, Collin, for getting us all to unite for change!
just sent mine too! Thanks Collin for helping us speak up to make some changes!
Just sent mine! Thanks Collin!
that is perfect. i had asked them about store coupons last week and they refused to honor my target coupons. also i had them turn down an internet coupon yesterday. and lastly, last week i used 2-$2/1 schick razor coupons to get 2 free packages of schick disposable razors (1.97) and had no trouble. i tried to use 4 more yesterday which state “any schick disposable razor package”, but of course it was beeping. the slip from the register said it wasnt a qualified product for the coupon. i tried to explain that they needed to adjust the price of the coupon down to 1.97, and she had to call a csm…and the csm had to call someone else…and they rejected my coupons. i have been doing so well at giant eagle lately i am about to say goodbye to walmart.
she said they cant change the value of a coupon unless it has a space to write in the value (like on the buy 1 get 1 free coupons) >< i was so frustrated
Shannon, my mom and I had the SAME problem with my $2/1 Shick coupons! My mom had picked up two of the $1.97 multipack of disposables and the cashier noticed that they cost 3 cents less than the coupon, so she didn’t even bother to scan them (but was planning on putting them in the coupon stack in her cash drawer anyway)! My mom spoke up and luckily there was a friendly manager who told the cashier that it was fine to accept the coupons. I was appalled by the cashier’s dishonesty and sneakiness!
thanks for orchestrating this massive revolution! 🙂
I sent my email along with my most horrendous coupon shopping experience. A cashier once told me I couldn’t have an item free and that I had to pay at least .99 cents so she tried to mark my manufactors coupon down to suite her made up price. Amazing that cashiers “think” the authoriy to dictacte what you can purchase and how much they you should pay for it. I guess the price on the shelf was just a suggested price…
I sent my email along with my most horrendous coupon shopping experience. A cashier once told me I couldn’t have an item free and that I had to pay at least .99 cents so she tried to mark my manufactors coupon down to suite her made up price. Amazing that cashiers “think” they have the authoriy to dictacte what you can purchase and how much you should pay for it. I guess in her eyes the price on the shelf was just a suggested price…
Just sent mine! Thanks Collin!
I’ve also sent an email in. Including experiences where I’ve been told I couldn’t use coupons, where I’ve had experiences with cashiers saying they hate coupons, etc. The ONLY thing I buy from walmart now is a queso dip that my husband and I like and can’t find elsewhere!
I agree with you! The only reason I go there is to buy this popcorn we can’t find anywhere else! And now my walmart is remodeling and they don’t even have the popcorn anymore!!! UGH. . Anyone know where I can buy microwave Pour Over Butter Popcorn??
I just sent in my email and included this experience:
At my last experience trying to use a coupon at Walmart, the cashier was visibly agitated and told me that using coupons was ridiculous. She said it was obvious that I didn’t have a job, because I wasted all my time with coupons. That she could “make and spend a dollar in a minute” and that it wasn’t worth her time to deal with the coupons. (I had 5).
That is just so rude! I hate to say this…but more often than not I walk into my walmart and the cashiers appear to be hating their life as they stand there. I have met very few these days who will even speak to you. In an economy where people aren’t able to find jobs…you’d think they’d have just a little more appreciation for that paycheck they are getting. I’ve seen this at lots of other stores, but don’t seem to find it as much at the drugstores, where the employee base is smaller, and they are most likely able to be a little choosier about who they hire. I guess my point is, when did it become okay for halfway decent customer service to go out the door?
Here’s the problem – Wal Mart employees hate their jobs because they don’t get treated with respect, their training is minimal, their benefits suck, full time staff does not get full time hours so they can pay part time employees less, I could go on and on. That’s why Wal Mart can be so much cheaper to begin with. You get what you pay for. I’m not saying it’s an excuse for the cashiers but honestly many of them probably didn’t even get trained on how to use coupons, let alone trainied to even use the register! I know this because mom mother-in-law has worked there for years. I rarely shop there. With all the Target deals I can get things cheaper there. Regardless I think it’s great we are all emailing in about the coupon (or lack of) policy.
done! Just sent it off! 🙂
Just sent my e-mail to Wal-Mart. Hope it helps!!!
I just sent mine off!
Thank you so much for getting this started Collin. This is a WONDERFUL idea!
I have sent an email with my experiences in Hillsborough NC. I hope this will make a positive and consistent change at my store.
I just sent my email! How fun. Hopefully when they keep getting emails they will start to understand our frustrations.
I have sent my email to Mr. duke, i actually stopped shopping at walmart entirely about 6 months ago because they wouldnt accept my coupons.
Just sent my email! Thanks Collin, I hope we make an impact with this!
Just sent my email…thanks for getting us together to do this! Hopefully together we can make an impression on the mighty Walmart!
I emailed them a while back about 2 different Walmarts that were giving me grief. They told me that all Walmarts should take manufacturer coupons (including internet coupons) and if I had any trouble to ask for the manager. That is such a pain! I agree they should be training them well. I was impressed though, they sent the emails to the individual Walmarts and the manager of one store called me, gave me his name and told me that he personally had met with all the staff and educated them. He also told me if I had any trouble to ask for him (and he gave me his name). All I had to do was tell the clerk that he (and I named him) called me personally and said if I was given grief to ask for him and she took my coupons.
Thanks for getting this started. I sent my email with this additional paragraph:
Please let your employees know that you are still making the same amount of money on a product, plus a small handling fee, if we buy something using a coupon. The only difference is that you are getting the money from the manufacturer of the product and not the customer. Wouldn’t you prefer to make the sale? In this economy we are all trying to get the most out of our money. As is the case with most of us who use coupons, we become very loyal to stores who treat us as a welcomed customer. Clear, consistent coupon policies and employees who welcome us, are what we really need and appreciate. Thank you for taking the time to look into this matter.
I am so glad to hear about the othrer horror stories I was begining to think it was just me that had problems. I was more than happy to send a email and details of my experiences with my local Walmart. I had a coupon for free juice which was 6.00 the cashier took .1 cent off not the 6.00 it took 4 chasiers 2 customer serice clerks and the manager to finally firgure out I was correct and they refuned me 5.99. Took longer to straighten out that than it did to check out which usually takes forever.
THANK YOU! I actually feel better inside. I was able to unload, in a respectful way, all the “baggage” I have been carrying inside about my experiences at Walmart. I truly hope that these comments are taken in the context that they are given and that positive changes are made. I have almost completely stopped shopping at Walmart because of the way they treat you. I am now a loyal Publix customer. They make your shopping trip a pleasure! They are right up there with Chik-fil-A on customer service. Thanks again Collin for helping me to do what I should have done a long time ago! Again, I hope for a positive change.
I also have trouble with coupons at Wal-mart. Recently it was with deoderant (I have 6 teenage boys) this is a staple at my house. The coupon was for $3 off of 2. I bought the twin packs (twin means 2 right) I was told that when scanned it is only one item and therefore was ineligeable for that coupon. They also rejected all of my internet coupons so I left my whole order on her register. I have purchased 275.98 in wal-mart stuff. I hope they had fun putting everything back. I think I will just take the drive and go to Publix’s.
Twin packs are considered one item. It’s almost always better when using coupons to buy the smaller single varieties!! Sorry for your troubles though. I concur! Walmart needs a coupon savvy overhaul!!
This is an example of consumer being wrong, not the company. I think it is common knowledge that when a coupone says $1/2 that the 2 means two separate scannable items.
Otherwise, for every grocery item you can think of we could use your justification. Soda coupon $1/2 would imply I could buy ONE case and say that the (2) means cans haha or a coupon for a bag of candy $1/2 would imply I could buy ONE bag and say that the bag contains 30 pieces so I satisifed the (2).
Sorry. But there are a number of other valid issues with walmart certainly.
I almost did the same thing yesterday, but then I remember reading somewhere (maybe here on hip2save) that a twin pack is considered one item. So, I bought 2 single items instead. I had a young cashier yesterday, and he clearly did not know what he was doing with coupons. Honestly, it was not good. He did accept my internet coupons though!
I just sent in my email to Mr. Duke – thanks for giving us the incentive.
Hi Collin,
I must have missed this post, but I am going to get my email together and send it in too. I plan on asking them about the BOGO coupons that my walmart refuses to take and the walmart that is closer to me, how the cashiers are not fully trained on how to scan coupons….Digiorno free pizza, the girl couldn’t get the register to accept the coupon even with me telling her how! I’m sure I’ll think of a few other things to mention as well.
I’m glad you mentioned about the “store coupons” maybe we will all finally know what that means!
Also, I’d like to post/shar this on my blog but I would like your permission before I do. Please email me and let me know.
Thanks so much for the help with Walmart
can we puh-lease do this for target too!!! they need a serious adjustment!!!!! >:(
Target has a great coupon policy. I mean, they could double manufacturer coupons haha but other than that … they take all manufacturer coupons, they double them with in-store coupons, and they don’t limit coupons.
I mean, sometimes, I think that people try to find every loop hole and grey area that they can to use coupons. And, I get it … but sometimes that equates to something akin to abuse of the system. Often times, when I see people complaining about target – it is because they were trying to use a coupon on a loop-hole/grey area item.
Anyway.
Collin, I just sent my email! HEAR US ROAR! LOL!!
I sent my email.
Collin, I also suggest that you put together a packet for media outlets. I think this is a great story – given our country’s ‘economic times’ and how Walmart touts being the store that works hard to help ‘every day’ families save when the belt is tightened doesn’t even have a progressive or current coupon policy.
Sending my email on too. Thanks for this experience, and for taking the time to help us write a respectful letter. Most forget in their frustration ( including me) that being rude gets nothing done.
Just sent mine. Added my own experience with inconsistencies and taking my business to places I know my coupons will be accepted. Hope this helps them!!
I do want to add that the last time I shopped at Walmart, the employees all over the store were incredibly friendly. I even said so out loud to several of them after being greeted throughout the store!! They seemed to be doing inventory/price checks of some sort, so maybe it was that their managers were standing over them …or maybe this is a sign of good things to come – first, happy Walmart employees, next, no hassle couponing?!?!
LOL wow this walmart CEO is going to hate checking his in box. i tried to get people to call 1800 walmart to request they start to carry blinkies, tear pads but didn’t get this response. i worked at walmart 5 years as a cashier i loved seeing couponer and tried to get tips. i loved big orders and was always nice. when i left many customers were upset i was leaving. so it really gets me when i get treated badly, because i do know the rules and the problems training wal-mart has a bad training policy they stick you on after 30 min and expect you to know what your doing.
If it’s like most other major corporations, other people check his email for him…! 🙂 I’m sure he will hear about it but won’t read all of the emails himself!
I just sent my email. Collin, Thank you so much for starting this up. I don’t shop at Walmart because of the rude customer service & hassle with coupons. I really hope this helps!!!
I just clicked Send! However, I added all of my personal examples/complaints/etc. to the BEGINNING of the e-mail…I figured if this CEO starts to see all of these identical e-mail pouring in, he might not read them. So I kind of buried the boilerplate! 🙂
Thanks for organizing this “revolution,” Collin! I would love to be able to shop at Walmart without feeling a sense of dread as I approach the checkout lanes!
Thanks so much!! Just sent my email! I’ve only been using the site for a week now, and I can’t tell you how much I love it!! 🙂
Just sent mine. Thanks so much
Just sent an email. Thanks so much for what you are doing.
I also added to my email that the employees at my walmarts are rude and could care less about there job. I don’t tollerate rude workers. They are paid to be nice and yes I spent 3 years in customer service I know it’s hard sometimes.
“There are enough people out there looking for a job right now for your stores to be able to require a higher quality of workmanship from their employees.”
After the issues I had at Walmart last night……I’ll just say that my email.is sent!
Sending mine in!
In an effort to better all of our problematic stores, we should send this email to all the others too. What a difference we can make. Just leave out the numbers from Wal-Mart and say that they were named or nominated in a poll where it is diffucult to use coupons and that they have lost customers because of it. Let’s makes this a tidal wave of emails to corporate, so they know we are serious.
I shop at Walmart all the time and occassionally I get a problem checker, but they are usually pretty cordial. I seperate my coupons out, hand them over a few at a time,
make sure I count them (if I have more than 40), tell them if they complain if they want to just give the the $50.00 (or whatever amount) I am saving I will be happy to forget the coupons today! 🙂
I put the “free” ones at the end and tell them that, so they don’t have to look through, etc.
I did have a checker just the other day take 30 minutes to put in my coupons, and I figured if she wanted to hold up the line, that was her problem, I was happy to stand there while she READ each coupon, even though the new system tells them if I didn’t buy a product.
Those are some really good ideas for couponer courtesy! And some ideas I haven’t thought of like putting the free items at the end! I think Collin should make a coupon courtesy post or static link for newbies and everyone. I think the more pleasant we can make it for everyone else, the more likely they are to accept our coupons!
Ok….now I see why my email came back…Eduardo was not the correct person…I will send it again to Mr. Duke. Thanks Collin!
In defense of crabby Wal-Mart employees…cut them a break. Wal-Mart treats their employees with little-to-no respect. On top of this, many customers at Wal-Mart also treat the employees like complete crap. My sister worked at Wal-Mart for six years and the stories of verbal abuse she endured from customers are horrifying. She even got called the “C word” by a customer once. I’d be fired right away if I worked there, because I’d throw products at mean people’s heads. 😉
Everyone wants those super great “rollback deals” with coupons on top of it, but is it worth the all-around awful experience you’ll have at Wal-Mart, even if they do adjust the coupon policy? We’d still be supporting a company that treats its employees terribly, kills local businesses, and could care less about the environment. Wouldn’t it be a more satisfying victory if everyone just stopped shopping there and the company lost all the business?
Wow! There are people who actually use more than 40 coupons in one transaction?? And I thought I was an obsessive couponer. Guess I still need lessons 🙂
Great idea…! This is what I sent…
What I love about my local Wal-mart is your system for price matching other competitor’s ads. The system is so friendly to use for your cashiers that the process does not take much time at all. I wish coupons were that simple! 🙂 I have actually tried to e-mail your company (at the headquarters and also at the store level) where I did not receive any response back from either party. The issue that I face at my Wal-mart location is when there is a coupon that is for a larger amount than the item’s sales price. For example, BBQ sauce is on sale for $0.97 but have a coupon for $1.00 off. In the past, I have been unable to use my coupon because it “beeps” but have made the appropriate purchase. All other stores in my area (grocery stores, Target, CVS and Walgreens) will either take a $1.00 off or will adjust the price of the coupon down to $0.97. Since your policy does not state what to do in this instance, it would be extremely helpful to add this type of scenario into your coupon policy.
Thanks for pulling all this info. together. I was once a loyal Walmart shopper, but cannot take the attitude of the cashiers when I use coupons….I am accused before a coupon has even been scanned…there are plenty of other places to shop that are friendly!
Just sent mine!!!! 🙂
I think a great idea for stores to implement would be a ‘coupon lane’. There they could have a checker thoroughly trained in coupon usage and policy. It would also cut down on the checker and other shoppers frustration because we would all know that line may take a little more time. On the other hand if the assigned checker were thoroughly trained and not required to call a manager every 3rd coupon, it wouldn’t take as long!