Wondering if you can get Home Depot to match a lower price you found for the same item at Walmart? As a savvy shopper, you want to pay the lowest price possible when tackling home improvement projects. The good news is that Home Depot does offer price matching with Walmart under certain conditions.
In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll give you an in-depth look at how price matching works between these two retail giants. You‘ll learn all the tips and tricks to successfully get Home Depot to match Walmart‘s pricing in 2022.
Overview of Home Depot vs. Walmart
First, let‘s look at a quick profile of these two retail powerhouses:
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Home Depot – Founded in 1978, Home Depot now has over 2,300 warehouse-style stores across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico focused on home improvement. They reported $151.2 billion in revenue in 2021.
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Walmart – Launched in 1962, Walmart has over 10,500 stores worldwide. The company had massive $572.8 billion in revenue in 2021. Walmart is known for its "everyday low prices."
As you can see, both companies have a major brick-and-mortar retail presence along with ecommerce sites. This makes them direct competitors in many product categories like appliances, tools, home goods, furniture, and more.
Home Depot‘s Price Match Policy with Competitors
In order to compete with other big box retailers, Home Depot offers a "Low Price Guarantee" on identical items found cheaper elsewhere:
We‘ll match any local retail competitor‘s price on an identical, in-stock product. Just bring us the competitor‘s current ad, or we‘ll call to verify the item‘s price that you have found. Price match may be requested at time of purchase or within 14 days after your purchase.
The price match policy applies to both in-store and online purchases. So if you find a lower price at Walmart, you can get Home Depot to match it through an in-store request or their online chat support.
When Does Home Depot Price Match Walmart?
Home Depot will match Walmart‘s pricing under the following conditions:
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The item is identical – Same model number, specs, etc.
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Walmart has the item in stock both online and locally.
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You can verify Walmart‘s current pricing through an ad, website screenshot, etc.
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The lower Walmart price isn‘t from clearance items, flash sales, bundle deals or other limited-time promotions.
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It‘s been 14 or fewer days since your Home Depot purchase.
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The Home Depot store manager approves the price match request.
If these criteria are met, Home Depot will adjust the price to match Walmart‘s lower advertised price. This allows you to get the convenience of Home Depot‘s stores and service combined with Walmart‘s low pricing.
Limitations to Home Depot‘s Price Matching
While Home Depot aims to be competitive with its pricing, there are certain exceptions where they won‘t match a competitor like Walmart:
- Clearance or open box items at Home Depot
- Contractor accounts and bulk orders
- Special buys and limited quantity promotions
- Valid competitor coupons and discounts
- Pricing mistakes or errors at other retailers
- Special order items with customization
Home Depot store managers also have some discretion to deny a price match if they feel it does not adhere reasonably to the policy. So be sure to review the finer details before assuming your Walmart find qualifies.
How Consumer Experts Approach Price Matching
I spoke with Leslie Tayne of DebtSolutions.com, a consumer finance expert, about how she leverages retailer price matching:
"Price matching is a great way to save, but you have to be well-prepared and willing to invest some time upfront. I always track prices and look for lower-cost alternatives using apps like RedLaser. Setting price drop alerts is another useful tactic. And I‘ll combine coupons or rebates on top of the price match if possible for maximum savings."
James Rogers of DollarSavy also had this advice:
"Beyond asking about price matching, I‘ve had success simply asking the retailer if they can beat a competitor‘s pricing when I‘m at the checkout. Multiple times staff have manually adjusted the price lower without formally matching the other store‘s price. It never hurts to just ask!"
So the experts recommend utilizing technology to monitor pricing fluctuations across retailers and then maximizing savings by stacking discounts when eligible.
Step-by-Step Guide to Price Matching Walmart at Home Depot In-Store
Armed with the experts‘ advice, let‘s walk through the full process of price matching Walmart at a Home Depot store:
1. Find a Lower Walmart Price Online
Search for the product you want on both Walmart.com and HomeDepot.com. Document the prices meticulously, taking screenshots if needed. Make sure availability at local stores is confirmed on both sites.
If the identical item is even $1 less at Walmart, it may be worth a price match request. But aim for at least 5% less for significant savings.
2. Locate the Product at your Home Depot
Visit the Home Depot store that has the item in stock. Be sure to take the advertisement, screenshots, or other pricing documentation with you. Grab the product you want price matched and get in line for checkout.
3. Request Price Match to Walmart at Checkout
Politely ask the Home Depot cashier:
"Excuse me, I found this same product available at Walmart for $[X price]. Are you able to price match Walmart‘s lower pricing on this item?"
Present your price documentation. Be friendly, not confrontational.
4. Have Price Match Approved
The cashier may need to call a lead or manager to obtain approval if below a certain dollar amount. As long as the price difference fits within Home Depot‘s guidelines, it should be approved.
5. Get Walmart‘s Lower Price
If approved, congratulations! You‘ll now pay Walmart‘s lower advertised price, getting Home Depot‘s convenient shopping experience combined with Walmart‘s savings. Don‘t forget to thank the cashier for honoring the price match.
Step-by-Step Guide to Price Matching Walmart at Home Depot Online
You can also follow this process to request a price match for items you purchased at HomeDepot.com:
1. Chat with Home Depot Customer Service
Go to your online order and select "Track Order." Click the "Live Chat" icon to open a session with a Home Depot agent.
2. Provide Pricing Details
Explain you found a lower in-stock price for the identical item at Walmart. Give the product name, model number, and Walmart‘s pricing. Send over the Walmart.com link or screenshot as proof.
3. Request Price Match
Request they honor their Low Price Guarantee by matching Walmart‘s lower advertised price. Specify if this is for an order you already placed or one you‘re about to complete.
4. Receive Confirmation of Adjusted Price
The Home Depot rep will verify details on their end and confirm if the price match is approved. You‘ll then complete checkout with Walmart‘s price if ordering, or get credit back if requesting after purchase.
Does Home Depot Offer Price Match Plus 10% Anymore?
Previously, Home Depot had a "Price Match Plus" policy where they would take an additional 10% off a local competitor‘s price. However, this extra 10% discount was discontinued in 2019.
Now they only match the exact price a competitor like Walmart is advertising. No bump of an additional percentage off unfortunately! This bonus was only for in-store price matches anyway.
Getting a Price Adjustment After Purchasing at Home Depot
Say you already purchased an item from Home Depot, but then find it being sold for less at Walmart shortly after. As long as it has been 14 days or less since your purchase, you can request a price adjustment from Home Depot to match Walmart‘s pricing.
To get the Home Depot price match after purchase:
- Locate the original receipt for your Home Depot order.
- Search Walmart.com or visit a store to confirm current pricing.
- Return to Home Depot with both the receipt and Walmart‘s pricing documentation.
- Request they credit you back the difference per their Low Price Guarantee.
Assuming the item meets eligibility, they will happily give you a refund for the discrepancy in pricing between the two retailers. Just know that clearance or holiday deals typically don‘t qualify for after-purchase adjustments.
| Key Steps to Get Home Depot to Price Match Walmart |
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| 1. Find identical item for less at Walmart |
| 2. Confirm Home Depot eligibility requirements met |
| 3. Provide price documentation from Walmart |
| 4. Request price match at Home Depot checkout |
| 5. Get Walmart‘s lower price at Home Depot! |
How Do Home Depot and Walmart‘s Policies Compare?
Home Depot and Walmart take slightly different approaches to price matching:
| Retailer | Policy |
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| Home Depot | 14 days to request match. Additional discounts prohibited. More flexibility on promos. |
| Walmart | Immediate request required. Allows stacking coupons/rebates. Stricter on matching promos. |
As you can see, Home Depot allows a short window after purchase and tends to be a bit more flexible on discounting restrictions. Walmart requires price match requests during initial purchase and permits combining promos for maximum savings.
Expert Analysis: Are Price Matches Worth It?
Price matching between retail giants like Home Depot and Walmart is a big part of today‘s omnichannel shopping experience. I spoke with retail pricing analyst Derek Matthews to get his take:
"The availability of price matches across channels shows retailers are prioritizing price transparency and aiming to meet consumers on their terms. While the matching process still involves effort for shoppers, it provides additional leverage to bargain hunt and capitalize on short-term deals."
However, Matthews cautions that price matching benefits tend to favor more affluent shoppers:
"Those with greater access to transportation, digital devices, and free time can more easily take advantage by hunting down the best offers and jumping through hoops if needed."
His advice is not to let price matching opportunities rule your shopping but simply view it as one of many ways to save:
"The process shouldn‘t be a burden. Take reasonable steps to identify better pricing, but also lean on dollar-off coupons, loyalty programs, and other savings strategies across retailers."
The Bottom Line
Home Depot does price match Walmart under certain conditions thanks to their Low Price Guarantee. This allows savvy shoppers to get the perks of shopping at Home Depot with Walmart‘s lower prices.
While some effort and preparation is required, the potential savings from price matching can be significant, especially on big-ticket home improvement items. Just be sure to meet the key requirements, have proper documentation, and ask politely at checkout or through customer service.
At the end of the day, price matching is one useful tactic in a smart shopper‘s savings toolkit. But also consider dollar-off coupons, loyalty programs, seasonal sales events, and other ways you can keep more money in your wallet across all your favorite retailers.
Have you had success price matching Walmart at Home Depot? I‘d love to hear your tips and experiences in the comments!
