Does Walmart Price Match Best Buy In 2022? The Savvy Shopper‘s Guide to Saving Big

If you‘re looking to get a new TV, laptop, phone or other electronics at the lowest possible price, you‘re probably comparing deals at Walmart and Best Buy. You may be wondering:

Can I get Walmart‘s low prices at Best Buy in 2022?

The short answer is sometimes. While Walmart discontinued price matching with competitors like Best Buy, Best Buy does still match Walmart pricing on identical items.

Whether you should price match or just buy straight from Walmart depends on the specifics of your purchase. Read on for the savvy shopper‘s guide to maximizing savings when shopping these two retail giants.

How Did We Get Here? A Price Match Policy History

First, let‘s look at how Walmart and Best Buy price matching policies have evolved over the past few years:

Walmart Price Match Changes

• Pre-2019: Walmart offered a popular "Savings Catcher" program that compared local competitor ads and gave cash back if a lower price was found elsewhere. This included matching Best Buy pricing.

• May 2019: Walmart ended Savings Catcher in US stores, citing internal data showing their prices were lowest most of the time already.

• March 2020: Price matching discontinued at Walmart Canada stores as well, with the retailer again claiming it led to checkout delays without adding value for most customers.

Why Did Walmart Really Cancel Price Matching?

While Walmart publicly positioned their cancellation of price matching as providing simplicity and passing everyday low prices to customers, it likely also benefited them in other ways:

• Reduced price matching labor and costs: No longer needing staff time to research, verify, and process price match claims provided cost savings.

• Encouraged shopping directly at Walmart: By removing the guaranteed lowest price benefit at competitors, it incentivized more sales directly at Walmart stores and online.

• More pricing flexibility: Walmart now has more leeway to test different pricing levels, sales and markdowns without being held to match competitor pricing.

Best Buy‘s Ongoing Price Match Policy

Unlike Walmart, Best Buy still advertises that they will match local competitor pricing today in 2022, both online and in stores.

You can request Best Buy to match Walmart‘s online prices as well as prices from your local brick-and-mortar Walmart store. There are some exclusions like limited time sales.

So Best Buy gives you a way to still take advantage of Walmart‘s low prices, if you catch them on a great deal.

Next let‘s look at when you‘re most likely to save at each retailer.

Battling for the Best Prices: Walmart vs. Best Buy

Though both promise low prices, Walmart and Best Buy can vary in which offers the best deal category by category.

Walmart Tends to Win On:

• Groceries
• Basic clothing and shoes
• Home furnishings, decor and small appliances
• Toys, video games and kids products
• Auto accessories like tires

Best Buy Tends to Win On:

• Premium TVs, especially large sizes and high-end brands
• Laptop and desktop computers
• Tablets and E-readers
• Cell phones, especially with service plans
• Major appliances like fridges, washers, etc.

Neck and Neck:

For smaller tech gadgets like streaming devices, speakers, wearables, smart home products and accessories, Walmart and Best Buy pricing is often very close. Apparel and home goods generally go to Walmart, large electronics to Best Buy.

Let‘s compare some current prices on popular products:

Product	Walmart Price	Best Buy Price
LG 65" OLED 4K TV	$1896.99	$1799.99
Apple MacBook Air Laptop	$899.00	$799.99
Amazon Fire HD 8 Tablet	$59.99	$59.99
Nintendo Switch Console	$299.00	$299.99

Here we see the major TV and laptop savings at Best Buy, while the tablet and gaming console are the same at both.

Over the holidays, I tracked prices on a Samsung smartwatch. Walmart had it for $199, Best Buy for $219. Using the Best Buy price match saved me $20!

Should I Price Match or Buy Where it‘s Cheaper?

Just because you can get Best Buy to price match Walmart doesn‘t necessarily mean you should. There are pros and cons to consider for each option.

Potential Benefits of Price Matching at Best Buy:

• Get immediate access to the product, no waiting for shipping
• Take advantage of Best Buy perks like reward points and extended warranties
• Get help selecting products from electronics experts

Potential Downsides of Matching at Best Buy:

• Need to take time to request the price match in person or via chat
• No guarantee the match will be approved
• May miss out on Walmart incentives like fuel savings

Benefits of Buying Directly from Walmart:

• Ensure you always pay the lowest advertised price
• Avoid investment of time and hassle to request a match
• Take advantage of Walmart benefits and savings programs

Downsides of Buying at Walmart:

• Electronics selection often not as broad as Best Buy
• No expert guidance in making your selections
• May need to wait for shipping if buying online

Here are some rules of thumb I follow when deciding whether to price match at Best Buy vs buy at Walmart:

• Small price differences ($10-$20): Usually price match to take advantage of Best Buy strengths
• Large price differences ($50+): Buy directly at Walmart to maximize my savings
• Hard-to-find or last-in-stock item: Price match at Best Buy for immediate access
• Confident I know the exact product I want: Buy at Walmart for the lowest price

Ultimately, it requires knowing yourself as a shopper. Are you willing to invest a little time and effort to potentially get superior service and rewards? Or do you prioritize getting the rock-bottom price with maximum convenience?

Either approach can be right – it just depends on what matters most to you.

7 Sneaky Ways to Save Even More at Walmart and Best Buy

To get your electronics and other shopping for less, here are some bonus tips beyond just price matching:

1. Use each retailer‘s app to scan prices and find deals. Brick-and-mortar prices can vary from the online price, so scan in-store to compare.

2. Stake out refurbished and open-box deals. Buying pre-owned electronics is much cheaper. Check both retailer‘s websites or visit stores frequently for inventory.

3. Leverage buy now, pay later financing offers. Payments over time can make large purchases more affordable. Just be sure to understand the terms.

4. Sign up for promotional emails and loyalty programs. Gives access to subscriber-only deals and earning points/cash back.

5. Stack on coupons, promo codes and rebates. Check RetailMeNot, Honey and sites like it to combine savings.

6. Buy gift cards at a discount. Stock up when gift card resale sites offer bonuses.

7. Pay with a cash back credit card. Earn at least 2% back in rewards on all your purchases. Over time, rewards can really add up.

Follow these tips and you can save significant money at both retail giants. A little effort goes a long way.

Answers to Your Biggest Price Match Questions

If you‘re new to asking for a price match, you probably still have some questions. Here are answers to some common concerns:

How do I smoothly request a Best Buy price match?

Politely ask for a price match right when you are ready to check out. Have proof of the competitor‘s pricing ready to show staff. Be cooperative if they need to verify details. If denied, politely ask if a manager could reconsider.

What if Best Buy refuses to match a valid lower Walmart price?

First, double check you‘re meeting all policy fine print – identical item, current pricing, etc. If it meets criteria, politely persist by asking a manager to review or calling customer service after the fact. But ultimately, they can refuse any match so you may need to buy at Walmart to get the lowest price.

Can I price match multiple items?

Technically, yes – Best Buy allows price matching on as many qualifying items as you‘d like. But be reasonable – trying to match 10+ items may rub employees the wrong way. Consider picking your most expensive 1 or 2 items to match on.

How do I know if an online or in-store deal applies?

Always verify the source. Walmart.com deals generally won‘t apply in stores and vice versa. Best Buy does allow match both channels but check the finer print. When in doubt, ask a customer service rep before assuming a match is eligible.

What about price matching holidays like Black Friday?

Both retailers normally exclude highly promoted events like Black Friday and Cyber Monday from match policies – so you‘ll need to buy from the seller offering the special pricing. But again, check current policy each holiday.

Can I still submit Walmart prices to the Savings Catcher?

Unfortunately, no. Since Savings Catcher was discontinued in 2019, there is no more ability to submit other retailers‘ pricing for Walmart to evaluate and provide rebates on. Price match requests now need to go directly through Best Buy.

Hopefully these tips help you shop smarter, save more, and get exactly what you need whether TVs, laptops, appliances or anything in between. With a little preparation, you can master getting the very lowest prices.

Both Walmart and Best Buy want your business – learn to take advantage of it!

The Bottom Line: Shop Smart and Save Big

Here are the key takeaways on maximizing savings when shopping electronics and more at Walmart and Best Buy:

• Walmart no longer price matches Best Buy or any competitor pricing. But Best Buy still matches Walmart‘s online and in-store prices.

• Compare prices and know which retailer tends to be lower for different product categories – Walmart on basic goods, Best Buy on premium electronics.

• Consider price matching on smaller price differences to get Best Buy perks. For larger gaps, buy directly at Walmart.

• Use tips like coupons, open box deals and cash back to stack on additional discounts at both retailers.

• Understand and follow each price match policy carefully to get approvals. Be persistent but polite with staff.

Armed with the right knowledge, you can now shop these mega-retailers like a pro. Do your homework, and the deals are there for the taking. Just think of the savings you can rack up over time.

Happy shopping and enjoy those new gadgets! Please reach out if you have any other electronics shopping questions.