2023 Walmart News

While the clock on holiday shopping is certainly ticking, Walmart is offering consumers last-minute shopping opportunities through Christmas Eve. 

The retailer announced that consumers can guarantee gifts get delivered for Christmas Day even if they wait until later in the week to place their orders. In addition, there will be a number of sales on last-minute gift ideas running throughout this week. 

“It’s been an exciting holiday season, and we’ve been busy delivering the kind of holiday magic only Walmart can,” the company wrote in a statement. “But we’re not done yet! We’re finishing the season strong – giving customers new ways to save and convenient delivery solutions on last-minute gifts.” 

Get gifts delivered, or pick them up

If the holiday season got away from you, it’s still not too late to finish your shopping. Walmart has shared its final shipping deadlines for consumers to ensure they receive their gifts in time for Christmas. 

Here’s what to know: 

• Delivery deadline: Thursday, December 21. If consumers place their orders by 2 p.m. local time, delivery is guaranteed for December 25 – just remember to look for gifts that are eligible for next-day and two-day shipping.

• Curbside Pickup & Delivery (from store): Sunday, December 24. Shoppers can place orders by 12 p.m. local time on Christmas Eve for either same-day pickup or delivery through 4 p.m. Walmart will have extra pickup and delivery time slots available for the extra orders expected during the holidays. 

• Express Delivery: Sunday, December 24. Shoppers will be able to place orders for Express Delivery – which get delivered within two hours of being placed – through 4 p.m. local time on Christmas Eve. Walmart+ members receive one free Express Delivery order in the month of December, and non-members can get Express Delivery for a $10 fee. 

Sales are still available

For those looking for deals on popular holiday gifts, Walmart will be running sales through Thursday, December 21, at 2 p.m. ET. 

Some of the thousands of offers include: 

• LEGO Super Mario Penguin Family Snow Adventure Expansion Set: $19.97

• Philips 50” 4K Ultra HD Roku Smart TV: $198

• Barbie Doll and Mountain Bike Bundle with Barbie Car: $34.97

• Farberware 20-piece Aluminum Cookware Set: $59

• Lenovo 14” IdeaPad: $349

More last-minute holiday sales can be found on Walmart’s website, in the mobile app, or in stores. 

Walmart has announced that it will be bringing sensory-friendly shopping hours to all of its stores, every day of the week. 

The retailer piloted these special hours during back-to-school shopping, but they were limited just to Saturdays. 

Now, as holiday shopping is ramping up, Walmart will have sensory-friendly hours every single day, at all stores, from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. local time. 

“Earlier this year, we took a step in making shopping in our stores more inclusive for those with sensory disabilities by taking measures to create a less stimulating environment for a couple of hours each Saturday,” the company wrote in a statement.

“We changed the TV walls to a static image, turned off the radio, and lowered the lights where possible. These changes may have seemed small to some, but for others, they transformed the shopping experience.”  

Listening to consumers’ needs

After testing out sensory-friendly hours for one day a week during the back-to-school season, Walmart has decided to listen to its customers. The company explained that the large majority of feedback it received has been geared towards bringing back sensory-friendly shopping hours. 

The change went into effect on November 10, and currently, there is no end in sight for this more inclusive shopping experience. All Walmart stores in the U.S. and Puerto Rico will follow the new sensory-friendly schedule. 

The goal is to make the shopping experience more comfortable for consumers with sensory disabilities. Less noise, lowered lighting and fewer flashing images around the store will make it easier for all shoppers to make the most of their shopping trips. 

“In our stores during sensory-friendly hours, customers will have a calmer shopping experience,” Walmart’s COO Cedric Clark said in a statement to Good Morning America. “Where we’re able, our stores will turn off the radio, change our TV screens to still images and dim the lights. 

“We’re always open to more feedback from our customers and associates, and listen to what else can help create a less stimulating environment during those times.” 

One would think that with Aldi, Walmart, Target, and now Lidl all throwing their hat in the discounted Thanksgiving deals, that all is well in Thanksgiving Dinnerland. But all is well for now, and not guaranteed if you decide to go shopping the weekend before Turkey Day 2023, suggests Datasembly.

New data from the grocery price tracking company indicates that Thanksgiving dinner will cost American consumers even more this year. For instance, the cost of turkey is up 8.3% this November compared to 2022, with no signs of slowing down. 

Datasembly researchers told ConsumerAffairs that, year over year (YOY), frozen whole turkey prices from the first until the last week of October went up 11.3%, similar to what happened from 2021 to 2022. “It also appears that promotions kicked-in earlier last year as prices started to drop on 10-22 in 2022 but in 2023, we have yet to see lowering of prices,” a spokesperson for Datasembly said.

If turkey is a must, Datasembly says the window on good deals will close around November 15 and, then, start rising again.

Frozen turkeys are also going to be priced lower than fresh ones and fresh bird prices are expected to continue at a higher price point, so keep that in mind. 

This means you might want to savor your turkey like it’s a fine wine

Cargill, the food – and turkey – production giant suggests that with turkey possibly coming under the “premium” banner, this year, consumers are desirous of finding ways to stretch the value of their bird so that they get the best return on investment they can.

In order to help home chefs maximize the value of their whole turkey purchase this Thanksgiving, Cargill Corporate Chef Janet Bourbon shares two tasty tips.

Maximize turkey meat: “Carve the turkey and store the meat in sealed containers to keep it fresher for longer. Explore endless possibilities for your leftover turkey meat, from mouthwatering sandwiches to hearty soups and turkey chili,” Bourbon said. “Don’t forget to consume leftovers within three to four days to ensure food safety and quality or freeze them to be eaten later.”

Check out the potential of giblets: Giblets? Yeah. A lot of older Americans remember giblet gravy when they were having their Norman Rockwell Thanksgiving dinner, but Bourbon thinks the under-60 crowd should give giblets a chance, too. “The giblets, including the heart, liver, gizzard, and sometimes the neck, are flavorful treasures often neglected and thrown away,” she said.

To create giblet gravy, all you have to do is simmer the turkey neck, wing tips, half an onion, carrot, and celery in water. Next, strain and reserve the liquid for your gravy, then sauté the chopped gizzard, liver, and heart in butter until browned and add them to your gravy.

Another use of giblets is to treat your pets. There’ve been lots of back-and-forth about what “people food” pets can have, but Bourbon says that cooked giblets can also serve as a delightful treat for your furry friends, especially dogs.

For more information and recipe ideas, including how to thaw, prep and cook a whole turkey and make the most of your leftovers, visit the “Guide to Good,” found on Cargill’s Honeysuckle White and Shady Brook Farms turkey brand websites.

Walmart+ members are used to getting perks with their memberships: free delivery from Walmart stores, nationwide gas discounts, returns from home, mobile scan and go, a Paramount+ subscription, free shipping with no order minimum, video streaming with Pluto TV, early access to online sales, and Walmart rewards. 

Now, the retailer is adding to that list: travel benefits. 

Walmart has partnered with Expedia Group’s White Label Template to offer Walmart+ members exclusive deals on their next getaway. 

“We’re bringing together the ultimate savings membership and vacation booking site to deliver a first-ever travel-focused benefit for Walmart+ members,” said Venessa Yates, senior vice president and general manager of Walmart+.

“Combined with our other efforts – including free delivery, streaming, and savings on fuel – we’re creating a membership that saves customers time and money, whether they’re at home or having fun at their favorite vacation destination.” 

Earn Walmart Cash for booking your next trip

Walmart+ members can book their next vacation with Walmart+ and immediately start earning as much as 5% Walmart Cash for their trip. 

The booking site has a wide range of options for hotels, airlines, and car rental companies, both in the U.S. and overseas. There are offers for last-minute hotel deals, hotel specials by the beach, family-friendly options, popular road-trip destinations, tours and activities, and more. 

The amount of Walmart Cash varies depending on what members book. Reserving a hotel, car, vacation rental, or activity yields 5% Walmart Cash, while flights offer 2% cash back.

When booking both a hotel and a flight, Walmart+ members will receive each respective Cash Back percentage – 5% for the hotel and 2% for the flight. 

Walmart Cash is the latest version of Walmart Rewards, which members accumulate when they purchase certain items that are flagged with a Walmart Cash icon. That Cash can be redeemed towards future purchases in-store or online, or those with at least a $25 balance can receive cash at their local Walmart store. 

A seamless booking experience

The partnership with Expedia makes it easy for Walmart+ members to navigate the booking process. This includes making changes to their itinerary, answering travel questions, or assisting in the reservation process. 

“We’re connecting Walmart’s customer base with Expedia Group’s extensive array of travel supply partners from around the world,” said Ariane Gorin, president of Expedia for Business. “What’s exciting is that with this collaboration, Walmart customers will benefit from Expedia’s ongoing innovation through TravelOS, our AI-powered travel operating system, as we continue to add new products and feature updates to drive the best traveler experience.”

Walmart+ members can book their next getaway straight from the Walmart app or at WalmartPlusTravel.com. Once they officially book their vacation, the Walmart Cash balance will reflect the changes, and members can utilize their rewards 30 days after their trip. 

With consumers currently balancing several days of huge sales from three of the biggest retailers – Target, Walmart, and Amazon – the summer sale frenzy is still heating up. 

Walgreens is the latest competitor to enter the race. The pharmacy announced that it will host a week full of sales and discounts, myW Days, starting on July 23 and running through July 29, exclusively for myWalgreens rewards members. 

“We’re launching myW Days to thank myWalgreens members and show how much we appreciate them,” said Linh Peters, chief marketing officer at Walgreens. “We know health and wellness is personal and needs change and vary, so our loyalty program is designed to provide valuable and flexible rewards across any Walgreens purchase."

Up to $100 in myWalgreens Cash is available

While Walgreens plans to unveil its full list of sales and specials for myW Days on July 13, the retailer explained that myWalgreens rewards members should expect to see discounts and benefits that are tailored to their specific purchases.

With the primary goal of the sale being to reward shoppers, consumers will be able to earn rewards and score their favorites at lower prices, the company said. 

In addition, rewards members should look forward to earning myWalgreens Cash rewards. According to the retailer, each member can earn up to $100 in myWalgreens Cash rewards over the course of the week of savings. 

During the sales events, shoppers will have the chance to earn extra rewards to double up on their rewards balance. This will translate to Walgreens Cash rewards – which ultimately save consumers money on every visit. 

To get the most out of the sales event, and earn the most possible Walgreens Cash, rewards members are encouraged to take advantage of the deals going on every day of the week. 

Consumers must be myWalgreens rewards members to participate in the savings, and they can join in any Walgreens store or online at walgreens.com/mywalgreens. 

For many Americans, Memorial Day Weekend serves as the official kickoff to summer, which usually means gathering your friends and family for a barbecue. 

While costs of all the major essentials continue to creep up, Walmart and Kroger have announced efforts to keep party supplies cost-friendly for consumers this Memorial Day. 

“As families come together in tribute on this day of remembrance, we join our customers in honoring our heroes, and we are here to make their gathering extra special with holiday staples that are affordable, fresh, and delicious,” said Rodney McMullen, Kroger’s chairman and CEO. 

Walmart’s BBQ sale will get you through July 4

Between now and July 15, Walmart is offering shoppers discounts on everything barbecue-related – and the prices are actually lower than last year. 

Shoppers can get everything they need for a barbecue in one of Walmart’s summer grilling baskets. They include everything – hot dogs, hamburgers, buns, lettuce, tomato, cheese, ketchup, pasta and potato salad, corn on the cob, drinks, chips, dessert, and more. 

The price to serve 12 people comes to $6.15 per person, or a total of $73.76. Whether you’re hosting for Memorial Day, Father’s Day, July 4, or any weekend in between, there are deals on all the summer barbecue necessities.

If you’re in need of a grill or new briquettes before the start of the summer, Walmart is also offering sales on those: 

• Expert Grill’s 14.5’’ Portable Charcoal Grill: $14.97 ($3 savings)

• Blackstone’s 2-Burner 28” Griddle with Air Fryer: $447 ($50 savings) 

• 12 lbs of Instant Charcoal Briquettes from Expert Grill: $6.97 (Originally $7.88)

• 16 lbs of Kingsford Original Charcoal Briquettes (two-pack): $17.92 ($2 savings)

All items and sales are available in-store, online, or with curbside or in-store pickup. 

Choose your budget at Kroger  

Ahead of Memorial Day, Kroger is offering three tiers of menus for consumers looking to stock up for their barbecues: the red menu ($5 per person), the white menu ($7.50 per person), and the blue menu ($10 per person). Each menu comes with options for grilling, sides, and snacks, with the option to also add on a s’mores kit for dessert. 

With the red menu, shoppers get Kroger-brand quarter pound burgers and Nathan’s hotdogs, hotdog and hamburger buns, Colby Jack cheese slices, tomato, southwest chopped salad kit, cole slaw, strawberries, and party size cheddar and sour cream potato chips. 

The white menu offers St. Louis-style pork spare ribs, boneless and skinless chicken breast marinated in applewood smoked honey maple BBQ, corn on the cob, sweet kale chopped salad kit, southern-style potato salad, watermelon, party-size wavy potato chips. 

Lastly, the blue menu includes Private Select Angus Beef Boneless flank steak marinated in steak marinade, frozen cooked shrimp and kebabs made with yellow squash, onions, bell peppers, zucchini, sliced baby bella mushrooms, ultimate caesar salad kit, cole slaw, and party size sweet and mesquite BBQ potato chips. 

Kroger is also offering a $9 bundle for a full s’mores kit, plus other deals on barbecue essentials, like propane tanks, sunblock, briquettes, and more. Shoppers can access all of these deals however they choose to shop -- pickup, delivery, or in-store. 

Prices for BBQ items are going up, experts say

According to DataAssembly’s Grocery Price index, which collects and tracks weekly grocery store prices from over 150,000 stores across the country, the cost of hosting a barbecue this summer is going to be more than it has been in recent years – making these store discounts all the more valuable. 

Overall, barbecue goods will cost consumers roughly 9% more than in 2022, with the biggest price hike coming to condiments. Ketchup alone is nearly 30% more expensive than it was a year ago, and mustard and relish aren’t far behind, with the former seeing a 13% price increase, and the latter seeing a 12% price increase since last year. 

In terms of popular grill items, ground beef is marginally down in price since last year (0.4% price decrease), and hotdogs have gone up in price by 3%.

Like many retailers, Walmart is putting more emphasis on health services and a weekend Wellness Day promotion at over 4,600 pharmacies is a good example, offering customers immunizations and free health screenings. 

“It’s not only the free screenings and the affordable immunizations that make a difference, but also the opportunity for connections between our pharmacists and the communities we serve, said Kevin Host, senior vice president of pharmacy at Walmart.

Available health resources

Here’s what consumers can expect at their area Walmart pharmacies on Wellness Day:

• Free COVID-19 vaccines

• Wellness resources

• Free screenings for: body mass index, glucose, blood pressure, cholesterol, and vision (at select locations)

• The following vaccines: whooping cough (TDAP), measles, mumps, Hepatitis A & B, chicken pox/shingles, tetanus, flu, pneumonia, HPV, rubella (MMR), and more 

• Time to talk with pharmacists

In addition, consumers can expect their specific Walmart store to handle Wellness Day with different in-store giveaways and freebies. Some stores will have samples of vitamins, nutrition items, or supplements, while others will demonstrate the benefits and uses of different wellness products. 

There are several goals for Wellness Day. For starters, it's an opportunity for consumers to learn more about their own personal health, better manage and track their health, and access resources that are available to them. 

Additionally, Walmart hopes to increase awareness and access to health and wellness services and products. By offering vaccinations and screenings for free and reduced prices, more consumers will have access to important health resources. 

With Mother’s Day right around the corner, Walmart is gearing up to honor new moms in the coming weeks. 

The company is launching a new campaign dubbed, the “Mother of All Savings Memberships,” in which it will donate one year of a Walmart+ membership to as many as 20,000 new mothers during the month of May. 

“Walmart+ brings together benefits that will help save moms precious time,” said Seth Dallaire, executive vice president and chief revenue officer of Walmart. “Whether it’s getting diapers delivered straight to their door or saving on gas for the carpool, we’ve got their back. To celebrate moms, we’ve committed to gifting 20,000 Walmart+ memberships to some of our most important customers, making life a little easier for them.” 

Partnering with Pampers and famous moms

Walmart will be working with a group of celebrity moms as well as the Pampers company to help bring 20,000 new mothers a year of Walmart+ for free. During the month of May, mothers giving birth at hospitals across the country will receive goodie bags that include important newborn and postpartum necessities – and the chance to redeem 12 months of Walmart+ for free. 

Some of the perks of Walmart+ that could be the most beneficial to new moms include: 

• Free shipping with no order minimum

• Returns from home

• Free delivery from your local store

• Walmart rewards for members 

• Mobile scan & go 

In addition, Walmart air commercials and other media items including a group of celebrity moms – Jenny Slate, Stephanie Beatriz, Cardi B, and Janelle James. The women will share their parenting hacks with mothers across the country, as well as explain how they make the most of a Walmart+ membership. 

“The beauty of motherhood is that it brings moms together with a bond regardless of where they are in their lives,” said Courtney Carlson, senior vice president of retail marketing atWalmart. “Every mom loves to trade their parenting hacks, and we’re excited for this campaign to showcase the biggest hack of all being ‘The Mother of All Savings’ – a Walmart+ membership.” 

Getting a gift

While a year of Walmart+ typically costs just under $100, Walmart is also running special deals and offering gift guidance in advance of Mother's Day. The Walmart website has a special page dedicated to gift ideas for moms, aunts, grandmas, sisters, cousins, etc. 

There are gift sets, options for gifts in different price ranges (as low as $15 and under all the way to $100 and under), help with creating themed gift kits, options for different interests like cooking or gardening, ideas for splitting gifts among a group, and more.

Shoppers can choose based on different activity ideas – movie night, paint and sip, breakfast in bed, and more – or “more ways to make her day” – like mommy & me, brunch, or baking. 

After a four-year marriage, Walmart says it’s had all of Capital One it can take. The big box retailer is suing the credit card company over customer service.

According to sources who've seen the lawsuit, Capital One “was consistently unable to meet the customer-service standards” in five “critical” categories over a 12-month period.  Those standards included issuing replacement cards and processing payments and posting transactions in a timely fashion – standards that Walmart alleges the bank admitted in writing that it failed to meet just two months ago.

In a statement provided to ConsumerAffairs, Walmart said it looks forward to bringing its customers a new credit card option "that provides meaningful benefits and rewards soon."

But is it something cardholders should be worried about or is it just a corporate squabble? In comments emailed to ConsumerAffairs, Capital One offered this: "Walmart’s lawsuit is an attempt to renegotiate the economic terms of the partnership it agreed to just a few years ago, or end the deal early.  These servicing issues were immaterial and cured by Capital One pursuant to the terms of the agreement, without harm to customers, the program, or Walmart."

The impact on cardholders

Despite Capital One doing well in the customer service category in a recent J.D. Power satisfaction survey, the company suffered among ConsumerAffairs reviewers regarding customer service.

Some Capital One credit card holders who had Walmart-branded cards have had all they can take, too. One ConsumerAffairs reviewer called the company “a bunch of clowns.” Another said their service was “pathetic.” 

Nonetheless, consumers who have one of the Walmart-branded Capital One cards have to carry on at least for a while. Walmart told ConsumerAffairs that cardholders should not experience any disruptions in service and can continue to use their existing Capital One Walmart credit cards.

Can Walmart get all the eggs in one basket?

This whole ordeal may be part of Walmart’s desire to have every penny coming from someone using one of its credit cards directly into its pockets. Walmart has made noise about offering financial services products for years, and in January, announced plans to acquire two companies that signal a definite move in that area.

One of those companies specializes in earned wage access, a benefit that allows employees to receive part of their paycheck before payday. The other is a neo bank, basically a tech company/online banking services combo that partners with an existing, traditional bank.

However, the biggest component of Walmart’s fintech reveal is credit cards. Even though it had a pre-existing deal with Capital One, the retailer is currently testing “One,” a banking platform it offers its employees with hopes of eventually offering the service to customers. 

Walmart's plans are pretty much like shooting fish in a barrel.

“They don’t need to go acquire customers, they already have them,” David Donovan, executive vice president of financial services for the Americas at digital consulting company Publicis Sapient, told BankingDive. “They just have to roll that service out and make it really easy and simple. It’s like, build it, and they’ll come.”

Walmart shoppers are about to get a special deal on mountain bikes. The company has announced a new partnership with Ozark Trail that will bring the typically high-priced bikes to consumers for a lower cost. 

“We have developed a bike for the weekend warrior that is ready to hit the trails,” said Maddy Johnson, associate merchant for adult bikes at Walmart U.S. “Many of the bikes in this sport come with a high price point. We wanted to offer our customers a more affordable option while maintaining the quality and versatility that the sport requires, and I think we’ve done that with the Ozark Trail bike.” 

Finding the right bike at the right price 

Because mountain bikes are designed to cross different kinds of terrain and hold up under the demands of the sport, that usually means they come with a high price tag. However, Walmart said it partnered with Ozark Trail to bring consumers a durable mountain bike at a better price. 

The new line of mountain bikes with Ozark Trail will be available at Walmart in varying price ranges, and shoppers will have the option to customize and upgrade their bikes to best suit their needs. 

Customers can choose between a 27.5-inch wheel or a 29-inch wheel, and there’s an option for kids that comes with 24-inch wheels. In addition, there are different options for frame sizes, so riders can find the option that best suits their size and needs. The bikes are also equipped with mechanical disc brakes, groupsets from Microshift and Shimano, and short-travel suspension forks. 

Kids’ bikes are priced at $198 at Walmart, while adult bikes start at $298 and can go up to $398 for the most premium option. Walmart will also carry accessories for the bikes, including both youth and adult helmets (priced at $19.96 and $24.96, respectively), a universal bike water bottle cage ($9.96), and 27-piece bike repair tool kit ($29.96). 

Sensing that consumers may forgo a traditional Easter dinner to save money that inflation is otherwise eating up, Walmart is offering ingredients for an entire Easter meal for less than $100.

The company did the same last Thanksgiving and says it was such a hit that it’s doing it again. Starting with the cornerstone of every Easter occasion – eggs – the big box retailer said that instead of cutting the prices on eggs, it’s going to lower the cost of other Easter food traditions instead. 

When ConsumerAffairs took a look at Walmart’s Easter deals, it certainly had everything covered. There are essentials of ham, green beans, pie, and 17 fixings in between appetizers and dessert: including pineapple slices, salad dressings, mayo, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, corn, and Cool Whip. 

“At Walmart, our purpose is to help customers save money and live better. We’re committed to keeping prices low, so families can spend less time worrying about the cost of coming together and more time celebrating with their loved ones,” John Laney, Walmart's executive vice president, of Food, said.

“To ensure our customers can do just that, we’re continuing to invest in the moments that matter this year by offering a Walmart-curated Easter meal and Easter basket at last year’s price.”

Not just green beans, either

The promotion is a double-headed deal, too. On top of grocery staples, Walmart is offering an assortment of Easter basket must-haves at last year’s prices.

“With the savings, you can easily assemble an Easter basket packed to the brim with decorative grass, a Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Bunny, Reese’s Eggs, toys and more, perfect for the little ones,” Laney said.

The new prices are available now both online and in-store and the orders are also available for curbside pickup and delivery. They’ll be good until April 15.

If there’s a buck to be made, consumers can trust Walmart, Target, and Costco to make it. But, according to one big box shopping guru, if there’s a buck to be saved, consumers can get one back from the retail giants if they just pay attention.

When ConsumerAffairs lucked upon Kyle James at Rather-Be-Shopping, it was immediately evident that what he has uncovered is buried treasure, for sure. So good that he should rent out his services as a personal shopper.

Snooping and receipts = savings @ Walmart

“Did you know you can tell if a clearance item at Walmart is about to go even cheaper simply by looking at the price tag?,” James threw out as an example. And, according to one of James’ “anonymous” blue-vested Walmart employee’s tip, all you need to know to crack the price tag code is this:

• Price ending with a 7 is typically the original price. Examples include $2.97 or $5.57. Know that you’re paying full price if you see a price ending in 7.

• Price ending with a 5 or 0 is the 1st markdown price. Examples include $3.25 or $45.00. This price is better than the above obviously, but not the cheapest the item may potentially go.

• Price ending with a 1 is the FINAL markdown price. Examples include $4.91 or $57.01. This is the holy grail at Walmart and is the cheapest price the item will go.

Another gem James says that Walmart has tucked out of the way are clearance deals. Yes, we know, clearance deals should be in the clearance section, but James says that’s not a guarantee – especially for consumer electronics.

“Instead, look down low in the glass cases/cabinets in your local Walmart’s electronics section,” he shared, saying he got this tip from a current Walmart employee who told him, “Most marked down, high-end electronics are held in cabinets near or under their respective items.”

Bonus hint: Most reduced items are not displayed and rarely have price tags.

When ConsumerAffairs asked James for an exclusive tip, he told us that any consumer can make money off their Walmart receipt just by using two cashback apps, Ibotta and Fetch.

“All they require you to do is scan your paper receipt once you get home and you'll quickly build up points depending on what you bought. You'll even get points on generic items like milk, bananas, and bread. I use them both consistently and turn my rewards into $100 Amazon gift cards every Christmas,” he said.

Ask Costco for what… a better price?

Not to be greedy, but ConsumerAffairs also asked for an insider tip for Costco shoppers. James said that members can actually negotiate a better price on some items.

Really?

“Have you ever seen the last of a particular item at Costco? Nothing left but the display floor model, which still works great, comes with the same warranty, but might have a scratch or a couple wear marks on it. Often you’ll find these in the electronics and computers section. They want to get rid of these things, and while they might already be marked down, there is still room to negotiate an even better deal,” he said. “Politely ask for 15% off and settle for 10%. Sometimes all you have to do is ask.”

And, lastly, a little-known Costco fact is that you don't have to be a full-fledged Costco member to actually shop there.

James said that he heard from a Reddit user that Costco sells gift cards that give non-members access to the store. “A friend can buy them for you and even reload them for you online,” he said, pointing us to this link where you do that. 

However…

“Be aware that when using a Costco cash card you’ll be hit with a 5% surcharge on purchases from Costco.com. This applies to non-members only,” he cautioned.