Walmart Canada To End Price Matching This October


It has now been confirmed that Walmart Canada will end their ad match program this October the 15th, after many rumors were circulating to that effect.

Walmart has said that their reasons for ending the program are that not many people were actually using it, and those that were using it were creating delays at the checkout.

How will this affect your shopping habits, and will you continue to shop at Walmart? For me personally, I will likely still shop there for some items. There are several items that I purchase at their every day prices, both grocery and non-grocery, some of which include Great Value items. The location nearest me is convenient and out of the way of traffic, and to be honest I haven’t found myself price matching many items there anyhow. Items that were on sale for a considerably low price elsewhere, were often out of stock at Walmart on the first day of the sale.

What are your thoughts about Walmart Canada ending their ad match program? Do you think this is the beginning of the end of price matching everywhere?


69 responses to “Walmart Canada To End Price Matching This October”

  1. Christopher says:

    Lame excuse by Wal-Mart, this is ridiculous.

    • nichol says:

      Agree! I have always price matched the items which were on sale in other stores. It was convenient. Lately, Walmart changed their chash services into auto self-service which make customers more chaotic, my local Walmart store employee always force to pay to the auto self-service even I don’t have problem to wait in the line pay to the chasers. It’s very stupid and lame causes which Walmart put for ending the price match service. It is just a stupid idea!!! I will not shop as much as I used to do !!! The prices of the products are already higher compare to other stores. Walmart is not cheap anymore!!!

  2. Pearl pearce says:

    Really, walmart. Im very sorry i delayed your lines at checkout, when im spending 200.00+ each time. Maybe serving the customer with all check outs open all day every day, and stop the self check out. However, i just checked out! Enough of this

    • Lucio says:

      I will think twice shopping at Walmart
      Walmart is not going to win my business
      It was one stop shopping not anymore
      Grocery’s are high enough

  3. Rob says:

    Perhaps opening more then 3 checkouts out of the 20 available would stop these long lineups. Just a lame excuse as I ALWAYS see people price matching. All it is for is profits

  4. Rock says:

    I will stop going there. period.

  5. Christopher says:

    NO MORE WAL-MART and any company that follows WAL-MART as many do, you’re next.

  6. Ken says:

    Very sad for a huge company like Walmart to use a lame excuse for cancelling price matching. First it was charging it’s suppliers an additional fee to cover their own expansion plans and now this. My shops at Walmart will be very limited, I will try to price match their fryer at the stores in this area that still do price match. Just corporate Greed!

  7. Racoon Canada says:

    I always price match at Walmart. This is just an excuse of making more profits. Actually, Walmart prices are NOT the lowest, compared to its competitors. If it is not going to offer PM anymore, I will stop shopping there.

  8. Dee says:

    If there has been minimal use of the program why is the delay an issue? Consequently it should mean that there is minimal delay also. Such a cowardly excuse.

  9. Chefgirl says:

    I agree with most of the comments above…it’s all about profits. It’s similar to the scanning code…”I’m not sure if I can find someone to verify the price…you will have to wait” OR ” I can’t do that for you- you will have to go to customer service” (and stand in line). I’m sure that others will follow the change to the price match policy…

  10. Karen says:

    I don’t do a lot of shopping at Walmart. I much prefer to keep my money in Canada, if I can. That being said, I hope this does not lead to other companies (Real Canadian Superstore and No Frills) stopping the price matching but I fear it will. Just another reason to dislike Walmart.

  11. m magnusson says:

    Shop at Walmart every week for my family and my parents. I price match a couple of items most trips. Now it means I will shop for less things at Walmart and go back to shopping more at No Frills

  12. Manni says:

    This is absolutely a ridiculous excuse by Walmart that not many people are using it. I shop every week and see most of the the customers are using. I will never shop at Walmart as their produce/grocery prices are way too high compared to other stores.

    • Ssophie says:

      I believe it was a year ago that some walmart stores in Vaughan and Richmond Hill (or maybe it was nationwide…) decided to limit the scope of price matching (match just certain major stores, match only stores in the vicinity). Well, these restrictions were short lived. I, personally, stopped going to Walmart and switched to the nearby No Frills (which had the same restrictions but why bother going all the way to Walmart). Walmart changed back to its unrestricted matching policy within 2 or 3 weeks because I wasn’t the only one leaving them. I’m curious to see how long this new move will survive.

  13. James says:

    I haven’t shopped at Walmart since 1997 so this changes nothing. I’ll continue to avoid contracting countless diseases just by walking through the door of that cesspool of humanity.

  14. Rita says:

    Haven’t been shopping there since the pandemic… trying to support local and small businesses in the area and will continue to do so.

  15. Peter says:

    In today’s age of electronic capabilities all it would take is for Walmart to add their competitors sale prices to their checkout process. I shop as much as possible by flyer so I do hop around to different stores unless prices are comparable.

  16. Phil says:

    Loblaws will be following suit as they always see Walmart as their competitor.

    Scanning Code of Practise is also a joke, retailer will go through what they can to make it as inconvenient as possible. I can see this is likely to go away when retailers move to digital price tags.

    I think Walmart was the first to remove the Covid bonus for employees, then everyone else followed?

  17. Arleen says:

    Terrible excuse. I will shop at no frills

  18. Debra Parke says:

    If not that many people are taking advantage of this, there can’t be that much of a holdup at the checkouts. I do use it and I think Walmart will lose business curtailing the Program. Today I spent $150 for groceries that I would normally get elsewhere. Because I wanted to price match a couple of items, I chose to get the rest of what I needed there too. Without price match, i will probably go back shopping at the grocery store and just pick up specials at Walmart. Too bad Walmart.

  19. Christopher says:

    Phil – What do you mean about Digital price tagging, can you or someone else explain ?
    Metro is already moving to Digital price tagging, which can’t be good.

  20. Fred says:

    If not many people using price matching, then I do not see any reason why it slows down the line. It does not make sense. Same logics, may Walmart would stop to take manufacture coupon, since it is going to slow down the line as well.

    Anyway, this is probably one more reason NOT to go to WALMART for one stop shopping.

  21. Basem says:

    That’s will be the biggest mistake Wal-Mart will do for me I will only by in the super store now more than Wal-Mart sorry but my pocket is more important than Wal-Mart

  22. Arelee says:

    Has no one started a petition?!?

    • Kattie says:

      A petition should be start from this platform only…because every one are getting benefit of price matching…

    • Priya says:

      Advice to all, please reach out to all your friends and families to stop shopping at Walmart immediately. The entire country are on CERB, hundreds of thousands are experiencing job loss, people are trying to stay safe and keep their communities safer by shopping at 1 or 2 grocery stores and price matching instead. To have Walmart eliminate price matching in the midst of a pandemic shows their corporate greed. My family alone spent nearly $800 a month in groceries …I will no longer by shopping there and will be going to No Frills /Super Store. We have so much power in our hands as the consumer, if we stop shopping at walmart WE CAN MAKE THEM HURT WHERE IT COUNTS!!!! it takes collective effort. Please tell all your family and friends. We need to stop letting these gigantic billion dollar corporations take advantage of us. I don’t see them loosing any money, just Canadians are suffering.

  23. Michelle says:

    well i think thats cheap & terrible. I just price matched this morning at 7:20, because the store opened at 7 & I like to do my couponing & price matching when there are few people so I DONT hold up the ONE line open. I am really annoyed at this.

  24. Don says:

    They already forced Manufacturers to make a custom model number for them so people cannot price match anyways.

    If COVID-19 ends, will they re-instate the price match policy? I THINK NOT !!!

  25. Lisa says:

    I guess I just lost the only reason for going to Walmart. Terrible company.

  26. Russ says:

    Support your Canadian Owned and Operated companies! Walmart is an American company that have forced many Canadian outlets to close. Time to pay the piper and boycott this company that cares more about profits than its employees!

  27. Shivon says:

    I definitely won’t be shopping there anymore.
    I’ll do my shopping elsewhere where I can price match.

  28. Jit says:

    A very bad move. My visits will surely be limited

  29. Teegee says:

    I was very disappointed to learn about Walmart’s cancellation of their Price Matching program. I find the statement explaining the reason for the cancellation contradictory. First it says that not many people are using Price Matching, and in the same sentence it says that Price Matching causes delays at the cash registers. Is there too much or not enough Price Matching occurring? If Walmart is not happy with the “low” amount of current Price Matching, would it be happier with increased Price Matching and more delays at cash registers? Walmart’s reason is not at all clear. What Walmart can’t determine is if Price Matching is discontinued, will sales of grocery increase, decrease, or remain the same. How will it affect sales of non grocery store merchandise if it dissuades the Price Matching shopper?

    We have a family of 6. My wife and I, and 4 sons who are young men. We live in Mississauga, Ontario and shop at several Mississauga Walmart stores. We have an enormous grocery bill. Before the Price Matching program, we did the majority of our grocery shopping at Loblaws, No Frill, and Costco, and Walmart, in that order. Since Walmart’s Price Matching program began, our grocery shopping is done at Walmart, No Frills, Loblaws, and Costco, in that order. In order of percentage, Walmart 70%, No Frills 15% , Loblaws 10%, and Costco 5%. Most times when we shop at Walmart we also purchase many household items other than grocery. If my family, and families like ours that shop at Walmart and use its Price Matching program extensively, stopped shopping there, I know that many of our ancillary, non grocery purchases would be greatly reduced. Many Loblaws, Real Canadian Superstores, Metros, Sobey’s, also sell house hold goods. Some even sell clothing. I think that most shoppers like to shop in as few stores as possible. If I can do 50, 60 or 70% of my weekly shopping in as few stores as possible,,,I will. That store has been Walmart. I don’t think that I am alone in my thinking.

    In closing, I would really like for Walmart to continue Price Matching. I think that any delay at the cash register is minimal, especially now with many shopping apps on cell phones that greatly reduce or even eliminate the use of actual paper flyers when Price Matching. Walmart may even allow Price Matching only at certain cash registers, or at the self serve cash registers to avoid delays. I think that if Walmart executives really thought it out, they could find a way to continue Price Matching.

    PS. I think that if you posted signs in the store and at the cash registers that Walmart will discontinue Price Matching, you will get much more genuine, real time, comments and resistance.

    • nichol says:

      I am in the same spot as you. I have 5 members in my family and the same way I do shop at walmart too but since it will change the price match options will not shop as much as anymore.

  30. kerry says:

    Price match is available at some other stores but I rarely bother.I go to Walmart about 4 or 5 times a year when a good sale comes up and order from their online site/

  31. Natasha says:

    Wow! Unbelievable. I’m not shopping at Walmart anymore. Superstore and Freshco are around the corner and they still price-match. Walmart is going to lose a lot of business from this.

  32. shopSavvy says:

    I only and solely started shopping at Walmart because of their price match guarantee.
    Yes, since the pandemic began we noticed long lines… but guess what? That was the case EVERYWHERE, not to mention their new one line system for the 3-4 open cashes is negligent for that size of store.
    I will return to grocery stores, especially Costco and boycott Walmart

  33. Deborah says:

    I am a frequent shopper at Walmart. Their so called slogan for “why shop anywhere else” and this bad business decision has definitely changed my prospective as a return customer. With the downward slop in our economy in the middle of a pandemic, the timing and this decision is wrongful.. Walmart in time will reimplement the price match policy as people just will not be buying due to the lower economy ..,.. very sad

  34. Eddytoronto says:

    This is a wake up call to everyone that is lower & Middle Class. They (Grocery Stores ) know prices are going to rise exponentially maybe double or triple with many items not being available. So time is short I believe and I will be stocking up price matching etc …. It’s all ending from those clippings we used to cut out to save and Now price matching . No more deals everyone (Grocery store ) will charge the same for everything. You may get a deal on produce that has a couple of days left on the shelf or about to expire canned food but that’s it. It’s Not the price of food going up its the dollar being devalued. That’s a pay cut ok . I suggest having real stuff that holds your purchasing power. Have 3 months of food and expect the unexpected. Gas prices will continue to rise as the US /CDN dollar loses value oil will rise. It’s all about calories we are in biblical times

  35. Sandy Kumar says:

    I haven’t shopped at Food Basics in the past 10 years no matter what deals they have. I even do not look at their flyer for a long long time. I guess Walmart is next then. Honestly i do not use it much but the fact that they have this would encourage me to there always so if there is something on a great price elsewhere i do not have to go two places. Humm i liked going to walmart now i have to shop at Real Canadain superstore i guess…

  36. Val says:

    I’ll be going to the other price matching stores until they follow suit. All the big companies are sure gouging the customers as their profits go up and up. This could make the Costco membership more reasonable and buy in bulk. I never hold up the lines since I’m always ready.

  37. Cartel says:

    I use the price match all the time.
    It was convenient to get everything in one store and sometimes spent $100’s of dollars. They should be happy to get that cash.
    I also know the mask requirement is ONLY for employees. I dont wear a mask, they dont say s**t. But they lie to people and say its mandatory….only for them though, thats the catch.
    time to hit them where it hurts, in the pocket

  38. patricia ransom says:

    I will stop spending myv1200.00 per month at walmart and go elsewhere. I save at least 40 per shop. Without pricematching, I cant afford to shop there. I will be saying bye bye walmart!

  39. Betsy says:

    End of Walmart

  40. Sky says:

    Walmart should really consider. If not many people are using is your concern, followed by delay in checkout. Please explain how those two go together? It’s completely opposite like north and south. Just lame excuse. Watch walmart lose business mainly cause of this esp from people who gave importance to Walmart cause of price matching and wouldn’t have to go to other stores. BEST TO RECONSIDER YOUR DECISION OF REMOVING PRICE MATCH. HELP LOW AND MIDDLE CLASS IN THIS PANDEMIC AND FUTURE PRICE SPIKING IN GROCERIES. Let’s start petition to put some sense in the person who came up with this stupid and lame decision to remove price matching.

  41. Wendle says:

    I’ve been price matching for years. Have two kids in uni and it helps. I haven’t been doing it as of late due to covid but I won’t be shopping there anymore if they say I held the line up after spending 350$ a week for my family. They don’t need my money They’re big enough. Bye wal mart !!!!

  42. jj says:

    everyone boycott walmart, they need to be thought a lesson they don’t care about u, money is all they care about, and if we don’t stand together on this, this is only the beginning open your eyes without us they can’t survive and they still kick us in the face. Now with covid around u want to do this to people, we need help right now. People open your eyes bring all theses creedy company’s down, if not we are going to be very sorry.

  43. Zaighum says:

    Really disappointed ☹️ We having a family of 5 before I always go to no frill, food basic and Walmart other stores but now truly I’m not going any store my grocery stop is Walmart ad match and done I’m so disappointed if Walmart is not able to train cashiers well ! It’s lame excuse
    I’m not gonna do grocery from Walmart

  44. Denis says:

    Walmart sales were usually lame and their foods esp meats terrible and clothes, so cheaply made. I only went to price match (they matched everyone) so I guess I’m the cause. Sorry guys. Seriously no more reason to go to Walmart except flu shot.

  45. muriel says:

    As a staff member, these comments are totally ridiculous. Not that many customers ad match. It holds up the line. Many customers try to rip us off in their ad matching…..because they arent matching. It should have been stopped at the onset of covid. Get over it.

    • justme says:

      if not many ad match then how can it hold up the line?

      Faulty logic and lies.

      And what’s vobid have to do with it? Except alienating customers when they can least afford it.

      Corporate greed, nothing more.

      Oh well, plenty of alternatives. That’s the beauty of Capitalism!

  46. c k says:

    If other shops will still allow price matching then I will bring Walmart’s flyer to shop at those shops so that I can shop at one place instead of going to multiple shops

  47. Jenn says:

    I’m in my 70s and have a Walmart less than 10 min. from home so I have always appreciated that they price matched as I live on a fixed income so didn’t have to drive around for savings. This will have to change now. There is a Zehrs, Sobeys and Food Basics very close to the Walmart so it would appear I will have to change my shopping habits.

  48. Josie says:

    This is a big mistake for walmart. i work all week long and my weekends are packed with chores – laundry, cleaning, grocery shopping. Walmart was my one stop shopping centre. I don’t have the biggest salary so price matching for me is important and i don’t have time to run to all the different grocery stores to get the best deals so walmart was a dream for my busy schedule. i will definitely miss it. I will shop more at no frills now.

  49. Shirley says:

    Sorry to hear p/matching will be discontinued. used to do 90% of weekly grocery shopping there. Drove past Freshco and No Frills to get to Walmart. Looks like I will be saving gas money! Hello Freshco and No Frills. Goodbye Walmart!

  50. Alana says:

    This move is absolutely about greed. And its not a surprise either, during COVID-19 restrictions, and changes, I noticed them acting in bad faith as opposed to other grocery stores. They had higher prices then they usually do, they stopped having flyers for a while, which meant no sale items, and they raised the cost of all cleaning supplies. I will absolutely refrain from shopping there and will always choose the store that offers ad matching.

  51. SMH says:

    Hard to believe nobody is using price matching.

    If nobody is price matching how is it a significant enough issue that it’s delaying line-up times?

    What a laughable statement.

    No problem though, plenty of other price matching stores will get my business. And if all stores stop price matching, it’s worth visiting 3 different stores to get sale items. It seems I already have to do that anyhow as Walmart barely honours half of their competitor prices as it is. I’m dissappointed but not suprised.

  52. Kim says:

    The only reason I shop at Walmart is because of Ad-match. I am disabled, take Burlington Transit Handivan to go shopping at Walmart every other week. Without ad-match, there is no point for me to shop there. Most of their prices are more expensive.

  53. Steve says:

    Why is Walmart USA still price matching? It seems to be that Walmart is choosing to treat Canadians differently, where’s the equality there? Why is Walmart penalizing Canadians specifically?

  54. Teegee says:

    I was very disappointed to learn about Walmart’s cancellation of their Price Matching program. I also find their statement explaining the reason for the cancellation contradictory. First it says that not many people are using Price Matching, and in the same sentence it says that Price Matching causes delays at the cash registers. Is there too much or not enough Price Matching occurring? If Walmart is not happy with the “low” amount of current Price Matching, would it be happier with increased Price Matching and more delays at cash registers? Walmart’s reason is not at all clear. What Walmart can’t determine is if Price Matching is discontinued, will sales of grocery increase, decrease, or remain the same. How will it affect sales of non grocery store merchandise if it dissuades the Price Matching shopper?

    We have a family of 6. We live in The GTA area of Toronto and shop at several local Walmart stores. We have an enormous grocery bill. Before the Price Matching program, we did the majority of our grocery shopping at Loblaws, No Frills, Costco and Walmart, in that order. Since Walmart’s Price Matching program began, our grocery shopping, in approx. percentage, is done at Walmart 70%, No Frills 15% , Loblaws 10%, and Costco 5%. Most times when we shop at Walmart we also purchase many household items other than grocery. If my family, and families like ours that shop at Walmart and use its Price Matching program extensively, stopped shopping there, I know that many of our ancillary, non grocery purchases would be greatly reduced. Many Loblaws, Real Canadian Superstores, No Frills, Metros, Sobey’s, also sell house hold goods. Some even sell clothing. I think that most shoppers like to shop in as few stores as possible. If I can do 50, 60 or 70% of my weekly shopping in as few stores as possible,,,I will. That store has been Walmart. I don’t think that I am alone in my thinking.

    In closing, I would really like for Walmart to continue Price Matching. I think that any delay at the cash register is minimal, especially now with many shopping apps on cell phones that greatly reduce or even eliminate the use of actual paper flyers when Price Matching. Walmart may even allow Price Matching only at certain cash registers, or at the self serve cash registers to avoid delays. I think that if Walmart executives really thought it out, they could find a way to continue Price Matching.

  55. Brianna Parkinson says:

    I was absolutely shocked today when I read an article that said Walmart is cancelling their ad match program. I couldn’t believe that a multi-billion dollar corporation had decided to cancel their ad matching program (a program designed to help shoppers save money) during a pandemic which has caused so many people financial hardship. I have to say, this is extremely tone deaf. Not to mention, the reasons behind cancelling the program are contradicting. The program is apparently not being used, but at the same time there are checkout delays. Why are checkout delays an issue related to ad matching, if ad matching isn’t being used? It’s a sad excuse, because it’s clear Walmart is making cuts for their own financial gain. Another point to make – ad matching was also designed so shoppers could stick to one store, rather than running around to multiple stores for the sale items. Now, people who are tight on cash may have to run around to multiple stores, putting themselves more at risk of this virus, in order to stay in budget. All around, this is outrageous and I think Walmart, as a corporation needs to realize that the decision to stop their ad matching program is shameful, and should be highly criticized.
    Thanks for reading.

  56. Elisabeth says:

    Huge MISTAKE wal-mart, HUGE!!!

    This is not a Good bye
    … it is ADIO!!!

  57. Esh ly says:

    Walmart ‘was’ our one stop shopping but it won’t be the same now. They have a very lame excuse and actually a contradicting one ‘how can low use of price match lead to longer check out times?’
    Walmart was not cheap for grocery but it worked great with its price match, I will be switching to No Frills and even Freshco unless they were to touch on the price match as well.
    Very disappointing Walmart specially for such a big corporation to give such a lame reason.

  58. susan says:

    It’s about time!! what was the point in price matching when walmart removed the item from their shelves that other stores had on Sale. Just like No frills and freshco does. price matching has become harder to do.

  59. Chris says:

    What a sad excuse. They will be definitely losing my business I would rather give it local Canadian owned grocery stores, even if I have to pay more. They make billions off the backs of their employees just to make profits so this is a joke. I will remove the app from my phone and stay away from this place. Shop local people!

  60. Maria kayaniyil says:

    I am very very sorry to hear that Walmart cancelled their price match . I used to go to Walmart every weak and did all my grocery there. since they stopped the price match I have not gone there at all. No frills is my shopping place now. Delay and other complaints from Walmart are just excuses

  61. Lia says:

    Walmart is using this as a sad excuse for them to make more profits. Sorry, but it’s backfiring, I’m shopping elsewhere. Walmart has always been the most expense of the grocery stores, so they can keep their groceries and I’ll keep my money. Simple solution, don’t you think? Sad really, profits above people always. Maybe you should make that your new slogan. Never have I seen a delay for a 10 second ad match. Nor is it a delay for people who can go to the 20 other checkouts. Good for them though, without us ad matcher’s shopping at Walmart, the store should be empty for you complainers who like to waste money. Walmart you should be ashamed.


















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