Nothing shows how cutthroat a retail giant is willing to be, like aggressive price-matching on Black Friday deals – and nobody does that better than Walmart.
The leading Superstore retailer announced today that it will begin offering a slew of super Black Friday deals on popular toys and electronics a full week early on November 22, perhaps to coincide with the release of the Xbox One.
“Black Friday is our Super Bowl and we plan to win,” said Duncan Mac Naughton, chief merchandising and marketing officer, Walmart U.S. “With six fewer days from Thanksgiving to Christmas, the retail environment is more competitive than ever. Every opportunity to get a great deal – whether this weekend, on Thanksgiving Day or Black Friday weekend – matters for our customers. When it comes to price, we’re going to deliver for them.”
Wally World is often criticized for its money-grubbing and general soullessness, but no one can deny that the lowest price possible is always their top priority. Some examples of the sale prices you can expect include:
- LeapPad 2 – WAS: $79, NEW PRICE: $39.99
- LG 50-inch HDTV – WAS: $598, NEW PRICE: $448
- Skylanders and Infinity Starter Packs – WAS: $74.96, NEW PRICE: $37
- Select PS4 and Xbox One Video Games such as NBA 2K14 and Battlefield 4 – WAS: $59.96, NEW PRICE: $49
Customers can take advantage of this sale both in-store and online. Official Black Friday events will happen between 6 PM and 8 PM on Thanksgiving Day and 8 AM on Friday, November 29. There will be 21 1-Hour Guarantee items (these items will not be available for ad match), “Manager Specials” and other deals.
Early Thanksgiving morning, customers will be able to find “some” of the Black Friday deals that you’ll be able to find in-store.
You won’t even have to brave the crowds!
Most of them, at least.
Starting today, Walmart extends its Christmas Ad Match to Walmart.com customers. Customers who pick up an item on Walmart.com and then find a better price at another brick and mortar competitor can email Walmart at [email protected] and receive the difference on a Walmart gift card. The policy is in place for those who shop at their retail locations as well, and is valid on items purchased between November 1 through to December 24, excluding Thanksgiving Day (Note that some restrictions may apply).
At the very least, this will allow you to check up on some of the early pre-Black Friday deals from the comfort of your own home without having to brave the crowds of Xbox One buyers on launch day. Considering the slew of recent violence stemming from the PlayStation 4 launch, it might actually be a better idea to stick a little close to home.
Unfortunately, Walmart’s extremely convenient Christmas Ad Match deal excludes Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday sales.
Instead, shoppers who make it out to the stores on those days can take advantage of Walmart’s everyday ad match policy – if a customer finds a lower price on an advertised item elsewhere, they can bring it into a Walmart store during the same day and time the competitor’s ad is valid and get that price-matched at the register.
This is not bad at all considering some of the deals other local retailers are offering. For example, some of Target’s Black Friday deals include top game titles for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One like Battlefield IV at $35 or less – much lower than the $49 Walmart is offering. Walmart likely won’t offer price-matching on console bundles… but they almost certainly will on other single doorbuster items.
In order to get your hands on some of the best deals, it will mean heading out to brave the seething mass of frenzied humanity out for a bargain… but you didn’t think Walmart would try and make it too easy for you, did you?
Published: Nov 21, 2013 02:40 am