Walmart is trying something new this year. A Black Friday in-stock guarantee on certain products during a certain time.
Sounds like a great idea, on the face of it. Let’s take a closer look.
The idea is that select Black Friday sale items will be guaranteed to shoppers visiting the store during a certain time frame.
If the store runs out of stock, the shopper will receive a “Guarantee Card” which, in Walmart’s words, will “ensure the item will ship to the same store for pick up by Christmas.”
The fine print says that individual shoppers can receive only one card per item, that the item will have to be paid for up front to get the card, and that the card must be registered by 11:59pm CST Nov 25, or it will be converted into a standard Walmart Gift Card. No other details are available on their site about that requirement.
Ok, working through the fine print, we finally get to the the actual guarantee… It says, basically, that if Walmart doesn’t get the item to the store before Christmas – they will give shoppers their money back – if they ask for it.
In other words, shoppers can buy a Guarantee Card if the individual store they’re at runs out of stock.
But if all of Walmart runs out of stock – they just give the shopper their money back.
In the end, doesn’t that mean it’s still a race to get the stock before it runs out? It’s not guaranteed that the shopper will get the deal – just that they’ll get their money back if they don’t.
It’s a great deal for Walmart – even if the item is out of stock, they get your money – at least for a while.
Here at CP, we’d like to see Walmart back up the in-stock guarantee with something a bit stronger.
Perhaps the money back – plus a free $20 to $40 gift card, depending on how much money we spent, for our trouble (and the use of our funds in the meantime). THAT would be a guarantee with some teeth.
Ok, now let’s see what they are putting their weak guarantee on:
From 10pm to 11pm, the in-stock guarantee is on an Emerson, 32 inch, HDTV for $148; an LG Blu-ray player for $38; and a 16GB wi-fi enabled iPad 2, that comes with a $75 Walmart Gift Card, for $399.
And that’s it folks. Three items. Certainly all good deals. But just three items. hmmm.
Now we’ll hand this over to you. What do you think of Walmart’s in-stock guarantee?
Leave your comments below!
Update: Guarantee Card Holders Frustrated By Registration Problems
Update: Walmart Admits Problems, Extends Registration Deadline
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Well my first receipt did not work kept getting enter a valid code…the help line hangs up on you .emailing them you get a generic response ..was reissued new card and receipt at the store and they wont work either getting nowhere and walmart is no help at all! Have now spent over 2 days on this .
Yes nothing but problems you have to register it and it keeps saying wrong number has since last night and continues today. tried to call the help number and cant get through, so crazy not for me anymore. so many people having problems
Where can i register? Please help
I was finally able to register for our TV….it was down for a while but I just kept refreshing and going back to it…I’d keep trying!
OK…I gave up after trying for an hour last night. Tried again this morning and got through the third time I tried, BUT…and there is always a but–it told me I didn’t have sufficient funds. Seriously???? The clerk charged us $148.00 for the TV, but didn’t charge tax. I called the toll free number and got a message saying they know there is an issue with insufficient funds. Should be cleared up this afternoon. Guess I will try again.
Is the approval # the pin?
Thanks Somar!
Better odds than other stores!
Still can’t register the card I got 1hour ago.
it worked fine but the sight doesn’t work so that means it’s overwhelmed.
I am not able to register my card I purchased the ipad2??????? Why is it not working!!
Walmart would be true to its customers if it offered the customer the right to purchase the product EVEN after Christmas.
I am already a registered member of the Walmart website, but there is nothing on the site to show you how to register the card. How will they know I have a TV coming if I don’t tell them. I did not give them info at the register at Walmart. Very confusing.
what number on my card goes into the “guarantee card:————-” slot on the register form.
and what number on my card goes on the “pin number:————-” slot on the register form?
i are cun fuzzled dawg…someone help.
I was told that they had 60 tickets for the in store iPads . I was 58 . After waiting in line they miscounted,they had 56. Then they gave me the other card. Could not get it to work. Went back Friday and got my money back. No more Walmart for me!
Can anyone who received an email confirming their ipad2 was registered please share what and where the Guarantee Card # is listed (it doesn
Is the guarantee card number and pin on the receipt? Do I enter the account number and approval code?
Was finally able to get it to work late last night. Whew…nuttin’s easy!!!
Starting to get irritated….been trying to register for the last hour. Not enjoying the at all.
I registered, but did not receive a confirmation email. A little uneasy about this…
I am thinking walmart just scammed everyone. You pay for the gift card, go home, and go to register it yet no where does it tell you the two numbers you need to register. No example, no help page.