You've probably heard Walmart's claims of "unbeatable prices." That includes matching prices of any local competitor’s printed ad for an identical product.
The chain also makes the case in a commercial that on average you can save $700 annually if you spend $100 a week at the supermarket on select grocery items (excluding fresh meat and produce).
Truth or fiction?
The National Advertising Division of the Council of Better Business Bureaus examined those claims. That followed a challenge by H-E-B Grocery Company, L.P., a competing food and drug retailer.
It concluded Walmart could support its unbeatable prices claim, noting "all price-matching programs have terms and limitations, many of which cannot reasonably be expected to be listed in a disclosure," according to a press release the advertising division released today.
But it did recommend Walmart "modify its advertising to make its disclosures substantially more clear and conspicuous in its printed and broadcast advertising and on its in-store signage."
The advertising division also recommended Walmart discontinue its “annual savings” claim, although Walmart disagreed the claim could not substantiated.
Walmart, however, says it will take those recommendations into account regarding future advertising.
So, do you get your groceries at Walmart? Are the prices there better than competitors?
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