Ina Steiner EcommerceBytes Blog
News and insight focusing on ecommerce.
by Ina Steiner, Editor of EcommerceBytes.com
Fri Nov 14 2014 11:51:28

Walmart to Match Amazon and 3P Merchant Prices, But Not eBay

By: Ina Steiner

Sponsored Link

Bargain hunters, rejoice! But sellers, beware. Wal-Mart store is extending its Ad Match guarantee to prices of items for sale on Amazon.com. The new policy takes effect today.

Wal-Mart stores and Walmart.com aren't just matching prices on Amazon.com - they will match prices of third-party merchants on Amazon.com as well. However, that's limited to quantities of one per customer or household. And eBay is still excluded from Wal-Mart's price-matching policy.

Another part of the new policy: Wal-Mart spokesperson John Forrest Ales said prior to today, only Wal-Mart stores did price-matching. Now, online shoppers on Walmart.com can call Walmart's customer care center and request price matching as well.

Forrest Ales told me, "Wal-Mart is committed to being the everyday low-price leader across every retail channel for the long term."

This sounds like a game changer - will it impact Amazon and Amazon merchants? Is this going to accelerate the race to the bottom in retail pricing? What do you think?

Update 11/19/14: Have you tried Walmart's new online price matching policy? Share your stories here.



Share

Comments (21) | Leave Comment | Permalink

Readers Comments

Perminate Link for Walmart to Match Amazon and 3P Merchant Prices, But Not eBay   Walmart to Match Amazon and 3P Merchant Prices, But Not eBay

by: ebay refugee camp This user has validated their user name.

Fri Nov 14 13:36:58 2014

This could absolutely change things for Amazon you would not need to pay for shipping in Walmart stores and there is usually free site to store shipping.
Why not ebay, did JD pay off Walmart?
 

Perminate Link for Walmart to Match Amazon and 3P Merchant Prices, But Not eBay   Walmart to Match Amazon and 3P Merchant Prices, But Not eBay

This user has validated their user name. by: Rexford

Fri Nov 14 15:13:57 2014

Ahhhhhhh, nobody wants to play with eBay.

And question for small sellers--has eBay thrown a lever to make small sellers even more invisible for the holiday season?  I noticed this last year and I'm noticing it again already this year.  Sales were decent in Sept. and October but they are really in the toilet (more so than usual) this week.

Perminate Link for Walmart to Match Amazon and 3P Merchant Prices, But Not eBay   Walmart to Match Amazon and 3P Merchant Prices, But Not eBay

by: sasikat9 This user has validated their user name.

Fri Nov 14 15:38:32 2014

Why not Fleecebay...One reason maybe even WalMart can't compete with the thieves, scammers and Chinese.....

Perminate Link for Walmart to Match Amazon and 3P Merchant Prices, But Not eBay   Walmart to Match Amazon and 3P Merchant Prices, But Not eBay

This user has validated their user name. by: Basset

Fri Nov 14 15:51:45 2014

I seem to be rather invisible too, Rexford.  Etsy threw me some business, tho.


Walmart did not want to match 99 cent starting bid - selling prices.

 

Perminate Link for Walmart to Match Amazon and 3P Merchant Prices, But Not eBay   Walmart to Match Amazon and 3P Merchant Prices, But Not eBay

This user has validated their user name. by: laurengrace

Fri Nov 14 16:17:01 2014

@Rexford, Amazon sales took a dive for me this week too. Sales are wayyyy down.

Perminate Link for Walmart to Match Amazon and 3P Merchant Prices, But Not eBay   Walmart to Match Amazon and 3P Merchant Prices, But Not eBay

This user has validated their user name. by: Ming the Merciless

Fri Nov 14 21:49:30 2014

WalMart recognizes that the selling model ebafia FORCES its small sellers to adopt isn't profitable for anyone but ebay.

Wouldn't be profitable for WalMart just like it isn't profitable for us.

Perminate Link for Walmart to Match Amazon and 3P Merchant Prices, But Not eBay   Walmart to Match Amazon and 3P Merchant Prices, But Not eBay

by: NullApps This user has validated their user name.

Sat Nov 15 02:41:09 2014

I don't see where it mentions third party sellers.  It just says ''Amazon''.  It does say that they have final authority so I'm guessing in a lot of cases they will refuse to honor the price.

Perminate Link for Walmart to Match Amazon and 3P Merchant Prices, But Not eBay   Walmart to Match Amazon and 3P Merchant Prices, But Not eBay

This user has validated their user name. by: Rexford

Sat Nov 15 07:00:30 2014

Thank you Basset.  Since I noticed very slow sales the eight weeks before Christmas last year, and am wondering if eBay is further manipulating search to boost the big boys during the holidays.  Nothing they do surprises me anymore.

Perminate Link for Walmart to Match Amazon and 3P Merchant Prices, But Not eBay   Walmart to Match Amazon and 3P Merchant Prices, But Not eBay

This user has validated their user name. by: eBankrupted

Sun Nov 16 04:00:19 2014

What is the web site easiest to fence stolen goods from Walmart that takes credit cards (paypal) as payment? "Have one to sell?" Why then would Walmart want to compete and price match with its own shoplifters?

Perminate Link for Walmart to Match Amazon and 3P Merchant Prices, But Not eBay   Walmart to Match Amazon and 3P Merchant Prices, But Not eBay

This user has validated their user name. by: Ina

Sun Nov 16 05:32:08 2014

NullApps - Wal-Mart spokesperson John Forrest Ales looked it up for me, and said they are honoring price-matching for items for sale by Amazon 3P merchants. Limit one per person/household - item must be identical in every way and be in-stock.  

Perminate Link for Walmart to Match Amazon and 3P Merchant Prices, But Not eBay   Walmart to Match Amazon and 3P Merchant Prices, But Not eBay

by: Massachusets Howler This user has validated their user name.

Sun Nov 16 14:38:40 2014

ebankrupted is right- why would Walmart want to compete with their own stolen items.
Ebay is no COMPETITION to Walmart anymore and nobody wants ebay spoiled baby buyers fighting them at the register.
Ebay has given the shoplifters a beautiful place to sell here.
MH

Perminate Link for Walmart to Match Amazon and 3P Merchant Prices, But Not eBay   Walmart to Match Amazon and 3P Merchant Prices, But Not eBay

by: Gina This user has validated their user name.

Sun Nov 16 19:14:46 2014

I can guarantee it'll only be US locations....as usual, Canada is left out in the cold on ANY retailer treat!
Besides WM sux even more than eBay.  Ebay is only trying to run off it's ''little'' sellers.......WM is trying to bankrupt EVERY other seller!

Perminate Link for Walmart to Match Amazon and 3P Merchant Prices, But Not eBay   Walmart to Match Amazon and 3P Merchant Prices, But Not eBay

by: MADandCracked This user has validated their user name.

Mon Nov 17 00:21:27 2014

So instead of waiting in line at the store, you're waiting in line on the phone. I hope their shoppers have an unlimited plan! :)

Perminate Link for Walmart to Match Amazon and 3P Merchant Prices, But Not eBay   Walmart to Match Amazon and 3P Merchant Prices, But Not eBay

by: JoyfulA This user has validated their user name.

Mon Nov 17 00:22:57 2014

The problems with the Wal-Mart price match:
1. They don't carry much of anything I want. Have you looked at their book selection, for example?
2. Much of their stuff is their own brand, which of course no one at Amazon carries. Much of their name-brand stuff is made especially for Wal-Mart, more cheaply so the manufacturer doesn't lose money on the low, low prices.

Perminate Link for Walmart to Match Amazon and 3P Merchant Prices, But Not eBay   Walmart to Match Amazon and 3P Merchant Prices, But Not eBay

by: mindelec This user has validated their user name.

Mon Nov 17 00:24:57 2014

why not ebay?  my guess is that it would be too easy to "fake" a listing at a low price, then call walmart to get the lower priced item.

Perminate Link for Walmart to Match Amazon and 3P Merchant Prices, But Not eBay   Walmart to Match Amazon and 3P Merchant Prices, But Not eBay

by: Moonwishes This user has validated their user name.

Mon Nov 17 01:09:32 2014

How this even supposed to work. Someone finds something they want on line. Go to WM and find it for more expensive, put it in their cart and go to checkout with their laptop/tablet/smart phone open to the price that is cheaper on line and they get that price? I know if you want to price match at WM in my area, you have to bring in the sale ad, so how will WM even know what price to price match for something on line? Seems rather complicated for any but the more expensive items. I sell sewing patterns, but the ones that WM sells has their own price point printed on them, thus making them no the same thing.

The only thing that I think might profit from this is all the penny (dollar) sellers might want to think about raising their prices to  a respectable profit since why should you let WM get to price mach your penny priced new book?

Perminate Link for Walmart to Match Amazon and 3P Merchant Prices, But Not eBay   Walmart to Match Amazon and 3P Merchant Prices, But Not eBay

by: val2525 This user has validated their user name.

Mon Nov 17 01:47:17 2014

Too much used stuff on eBay for Walmart to reasonably extend it's pricematching to eBay items.  That would be a major nightmare for Walmart.  Amazon is new items, so it's matching  apples to apples.  

Perminate Link for Walmart to Match Amazon and 3P Merchant Prices, But Not eBay   Walmart to Match Amazon and 3P Merchant Prices, But Not eBay

This user has validated their user name. by: Ina

Mon Nov 17 12:54:52 2014

Devious, Mindelec. :)  

Perminate Link for Walmart to Match Amazon and 3P Merchant Prices, But Not eBay   Walmart to Match Amazon and 3P Merchant Prices, But Not eBay

by: meci This user has validated their user name.

Thu Nov 20 09:46:49 2014

http://newsmaine.net/21461-customers-abuse-wal-mart-s-price-matching-p
olicy-buy-playstation-4-90

Looks like third party sellers on Amazon are out of the picture now.

Perminate Link for Walmart to Match Amazon and 3P Merchant Prices, But Not eBay   Walmart to Match Amazon and 3P Merchant Prices, But Not eBay

This user has validated their user name. by: Ina

Thu Nov 20 09:57:41 2014

Yes, you can read the story in today's EcommerceBytes Newsflash.

http://tinyurl.com/m3a2hqa

Be sure to subscribe to the email newsletter if you haven't already.

http://www.ecommercebytes.com/cab/abu/

Click to view more comments
1 2  [Next Page]


Login is required to post comments.
To sign in to leave a comment, fill in the form below. If you have not yet signed up for AB Verify, or if you'd like more information, go to the Registration Page.

Login for AB Verify
Be sure and use your email address and password to log in.
 
Email:
Password:
 
 Forgot Your Password?
 Even though you are signed in with the AuctionBytes Blog, you will have to sign in to the EcommerceBytes blog. But you can sign in with your existing AB Verify info.