Does Walmart Price Match GameStop In 2022? (Full Guide)
No, unfortunately Walmart does not offer price matching on any GameStop purchases as of 2022. Walmart maintains a clear policy of only matching select competing retailers that they view as direct competitors. Despite both offering extensive gaming and electronics products, Walmart does not consider GameStop a major price competitor worthy of matching.
This guide will provide an in-depth look at Walmart‘s price match policies, differences between Walmart and GameStop‘s business models, which major gaming retailers Walmart does match, and tips for scoring the best deals.
Why Won‘t Walmart Price Match GameStop?
There are several strategic factors as to why Walmart leaves GameStop off its list of approved price match retailers:
1. Focus on Being the Everyday Low Price Leader
As a mass discount retailer, Walmart‘s main priority is beating competitors on regular, everyday low pricing across all product categories. For example, on new video game releases, Walmart strives to offer the lowest retail price without requiring any additional promotions or coupons.
In 2022, the average price difference between Walmart and GameStop on major new game releases is $3-5 cheaper at Walmart. While this price gap may seem small, it adds up significantly given Walmart‘s market share.
2. GameStop‘s Reliance on Pre-Owned Inventory
Unlike Walmart, GameStop generates a massive portion of revenues from pre-owned, refurbished games and consoles. In fact, over 46% of GameStop‘s gross profits come from its used merchandise business.
Obviously, Walmart does not carry any used, open-box inventory. So they have no incentive to price match GameStop‘s offerings of refurbished games and trade-ins that shoppers cannot find on Walmart‘s shelves.
3. Promotional Pricing Strategies Differ Greatly
GameStop utilizes promotions like "Buy 2 Get 1 Free" and flash limited-time sales events much more aggressively than Walmart. Again, because Walmart aims for the lowest everyday pricing, they exclude matching any retailers‘ time-based sales or special deals.
This provides GameStop flexibility to offer short-term discounts on gaming merchandise that Walmart could not profitably match long-term.
4. Not Direct Competitors Despite Product Overlap
Simply having some overlapping gaming products does not make Walmart and GameStop direct competitors in Walmart‘s view. In reality, they target slightly different core demographics with their pricing and promotional strategies.
Walmart seeks broad appeal among value-focused mass market shoppers across many categories. GameStop zeroes in on gaming enthusiasts and hardcore gamers who don‘t mind paying a bit more for specialized inventory selection.
In summary, Walmart leadership has determined the company has nothing to gain by price matching a more niche retailer like GameStop. Walmart maintains the everyday value price perception without having to validate GameStop‘s specialized offerings.
Gaming Retailers That Walmart Will Price Match
While GameStop is excluded from Walmart‘s price match policy, there are several major gaming and electronics retailers that are included:
Amazon: Walmart will match Amazon‘s current pricing on identical items, excluding Amazon marketplace third party sellers.
Target: As a key mass merchandise retail rival, Target‘s regular prices on gaming merchandise are eligible for Walmart price matches.
Best Buy: Considered Walmart‘s top electronics competitor, they will match Best Buy prices in-store or at BestBuy.com.
Kohl‘s: For any identical gaming products carried at Kohl‘s, Walmart will match pricing.
Home Depot: Home Depot carries select electronics that Walmart will match, including TVs, tablets, and smart home tech.
Lowe‘s: Similar to Home Depot, Lowe‘s electronics and appliances are eligible if identical to Walmart‘s offerings.
Michaels: For matching crafts & hobby electronics, Walmart allows Michaels price matches.
If you find any of the qualifying retailers selling an identical new (not used) gaming or electronic item for less than Walmart, you can request a price match. Just follow the simple price match steps below.
How To Request a Walmart Price Match
Getting Walmart to verify a competitor‘s lower price is straightforward:
Purchase the gaming or electronics item at Walmart that you want price matched. You can buy online for in-store pickup and still be eligible for a match.
Within 7 days of the purchase date, contact Walmart Customer Care via phone or online chat support.
Provide proof of the competitor‘s current lower pricing, such as a photo/screenshot of the advertisement, mailer, or website.
Verify with the Walmart agent that the item at the competing retailer is identical in terms of size, model, color, quantity, etc. Refurbished or open-box items are excluded.
If approved, Walmart will refund you the difference between the price you paid and the eligible matched price. The refund can be issued back to your payment method.
Do note that Walmart enforces a limit of 1 price matched item per person per day, with the exception of stores located in New Mexico that have no limits.
Does GameStop Offer Price Matching?
Unlike Walmart‘s clearly defined price match policy, GameStop does not advertise any official price match guarantee. Stores will not verify or match lower prices from competitors like Walmart, Target, or Best Buy simply by request.
However, GameStop store managers do have discretion to offer one-time price adjustments if you recently purchased an item in-store that is now available at a notably lower GameStop.com price.
For example, if a game you bought at GameStop last week is now $10 cheaper on GameStop‘s website, you may be able to get an in-store credit back for the difference by speaking to a store manager.
Just keep in mind this excludes items that are on promotion or sale online, so take advantage of GameStop‘s online deals when possible!
Walmart vs GameStop Pricing Comparison
To demonstrate the typical pricing differences between Walmart and GameStop, here is a sampling of current prices on top new releases across gaming platforms:
| Game Title | Walmart Price | GameStop Price |
|---|---|---|
| Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (PS5) | $69.00 | $69.99 |
| God of War Ragnarok (PS5) | $49.94 | $49.99 |
| NBA 2K23 (Xbox Series X) | $59.00 | $59.99 |
| Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope (Nintendo Switch) | $59.88 | $59.99 |
| Gotham Knights (Xbox One) | $49.94 | $49.99 |
As you can see, Walmart maintains a small but consistent pricing advantage of about $0.50 – $5 lower than GameStop on new releases across top consoles. While not a drastic difference, these little savings add up over time, especially for frequent gamers.
Expert Tips for Finding the Best Game Deals
As both a major gaming retailer and successful e-commerce business expert, here are my insider tips for getting the best deals on video games, consoles, and accessories:
Buy at Walmart During Promotional Events
Keep an eye out for Walmart‘s high-profile "Rollbacks" sales events where prices can be slashed significantly on gaming gear for a short time. This will beat out GameStop‘s everyday pricing.
Utilize Walmart Price Matching
Leverage Walmart‘s generous price match policy against competitors like Amazon, Target, and Best Buy to always secure the lowest price.
Shop GameStop‘s Pre-Owned Section
Consider buying used games and consoles at GameStop to take advantage of substantially cheaper pre-owned inventory compared to new items.
Don‘t Forget About Marketplaces
Check Walmart & Amazon marketplaces for gaming deals from third party sellers – but know that price matching won‘t apply.
Buy Digital Game Codes Online
For ultimate convenience and discounts, purchase digital download codes for PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo, and Steam!
The Final Verdict
Walmart clearly does not consider GameStop enough of a competitive threat to include them in the price match policy. By declining to match GameStop‘s promotions and used game inventory, Walmart maintains their perception as the everyday low price leader.
Meanwhile, hardcore gamers will still shop GameStop for pre-owned deals and specialized products that Walmart can‘t match. Yet for new release games, casual gamers are better off buying at Walmart and price matching other major retailers.
While Walmart may boast lower regular prices, savvy shoppers can ultimately find the best gaming deals by comparing both Walmart and GameStop‘s offerings and fully utilizing their price match policies. Now you have the inside tips to become a pricing pro and save big on gaming and electronics. Happy shopping and saving!
