How to Score Free Stuff at Walmart: A Shopper‘s Guide to Getting the Best Freebies in 2022
As a savvy shopper always looking to save, you may be wondering: is it really possible to get free stuff at Walmart? The good news is yes! As an experienced e-commerce seller and bargain shopping pro, I‘m going to share my insider tips for scoring tons of freebies and deep discounts from Walmart, both in-stores and online.
With the right strategies, you can stock up on samples, take advantage of exclusive deals, and even get cash back on purchases through various rewards programs. Let‘s dive in to the top 12 methods for getting free stuff at Walmart!
1. Take Advantage of In-Store Sampling
Strolling through Walmart, you’ve likely noticed tables set up offering free samples of food, beauty items, and more. These sampling events are one of the easiest ways to get free stuff at Walmart.
Brands pay Walmart to have a presence in their stores in order to promote new products. And for shoppers, it means getting to test out products risk-free before you buy. It’s a win-win!
Here are my pro tips for making the most of in-store sampling:
Time it right. Sampling tables are typically only set up during peak hours like afternoon and evenings on weekends. Weekday mornings tend to be less populated.
Ask. Don’t see any sampling tables currently? Politely inquire at customer service about upcoming sampling events.
Buy related items. If you like a sample, buy the full-size version to show the brand their sampling works! Or buy complementary items to show your support.
Give feedback. Brand reps will often ask for your opinions on products. Providing thoughtful feedback can lead to more or better freebies.
Bring your family. The more people in your group, the more samples you’ll walk away with. Just don’t be greedy.
Repeat. Keep checking back as new sampling events roll through. You never know what new finds you may discover.
Walmart offers samples of over 2,500 products in stores each year. So take advantage of this simple way to stock up on everything from snacks to skincare for free!
2. Look Out for Free Samples With Online Orders
Placing frequent orders through Walmart.com opens up another avenue for scoring free stuff. While not guaranteed, Walmart will sometimes toss free product samples into online order shipments.
This is more common with bigger orders, but freebies can pop up anytime. Past samples Walmart customers have received free with online orders include:
- Shampoo and conditioner packets
- Protein bars and granola packs
- Laundry detergent pods
- Trial size deodorant and lotions
- Pet food pouches
- Beauty item samples
- Coupons and promo codes
Again, there’s no reliable way to ensure your order includes a freebie. But here are some tips to increase chances:
Chat with customer service and politely ask if any free samples are available. They may be able to force one into your order.
Leave feedback confirming if you received a sample. Doing so signals you appreciate it.
Order frequently, as regulars tend to get more freebies.
Purchase new, promoted items since brands want feedback.
Buy bigger to make adding a sample more feasible for packers.
While getting a surprise free sample is never guaranteed, it can certainly feel like a bonus when Walmart throws one in!
3. Sign Up for Sample Boxes
In addition to random free samples, Walmart offers a few subscription box options focused just on sending free samples to your door.
Walmart Beauty Box
The Walmart Beauty Box sends 4-5 trial size beauty products each season. Boxes are customized based on beauty profile questions you fill out. It costs $5 for shipping per box.
Members of the beauty box program can also access special perks like free virtual makeup consultations with beauty experts. All for just the $5 shipping fee!
Walmart Baby Boxes
Similar to the beauty box, Walmart offers free baby product sample boxes ideal for expecting mothers or those with infants. You pay $5 for shipping and receive samples tailored to your baby‘s age.
Choose from:
- Pregnancy Box
- Newborn/Infant Box
- Toddler Box
Boxes include diapers, wipes, baby personal care items, and more. It‘s an easy way to discover new baby products before committing to buying full size.
Occasional Household Sample Boxes
While not as consistent as the beauty and baby boxes, Walmart sometimes offers additional category-specific sample boxes focused on areas like household goods.
For example, they may send a box of cleaning product samples from brands like Clorox, Lysol, and more. Keep an eye out on their website for any limited-time sample boxes.
How to Sign Up
To get your free sample boxes from Walmart:
Visit Walmart.com and find the "Beauty Box" or "Baby Box" pages.
Select the type of box you want.
Fill out the related profile questionnaire.
Pay $5 for shipping per box.
Wait for your samples to arrive!
Sample boxes are the easiest way to try a plethora of new products from leading brands delivered conveniently to your door.
4. Take Advantage of In-Store Events
In addition to everyday sampling tables, Walmart also hosts larger in-store events which are prime for snagging lots of freebies all in one place.
These events include:
Brand Promotions
Big brands like Nestle, Unilever, and Coca-Cola will occasionally take over part of the store to hand out free stuff. At a recent Coke event, they gave out free drink samples as well as coupons for discounted 2-liters.
Health Screenings
Free vision, hearing, and health screenings are held at select stores. They check metrics like BMI, glucose, blood pressure and more. You usually get the results plus coupons on the spot.
Family-Friendly Activities
Events like free crafts, games, and toys trials for kids are held occasionally to drive family traffic into stores. Adults can enjoy the activities too while grabbing free goodies.
Product Demonstrations
Brand reps hold live demos and hand out trial sizes of products from makeup to cookware. It‘s a unique experience you can‘t get online.
What to Know About Events:
Keep an eye out for local events on each store‘s website.
Arrive early, as popular events run out of samples fast.
Events often take place on weekends when more families shop.
Be polite to get the most freebies, as some give extras to those who engage.
Events are the only way to sometimes score high-value freebies like full makeup kits.
Follow brands on social media for news about upcoming events and freebies.
In-store events take sampling to the next level, so definitely take advantage for huge hauls of free stuff.
5. Check for Expired Items
Here’s an underutilized trick you may not know about: due to Walmart’s “Freshness Guaranteed” policy, you can actually exchange expired items from store shelves for a replacement freebie.
This policy is meant to ensure customers never go home with expired products. So if you spot one, simply:
Take the expired item to customer service.
Explain it was expired when you picked it up.
Politely ask for a free replacement.
Enjoy your freebie!
A few pointers:
Expired items are more common early mornings before overnight stocking.
Check expiration dates on items like bread, dairy, packaged meals, and fresh produce.
This policy works on food, beauty products, medications, and cleaning products.
While Walmart won’t let you actually buy and walk out with an expired product, they will happily give you a free replacement item. So keep your eyes peeled!
6. Stack Coupons and Deals
Between coupons, mobile apps, and paper mailers there are always deals available at Walmart. Here are some of the best ways to stack savings:
Use the Savings Catcher app to automatically price match items with competitors and get eGift cards for the difference. You can combine this with paper coupons and online promo codes for double savings.
Find printable and digital coupons on sites like CouponSherpa.com and Savings.com which compile available deals. The more coupons, the better!
Check online sites and forums like Slickdeals.net where users share current in-store deals at specific Walmarts. This info isn’t always advertised.
Follow your favorite brands on social media for news of sales and exclusive promo codes.
Join Walmart+. This membership includes special subscriber-only prices on popular items.
With a little digging, you can almost always find ways to save at Walmart. Stacking multiple discount strategies maximizes value.
7. Apply for a Walmart Credit Card
Opening a Walmart credit card can unlock big savings through rewarded shopping. You earn cashback on purchases which adds up quickly. Here are the reward rates:
- 5% back on Walmart.com purchases including grocery
- 2% back on purchases at Walmart fuel stations
- 1% back everywhere else
Perks include:
- $0 Fraud Liability
- Special cardholder financing offers like deferred interest promotions
Cash rewards are issued as Walmart gift cards or statement credit. Between the points and exclusive financing deals, the Walmart credit card is a useful savings tool.
8. Get Cash Back with Rebate Apps
Rebate apps provide easy cash back on Walmart purchases by simply scanning your receipt. Popular rebate apps compatible with Walmart include:
Ibotta: One of the most popular rebate apps, Ibotta offers cash back on select Walmart products. You can also earn bonuses through activities like watching ads or taking surveys.
Fetch Rewards: Allows you to scan any Walmart receipt for cash back on items from any brand. There are also special monthly savings challenges with tiered bonuses.
Shopkick: Gives you "kicks" (points) for just walking into Walmart, scanning specific barcodes in-store, uploading receipts, and more. These kicks convert into gift cards.
Drop: Connect your debit/credit cards and earn points on purchases automatically. Accumulate points for gift cards.
Using even one of these apps consistently nets you free cash back money each month.
9. Sign Up for Walmart+ Perks
Walmart‘s membership program offers lots of savings in exchange for a $98 annual fee. Benefits include:
Free unlimited delivery from Walmart.com with no minimum order size. This perk alone saves hundreds yearly.
$0.05/gallon fuel discount at Walmart stations for maximum gas savings.
Early access to Walmart deals and sales like Black Friday before non-members.
Mobile scan & go lets you skip checkout lines by scanning items as you shop.
A Walmart+ membership typically pays for itself within the first 1-2 months from the free delivery perks alone. So this fast pass to savings is a no-brainer!
10. Buy Walmart Refurbished Items
Searching Walmart’s refurbished inventory reveals impressive discounts up to 50% off the latest tech, appliances, vacuums, and more. These items have been inspected and restored to like-new condition.
Big savings can be found on:
- Smartphones, tablets, laptops
- TVs and monitors
- Drones, cameras, video games
- Kitchen appliances
- Vacuums, fans, heaters
All Walmart refurbished items come with a 90-day free replacement warranty. While not technically free, it’s an affordable way to get big ticket items on a budget.
11. Donate Unused Free Samples
While this guide is focused on scoring freebies, I also suggest giving back when you can. Here are two great ways to donate unused free samples:
Give extra samples to food pantries: Food pantries often accept unopened food, drinks, and grocery samples. Perishable freebies can help provide fresh options.
Donate beauty and household items to shelters: Samples of makeup, skincare, cleaning supplies, and more are welcomed at many women‘s and family shelters if unopened.
Giving away extras in this manner helps those in need, shows appreciation for free items received, and frees up space in your home. It’s a triple win!
12. Get Creative and Ask!
Don‘t be shy about asking Walmart associates about available freebies and deals. Remember, their job is to help you save!
You can also get creative and ask for discounts in situations like:
Asking for a markdown on a slightly damaged item.
Getting an item comped if an advertised price isn’t ringing up.
Politely asking customer service if there are any additional coupons they can provide if an item rings up full price.
The worst they can say is “no,” but associates often have special power to hook you up. Just remember to always ask nicely!
The key to unlocking the most freebies from Walmart is combining as many different savings methods as possible. Sign up for sample boxes, download rebate apps, join Walmart+, partake in in-store sampling – every little bit adds up.
I hope these Walmart freebie hacking tips help you keep more cash in your wallet. At the end of the day, remember to pay kindness forward and enjoy the savings!
