Here is a bad experience from one of our readers and wal-mart. First of all, I will write that Wal-Mart policy accepts internet coupons:

Wal-Mart Coupon Policy

Wal-Mart accepts the following types of coupons (see guidelines below):

Manufacturer coupons (Cents Off)
Free merchandise (or Buy-One-Get-One-Free) coupons
Store coupons
Pharmacy (Advertising and Promotional) coupons
Internet coupons
Soft drink container caps

The following are guidelines and limits:

Wal-Mart only accepts coupons for merchandise we sell and only when presented at the time of purchase.
Coupons should have an expiration date and be presented within the valid dates. Wal-Mart will not accept expired coupons.

Internet coupons should be legible and say “Manufacturer Coupon.” There should be a valid remit address for the manufacturer and a scannable bar code. Only one coupon per item is permitted.
Use of 40 or more coupons per transaction will require approval by Customer Service Manager.

And here is the story:

This is what happen to me last Friday night at my Wally World

I went to the Wal-Mart (Store #1557 Fishers, IN 46038) on the NE side of Indianapolis (September 25, 2009 about 11 PM) and the cashier was questioning if I could use $1 coupon off a $1 Klondike Bar. I very politely said sure you can as they are legit coupons. She took my nine $1 coupons all with different serial numbers to a supervisor. I again explained to them they are legit coupons and per WalMart.com’s policy, they will take Internet coupons because mine are not copies and have different serial numbers.

The supervisor called over the front end supervisor (Yaser) and he started arguing with me he can’t take $1 off a $1 item, that they look like copies and if it was only two or three coupons he would say ok. I kept trying to explain to him that yes they will take them per WalMart.com’s policy and what was the difference between two or three versus the nine coupons I had.

I also explained to him that I’m not doing anything wrong, they are not copies, they all have different serial numbers, and how it states in clear English on the coupon they get reimbursed full face value plus a handling fee. Then the front end supervisor (Yaser) started making some racist comments to me and threw my coupons down.

He went over to another supervisor (Catherine) who came over to me wanting to know what was going on. I said don’t you already know since the front end manager told you? I only had to explain the legitimacy of these coupons to yet another supervisor. She kept saying it’s a legal thing and they can’t give me stuff for free. So I asked what about the coupons that say “free item” and she said that’s different.

She kept arguing the fact how she couldn’t take my coupons so I demanded her manager and they pull up WalMart.com’s policy. She said she couldn’t do it and all the other managers went home. Next Catherine threatened to void my entire transaction which not only included the Klondike Bars but also Snapple Tea and Dish Soap. Then she said she would take five coupons this one time only and never again!! I said no, that’s not acceptable because you’re wasting my time and treating me like I’m doing something wrong especially after Yaser insulted me with racist comments.

I told her I’m filling complaints again both her and the other manager for the way they treated me. After another 5 minutes of arguing with her she said she would let me use all the coupons this time only. I told her it’s not my fault they don’t cost $1.01 and asked her if they would have given me all this trouble if that was the case. She said no because then they aren’t free.

Was all this trouble worth it? Hell No… but I was already in the checkout lane with all my goods bagged up and there is no way I was walking out with anything less than what I purchased. I’ve used coupons several times at this Wal-Mart in the past. I don’t know what they deal was tonight. From now on, I’m only buying loss leaders there..

Sorry for the rant but I want others to be prepared for any trouble them may get at Wally World.

Any advice on how to handle the situation differently next time?

Yes, Just complain to Corporate. Write letter to upper management too document call to corporate. Most important, mentioned racist comment to upper management.

Here is Senior Management List