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Walmart gives away free gift cards as compensation to customers: Who qualifies and how to get one

Walmart, to apologize for a technical error, is offering customers a $5 gift card who were charged double sales tax in Alabama. Here’s how to claim yours…

Walmart apologizes for error with free $5 gift card

Alabama’s grocery sales tax reduction went into effect at the beginning of September, going from 4 percent to 3 percent. That would have been good news for shoppers except that a number of major retailers’ systems didn’t get updated in time, or as was the case of Walmart and Sam’s Club, both the old and new tax were applied.

Accidents happen though, and to make up for the technical error, America’s largest retailer is making an apologetic offering, giving customers that were overcharged a $5 gift card. While Sam’s Club members that were hit with the double tax charge will automatically be given $5 in Sam’s Cash on their account, those who shopped at Walmart stores in the state will have to present their receipt affected by the error.

Walmart gives away free gift cards as compensation to customers: Who qualifies and how to get one

The new grocery sales tax kicked in on Friday 1 September and the technical glitch was fixed by the evening the same day. The free $5 gift card will only be available to those who made a purchase on that day and were affected by the double tax charge, both the old 4 percent and the new 3 percent.

You’ll need to present your receipt at the customer service desk, you can do so at any Walmart store. You will have until 18 September to claim the $5 “apology” gift card.

How to get a free $1,000 Walmart gift card

While some Walmart shoppers in Alabama might be a little irked at the moment, America’s largest retailer wants their customers across the nation and Puerto Rico to give their feedback. When checking out, whether in-store, online or through the Walmart app, you may be given a survey invitation via email.

Upon completing the form and submitting it, you’ll be entered into the Walmart October Sweepstakes. In total $80,000 in prizes will be given away including five grand-prize $1,000 gift cards and 750 first-prize gift cards with a face value of $100.

Even those who haven’t made a purchase at Walmart can enter, either online or with a write-in postcard. Regardless of the entry method, you are limited to a maximum of 78 entries during the entire sweepstakes period that runs until 27 October 2023.