Sorry Walmart’s ‘Baby Savings Day’ Isn’t Real
Stories are flying all around the internet that Walmart is hosting a single day event for new parents to get recommendations, demonstrations, and savings during a one day 'Baby Savings Sale' this Saturday, Feb. 23rd.
According to localsyr.com and several other news outlets, Walmart locations nationwide will be participating in the event this Saturday from 10:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m - and several Central New York locations would also be involved, including Rome, Utica, Herkimer, New Hartford, and Oneida.
First, we looked online at the Walmart website and on their Facebook page to see if we could find anything regarding a one day sales event. The only thing online is a multi-day baby savings sale, but nothing specifically for this Saturday.
We called the Utica store. The manager knew nothing about it.
We called the New Hartford store. The manager knew nothing about it.
We called the Oneida store. The manager said she had seen the stories but didn't know much about it.
So finally, we called the Herkimer store to see if they knew what was going on. We spoke to their Assistant Manager.
The sale is not happening on one singular day. There are no product demonstrations, yet. There is no severe deals.
She also said the list of locations people are seeing is fake, not at all associated with the retailer.
If you look at the address in the web browser, the PDF attached to all of these stories isn't even from Walmart. That's how you know.
She did say they are trying to get customers in store because they are having deals on baby related items (like car seats and strollers, diapers, etc.) but the sale is over the course of six weeks. She also said they are trying to get in store demonstrations, but nothing has been scheduled at this time, for this Saturday.
There are sales online and in stores with products up to 30% off, but as far as the one day sale goes, it's fake.
UPDATE: 10:20 AM - 2-21-19
We were able to talk with Walmart.com who provided us with a line to Walmart corporate. After talking with an actual representative regarding this 'Baby Savings Day' they have confirmed Walmart does not know anything about this 'event' they are seeing on social media.
Walmart Corporate Customer Service Representative, Samantha, told us there is indeed a sale (over the next 6 weeks) but this particular 'Baby Savings Day Event' that is supposed to feature demonstrations, 'severe/extreme sales' and giveaways along with the listed PDF of participating locations they know nothing about it. In fact the PDF of participating locations is not a Walmart site or creation.
Samantha told us Walmart Corporate is sending a memo out to Walmart stores to let management teams know they could be receiving questions regarding this 'event' and the reporting on social media is not accurate but to direct people to the sale that will be occurring over the next 6 Weeks.
Again, the 'Walmart Baby Saving's Day' event/sale reportedly occurring on February 23rd is NOT REAL. The Sale for 6 weeks is real but as Walmart Corporate has told us, they know nothing about this event.
UPDATE: 11:27 AM - 2-21-19
We've got another update, this time from Riley Herman an Event Specialist from Advantage Solutions who contacted us regarding the 'Baby Savings Day' event planned for February 23rd in Herkimer.
Advantage Solutions is a Third-Party Marketing Company you usually see giving out the free food samples and beauty samples at your local retailers. Riley informed us Event Specialists like himself will be in Walmart stores from 10 AM - 4:30 PM on Saturday, February 23rd to provide a very limited number of sample bags containing things like Huggies Wipes, Johnson & Johnson lotions along with a few coupons for several products. The Event Specialists will also be highlighting a few toys featured in the Walmart six week sale.
Riley informed us that in most instances Walmart Management is often unaware of when the specialists will come into the stores or what their demonstrations will be about. He stated his will be very similar to their 'Health And Wellness Days' from 2018 or the Easter Event from last year where kids could decorate Reese's Eggs.
He also informed us that the pdf and event listing are not from Advantage Solutions. The reported 'extreme/deep sales' and gift-card giveaways are also not part of their 'event' for Saturday, February 23rd. Advantage Solutions' Event Specialists will only be providing 50 or fewer sample bags and highlighting a few toys. They will be on the floor in most stores from 10 AM - 4 PM.