Menards, a Midwest home improvement store, has a very well-known jingle that declares you can, “save big money at Menards!” If it’s now stuck in your head, you’re welcome. This store should be top of mind. Read on to learn why.
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Jump to:
- What Is Menards?
- Pricing Adjustments
- Rebates
- Big Card
- Cash Back
- Clearance
- Coupons
- Crazy Days
- Finding Items
- Tax Refund Bonus
What Is Menards?
Menard, Inc is a Wisconsin-based home improvement company with over 300 stores and 10 billion in revenue. Founded in 1960, John Menard set out to bring low prices to everyday consumers.
What started as one store has evolved into an American juggernaut. Menards has a close tie to my own heart, as I used to work there. Not only do they have low prices, but they treat their employees like family.
If you’re a homeowner, chances are there’s a home improvement project you’re putting off. If you finally want to get it off your list, we’ve got some good news for you.
Not only can you save big money at Menards, but you can also save a lot more money than you may think! Here are some tips and tricks to help you save bigger money at Menards.
Pricing Adjustments
Menards is the go-to place for price matching. In fact, if you find an item for less at another store and bring the advertisement into Menards, they’ll match the price. But they don’t stop there.
After you buy an item at Menards and it goes on sale after you buy it, within 14 days, then you can take in the receipt and they’ll give you the difference back in the form of store credit.
If a new rebate becomes available after you buy, then simply can take in your receipt. Return the item, repurchase it, and you’ll get the right receipt to take advantage of the rebate.
If you’re diligent, it pays to keep their rebates on your radar, especially for large purchases. Sometimes you may have to buy the item at a higher price to get the rebate, but end up paying less in the end. That’s some serious rebate magic.
Rebates Abound
So, more about rebates – it’s kind of a Menards “thing.” They’re a big money maker for the stores, but they’re a potential gold mine for the consumer too. As a customer, you can take advantage of every single “free after rebate” item at Menards – there’s no limit.
Every week they release an ad that has all their sales and the items you can get a rebate on for the week. Rebate-eligible items are also advertised in-store.
They provide the dates the rebate is available along with the price you’ll be expected to pay upfront. Additionally, they list the number of items you can buy. Rebates are also available for items bought online.
You’ll simply receive an email with the rebate receipt attached that you can print off and send in with your rebate form when shopping online. Once you buy the items, look at your receipt.
It’ll have a number that denotes which rebate form you need, which are all available at the customer service desk. You can also print out rebate forms online.
The only downside to rebates is you must remember to complete them and then send them in on time, and most must be filled out by hand. So, dust off your pencils and practice your best handwriting – it’s probably been a while since you had to go low-tech.
Of course, you can always print off an address label to save you time in addressing the envelope. Save on postage by sending in a few rebate forms and receipts at once in the same envelope.
Make sure all the rebates have the same address, which they normally do, before you send them off. You should receive your rebate in the mail in about four weeks, so be on the lookout!
11% Rebates
In addition to everyday low prices, Menards offers a couple other rebates that should be on your radar. These include:
Menards 11 Percent Rebate
From time to time, Menards offers an 11 percent rebate during certain weeks. If you’re doing a big remodel, then pay attention to when these rebates are offered because you can get an 11 percent rebate back on everything in the store.
Yes – you read that right – everything in the store. This sale is a mail-in rebate much like the other rebates available at Menard’s, but it basically gets you 11 percent back in the form of in-store credit on all your purchases.
That’s Menards practically giving you money to use toward your home improvements. One nice thing about this rebate is that the check you receive in the mail doesn’t expire.
Even if you don’t have plans for any large purchases in the near future, you can save it to use toward future home improvements. You can also rack up some more 11 percent rebates and spend them at your leisure.
You can also combine these rebate checks with other rebates and manufacturer coupons to help you maximize the deals. This is something most other retailers don’t allow you to do.
11 Percent Price Adjustment
Worried you’ll miss out on the 11 percent rebate sale? Don’t sweat it. If you buy something a week or two before the 11 percent rebate is offered, then you can ask for a price adjustment rebate at the counter.
The 11 percent price adjustment forms are not available in a display with the other rebate forms or available online, you must specifically ask for them.
You then fill it out and send it in with the original receipts dated in the two weeks before a rebate sale on a regularly priced item (it can’t be on sale). Then mail it in and get the difference back – just note that the address is different than other rebates, so don’t send it to the wrong place.
The Menards Big Card
As with most other major retailers, Menards offers its own credit card. One plus to the Big Card is that you get a two percent rebate on all purchases you make with it. Or you can choose 6-month or 48-month financing options in lieu of the rebate on purchases over $299.
This card can be a great option if you’re a frequent shopper. The savings can really add up over time and you can combine the two percent rebate with other rebate offers in the store, sales, promotions, and discounts.
What About Cash Back?
If you’re big into sites such as Ebates, there’s some bad news about Menards. They don’t participate in affiliate programs, so cashback websites don’t apply to orders from Menards.com.
The best course of action to save the most money when shopping at Menards is to use the Menards Big Card for that two percent back.
Clearance
If you like to get deals, then you need to take a look at the clearance items available at Menards. For online clearance, simply look at the section titled “Ray’s List” on the website.
This is where they’ll have their closeouts, clearance, open box, and limited offer items. There’s a search function that allows you to see what items are discounted at your local store and you can also find dented/damaged products, display models, and unclaimed special orders here.
In-Store Clearance
If you’ve ever wandered around the massive expanse of Menards, you know that there’s not just one place where all the in-store clearance is located. You’ll find items on clearance all over the store.
So make sure to do a full walk around as not to miss any treasures. Clearance tags are red, and you can get some great deals by keeping your eye open. Make sure you look at:
- Shelves/tables by the front entrance for small clearance items
- The back wall of the store for larger items on clearance such as cabinets
- The end racks of each department, usually the racks facing away from the main aisle
Upstairs
Did you know some Menards even have a second level? They do! Most Menards stores have a staircase in the patio/seasonal department that leads you upstairs. You’ll occasionally find off-season clearance items here.
You might want to ask if your particular store location has an upstairs clearance area, just so you don’t wander around someplace you’re not supposed to be.
Paint Clearance Section
In the paint department, you’ll find an array of mis-tinted paints up for grabs, some for as little as one dollar. Otherwise known as “oops paints,” these were simply were mixed wrong in the store or paint that, after mixed, the customer decided they didn’t want.
You can turn someone else’s color calamity into savings, so make sure to check it out if you’re in the market for paint. You can sometimes find deck coatings and garage floor paint here too.
Menards Coupons
If you get a Menards Big Card, make sure to check your statement each month for coupons. They normally attach a booklet with “clip and save” offers for various items. Sometimes they even offer free items with a coupon.
And when they say free, they mean it. You don’t even have to pay sales tax. Big Card cardholders also get a card every year during their birthday month with a coupon for a free item.
This item usually has a value of $9.99 or less. They’re often things like magnifying glasses or screwdrivers, which just seem so much more useful when you get them free of charge.
Menards will also accept manufacturer’s coupons at their stores that you can combine with clearance and sales prices – even rebates. If there’s something you really need or want to buy, check online with the manufacturer for a coupon before you go to buy.
The Menards Crazy Days Sale
Menards occasionally has a three-day event they refer to as a “Crazy Days.” During this event, they offer extra rebates and awesome deals on items across the store, similar to a Black Friday sale. These events are held about every two months, so make sure to keep your eyes peeled for a deal.
Finding the Items in Store
If you’re perusing the weekly ad for Menards and spot something you’d like to buy, they can sometimes be difficult to locate once you’re actually in the store.
Anyone who shops at Menards regularly has no doubt found that they make you work to find the items that are on sale or have a rebate available. But there’s a way around the madness that can help you find what you’re looking for.
You can narrow down what department an item is located in by taking a look at its SKU number. The first digit in the number tells you what department it’s located in. The numbers with their corresponding department are:
- Building Materials
- Hardware
- Electrical
- Mill Work
- Wall Coverings
- Housewares and Plumbing
- Floor Coverings
If you find the item you want is sold out, then you can ask a team member for a rain check. But if the item is a rebate item, then chances are it won’t be restocked in time for you to qualify for a rebate.
5% Tax Refund Bonus
Another great way to save money shopping at Menards is to take advantage of their five percent tax refund bonus. This offer works like this:
- Bring in your refund – If you get a check from the state or federal government for a refund, bring it into the store. If you have had the funds electronically deposited, then bring in your bank statement showing the amount deposited in your account.
- Exchange – You can exchange your refund for a Menards Merchandise Credit Check
- Get more money – You will receive the amount of your refund plus five percent back in the form of a Merchandise Credit Check
Obviously, this isn’t the right deal for everyone. But if you were going to use your tax refund on home improvements, then it’s a great way to get a little bit more back. This offer is valid all year, so you can take advantage of it any time.
Are You Ready to Save at Menards?
There are a lot of ways to save money at Menards – they really do live up to their slogan. Maybe you are planning on making a large purchase or are working slowly to fix up your home.
If so, it’s worth the time and effort to look into all the ways you can save money by using the rebates and sales at Menards to fund your next big home improvement project.
