Update 9/21/19: According to USA Today this event is ending tonight, due to an overwhelming response. Hat tip to reader Gadget
The Offer
- Walmart has partnered with Terracycle and from September 16th to September 30th you can trade in a car seat at participating stores and receive a $30 Walmart gift card
The Fine Print
- Limit 2 trade-ins per household
- Any car seat brand accepted
- Booster seats are not eligible for trade in
Our Verdict
I would have thought that most car seats would be worth more than $30 and it’s something that could be reused by giving it to a friend or family member. I guess if you have a really terrible one that isn’t safe anymore or worth less than $30 then this promotion is worth considering.
Hat tip to Dans Deals
I took in a seat from a 1980 Chevy Citation. Although it was the bench seat, which seats three, they only *begrudgingly* gave me the value for one, pointing out that it was indeed only one seat.
Bad News: I throw away 3 car seats last month 🙁
Good News 1 🙂 : I went to a local Walmart today, Sunday 9/22 (supposedly the day after the early termination), and had no problems exchanging 2 car seats for a $60 gift card. I used my passport as ID. Maybe they have not received notice yet that the program has been terminated?
Good News 2 🙂 : My SO exchanged a 3rd car seat for $30 right after me using her drivers license.
Had we had more car seats, we may have been able to get at least 6 of them exchanged using 2 passports and one drivers license (which is the only one with an address)
Wow this is some BS. I went to my local Walmart on the 16th and was told by the assistant store manager they are only doing it on the 28th between 12-4pm. I left frustrated but added the date to my calendar and left the carseat in the back. Now I find this out? Next time I’m there I’m definitely going to talk to someone. What a mess.
Maybe that one is…
The way they process it is as a no receipt return for a miscellaneous item. It’s not something in their codes into system so they COULD do it after today if that specific Walmart’s management advised you of it.
Just in case you didn’t know.
Confirming the deal ends tonight. Took mine in (near SMF) and cashier confirmed. Said the response was too good. Said people were breaking into cars to steal the car seat for the exchange.
Which is sad either way. Either that’s really happening, or that’s a terrible story to give as a reason. Sad.
Thanks, as always, for the heads up.
Wow that’s crazy
https://fox40.com/2019/09/19/thieves-take-advantage-of-walmart-trade-in-event-by-stealing-car-seats/amp/
That’s crazy
You can’t be serious?!!!! Double SAD!
This update is too late. Customer services desk already closed.
Depends where you live
How many did y’all trade in? I got two. Better luck next year.
I just dropped off mine 20 mins ago. CSR didn’t even look at it. I asked if I should just put it in the stack and she said yes.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2019/09/20/walmart-car-seat-recycling-sept-21-last-day-get-gift-card/2389146001/
Walmart ending car seat recycling event early on 9/21 due to ‘overwhelming response’.
Trade-in #5 done this morning at a different store. Last time Ms SOZ and I gave them our ILL DL for ID. This time I gave them my US Passport.
Any more DPs of going to a different store and being able to trade in more with the same ID? Just did 2 today, looking to unload some more.
How many car seats you got? lol
Lol, I picked up a few from trash out on the road the past few weeks in anticipation for this event. Had 8 total ready to deploy for cash!!
As Will would say be the data point you want to be. Tried a different location this morning and was declined on car seat #3. Guess there servers actually work. Coming up with plan B.
Got passport? If no, you could enlist another WM shopper to stand-in with their DL in exchange for DEAL KARMA.
I do, I was gonna have my wife try and see if that works.
Any DP’s on how picky they are about being a booster? I found one “high back booster” 5 point harnessed car seat in the garage. I assume they are only taking back rear facing “car seats”??? Or, do they mean by no boosters seats that they are not taking back the little lift seat with the arm rests.
I traded in one rear facing car seat and one high back booster with the 5 point harness and they accepted both. I assumed by booster seat they mean the booster seats with no backs and just arm rests.
Thanks for the DP. That’s what I thought too, that they mean boosters are the basic square seat that raise the child but are not a full buckled seat, but my luck I will get the one CSR that knows that all the front facing seats are technically “high back boosters”. I’m not afraid to get turned down trying though.
Just like any promo, it’s best to jump in sooner rather than later. I could see Wal-Mart asking themselves WTF are we going to do with all this garbage. Sad thing is the car seat I am giving up is in almost pristine condition, was double bagged in my under stairs garage storage access. But, I have other things to do than stand in line at Walmart. I plan to try next week.