If there’s one place we spend an exorbitant amount of money, it’s Menards. That’s Henry above, saving big money on a Clapper at Menards. (The boy is obsessed with the store. Sometimes, we just go there and let him run around. Who needs a bounce house?)
Through the years, we’ve renovated two houses, three rental properties and re-constructed a barn. So, we have literally made thousands of trips to the store. Some months, we may as well just sign over our paychecks to Menards.
The reason we stick with Menards – It’s the cheapest. By far. Trust us. We’ve shopped around. And sometimes, we go elsewhere for items. But mostly, Menards is the least expensive for the building materials we need. (This is not sponsored post at all. Regardless of the ungodly amount of money we spend there, Menards doesn’t have any idea who we are. Although, seriously Menards? Sponsor us.)
Over the years, we’ve learned that there are some easy ways to save (even more) big money at Menards. I understand that not everyone has this hardware store, but if you do, here are a few tips that have worked for us.
Sales and 14-day price adjustments
Like all stores, items do go on sale. Watching the ads can be an easy way to spot good deals – especially on big purchases. (We saved about 33 percent on our shingles for the barn.) And if you are renovating a whole property, it’s worth buying some things ahead of schedule to save some money.
But another way to save money is to watch the ads for things you’ve already purchased. Because Menards will adjust the price (and return the difference) within 14 days. Last week, we requested a price adjustment for insulation that went on sale 10 days after we bought it. That saved us about $60. (Definitely worth our time.)
Returns
I think we’ve all had bad experiences with returns at stores. Ryan and I find Menards to be one of the easiest stores to deal with for returns. This is a unsung way to save money, because you don’t have to keep those extra sheets of plywood or rolls of insulation after your project. (There is also an in-store kiosk to look up receipts.)
Menards is also really good about returning defective and broken items (I’m sure every store is different, but we’ve had good luck). And if a staple gun breaks the day it was purchased (which happened to us this week), it’s nice that you can you exchange it for another one instead of buying another. These small savings add up.
Rebates
Menards has an insane number of items with rebates. It’s not cash back, but you’ll receive a store credit to use in the future. The rebates never expire and can really add up. It’s a simple process of sending the rebate receipt with a form. We are constantly getting rebates in the mail from Menards. To keep track of them, we keep them in a rebates wall pocket by the door. This means they don’t get lost or forgotten.
There are also lots of things you can get for free (with rebate) if you watch the weekly ads. When we renovated our current house, we bought dozens and dozens of tubes of caulk free with rebate. If you are a renovater, you know how much paintable caulk you need. We STILL have a few tubes left, after numerous projects.
It’s worth skimming the ad on a weekly basis to see if anything useful is on rebate. But the time to really buy is what I like to call the real Mac Daddy of Menards rebates.
11 percent rebates
Several times a year, Menards runs and 11 percent rebate on EVERYTHING IN THE STORE. If you aren’t getting excited, you are dead. Because 11 percent on anything means 11 PERCENT ON EVERYTHING.
Typically this happens for about a week, four times a year. It’s almost always quarterly. (Don’t ask me how I know that.) But this year, because Menards loves us, they’ve already extended the rebates for four weeks. (And it’s going on right now.) And because Menads really loves us, you can now get a 11 percent rebate on gift cards.
This is new, and it’s worth understanding. You can buy gift cards now and get 11 percent back in merchandise credit now. Then, you use the gift cards later (when items are on sale or there is another 11 percent rebate going on). This means you can really “double rebate.”
Let me give you an example. We purchased several thousand dollars in gift cards during an 11 percent rebate period. We sent in our rebates to receive several hundred dollars back in merchandise credit. We have actually been using the gift cards now, which means we get another 11 percent rebate for what we buy with the gift card (essentially doubling the rebate). We’ll also use the gift cards in the future with other sales and promotions for items we need.
(Edited to add: Just found out the current 11 percent rebate doesn’t include gift cards. Wah, wah. But if it’s happened once, it could happen again. Keep your eyes peeled.)
Does this make sense? This is so awesome, I’m sharing a numerical example (numbers are rounded for the example):
During 11 percent rebate period:
- Buy $1000 in gift cards (send in $110 rebate)
- Spend $500 in insulation (buy with gift card, send in another $55 rebate)
Next week, 14 percent off bag sale:
- Spend $200 in plumbing pipes (buy with gift card, save $34 from regular price with bag sale)
Etc., etc.
- $165 to spend from rebates and $300 in gift cards remaining to use for future purchases – which will (hopefully) be used when the items are on sale or rebates.
So, these are a few ways that we’ve had experience saving (extra) big money at Menards. And when you are renovating, those dollars quickly add up. Each could take a little effort and time, but over the past six years, we’ve saved thousands of dollars by being mindful.
What are your tips for saving at Menards or other home improvement stores?
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Amy says
Does anyone have a 11% menards price adjustment form for July 16-22 2017? Must be postmarked by 8/12/17. Menards will not distribute the form once the 11% sale is over.
Ray D says
I love garage sales whether it is having one myself or going to someone elses. Over the years I watch for the add and when they have items that are free after the rebate or maybe 99 cents after the rebate I will pick them up. They make excellant items for the garage sale and many times I will make 2 or 3 dollars on the items depending what it is. I mark them about 1/2 of the everyday price at Menards and so my customers get a good deal also
Elizabeth Sumpter says
CAUTION!!! Make sure you question everything about the rebate. I bought new appliances, 1900.00 worth and DID NOT GET A REBATE because the price of the item changed between the time I bought it and the deadline to mail it in. They told me because I got it at a sale price that it was not eligible for the rebate AFTER the salesman assured me it was eligible for the rebate. Very upset about this. Not sure I’ll go back.
Kim Woodward says
Hmmmm… this is the first time I’ve heard of this happening – and I’ve spent far more than $2,000 at times with no issues. Did you get a price adjustment? Is that why the rebate was forfeited? So sorry this happened to you.
Greg says
Does the 11% rebate apply to online purchases or only in store items?
Kim Woodward says
I’m really not sure – I have only used it in the store.
dv says
We’ve gotten 11% rebates for online purchases many times. They send you the rebate receipt and the rebate form by email and then you print it, fill it out and mail it in
Melissa says
Question – when you receive your Menards $ back from a rebate, can you roll that $ into another rebate purchase?
Kim Woodward says
Yep! You can use it on anything – just like cash!
Jia says
And it comes off before tax, so if you spend $100 and have a rebate credit for $50 you only have to pay tax on $50.
Jia says
Sorry, let me explain; some people bitch that you get a rebate that has to be spent at the store but if you received a $50 check instead, that’d be all you get, $50 cash. If you took that cash to the store and let’s say your state has 6% sales tax, you’d have to pay $56 (+ your $50 you got from the check) to get that hundred dollars worth of stuff instead of $53. Just sayin.
Kim Woodward says
Yeah – that’s a good point. We don’t mind the in-store nature. We more than use it.
andrew says
Hi guys, I’m a new Menards shopper. I had a question about mailing rebate. I found out by searching that you can mail multiple rebates in one envelope if address is same. Does that apply to rebates in multiple weeks or not. Like I made my first purchase yesterday and rebate must be postmarked by nov 15. can I mail next week’s receipt with this week’s receipt?
Thanks for help.
Kim Woodward says
Yes, you should be able to, as long as it’s the same rebate and the dates are still being followed. I typically bundle all my rebates together and mail at once.
Jessica says
Hello! We bought a new water heater and garbage disposal on Friday. Of course, yesterday the 11% rebate started. Do you know if Menards will give credit for this difference? Thank you!
Kim Woodward says
I think it will depend on your store. Mine is really good about price adjustments. Do you still have the items in their packages? If it were me, I’d go back with the receipt and ask. If they say no, I’d just tell them that I’d bring it back in the package to return. Definitely worth a try.
Melissa says
Yes. It will use this link http://static-forums.fatwallet.com/static/attachments/432831_11pctadjustment.pdf
Kim Woodward says
Hm. I’ve never seen this form before. I’d personally still check with my local store, but I’m old fashioned. I’d prefer just to have them do the adjustment and send the normal form.
Kim Woodward says
And thanks for sharing, Melissa!
Phil says
My local menards closed. But I just love the 11% off sales. I take the mermards sale ad to home depot and they match it on the spot. Two months ago I purchased new windows for my house, I saved an extra $1,200 with that add. In few months a new menards is opening near me.
Kim Woodward says
Wow! That’s a great tip, Phil. Didn’t know Depot would do that!
William S. Beisiegel, Jr. says
There was a Sunday in the winter when the 11% rebate on Everything (including gift cards) crossed over with the 14% bag sale, which also included gift cards, so you could get both discounts on anything that fit into the bag that day! That was THE day to shop, and buy a gift card!
Kim Woodward says
William – THAT. IS. GENIUS.
I don’t know how we missed that.
But our local Menards gal told us that we probably shouldn’t expect the 11% rebate to apply to gift cards ever again. (SOB!) But, maybe we can hope for the bag sale to allow it?
Thanks for the tip, fellow deal-finder.
make your blog says
You really make it seem really easy with your presentation however I in finding this topic to be actually something that I feel I might by no
means understand. It kind of feels too complicated and extremely large for me.
I am taking a look forward to your next put up, I’ll try to get the dangle of it!
Ray says
The June 2014 11% ad just came out and the fine print says excludes gift cards.
Jia says
They only did the 11% on gift cards one time, early 2014. I was told they’re never going to do that again, you can blame that on people like me, I bought like $6,000.00.
Kim Woodward says
Yep – I think I noted this in my post. We took advantage of the opportunity, too. Wish we would have bought even more.
Kristin says
Thanks so much for your money saving tips! We just purchased $200 some dollars of shelving at Menards and will be going back for a price adjustment with this weeks’ 11% rebate. Thanks again!!
Kim Woodward says
So happy to hear it! Happy DIYing.
Jia says
They don’t price guarantee for the 11% deal. I tried it once and got a lashing. The lady gave it to me but said “only this one time”. She had to return everything on my receipt and resell it to me.
Kim Woodward says
Interesting – I’ve done it many times. I guess it may depend on your store.
Jamie S says
My husband and I got married in October and bought our first home. My husband is a plumber so he definitely wanted a fixer-upper (which makes sense now). We go to Menards all the time and the 11% rebate has given us a lot of extra spending money at Menards (hundreds of dollars since last summer). It’s so nice when you complete a thousand dollar project and when we almost forget about it, there is the $140 rebate in the mail!
Susan says
I’m a Home Depot gal myself. In my area HD tends to be more economical – at least on things I tend to buy. And I like their paint department better. Menards is too big (really? Groceries?) for a time efficient trip to complete a project I’ve started. But that’s the beauty of choices.
Kim Woodward says
We’re definitely HD fans for paint – I’m a Behr girl. But we haven’t found lower prices for almost anything else there. Too bad, because I like HOme Depot. And I agree about Menards on the size. We prefer the “old” Menards – back to the basics.
Charles says
Old Menards? Ugh. The aisles were so narrow two shopping carts couldn’t pass, and if you had a plywood cart, forget it entirely.
They built a huge, bright two-story Menards near me, replacing the “old school” dump, which was hauled off to the landfill. There isn’t a single thing I liked better about the old store. Nothing.
Kim Woodward says
Really? We loved the old Menards – we loved the old layout and the fact that you didn’t have to go inside to load up lumber. But it’s definitely more sparkly now. ๐
Trina @ Let's Just Build a House says
i flipping love Menards too. We should have gotten way more there while building. We did get as much as possible, but it’s a little out of the way for our contractor, so it was a pain.
We saw the gift card included last time but didn’t make it there in time darn it! Another thing I love is if you lose your rcpt they have the scanner right in the store you can swipe your debit, cc or check and it will reprint. YAY!
Sara @ Russet Street Reno says
Everything you said is true, they are great about returns and let us take back things that we bought a year ago – without receipt! They gave us a credit, which was perfect. I also love their prices, however I don’t love that you have to bag your own stuff while the cashier stands there and looks at you. At least that is how our Menards stores are. Maybe mine just hires lazy people, but after i’ve spent hundreds of dollars on merchandise, the least they can do is put it into bags for me. They also piss me off with only allowing you to exit out of the ‘checkout lane doors’ and all checkout lanes without an employee working there are gated off….so, if you don’t buy anything, you have to sneak through a checkout behind someone that is actually buying something. Hello, awkward! I know that is a dumb issue, but it does annoy me to no end. I usually go out the entrance to avoid it, and get some glares in the process.
I was shocked when they allowed the 11% discount on gift cards, and I just have a feeling they are not going to ever do that again! It is pretty crazy when you think about it.
Kim Woodward says
The bagging issue is ridiculous. It never used to be that way. The gals at ours often will still bag the stuff for us, but they aren’t technically supposed to.
Julia@Cuckoo4Design says
Yup agree with Gretchen. Never heard of this store until I started reading your blog.
Great tips!
Cindy Germann says
I love your idea of having a spot by the door for the rebates. Sometimes I terrible at keeping track of those, which makes me sick to my stomach. This whole post is awesome. I need to be better at taking advantage of their deals!
Justine says
Love this post. Mendards is basically my dad’s favorite store, and we are fans too (though Home Depot is super duper close so we tend to go there more often). I didn’t know about getting the 11% rebate from gift cards — score!! I was just wondering what to get my dad for his birthday and I think a gift card is the answer!
P.S. We also laugh at how random the stock is at Menards — mattresses? clothes? food? My parents actually bought RIBS at Menards the other week during the rebate sale — and said they were good!
Kim Woodward says
Well, wah wah, just found out the current rebate promo doesn’t include gift cards. Going back in to edit right now. Hopefully they’ll do it again soon with gift cards. Because it’s such an awesome deal!
The randomness of Menards really is crazy. Although we once found organic applesauce pouches there for half the price of other stores. So, I’ll go with random. ๐
Kenz @ Interiors By Kenz says
One day Utah will be cool enough for a Menards. One day…
Katja @ Shift Ctrl Art says
See, now I want a Menard’s in my neighborhood.
I just “toured” your rentals. Those are some great projects you have made. You are such great landlords ๐
Kim Woodward says
Thanks, Katja. I think most of our renters would agree. There’s always the one. ๐
Jess @ Little House. Big Heart. says
They don’t have Menards down here and I miss them so!
We do buy discount gift cards for Home Depot, so that helps. Also, the hubs is a deal finding machine, so we rarely (if ever) pay full price for anything.
Kim Woodward says
Where do you get the discount gift cards? Tell me more.
Jess @ Little House. Big Heart. says
http://www.giftcardgranny.com/
They’re usually anywhere between 5-15% off. Sometimes they’re actual cards that you get in the mail a few days later, sometimes they’re e-cards you get immediately. We get them for all our big purchases!
Kim Woodward says
This is awesome! Thank you!
Amber @ Wills Casa says
Sadly there are no Menards here. I am now really jealous especially since they have a receipt look up kiosk. That’s just plain awesome. I never keep track of receipts and it’s annoying when a store won’t look up a transaction.
Kim Woodward says
Every single store should have a kiosk. That’s the long and the short of it.
michelle@decorandthedog says
Totally the best place for building supplies. Pretty finishing supplies…meh. I’m sort of excited for them to finish the new one on the Iowa side. Weird.
Kim Woodward says
Meh. Enjoy the old-school Menards while you can. The new Menards is sort of too big with too much crap.
Melissa says
We do the same! We got a bunch of trim and new doors with the 11% and will buy more doors with our rebate when it comes. Love! ๐
Cassie says
Hey Kim! I’m pretty sure menards has a program where if you spend your tax rebate check there they give you some sort of incentive… Store credit, percent rebate, etc. I don’t remember exactly what it is but I remember seeing the sign last year. BTW- I’m from a family of DIY’ers and I do not recall a single project that didn’t start with “hang on, I need to run to menards to get _______”
Kim Woodward says
You are right about the tax refund check. There is some sort of incentive for cashing a tax refund, although we don’t take advantage of it. (Of course, I also fear this could be a way to encourage over-spending with the cash, but that’s another soap box.)
And I totally feel you about runs to Menards. We make FAR too many trips.
Gretchen@BoxyColonial says
ahh….this is one of those stores I’d never even heard of before I started reading blogs, and now I have to be all jealous!