Best Price Matching Policies: 5 Different Stores & their Policies Reviewed
– Best Price Matching Policies –
Best Price Matching Policies: Shoppers who are always savings-minded are always on the lookout for the latest deals, scouring in for the lowest prices. Price matching is one strategy to add to your savings toolkit. This article outlines the stores with the best price matching policies that ensure you’re getting the best deal possible.
In this article, we will focus on:
- What is Price Matching?
- How Does Price Matching Work?
- How Do I Keep tabs on Competitors’ Prices?
- Different Stores and Their Price Matching Policies
- FAQs
First, you probably must have been eyeing a particular product for a while and finally decide to go for it. You swipe your credit card excitedly, walking out of the store with your new purchase. Then, you’re scrolling around on the internet only to realize it’s cheaper somewhere else.
Usually, this is when anger ensues, but that doesn’t have to be the case. Plenty of retailers will price match, so if you can find a product for a lower price at another store, they’ll match that low price.
In the end, if you use these policies correctly, you’ll save money and have peace of mind that you got the best deal out there.
What Is Price Matching?
Price matching is when a store offers to match a competitor’s lower price on the same item. If a store offers price matching, all you’ll need to do to claim your discount is present proof of a competitor’s lower price.
But what if you splurge on a big-ticket item, only to see the store you bought it from slashing its price a week later?
Luckily, price match guarantees are often bundled with price change or price protection promises. This allows you to get the difference back if an item’s price drops soon after your purchase.
How Does Price Matching Work?
Most major stores offer a price match or price change guarantee, but each carries its own unique restrictions.
Some stores will only price match at the time of purchase, while others offer price adjustments on competitor prices even after a purchase. Some will only match their own website’s prices or those of competitor websites, but not local stores.
Generally, though, the following requirements hold true across stores:
- Items must be identical, often down to the model number
- Its must be sold by a direct competitor, as defined by the store
- The item must be in-stock at the time of your price match request
- The item can’t be part of a special clearance or promotion
- Low prices based on typographical errors are excluded
How Do I Keep Tabs On Competitors’ Prices?
You probably don’t want to scour every weekly circular, right? An easier solution is to use a price tracker.
PriceZombie, one tracker, has a Price Protection Tracker that specifically tracks price drops during the time window specified by the store or your credit card issuer.
In-store, you’ll want to use a price-comparison app such as ShopSavvy while shopping. Take a picture of the item’s barcode on your phone, and the app will show you competitors’ prices.
Keep in mind, though, that these apps themselves won’t suffice as proof of lower prices. Policies vary by store, but you’ll probably have to show a current print or digital ad or the current price on the competitor’s website.
Different Stores And Their Price Matching Policies
Walmart
No store makes a bigger deal about its price-matching policy than Walmart. Walmart’s price matching policies say if you find a product in a Walmart store that’s cheaper on Walmart.com, the store will match the online price.
It also offers to match the prices of 29 other online stores, including Amazon, Sears, and Target. If you find a lower price at one of these stores, just go to the register and ask the clerk to match it.
However, the store won’t just give you a lower price with no questions asked. Walmart reserves the right to double-check and make sure the other store has the item for that amount. If it’s not in stock, the store won’t match the price.
Target
Target offers very generous price matching policies, matching both local retail competitors and qualifying online competitors. The store even price matches most grocery items.
Like Walmart, Target will match the prices of 27 online competitors. Its list is very similar to Walmart’s, including Amazon, Kohls.com, Sears.com, and, yes, Walmart.com.
So you can match Walmart prices in Target, or Target prices in Walmart–it all depends on where you prefer to shop.
To get a price match at Target, you must show the ad with the lower price at the checkout. If you found the lower price online, you can display the website on your phone or a printout of the page.
However, if the lower price is in a local store’s print ad, you need to hand over the original ad – a photocopy or a picture on your phone isn’t good enough.
Best Buy
Best Buy promises they “won’t be beaten on price” and mostly backs up that claim, offering a price match policy that’s straightforward and easy to understand.
The store will price match local retail competitors (and their online stores) as well as “key” online competitors at the time of your purchase.
While any retail store within a 25-mile radius of your local Best Buy store will count as a local competitor, the list of online retailers that count as “key” competitors are more limited.
Only items sold on Amazon.com, Crutchfield.com, Dell.com, HP.com, and TigerDirect.com are eligible for a price match at Best Buy.
Best Buy does not price match between Thanksgiving Day and Cyber Monday.
The Home Depot
The Home Depot has one of the most generous price-matching policies you’ll find anywhere. If you find a lower price on anything Home Depot sells, it won’t just match the lower price–it will beat it by 10%.
To get a price match at Home Depot, you must display the ad at the lower price when you check out. You can use a printed ad, a photo, or a printout from the Web.
The clerk may contact the other store to make sure it has the item in stock at the price shown.
Lowe’s
In some ways, the price-matching policy at Lowe’s is even better than The Home Depot’s. Its basic offer is the same: If you find a better price at another store, Lowe’s will beat that price by 10%.
However, unlike The Home Depot, Lowe’s guarantees its prices for a full 30 days after purchase.
Getting a price match at Lowe’s works the same as at The Home Depot. All you have to do is go to the register and show your ad.
The ad must be current, and it must be from a “local retail competitor.” The policy doesn’t define the term “local,” so it’s up to the manager to decide which stores are covered. Any store that operates strictly online, such as Amazon, is excluded.
Read Also:
- Everything You Should Know About Microcenter Price Match
- Does Walmart Accept SNAP EBT?
- What Is The Walmart Return Policy On TV
- Walmart Return Policy for Opened Items
Overall, price matching allows you to save money on things you already purchase. It also keeps you cost-conscious and aware of which retailers offer the best prices for certain items. That’s a win-win!
Read Also:
- Can You Print Documents Or Make Copies at Walmart
- How to Set Up Wireless Printers
- Spooling in Printers
- Walmart Cell Phone Return Policy
- Walmart Laptop Return Policy
FAQs
1. How do I claim the Price Match Guarantee?
Complete the online form by entering your details, the product code and evidence of our competitor’s advertised price. Once we verify the lower price is genuine and in stock, we will respond to you by email.
2. How do I show “proof” of Price?
The best way to show proof of price is to bring in the competitor’s current ad or notify us of the website address of the designated major online retailer.
3. What items does the Price Match Guarantee apply to?
Identical products under identical terms and conditions that are available on our site are eligible if you find them advertised and in stock from an authorized Australian retailer or reseller for a lower price.
4. What are the exclusions?
- Technology
- Non-identical products and services (including non-identical warranties)
- Used or refurbished products
- Advertising or typographical errors (either ours or competitors)
- Package deals (for example printer and computer bundles)
- Conditional offers (for example bulk purchase or limited quantity offers)
- Cash back and coupon offers
- Customer special orders
- Clearance products
- Reseller, auction websites and online marketplaces
- Where the lower price is not available to the general public in Australia (for example contract, warehouse, wholesale, club prices)
- Stock liquidations
- Parallel imports
- Where we are unable to verify the lower price
- Products that are not in stock at our competitor
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