Some retailers call it their “price matching guarantee” while others call it something like “low price promise,” but either way, price matching means savings for you. In order to stay relevant in an increasingly competitive retail market, big retailers will price match or lower the price of an everyday item based on a competitor’s price. They will even price adjust (pay you back) for a recently purchased item. Price adjustment policies work if you can simply find the same in-stock item for a lower price at one of their competitor’s stores or websites and present your proof.
Skip To A Specific Store’s Price-Matching Policy:
- Best Buy price-match policy.
- Dick’s Sporting Goods price-match policy.
- Home Depot price-match policy.
- Kohl’s price-match policy.
- Lowe’s price-match policy.
- Michaels price-match policy.
- Staples price-match policy.
- Target price-match policy.
- Walmart price-match policy.
Stores’ Holiday Price Matching Policies (2023)
Shopping during the holidays? Good news. Some major retailers offer limited-time price-matching holiday windows and special terms. These special holiday price-match policies are designed to get shoppers comfortable buying early deals — and less worried about prices falling later in the seastson.
Here’s what stores are offering during the 2023 holiday season, for reference.
- Target holiday price matching: From Oct. 22 to Dec. 24, if an item you bought during that same window fell in price at Target, you could request a price match. This is longer than Target’s usual 14-day price-match window. Here’s how to request an adjustment. What’s interesting is that Target does NOT restrict Black Friday and Cyber Monday price matching.
- Best Buy holiday price matching: Best Buy’s special holiday price matching policy lets you request a price adjustment if something you bought at Best Buy falls in price between Oct. 27 and Dec. 30. Learn more.
Why Do Retailers Offer Price Matching?
- Customer Loyalty: If you know your favorite retailer will match their competitors prices, you are more likely to return again and again.
- Competition: There really is no reason to “shop around” or leave their store and visit a competitor if you can get their competition’s lowest prices.
When Can You Use Price Matching?
Think of price matching as your back-up plan if no major sales or coupon deals are available. While there are differences between retailer price match policies, matching is used to give the customer the best everyday price. Price matching doesn’t work for awesome sales like Clearance events, credit card offers, Black Friday or Cyber Monday. Major sale deals are excluded from price matching.
It Can’t Hurt to Try!
Price matching policies are usually honored if you ask for them directly. In fact, many retailers describe their policy as offered “upon request.” Big retailers aren’t always tripping over themselves to give you the lowest possible prices, but “upon request” they will. With a little research and preparation, price matching is a big savings trick not everyone knows about or uses and a great way to save on everyday items.
Price Matching Works for Identical Items Only
Across the board retailers will only price match when you find an item that is new, available and identical to the item you wish to purchase. This means the same brand, year, model or style. The item must be available in-stock at the retailer as well as their competitor’s shop. Rain checks don’t apply here.
Proof Will Be Verified
In order to receive a price match, you must follow the retailer’s guidelines and present a sales associate or customer service professional with proof of the identical competitor’s lower-priced item. This means be prepared to show the webpage or store flyer. If by some chance you spot a typographical error, you’re out of luck. That won’t be price matched.
Retailers That Offer Price Matching Policies
See below for steps to get your prices matched at your favorite retailers:
Best Buy
Who do they price match? Best Buy will match: Amazon.com, Crutchfield.com, Dell.com, HP.com and TigerDirect.com at the time of sale. They will also match local retail competitors (including their online prices), which basically covers all local electronics shops within a 25 mile radius. This actually includes a local warehouse club (if it’s a local retail competitor). Double check with your store’s sales associates. And read Best Buy’s price matching rules in full.
Good timing. If your item goes on sale during the product’s return or exchange period at Best Buy, Best Buy will refund you the difference. If you want a price match on a competitor’s price, though, you’ll need to ask for it at the point of sale.
Always available. If you are shopping online, you’ve got a couple options: you can connect with Best Buy’s Chat (which is surprisingly easy and quick) or you can call 1-888-BEST-BUY
Limited time. The price match can be processed within the return and exchange period on the order. Typical orders have a 15 day time for returns.
They even self-match. Best buy stores will match bestbuy.com, and vice versa.
How to get your price matched:
- Find or buy your in-stock item at Best Buy or BestBuy.com.
- Keep all your receipts and records of sale (and be within your items return window). Or, ask for a price match at the point of sale.
- Double check the same in-stock item at Best Buy’s competitors.
- Bring proof of higher price to Best Buy store to any sales associate or if your purchase was at BestBuy.com call 1-888-BEST-BUY or use their online chat.
Best Buy Holiday Price Match Policy
Best Buy is offering special holiday price matching on its own prices through Dec. 30. So if you snagged an early holiday deal and it falls in price at Best Buy right before the holidays, you’re in luck! Learn more.
Dick’s Sporting Goods
Who do they price match? Dick’s Sporting Goods matches their own prices, as well as sister brands Field & Stream and Golf Galaxy. It also matches the prices of these competitors: Amazon, Walmart, Cabela’s, Nike, Kohl’s, Academy Sports, Under Armour, adidas, Foot Locker, Macy’s, Fanatics, Target, Sportsman Warehouse, Bass Pro Shops, Edwin Watts, Finish Line, Dunham’s, Champs, Nordstrom, Hibbett, Scheels, Big 5, PGA Superstores, Eastbay and eligible local retailers.
Keep your receipt: You’ve got 14 days from your purchase date to price match.
Double check exclusions. Head to their best price guarantee policy.
How to get your price matched
- Find or buy your in-stock item at Dick’s Sporting Goods or dickssportinggoods.com.
- Keep all your receipts and records of sale (and be within 14 days from sale date).
- Double check that you’re asking for a price match on the exact same item.
- Bring proof of higher price to Dick’s store to any sales associate or if your purchase was at dickssportinggoods.com call 1-877-846-9997 and have the match handled by phone.
Home Depot
Home Depot doesn’t have much information online about its price-matching policy, so we called to confirm.
Who do they price match? Home Depot will price match their competitors, but only before a purchase (it won’t don’t a price adjustment after). You must show proof that the item is in stock at the competitor AND identical to the one you found at Home Depot. If you already purchased the item, and the price drops at Home Depot, you can request a price adjustment within 30 days.
Online vs. in-store: You can’t mix and match. The lower price must match the online price if you originally bought the item online. Same goes for in-store purchases.
How to get your price matched:
- Find or buy your in-stock item at Home Depot or homedepot.com.
- Keep all your receipts and records of sale.
- If you find a lower price at a competitor, you must request a price match at point of purchase.
- If the price falls after purchase at Home Depot ONLY, you can request a price match at the same store from which you made the purchase, OR by calling 1-800-430-3337 and hitting “2” for “Online.”
Kohl’s
Who do they price match? Kohl’s will match their competitors but doesn’t specifically list out who they will match, so you would need to double check with the store associate. At the point of purchase, you can ask for a price match in-store, if you have proof of a lower price elsewhere. For Kohls.com items, you must call customer service and provide proof that a competitor’s product is priced LOWER and the SAME item offered on Kohl’s website.
After-purchase price adjustments. You have 14 days to request the difference back, if the price falls at Kohl’s after you bought the item. You must request this at a Kohl’s store. There are some exclusions, including items that fall in price during Thanksgiving Week.
Limited time. Unlike their very generous window for returns, Kohl’s only gives you two weeks (14 days) to price match.
No combo deals. Kohl’s will price match or offer you a discount, coupon or promotion. They will not combine a price match on top of other offers.
Kohl’s cash! You are still on your way to savings Kohl’s will allow you to earn/redeem Kohl’s cash and Kohl’s Rewards on price-matched products
How to get your price matched:
- Find or buy your in-stock item at Kohl’s or kohls.com.
- Keep all your receipts to be within two weeks.
- Bring competitor’s print ad proof of identical, higher price to Kohl’s store to any sales associate.
- If your purchase was at kohls.com you can price match to another online competitor call 1-855-564-5705 and speak with Customer Service.
- In-store you can use your mobile phone for kohls.com and price match their online price if lower.
Lowe’s
Who do they price match? Lowe’s Price Promise agrees to match local retailers as well as the following online retailers: Amazon.com, Wayfair.com, Walmart.com, Target.com, HomeDepot.com, BestBuy.com, Macys.com, AceHardware.com, BedBathandBeyond.com, TractorSupply.com and JCPenny.com. However, Lowe’s will not match in-store prices at another Lowe’s location, nor will it match in-store prices in another ZIP code.
You have a while, but not forever. Lowe’s will match at the time of sale, and up to 30 days from time of sale, so check your receipts.
Shipping or delivery cost included. Lowe’s price promise includes the price of the item plus shipping or delivery cost.
No combo deals. Lowe’s will price match or offer you a discount, coupon or promotion. They will not combine a price match on top of other offers.
How to get your price matched:
- Find or buy your in-stock item at Lowe’s or lowes.com.
- Keep all your receipts and records of sale (and be within your 30 day window).
- Double check the same in-stock item at Lowe’s competitors.
- Bring proof of higher price to Lowe’s store to any sales associate or if your purchase was at lowes.com call 1-877-465-6937 and speak with Customer Service.
Michaels
Who will they price match? Michaels will price-match any brick-and-mortar retailer as well as ACmoore.com, Amazon.com, Athome.com, Babiesrus.com, Benfranklinonline.com, Cricut.com, CVS.com, Dollargeneral.com, Familydollar.com, Hobbylobby.com, Homedepot.com, Joann.com, Kmart.com, Kohls.com, Lowes.com, Officedepot.com, Partycity.com, Riteaid.com, Staples.com, Target.com, Toysrus.com, Walmart.com and Walgreens.com.
Watch the clock: You have seven days to get the price matched.
Sweetening the deal: In addition to matching competitors’ prices, Michaels will beat their price by 10% of the difference.
How to get your price matched:
- Find or buy your in-stock item at Michaels or Michaels.com.
- Keep all your receipts and records of sale, you have seven days.
- Bring proof of higher price to Michaels store at any register or if your purchase was at Michaels call Customer Service at 1-800-642-4235.
Staples
Who do they price match? Amazon.com (not marketplace items) as well as any competitor that sells in-store and online under the same brand.
In-store only. No price matching will be done on staples.com, only in store. However, if you’re in-store, you can show a lower price on Staples.com and get a price match.
Two weeks. Staples stores will match for up to 14 days from date of purchase.
How to get your price matched:
- Find or buy your in-stock item at Staples.
- Keep all your receipts and records of sale.
- Double check the same in-stock item at Amazon or Staples competitors.
- Bring proof of higher price to Staples store to an associate at Customer Service.
Target
Who do they price match? Target will match its own prices at Target.com as well as the following competitors: Amazon.com, Apple.com, BedBathandBeyond.com, Bestbuy.com, Barnesandnoble.com, Buybuybaby.com, Chewy.com, Costco.com, CVS.com, DicksSportingGoods.com, Gamestop.com, HomeDepot.com, JCPenney.com, Kmart.com, Kohls.com, Lowes.com, Macys.com, Newegg.com, OfficeDepot.com, Petco.com, Petsmart.com, SamsClub.com, Sears.com, Sephora.com, Staples.com, Ulta.com, Walgreens.com, Walmart.com and Wayfair.com. See Target’s full price-matching terms and conditions.
Two weeks only. You’ve got 14 days from the original purchase date to price match your item.
Can’t cross state lines. There are hoops to jump through: Target price matches itself only with limitations. In-store Target will price match Target.com. Target.com will price match your store. They do not price match their own prices, store to store.
How to get your price matched:
- Find or buy your in-stock item at Target or Target.com.
- Keep all your receipts and records of sale.
- Double check the same in-stock item at Target’s competitors.
- Bring proof of higher price to Target store at any register or if your purchase was at Target.com call Guest Services at 1-800-591-3869.
Target Holiday Price-Match Policy for 2023
Target is offering shoppers extra time to ask for a price match for the holiday season. Instead of the usual two-week window, you have until Dec. 24 to get a price match on items you’ve bought since Oct. 22. The item’s price must have fallen at Target, however — Target won’t match competitors’ pricing with this special policy. See the full details.
Walmart
Who do they price match? Walmart stores will price match walmart.com prices. Walmart no longer price matches competitors.
One price match per day. Walmart limits the amount of price matching you can do, one price match is granted per customer/household per day.
Double check your price match is valid. Scroll through Walmart.com price match exclusions to double check your item will be matched.
How to get your price matched:
- Find or buy your in-stock item at Walmart.
- Show proof of higher price to Walmart store to sales associate/supervisor at point of purchase.
The post Stores That Price Match: Price-Matching Policies From Target, Walmart, More appeared first on The Real Deal by RetailMeNot.
