How price-matching can save you money this holiday season (2024)

Shoppers are looking for the best deals possible when they are scouting the digital shelves of major retailers like Amazon and Walmart. But one tool you need to be equipped with before placing an order online, or having your item scanned at the store is this: What is the price-matching policy?Price-matching policies sound exactly like what you may be thinking. It’s a policy by a store to match the price of the item you bought from them if your item’s price is lowered at a competing store.So say, for example, you buy an air fryer at Target, but it turns out that after you bought it, you noticed a lower price at Amazon. Knowing Target’s price-matching policy could help you determine if Target will match Amazon’s price and in the process, save you money and net you the best deal possible.But not all price-matching policies are the same. In fact, they’re very different and could depend on a number of factors. So let’s go one-by-one at major retailers to see what their price-matching policy looks like so you’re better equipped the next time you go shopping.AmazonAccording to Amazon’s customer service site, Amazon strives to maintain low and competitive prices on everything the online giant has to offer.As of this writing, Amazon doesn’t offer price matching, meaning if you purchase something off of Amazon and see it lower at Walmart, don’t expect Amazon to match that.WalmartAs of Jun. 7, 2023, Walmart’s price match policies differ between their stores and Walmart.com.If you bought an item at a Walmart store and see that the price of the identical item advertised on Walmart.com is lower, then Walmart will match the lower price for you. But there are several conditions you need to know about.The customer must inform the Walmart associate of the price at the time of checkout.The identical item (i.e., size, model, quantity, brand, or color, etc.) must be currently in-stock and available to purchase on Walmart.com at the time the price match is requested.Some price match transactions require a Walmart supervisor approval, which could lead to an extended transaction time to validate the eligibility of the requested price match before the price will be matched. We reserve the right to limit quantities to one-per-customer, per item, per day.Quantities are limited in New Mexico only for the purchase for resale.Price match of items sold on Walmart.com are not available in Alaska, Hawaii, or Puerto Rico.In addition, Walmart does not match competitors’ prices both in-store and online. The retailer will also not match items purchased from Walmart.com that later decrease in price on the site, and they won’t do a price match offered by third-party sellers on their site.TargetRight now, through Dec. 24, Target is offering customers the opportunity to request a price match if you purchase an item in-store or online and the price goes lower at Target on or before Dec. 24.Customers can request the price match at checkout and must have proof of the price you want to watch being lower and the original receipt used. Target customers can also do this online at contactus.target.comAccording to Target’s price match guarantee page, your item may qualify for a price if match if:It's an eligible Target product, bought from Target that day or in the past 14 days. Or, starting October 22, 2023, if you purchase an eligible item and the price goes lower at Target on or before December 24, 2023. See Price Match Policy for full details.It's the identical item, brand name, size, weight, color, quantity and model number.It's in stock at a lower price, right now, from a select list of competitors - on their sites, or in their local print ad. Competitors Target matches include Amazon, Best Buy, Costco and Walmart. You can view a full list here.The price is lower right now from Target.com or your local Target store.Target won’t match the price you show if it’s from a third-party seller or sold by Target Plus. They also won’t match a lower price you see from a different Target store. You can see all the details here.CostcoAccording to Costco’s customer service page, the wholesale shop does not price match with other retailers.They do offer price adjustment, which means that if something drops in price after you buy it from Costco, then Costco will reimburse you the difference. It works for items purchased at Costco or on Costco’s website.Customers have 30 days to request a price adjustment, and you don’t need a physical receipt for a price adjustment because all your receipts are saved to your membership account.If you’re doing your price adjustment in-store, simply head to the membership counter at the warehouse you made the purchase, then go to the returns counter and they’ll issue your reimbursem*nt. If you’d like to do it online, you can click here.Best BuyAccording to Best Buy’s website, your product may be eligible for price matching if it is new and an identical match to a qualified competitor, immediately available at that competitor and is not a part of Best Buy’s exclusions list.The list of Best Buy’s qualified competitors they price match with include Abt, Amazon, Apple, B&H Photo Video, BJ’s Wholesale Club, BrandsMart USA, Conn’s, Costco, Crutchfield, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Home Depot, Lowe’s, Menards, Microcenter, Nebraska Furniture Mart, P.C. Richard, RC Willey, Sam’s Club, Target, and Walmart.Items excluded include bundle offers, subscription services, pre-owned items and video game discounts. You can view the full list here.Similar to Target, Best Buy is running a holiday price match guarantee where if a price on an item goes lower at Best Buy through Dec. 30, it can be price matched through Jan. 13, 2024 with Best Buy’s holiday price match guarantee.Macy’sMacy’s doesn’t price match other retailers, but they do offer price adjustments for their own products. If you find an item was reduced in price within 10 days of when you bought it, Macy’s will refund the difference in price.You have to present a receipt or order number for Macy’s to adjust the price, and the purchase must have been made without the use of a promo code. You can submit a price adjustment request by clicking here.Home DepotHome Depot does offer price match guarantee with the “Low Price Guarantee” offer. For online purchases, the price match guarantee includes the price of the item(s) plus shipping costs.The items you’re trying to get a price match on must be available from the competitor to ship to your location, and Home Depot will only honor requests submitted directly from the person who made the purchase.For in-store purchases, if a customer finds a lower price on an identical, in-stock item from any other retailer, Home Depot will match the price. All you need to do is bring the ad, printout or photo with you to a register for validation.Seasonal merchandise, special order products, third-party items are among some of the exclusions that apply. You can view the full list here.JCPenneyJCPenney offers a price match guarantee on any retailer’s in-store and online prices, including items sold by Amazon.com. However, they won’t do a price match on a third-party sale on Amazon, nor will they do a price match on purchases made at marketplaces, deal websites and auctions.If you are shopping at a JCPenney and notice that the price offered on JCPenney’s website is lower, they’ll match the price in-store for you. Any qualifying discounts will also be applied when price matching.JCPenney won’t price match if the item is out of stock at a competitor. It’s also worth noting that shipping charges are not included in the price match.Kohl’sAccording to Kohl’s price match policy page, you can request a price match on a competitor’s in-store price and will also match Kohls.com pricing on an identical item.Kohl’s will not price match a competitor’s online pricing, and any prices advertised by Kohl’s or a competitor during the week of Thanksgiving and the week of Cyber Monday will not be matched.The quickest way to receive a price match from Kohl’s is to visit your local Kohl’s store with a copy of the competitor’s local ad showing an identical product you wish to purchase from Kohl’s. The ad has to include the current price, a description of the item and the competitor’s current price on that item.You can view more information here.Sam’s ClubAccording to Sam’s Club’s website, you can request to match another Sam’s Club’s pricing, but clearance or marked-down items won’t be matched.Sam’s Club does not price-match competitors.Lowe’sLowe’s offers a “Lowest Price Guarantee” with exclusions.For in-store, if you find a current lower price on an identical in-stock item from another retailer, Lowe’s will match the price. You have to show the website, ad, printout or photo to an associate at your local Lowe’s to validate it. It also covers the cost of shipping and delivery.You can also submit a request online by clicking on the link here.Lowe’s will not match a price if the following exclusions apply:Competitors’ pricing for professional services, including labor and installation costsCustom products, meaning Special Order customized or configured products (e.g., custom cabinets, windows, blinds)Discontinued, used, refurbished, open-box, clearance, seasonal, closeout or damaged merchandiseRebates; free offers; Buy 1, Get 1 offers; Buy More, Save More offers; sales tax promotions or tax-free events; or specific one-time-only promotions, including seasonal promotions (e.g., Spring Black Friday, Black Friday and various holiday promotions)​, special events and/or bundle offersDiscounts available to select groups of customers, such as military or loyalty membersVolume or wholesale discount pricing offered by competitors; if you’re a Lowe’s Pro customer looking to buy a significant quantity of a specific item, please visit your local store to see if a Lowe’s volume discount is availablePricing from membership-based retail wholesalersThird-party marketplace sellers, auction sites or closeout/discount sites (e.g., we price-match items sold by Amazon.com but not by a third-party seller on Amazon.com)Pricing from bid and auction websitesSales taxAdvertising pricing errors or misprintsCredit terms and finance offersPrices from one Lowe’s store to anotherPrices from one ZIP code to another