This post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure here.
A huge way to save on gifts and regular household needs is price matching other stores sales. Last year Target shook up the standard and started price matching online retailers. They announced yesterday that they will continue their online price match policy through December 21st of this year (and probably will extend it past then too). They did make a few small changes to the policy starting November 1st that you might want to know.
The Basics (no changes)
Who do they price match?
Target.com, Amazon.com, Walmart.com, BestBuy.com, ToysRUs.com, BabiesRUs.com or a competitor’s local printed ad.
How do you price match?
Buy an item at a Target store then find the identical item for less in the following week’s Target weekly ad or within seven days. Price match at Customer Service before your purchase or by bringing in your original Target store receipt and proof of the current lower price.
Can you use coupons with a price match?
You can still use a Target and manufacturer coupon. However the Target coupon will be applied before the price match. If after they take the Target coupon their is still a price difference they will then match the price. The manufacturer coupon will be taken off after the price match.
Is there anything they won’t price match?
With many online stores allowing 3rd party sellers, they will only price match deals that are sold directly by Amazon, Walmart etc. They also won’t match used, refurbished or liquidated items. For local ads they will not price match any store that requires a paid membership to get the price (i.e. Costco, Sams). Deals that have no price listed, only a percent off or dollar off amount can’t be price matched either.
Changes for the Holiday Season
The biggest change is that they are extending their price match window. Normally they will only match ads within 7 days of your purchase. Starting November 1st, If you purchase a qualifying item at Target between Nov. 1 and Dec. 21 and then find it for less at Target.com, a local competitor’s printed ad or one of the online retailers listed above they will match the price and refund the difference. That means you have 48 days (not including Black Friday) to watch a better deal!
New Store Pickup
Target is unveiling a new “Store Pickup” service. When you are shopping Target.com you will have the ability to buy items online and pick them up the same day at a Target store where the item is in stock. The service began rolling out in select stores in October and will be available in all U.S. stores by Nov. 1. Certain items – such as groceries, limited-time offerings like designer collaborations and merchandise sold only on Target.com— aren’t eligible for Store Pickup. Also, the service won’t be available Thanksgiving week this year, Sunday Nov. 24 through Saturday Nov. 30.
Black Friday?
Please know that they will not price match any deals on Black Friday.
Tips for Price Matching
If you have an Android or iPhone grab a free app from Amazon that will instantly price check items. Another app you can try is ShopSavvy which will show online prices at a number of stores (always pull up the stores page to verify the price is correct before trying to price match it though).
