Prices change all the time, sometimes even at the same store you just bought an item. Whether you bought an item at a store and its price fell a week or two later or you saw an item on sale at one store, but the price is much higher at another, you know the struggle.
It’s frustrating to see prices change so much and to know that you’re throwing money out the window sometimes.
The good news is many stores price match which could put an end to your wasting money woes.
What Does It Mean to Price Match?
Price matching policies vary by store. In general, it means they will match the price another retailer is offering if it’s for the exact item, size, color, and model. But many retailers go above and beyond on their price match policy.
Here are some examples of store price match policies:
- A store may beat a competitor’s price by 5% – 10% by discounting the competitor’s price by that amount
- A store may match their online sales price that isn’t available in the store
- A store may offer a window of opportunity to bring your receipt back for a product you bought at their store that has since dropped in price
Always read the fine print and know the retailer’s rules before assuming you can take advantage of their price match policy.
14 Stores with the Best Price Match Policy
Unfortunately not all stores price match, but we’ve found the top stores that offer the best price match policies and share them with you below.
Target
Which stores they’ll price match: Target price matches with a lot of stores including Amazon, Apple, Best Buy, Costco, Chewy, CVS, Kohls, Lowes, Macy’s, Petco, Sam’s Club, Staples, Ulta, and Walmart.
Target will also price match Target.com prices.
How long you have to price match: Up to 14 days after purchase
Price match guidelines: The price must be valid at the time you request the price match. The item must be the identical model, color, size, weight, color, and quantity.
Walmart
Which stores they’ll price match: Walmart will only price match with Walmart.com. You can ask them to price match another retailer by calling customer service, but they aren’t obligated to do so.
How long you have to price match: Only at the time of purchase
Price match guidelines: The item must be in stock and identical to the item you’re purchasing in store. The price match cannot be on Black Friday prices, Cyber Monday deals, marketplace offers, or bundle offers. Online, Walmart offers one price match per day.
Best Buy
Which stores they’ll price match: Matches all local stores as well as Amazon, Dell, Crutchfield, HP, and TigerDirect online.
How long you have to price match: You can price match in-store or online immediately. You also have the entire return/exchange period to price match the same item if Best Buy lowers the price in-store or online.
Price match guidelines: The product must be identical in size, brand, color, and model. They will not match sales during Thanksgiving weekend or special sales, such as hourly or daily sales. They also will not match prices from marketplaces.
Sam’s Club
Which stores they’ll price match: All online stores
How long you have to price match: You have 7 days from your order date to price match.
Price match guidelines: It must be for the exact item down to its model, size, and color. The item must be in stock at the retailer you are using for the price match, and the price matched item is not eligible for any other offers or deals offered by Sam’s Club. They don’t match coupons, buy one get one free deal, rebates, closeouts, or private label competitor prices.
Bed Bath & Beyond
Which stores they’ll price match: Bed Bath & Beyond will match prices for any local or online retailers.
How long you have to price match: You have up to 14 days after the purchase date to ask for a price match.
Price match guidelines: The item must be the identical brand, model, size, and color and be in stock at the competing retailer. You can price match or use a Bed Bath & Beyond coupon but you cannot do both. The item cannot be a closeout or clearance item.
Nordstrom
Which stores they’ll price match: Nordstrom will price match most local and online retailers.
How long you have to price match: You can price match at the time of purchase or up to 14 days after the purchase.
Price match guidelines: The item must be identical and in stock at both the competing retailer and Nordstrom. The item must not be a clearance item, on a flash sale, or sold in a marketplace. The policy excludes designer items already sale-priced.
Kohl’s
Which stores they’ll price match: Kohl’s will price match most local and online retailers.
How long you have to price match: You must price match at the time of purchase and the easiest way is to do it in-store with the competing retailer’s ad with you.
Price match guidelines: The item must be identical to the product you’re price matching at Kohl’s. They do not honor prices during Thanksgiving weekend, marketplace prices, or any of their excluded brands.
Lowe’s
Which stores they’ll price match: Lowe’s will match any local retailer and these online retailers:
- Amazon
- Wayfair
- Walmart
- Target
- Home Depot
- Best Buy
- Macys
- Ace Hardware
- Bed Bath and Beyond
- Tractor Supply
- JCPenney
How long you have to price match: Lowe’s price matches at the time of purchase.
Price match guidelines: Lowes price match is for identical products that are in stock at the competing retailer only. It doesn’t include customized items, discontinued items, clearance items, or open-box products. It also doesn’t include prices from membership-based stores or pricing from auction sites.
Home Depot
Which stores they’ll price match: Home Depot matches most local and online retailers.
How long you have to price match: You can price match at the time of purchase either in-store or online.
Price match guidelines: If you find an identical in-stock item at a lower price, Home Depot will price match them if you have the ad or the online pricing. The price matching does not include seasonal or discontinued items, custom orders, volume orders, or open-box purchases.
Staples
Which stores they’ll price match: Staples price matches with most local and online stores.
How long you have to price match: Staples will price match for 14 days.
Price match guidelines: Staples won’t price match items during special events (there’s or the competitor’s), third-party vendor services, custom products, postage, warranties, or gift cards. You can do one price match per item per person, but they will use Staples coupons before the price match and honor both if the price is still lower.
J.C. Penney
Which stores they’ll price match: J.C. Penney will price-match any prices from local and online retailers selling identical products.
How long you have to price match: You can price-match an item at the time of purchase.
Price match guidelines: J.C. Penney price matches 365 days a year with no blackout dates. They don’t price match if an item is out of stock, but you can use coupons on a price-matched item. They don’t match clearance prices, bundled pricing, or open-box prices. They also don’t price match prices for services.
Office Max/Office Depot
Which stores they’ll price match: Office Depot/Office Max will price match items sold at Staples, Best Buy, Walmart, Target, or Amazon. They’ll also price match custom printing prices from The UPS Store or FedEx. They also price match their prices on OfficeDepot.com or OfficeMax.com.
How long you have to price match: You can price match an item for up to 14 days after purchase.
Price match guidelines: Office Depot/Officemax price matches all products that are identical in size, brand, color, and model and that are in stock. They also match service plans if they have identical terms. Price matching does not include delivery, installation, or extended warranties.
Michaels
Which stores they’ll price match: Michaels will price match in-store for the following stores and most stores online selling identical items. The stores include:
- ACMoore
- Amazon
- At Home
- Babies R Us
- Ben Franklin
- Cricut.com
- CVS
- Dollar General
- Family Dollar
- Hobby Lobby
- Home Depot
- Joann
- Kmart
- Kohls
- Lowes
- Office Depot
- Party City
- Rite Aid
- Staples
- Target
- Toys R Us
- Walmart
- Walgreens
How long you have to price match: You have up to 7 days after purchase to price match an item.
Price match guidelines: Michael’s will beat a competitor’s price by 10% if you can prove the lower price is for an identical item. This doesn’t include closeout or clearance deals, special buys, doorbusters, or storewide deals. It also doesn’t include pricing for custom orders, classes, or auction pricing.
Petsmart
Which stores they’ll price match: Petsmart will match any local retailers or online retailers selling identical items at a lower price.
How long you have to price match: You can price match at the time of purchase in-store or online.
Price match guidelines: The product must be identical and in stock. You must provide proof of the lower price and it cannot be for clearance or liquidated products or special event pricing.
FAQs – Price Match Policies
Does Walmart still do price match?
Walmart recently changed its price match policy. While they used to price match any retailer, they now only price match prices on Walmart.com and it’s up to the store manager’s discretion. Their price match policy has gotten much stricter and less flexible this year.
Does Apple price match?
Apple doesn’t price match (because they don’t need to), but there are ways around it. If you find a cheaper price on an Apple product at a retail store, you can bring the ad to Apple and they might reduce the price by up to 10%. There’s no guarantee, but it’s worth a try.
Can you price match online?
You can price match when shopping online, but it takes a little more effort. Typically you must call the customer service line to make your purchase and prove the lower price. It’s not as easy because you can’t show a cashier the lower price, but it can be done. You need patience and sometimes you might have to pay the higher price and wait for a refund.
Does Walgreens price match?
Walgreens price matches only to Walgreens.com and on a case-by-case basis. The item must also be in stock at the store for Walgreens to honor the lower online price.
Final Thoughts – Stores with a Great Price Match Policy
Price match policies change often, so it’s important to read the fine print before making a purchase. You never know when a store will price match, though, so it’s always worth checking. If you can’t price match, always look for a coupon to keep your costs down and more money in your pocket!
