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(BOSTON, Nov. 1, 2012) -- To
compete with online sellers, some brick-and-mortar retailers have finally begun
matching Internet prices, but according to a new ConsumerWorld.org
survey, tricky provisions in their policies may limit their usefulness and shoppers' actual savings. In recent weeks, both Best
Buy and Target have temporarily expanded their existing price-matching policies
to include some online stores in an effort to attract shoppers who might
otherwise make their holiday purchases over the Internet to save money. "Price-match guarantees can theoretically
save shoppers a fortune, allowing them to shop locally but also get the
advantage of lower online pricing," commented Edgar Dworsky, founder of Consumer
World. However, Dworsky, who even
successfully negotiated a price match on a coffin years ago, warned buyers that
price-matching policies today have complicated requirements and exclusions that
could trip up even the savviest of shoppers. Some of the imaginative restrictions
that limit the applicability of retailers' price-matching policies include restricting
price matches to only certain specific websites; limiting the items subject to price
matching to just certain categories such as electronics or appliances;
excluding sales advertised on Black Friday, Cyber Monday, or anytime during
Thanksgiving week; excluding other deeply discounted sales such as early bird,
night owl, or limited quantity sales; and not allowing price matches after the
purchase is made. A Wall Street Journal story even quoted a Best Buy internal document
that said stores will only match online prices "when it makes sense." Price-matching policies and low-price
guarantees, which have been offered for decades, generally promise to match a
local competitor's lower price for an identical in-stock item merely upon the
presentation of a printed advertisement showing that lower price. Most policies provide price matches both
before the sale and for a short time afterwards. Some sellers like Walmart and
Target have traditionally not even matched their own .com prices in-store, but a
recent company announcement has changed that at least temporarily for Target. Consumer World reviewed the price-match
policies of major retailers for in-store
purchases as posted on their websites, and discovered that once simple
money back policies have morphed into complicated plans that may actually limit
shoppers' savings: Store Basic Price Matching Policy Deadline for Claims Match Own Website? Match Internet Sellers? Key Exclusions, Limitations, Additional
Details If you find a lower price on an
identical in-stock product at a local retail competitor's store, a local Best
Buy retail store or BestBuy.com, Best Buy will match that price. Anytime
during the return period, usually 30 days. Yes 20
specific sites only: Amazon.com, Apple.com,
Bhphotovideo.com, Buy.com, Circuitcity.com, CompUSA.com, Crutchfield.com,
Dell.com, hhgregg.com, hp.com, homedepot.com, lowes.com, newegg.com,
officedepot.com, officemax.com, Sears.com, Staples.com, Target.com,
Tigerdirect.com, and walmart.com Nov.
18-26 excluded for online matches; Thanksgiving thru Cyber Monday excluded
in-store; Items that are limited quantity, clearance or "deal of the day"
excluded; only appliances and electronics, excluding accessories, covered for
online price matches. Additional exclusions apply. If you find a current
lower price on an identical, in-stock item from any local retailer, Home
Depot will match the price and beat it by 10%. At
time of purchase. After purchase, at the discretion of the store, but extra
10% unlikely. Yes,
for your local Home Depot store's online prices, but extra 10% off not given. No.
Matches
only at time of purchase. After purchase, any match is at the discretion of
the store. No matches on special orders or other Internet purchases. No blackout
dates. If you find a lower price on an identical item
at a local retail competitor, just bring in their current ad at the time of
purchase, and Lowe's will beat their price by 10%. At
time of purchase for extra 10% to apply. Within 30 days after purchase for
price match without 10%. Yes,
but extra 10% not given. Yes,
but extra 10% does not apply, and the cost of shipping is added to the
competitor's price. Special
order and clearance sale items excluded. Will also match competitors' online prices
including shipping for sales made at Lowes.com. No blackout dates. If you find a lower price on an identical brand
and model number currently available for sale at another local competitor's
retail store or at its online store (price plus shipping), Sears will match
that price. At
time of purchase or up to 14 days after purchase Yes,
but not at Sears Outlet, nor for "online only" nor limited time online prices. No.
Internet-only sellers are excluded. Items
that are limited quantity, doorbusters, or on sale for less than six hours
are excluded. Price matching does not apply Thanksgiving through Cyber
Monday. Other exclusions apply. If you find a lower
price on a new identical item, just show them the lower price when
you buy the item at Staples and they will match the price. At
time of purchase or up to 14 days after purchase Yes Only Staples.com will match online stores' prices, and only these
websites: Amazon, Best Buy,
Costco, Dell, Hewlett Packard, Office Depot, Office Max, Quill, Medical Arts
Press, Reliable, Sam's Club, Wal–mart, WB Mason and Xerox. Staples
stores will only match brick and mortar locations and Staples.com. Will not match "special event" sales,
including their own. Complicated rules apply for rebate items and shipping. If you find an identical in-stock item in a local
competitor's printed ad that is priced lower than it is at your Target store,
they will match the price. Normally 7 days, but policy extended to Dec. 24 for the 2012
holiday season for purchases made Nov. 1 or after. Normally,
no, but will match Target.com for the 2012 holiday season. Normally, no, but for in-store purchases, Target will match
selected online sellers November 1 through December 16: Amazon.com, Walmart.com, BestBuy.com, ToysRUs.com and
BabiesRUs.com. No price match for purchases made at Target.com. Percent
and dollar-off sales, sales requiring a coupon, limited time/quantity, and
"deal of the day" sales excluded. Price matches to B&M competitors and
Target.com from Nov. 1 – Dec. 24, excluding Nov 22-24. Additional
restrictions apply. If
you find a lower price on an identical in-stock item at a competitor's store
or on the Toys "R" Us website, they will match the price. At
time of purchase or up to 7 days after purchase Yes,
but not "online only" items at TRU.com No,
except for baby gear at a select list of national competitors. Percent-off,
doorbuster, limited quantity, "TRU online only" and coupon items excluded.
Not valid on Black Friday. No price matches
on TRU.com purchases. Other restrictions apply. If you find a lower
advertised price on an identical product at a local competitor, tell them at
the register and they will match it, no ad required. At
time of purchase only. For online
purchases, 7 days after purchase. No No.
For walmart.com purchases, only price reductions found at walmart.com within
7 days of purchase will be honored, and not during Thanksgiving Week and
Cyber Monday. Percent-off
and closeout sales excluded. In-store
policy does not apply after purchase. If you find a lower price on
a television on another qualifying
website or being sold by Amazon itself,
they will refund the difference. 14
days after shipment Yes
for TVs only. Price
matches on televisions only
allowed on these sites: bestbuy.com,
bhphotovideo.com, buy.com, buydig.com cdw.com, circuitcity.com,
compusa.com,costco.com, dell.com, electronics-expo.com, frys.com,
hhgregg.com, newegg.com, paulstv.com,
6ave.com, samsclub.com, sears.com, target.com, tigerdirect.com, us-appliance.com,
vanns.com, walmart.com Will
only match prices on TVs after purchase. Time-limited sales including
doorbusters and Black Friday are excluded.
Other restrictions apply. Store Basic Match Policy Deadline Match Own .com? Match Internet Sellers? Key Exclusions Consumer World suggests that
shoppers read and understand a store's price-matching policy carefully before
making a purchase or a claim. Some
stores, despite their stated policy, will balk at doing a price match, so be
prepared to argue your case with proof in hand. For stores that don't offer a formal low-price
guarantee, a savvy shopper can often negotiate a lower price merely by citing a
competitor's current price. If all else
fails, use a credit card that has its own "sale price guarantee" benefit
offering a refund if you find a lower price within 60 days.
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