Never Pay Full Price Again: The Ultimate List Of Stores That Price Match

Mastering the Art of the Match

Before you march up to the customer service desk demanding a discount, you need to understand the rules of the game. Retailers have strict policies in place to protect their margins, and if you do not play by their rules, you will walk away empty-handed. Here are the golden rules every frugal hacker must know:

• The items must be identical: This is the most crucial rule. The brand, model number, size, weight, and color must be an exact match. Retailers are sneaky; sometimes they ask manufacturers to create slightly different model numbers for their store specifically to avoid price matching. Always check the UPC barcode!
• The item must be in stock: The competitor you are trying to price match against must currently have the item in stock. You cannot price match an item that is sold out online or at a local rival store.
• Beware of third-party sellers: Most major retailers will gladly match Amazon, Walmart.com, or Target.com, but ONLY if the item is “shipped and sold” by the retailer itself. They will almost never match third-party marketplace sellers.
• Timing is everything: Many stores offer price adjustments after you buy! If you buy a blender for $100 and it drops to $75 a week later, you can often bring your receipt back to get the $25 difference refunded.

Key Rule: Never assume the cashier knows the policy perfectly. Always have the store’s official price match policy pulled up on your phone just in case you need to politely advocate for yourself.

Target, Best Buy, and Walmart

The biggest players in the retail game are fiercely competitive, which means they offer some of the best price matching opportunities available. Let us break down how to hack the big box stores.

Target

Target has one of the most generous price match policies in the game. They will match the price of identical items found on Target.com, select online competitors (like Amazon and Walmart), and local retail competitors. The best part? You have up to 14 days after your purchase to request a price adjustment if you find a lower price later. Just bring your receipt and proof of the lower price to the guest services desk.

Best Buy

Electronics have massive markups, making Best Buy a prime target for price matching. Best Buy will match local retail competitors and major online retailers like Amazon, Crutchfield, Dell, and HP. They will also match their own online prices. The catch? The item must be immediately available at the competitor. This is where you can save serious cash, like $150 on a laptop or $80 on headphones.

Walmart

Walmart’s policy has shifted over the years. Currently, Walmart store managers do not generally match competitors’ in-store prices. However, they WILL match prices from Walmart.com. So, if you are standing in the aisle and the app shows a lower price, show the cashier! It is a quick and easy way to save a few bucks on groceries and home goods.

The Script: “Hi there! I am super excited to buy this today, but I noticed it is listed for $49.99 on Amazon (shipped and sold by Amazon). Are you guys able to match that price for me?”

Building Your Savings at Lowe’s and Home Depot

If you are a DIY enthusiast or a homeowner, you know that tools, appliances, and building materials can drain your budget faster than a leaky pipe. Fortunately, the two biggest home improvement giants are locked in a perpetual price war.

How to Hack Hardware Stores

Both Lowe’s and Home Depot want to be your go-to spot for your weekend projects. When you are buying big-ticket items like refrigerators, washers, or power tool combo kits, a price match can save you literally hundreds of dollars. Always check the other store’s website before making a major purchase. If you find a lower price, head to the pro desk or customer service.

Niche Retailers That Want Your Business

Do not stop at electronics and lumber! Your everyday hobbies, office needs, and furry friends offer massive opportunities for price matching.

PetSmart and Petco

Pet supplies are notoriously expensive in physical stores. But did you know that both PetSmart and Petco will price match Chewy.com and Amazon? This is a massive hack! Next time you are buying a 40lb bag of dog food, pull up Chewy on your phone. You can easily save $15 to $20 per bag just by showing the cashier the online price.

Michaels and Joann

Crafters, rejoice! Both Michaels and Joann Fabric have excellent price match policies. Michaels will actually beat a competitor’s price by 10% if you find an identical, in-stock item at a brick-and-mortar competitor (like Hobby Lobby or Joann). Joann also matches identical, in-stock items from physical competitors and their online counterparts.

Staples and Office Depot

Need ink, paper, or a new office chair? Staples and Office Depot/OfficeMax both offer price matching against major competitors like Amazon and each other. Office supplies are highly commoditized, meaning you can almost always find a lower price online and force the physical store to match it.

Apps and Extensions for the Smart Shopper

You cannot price match if you do not know who has the lowest price! As a frugal hacker, your smartphone is your best weapon. Here are the tools you absolutely need to download right now to make price matching effortless:

• Flipp: This app digitizes all the weekly circulars and ads from your local stores. You can search for a specific item (like “strawberries” or “paper towels”) and Flipp will show you exactly who has it on sale nearby. Take this to a store that price matches local competitors, and you are golden.
• ShopSavvy: This is a barcode scanner app. While you are standing in the aisle, scan the UPC code of the product. ShopSavvy will instantly pull up prices from Amazon, Walmart, Target, and thousands of other retailers. It is the ultimate real-time price comparison tool.
• CamelCamelCamel: While technically an Amazon price tracker, this tool is essential. It shows you the price history of an item. If you see that Amazon usually sells an item for $40 but it is currently $60, you know to wait, or to find a store currently matching that historical low.
• Google Shopping: Never underestimate a simple Google search. Type in the exact model number of the item and click the “Shopping” tab to see a quick aggregate of prices across the web.

Scam Warning: Beware of fake shopping apps or browser extensions that ask for excessive permissions or your credit card information just to “compare prices.” Stick to reputable, well-reviewed tools like the ones listed above.