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Price Matching & Coupon Matching Policy Roundup

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Last Edited by uscpsycho October 2, 2009 at 01:21 PM
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I've noticed that people often have questions about price/coupon matching, or have trouble executing price matches. I'm hoping to provide all the resources you need for successful price matches. Some of these policies are hard to find so I hope this list is helpful to noobs and veterans alike.

My first rule of price matching is to bring a printout of the store's PM policy with you. Before you, go have the relevant sections highlighted, this includes anything having to do with rebates, coupons, etc. This puts them on notice that you are serious and have done your homework. Nothing beats the feeling of having a manager contradict the PM policy, then pulling the PM policy out of your pocket and pointing to a section (already highlighted) that negates what he said. When that happens, you'll get your PM 100% of the time, and the manager will feel like a tool. Hopefully there will be lots of other customers nearby when this happens Grin

These are the price matching policies of the most popular SD retailers, in alphabetical order. If you can think of any that I missed please add them to the wiki.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/cus...=1-1#match
http://bedbathandbeyond.custhelp...._topview=1
http://www.bestbuy.com/site//olsp...d=cat12098
bodybuilding.com - you have to call to get a price match but they will match competitor prices
http://www.buy.com/corp/support/g...rantee.asp
http://www.circuitcity.com/rpsm/c...okLearn.do sayonara CC
http://www.compusa.com/help/terms.asp?#pricing (thank you luv2save! - repped)
http://www.deepdiscount.com/helpp...ailability
http://www.endless.com/help/200104720/ (thanks wookiewoo - repped)
http://www.jr.com/information/pop...hnote.html
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?ac...olicy.html
http://www.officedepot.com/render...merService
http://www.officemax.com/omax/cus...ct=Pricing
http://onlineshoes.custhelp.com/c...p_faqid=21
https://help.overstock.com/cgi-bi...OOT_QH_L2& (thanks wookiewoo - repped)
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/nb_101...?adCell=AF
http://www.shoes.com/shop.asp?Sho..._guarantee
http://www.staples.com/sbd/conten...match.html
Target.com - http://www.target.com/b/ref=br_bx...e=10824271
Target B&M - https://slickdeals.net/forums/showthread.php?threadid=1441205
http://www.zappos.com/price_protection.zhtml RIP
http://www.tigerdirect.com/sector....asp#price

Wal Mart - According to fine print on TV commercial "Our stores will match the price of any local competitor's printed ad for an identical product. Not applicable to Walmart.com. Restrictions apply. See store for details." (see also: https://slickdeals.net/forums/showthread.php?sduid=151514&p=14677159#post14677159)


Home Depot - See post #22 - diff policy for Online & B&M

Toys R Us - Does not PM according to rtalber1 in post #9. Or maybe they do? See post #32.


Can anyone find:
Frys - See Wiki
FYE
LNT sayonara

Others?

One thing to note is that some of the retailers above do not PM other stores but it's still helpful to know what their PM policy is. For instance, Amazon will give you a price adjustment within 30 days if they lower their price. I've been told at least twice that they cannot adjust the price once the product has been shipped. Then I respond with the blurb about price adjustments, along with a direct link to that section, and viola, I've got my price adjustment and an apology. (Amazon no longer offers price protection.)
Good Deal?

Community Wiki

Last Edited by rj123456 January 12, 2014 at 02:25 AM
STAPLES

STAPLES also has a competitor coupon acceptance policy that is not mentioned in detail on Staples.com's price guarantee page. STAPLES's in-store price guarantee policy is also broader than is what's posted there as well. In-store corporate intranet has access to more aspects of the program, but even it is not up to date with current corporate policy for in-store price matching/comeptitor coupon acceptance. (Which is even broader)

Quote :
STAPLES retail stores accept printed or circular/newspaper coupons from other competing office supply and electronics retailers. Known retailers are: Office Depot, OfficeMax, Circuit City, Best Buy, Microcenter and Fry's among others.
According tothis [staples.com] Staples does not accept competitor, manufacturer or any other third party coupons.


Acceptance is by manager discretion according to how "local" the competitor store is (another state may not be accepted), but according to corporate the policy is firm.
If you have a valid coupon from a competitor for an item they stock, it should be accepted under their price match policy. If you encounter a clerk who doesn't know of the policy, take the issue to the manager, and if even she/he doesn't know (happens) feel free to note his/her name and the store number (usually at the top of a receipt). Then call the Staples "Office Of The President" toll free number. Ask them if the policy is in effect nationwide, and when they say yes (current as of this post), give them that name and number, and inform them of what occurred and the names of those involved. Say you'd still like to use it now, and they may keep you on the line while they reprimand them, and tell you to go back in and make your purchase.

STAPLES Office of the President: 1-800-338-0252 (Only use if after escalating your request to the most senior store manager available, you are still denied) -TA

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Walmart B&M
"Ad Match Guarantee: Our stores will match the price of any local competitor's printed ad for an identical product. Not applicable to Walmart.com. Restricitons apply. See store for details."


Walmart.com
We strive to provide you with the lowest prices possible on Walmart.com as well as in our stores. However, sometimes a price online does not match the price in a store. In our effort to be the lowest price provider in your particular geographic region, store pricing will sometimes differ from online prices. Our local stores do not honor Walmart.com pricing or competitor advertisements from outside of a store's local trade territory.

Please Note: Prices shown on Walmart.com are online prices only. Products that are shown as available in your local Wal-Mart store may have a different price. We are able to show you availability for select products in your local store in the Electronics, Jewelry, Baby, Pharmacy and Home departments. At this time, the Toys, Sports, Entertainment and Apparel departments do not have the local store availability feature.
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/catalog.gsp?cat=538350

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fry's
THE COMPLETE LOW PRICE GUARANTEE

"We Will Match Any Competitive Price." Before making a purchase from Fry's. If you see a lower, in stock, in-store price at a local competitor, Fry's will be happy to match the competition's price.
"30 Day Low Price Guarantee." If within 30 days of purchasing an item from Fry's you see a lower in-stock price at a local competitor with a low price guarantee. Fry's will cheerfully refund 110% of the amount of the competitor's low price guarantee. Or, if within 30 days of purchase, a local Fry's, or a local competitor without a low price guarantee has a lower price, Fry's will refund 100% of the difference. NOTE: All comparisons are based on price, excluding any applicable sales tax. Low price guarantee for notebook computers, microprocessors, memory, CD and DVD recorders, camcorders, digital cameras, and air conditioners is within 15 days from purchase date. To apply for Fry's low price guarantee, simply bring in your original cash register receipt and verifiable proof of a current lower price.

*All comparisons are based on in-store tagged prices at the time of request, excluding sales tax. Offer good on all fresh-boxed products of the same exact model in stock at a local competitor. We reserve the right to limit this offer to one of each model. Offer does not apply to wireless phones and pagers that require a service agreement. Offer does not apply when price includes bonus or free offers or one-of-a-kind or limited-quantity offers. NOTE Does not apply to expired ads. Fry's ads are valid for only stores listed in the ad.
http://www.marketplacelocal.com/PortalWeb/Portal.aspx?groupid=58&pagename=itemdetails&channelid=9&categoryid=80&subcategoryid=82&itemid=50973583

Fry's now matches many online retailers as well. Bring a printout of the most recent ad price (preferrably printed on the day in which you want to PM) and take it to Customer Service (the returns area) and have the associate get the manager currently in charge to authorize the price match. Alternatively, select the item you want, get a quote from a salesman, and let them know before purchase you'd like to do a PM. Most vendors such as Amazon (when sold directly from Amazon), Newegg, manufacturer websites, etc are allowed for PM'ing.

List of online retailers Fry's will price match as of 8/23/11
Amazon.com
B&HPhoto.com
BestBuy.com
Brandsmart.com
Buy.com
CDW.com
CentralComputers.com
Circuitcity.com
CompUSA.com
Costco.com
CVS.com
Directron.com
HHGregg.com
J&R Music/Comp
K-Mart.com
Lowes.com
Macmall.com
Macys.com
Microcenter.com
Newegg.com
OfficeDepot.com
OfficeMax.com
Pepboys.com
Radioshack.com
RitzCamera.com
SamsClub.com
Sears.com
Staples.com
SuperBiiz.com
Target.com
Tigerdirect.com
ToysRUs.com
UltimateElectronics.com
Walgreens.com
Walmart.com
ZipZoomFly.com
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Home Depot
NOBODY BEATS OUR PRICES
If any competitor tries, we'll beat their price by 10%. Guaranteed.*
*If you find a current lower price on an identical, in-stock item from any local retailer, we will match the price and beat it by 10%. Excludes special orders, bid pricing, volume discounts, open-box merchandise, labor and installation, sales tax, rebate and free offers, typographical errors and online purchases.

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ContentView?pn=SF_MS_In-Store_Low_Price_Guarantee
_________________________________________________________________________________

Lowe's
Everyday Low Prices, Guaranteed
We guarantee our everyday competitive prices. If you find a lower everyday price on an identical item at a local retail competitor, just bring us the competitor's current ad and we'll beat their price by 10%. If a competitor is offering a percent off discount, we'll reduce our current price by the same percentage discount that the competitor is offering. Our price guarantee does not apply to installation labor, to the competitor's closeout, special order, discontinued, clearance, liquidation, or to damaged items. Limited to reasonable quantities. Visit store for complete details.

Price Protection
As a benefit to buying online and selecting Store Pickup or Lowe's Home Delivery, you will receive the lower of the online store price or the price at the local Lowe's store you are shopping at time of purchase. For lumber and building products, local pricing is provided while shopping on Lowes.com.
http://www.lowes.com/cd_Everyday+...787241445_

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Who you calling cheap?
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uscpsycho
12-04-2007 at 01:48 PM.
12-04-2007 at 01:48 PM.
Quote from runnin17 :
Quick question that may have already been answered. Do receipts count as a legitimate form to get a price match with?

I recently bought an item at CC with a PM and was wondering if I could also go to Staples and use the CC receipt to have them price match an item.
That is very YMMV. Maybe it'll work if you get lucky, but generally that won't fly.
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phillygirl71
12-06-2007 at 10:54 AM.
12-06-2007 at 10:54 AM.
I could use some help with this one..
Shop Rite has the DS lite in this weeks ad for 114.99 with your price plus card.. reg 149.99- 35.00 w/ card..+ 114.99 But they dont have any/ any where.. Can i take this ad and PM somewhere else.. And where should i go.. It is a limited Quanity item.. Sears's policy does not say anything about the limited quanity .. But BB and CC do..
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uscpsycho
12-06-2007 at 12:31 PM.
12-06-2007 at 12:31 PM.
Quote from phillygirl71 :
I could use some help with this one..
Shop Rite has the DS lite in this weeks ad for 114.99 with your price plus card.. reg 149.99- 35.00 w/ card..+ 114.99 But they dont have any/ any where.. Can i take this ad and PM somewhere else.. And where should i go.. It is a limited Quanity item.. Sears's policy does not say anything about the limited quanity .. But BB and CC do..
The fact that getting this price requires you to have some kind of membership card means getting a PM is going to be a challenge.

And most places require that a local store have the item in stock before they PM. So if the ad specifically states that quantities are limited, it could make a store more likely to call and check availability before they agree to PM.

I could've sworn I saw some good deals for the DSL over in Hot Deals this week. Are you sure you can't do better than $115 elsewhere?
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phillygirl71
12-06-2007 at 01:27 PM.
12-06-2007 at 01:27 PM.
That is the cheapest i have seen in-store .Around here . I am trying my hardest to use cash/ instead of charge.. I even called the main office and they just dont have any.. I had when they do that.. According to the store they havent had any since black friday.. But the have been advertising it since..
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wizard7926
12-07-2007 at 06:59 AM.
12-07-2007 at 06:59 AM.
Just a quick question about Zappos -- I know they have their one-per-month thing in place, but it'll be my first time PMing them so just trying to get a grasp of the policy, really. Does it basically shake out to just 10% off of the lowest competitor's price you can find (110% PM)?

That's what I read it as, at least..
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ccupples
12-07-2007 at 07:58 AM.
12-07-2007 at 07:58 AM.
Quote from wizard7926 :
Does it basically shake out to just 10% off of the lowest competitor's price you can find (110% PM)?
No, it's 110% of the difference between Zappos' price and the competitors price. For example, if Zappos' price is $60 and the competitor is $50, the difference is $10. So Zappos will refund 110% of the difference, which is $11. Your net cost would be $49 from Zappos, which is a buck less than if you'd bought from the competitor.
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wizard7926
12-07-2007 at 08:01 AM.
12-07-2007 at 08:01 AM.
Quote from ccupples :
No, it's 110% of the difference between Zappos' price and the competitors price. For example, if Zappos' price is $60 and the competitor is $50, the difference is $10. So Zappos will refund 110% of the difference, which is $11. Your net cost would be $49 from Zappos, which is a buck less than if you'd bought from the competitor.
Well, that sure doesn't shake out to much..

I don't know why all the hubbub about Zappos, then. I suppose if Zappos' price is incredibly high then it would bring that 110% up considerably, but..

Thank you for the info. I get it now Smilie
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Who you calling cheap?
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uscpsycho
12-07-2007 at 09:56 AM.
12-07-2007 at 09:56 AM.
Quote from wizard7926 :
Well, that sure doesn't shake out to much..

I don't know why all the hubbub about Zappos, then. I suppose if Zappos' price is incredibly high then it would bring that 110% up considerably, but..

Thank you for the info. I get it now Smilie
There have been many, many times when the difference between Amazon and Zappos is $60 or more. So that 110% adds up pretty quick. Plus the benefits of Zappos are free overnight shipping and free returns. Most other places you have to pay for returns. So even if Zappos just had a 100% PM policy there would still be advantages to buying from them.
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Eyesparkle
12-10-2007 at 04:45 AM.
12-10-2007 at 04:45 AM.
Maybe there is a place for this info in your thread, USC. Lots of zappos PM questions. Would be great to direct folks here. nod Forgive me if it has already been spelled out.

How to PM to Zappos
Call Zappos and let them know that there is a pair of shoes you are interested in buying from their site, but have found the same shoes for less on another site, and would like to do a price match.

You will need to provide the Zappos rep with their item's sku# and the website with the better price. Best bet to help them find the right amazon item s to give them the ASIN to search (found under product details on the amazon page).

All of the following must match: Designer/Brand; Style; Color; Size

And the shoes must be available for order at both sites.

They also automatically upgrade you to 1 day shipping. Shoes ordered by late afternoon should arrive the next day.

New as of December: Each customer is permitted to apply this offer to a maximum of one (1) item during any given calendar month.

How to Figure Out Your New Price
Zappos price matches at 110%. (Meaning, Zappos will discount you 110% of the difference between their price and the amazon price.)

1. Find the difference between the Zappos price and the Amazon price.
2. Add 10%
3. Subtract that amount from the Zappos price.

Example: using Zappos price = $50 and Amazon price $10.
1. $50-$10 = $40
2. x 1.1 = $44
3. $50-$44 = $6 ... $6 would be your PM'd price from Zappos.


It's ymmv on how shipping may be factored in. Usually if the amazon item qualifies for Free Super Saver Shipping, the Zappos rep will honor that and not subtract a shipping amount. When sold from a vendor on amazon its about 50-50 whether the rep will deduct the vendor's cost to ship. You can also sometimes get the rep to subtract an additional $5 from PMs through endless.com for their negative $5 shipping promotion.

Happy hunting! Girly
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prfxshn
12-12-2007 at 06:38 PM.
12-12-2007 at 06:38 PM.
Quote from wizard7926 :
Well, that sure doesn't shake out to much..

I don't know why all the hubbub about Zappos, then. I suppose if Zappos' price is incredibly high then it would bring that 110% up considerably, but..

Thank you for the info. I get it now Smilie
I was able to PM a Garmin GPS that Zappos sold for >$400 to another website that sold it for $218. I ended up getting the GPS from Zappos for less than $200 shipped. That one shook out pretty good.
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reaper04
12-14-2007 at 09:10 PM.
12-14-2007 at 09:10 PM.
Quote from prfxshn :
I was able to PM a Garmin GPS that Zappos sold for >$400 to another website that sold it for $218. I ended up getting the GPS from Zappos for less than $200 shipped. That one shook out pretty good.
What online site sold it for $218? Please let me know; I am reading zappos PM policy and sounds fairly reasonable...thanks
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Smilinstar16
12-16-2007 at 04:10 PM.
12-16-2007 at 04:10 PM.
I had a question that someone could hopefully help me with... I bought a canon digital camera at Staples on the 12th with the free printer... now they are offering an instant free 1GB memory SD card. Do you know if I call them or go to the store, if I would be able to get the free SD card?? Thank you in advance!!
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rmboy211
12-17-2007 at 02:15 PM.
12-17-2007 at 02:15 PM.
Walmart does PM to other stores. What they dont do is PM percentages if the final and original price arent listed in the ad.
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KingHippo
12-19-2007 at 08:41 PM.
12-19-2007 at 08:41 PM.
Shoes.com has recently changed its price matching policy to mirror the change at zappos.

Specifically, with shoes.com, the policy has always been that you get 115% of the difference on a maximum of 3 shoes of the same style. Now, you may only take advantage of the price protection on 1 pair of shoes per customer per month.

From the notes section at shoes.com [shoes.com]:

Quote :
Offer applies to a maximum of 1 pair of shoes per customer per month.
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ifern92
12-28-2007 at 04:28 PM.
12-28-2007 at 04:28 PM.
i hate pricematching at cc
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