Target Updates Amazon Price Match Policy – What Savvy Shoppers Should Know

(KMDL-FM) It's a well-known ploy in the world of retail, "if you can find a better price, we'll match it," or in some cases, "if you can find a better price, we'll beat it." That's the facade that leading retailers such as Walmart, Target, Costco, and Amazon use to make us feel better about spending our money with them. As we head into the holidays, you might be interested to know that Target has updated its price match policy, and it could mean a big change in the way you shop.

You might wonder why I referred to the price match policy as a "facade". If you're not familiar with the term, it's basically a deceptive appearance; for example, a facade on a building is a fake front to hide what the actual building looks like. I call price match a facade because of the extra effort it takes to use it.

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Sure, it sounds good to offer an incredible price-match with any competitor, but when you consider all the legwork and burden of proof that is required with some of these policies, it's just easier to eat the few bucks you were going to save or to take the product back and go buy it at the cheaper store. Again, all that requires effort on your part, and our friends in retail know that we consumers don't like to exert ourselves when we don't have to.

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What Was Target's Old Price Matching Policy?

Under Target's old price-matching policy, the retailer would match prices from any major retailer. The retailers that Target considered worthy of price matching were Walmart, Best Buy, and Amazon. Under the new Target Price Match Guarantee Policy, there will still be price match opportunities, but the retailers included will not be the ones we have listed for you here.

As of just a few months ago, Target officially ended its price match policy with Amazon. So, no longer can you do that. It also appears as though the price matching with Walmart and Best Buy is out the window, too.

Revealed:  Changes to Target's New Price Matching Policy and Price Match Guarantee

Targets new Price Match Guarantee now only applies to Target's own prices. Basically, if you find a lower price at another Target store or online at Target.com or in the Target App, the store will offer that product to you at the lowest price.

But there will still be hurdles to climb if you want the discount. You'll need to verify that the product in question must be identical in brand, model, size, and color. The lower price must be available at the time of the request. You'll also have to provide proof of the lower price via a screenshot or a link to the product.

There are exclusions and exceptions that you will want to know more about if you want to pursue savings via the Price Match Guarantee. But actually, the best advice that we've found for shoppers through all of this is "if you can find the product you want at a lower price, just buy it". Remember, your time, trouble, and sanity have value during the holiday season as well, so let's protect those, especially if the monetary savings aren't that substantial.