This holiday season retailers are trying something new to reassure price-savvy consumers that they are getting the best deals. There have been many times where I’ve bought an item, only to see it at a lower price somewhere else. I’ve also rushed to a store that has an item on sale only to find that it’s sold out but I know a competitor has that plenty of the same product in stock. Other times you jump on your phone to see if it’s cheaper online, only to just leave the store and buy it online at home.

Many retailers are offering price matching this holiday to prevent “showrooming”. The term “Showrooming” refers to the practice of shopping for an item in-store, only to return home and purchase the item online or competitor for a lower price. It is becoming more convenient for consumers to do so because they are increasingly turning to their mobile devices to shop online for a product while in-store.

Before you start your holiday shopping, check out the guidelines and exclusions of each retailer’s holiday price match policy.

Please be advised that the Black Friday Price Match Policy is often a little different than the traditional policy or the holiday policy.

Toys “R” Us and Babies “R” Us
Toys“R”Us is offering “Price Match Guarantee” on all items available in its Toys“R”Us and Babies“R”Us stores nationwide. Now through Christmas Eve, the company will match competitors’ in-store pricing on identical items, any time a customer presents a local competitors’ current, valid print advertisement showing the item available for less. In addition, if a customer finds an item sold in Toys“R”Us or Babies“R”Us stores available for less on Toysrus.com or Babiesrus.com, the company will match the online price*.

Here are the guidelines:

• Price Match is valid for in-store purchases only.
• They will match all competitor store advertised prices.
• They will match Toysrus.com and Babiesrus.com online pricing in our stores, except for online-only prices.
• Items purchased must be identical to the items advertised (e.g., brand, color, size).
• The original, complete competitor ad, with valid dates, must be presented at time of purchase.
• Prices are matched after deducting any Toys”R”Us and/or Babies”R”Us coupon savings and other offers from our price.
• Price match is given at the time of purchase or within 7 days of purchase date with a valid receipt.

They will NOT match prices for competitors':

• Category-wide or storewide discounts
• Buy One Get One with purchase offers
• Gift with purchase offers
• Percentage (%) off discounts
• Out-of-stock or limited quantity items
• Doorbuster items
• Prices advertised on Black Friday
• Internet pricing for non-baby gear items
• Coupons

*For more info and exclusions on their policy please visit Toysrus.com.

Target
For the first time, Target will offer guests the ability to match select online competitors’ prices in its stores between Nov. 1 and Dec. 16. Qualifying online retailers include Amazon.com, Walmart.com, BestBuy.com and Toysrus.com. Additionally, Target has extended the timeframe for its Price Match Policy for the holiday season, and new this year, the policy includes Target.com. If a guest purchases a qualifying item at Target stores between Nov. 1 and Dec. 24, and then finds it for less at Target.com or in a local competitor’s printed ad, Target will match that price.

Price Matching: Target Prices and Competitor Printed Ads
Target will match the price if you buy a qualifying item at a Target store between Nov. 1 and Dec. 24 and find the identical item for less at Target, Target.com, or in a competitor’s local printed ad. Simply bring in proof of the current lower price and we’ll match that price at Guest Service.

• Must bring in original Target receipt when requesting the price match by Dec. 24.
• The item must be the identical item, brand name, size, weight, color, quantity, and model number.
• For matching Target.com, the retail price must be shown on the Target.com website and must be valid at the time the price match is requested. Target.com pricing must be validated by a Target team member.
• For matching competitor ads, the retail price must be shown in the competitor’s advertisement and must be valid the day the price match is requested.
• Competitor catalogs can be matched as long as the catalog displays a current date, retail price and meets all other competitor ad match qualifications.
• Price matches for prices offered Nov. 22-24 by Target, Target.com, or a competitor, are excluded
• Target reserves the right to verify a competitor’s advertised price and the availability of the item.

Price Matching: Select Online Competitors
Target will match the price if you buy a qualifying item at a Target store between Nov. 1 and Dec. 16 and find the identical item for less at Amazon.com, Walmart.com, BestBuy.com, ToysRUs.com or BabiesRUs.com. Simply show us the current online price using your mobile device, or bring in a printed page showing the current online price by Dec. 16. The online price and availability will be validated by a Target team member at Guest Service.

• Excludes “Marketplace” prices: Price matched items must be sold by Walmart.com, Amazon.com, BestBuy.com, ToysRUs.com, or BabiesRUs.com; prices from 3rd party sellers on these websites will not be honored.
• Excludes Target stores in Alaska and Hawaii.
• Limit quantity of 1 online price match, per identical item, per guest.
• Must bring in original Target receipt when requesting the price match by Dec. 16.
• The retail price must be shown on the competitor’s website and must be valid at the time the price match is requested.
• The item must be the identical item, brand name, size, weight, color, quantity, and model number.
• Online prices from Nov. 22-26 are excluded.
• Excludes online prices from competitors not listed above.

More Exclusions from the Holiday Price Match:

• Items originally purchased at Target.com
• Prices that only display on a website after guest login
• CityTarget stores
• Items that are out of stock at Target or a competitor at the time the price match is requested; rainchecks will not be issued for any item being price matched
• Items advertised as limited time / limited supply / limited quantity
• Paid membership club or paid loyalty programs (e.g. prices that require a club or loyalty card that is associated with a membership fee)
• Competitor coupon-required or gift card offers
• Competitor price matches on items where Target is offering a free giftcard
• Prices advertised only as a percent off or $ off
• Buy one, get one if the retail price is not shown in the advertisement
• Free product where no qualifying purchase is required
• Bundled offers (including Amazon.com add-on items) and special purchases
• Timed events (e.g., early bird, door busters)
• Sales tax promotions
• Damaged, refurbished, and open package product
• Clearance or closeout items
• Mail in offers or instant rebates
• Product services (warranties, assembly, etc.)
• Going-out-of-business liquidations
• Offers that include financing
• Used or previously owned items
• Pricing or typographical errors
• Target Portrait Studio, Optical, and Clinic offers
• Non-branded items (e.g., produce not marketed under a specific brand name)
• Contract cell phone plans and devices
• Daily Deals, Lightning Deals, Gold Box Deals, Today’s Deals, Deal of the Day, Deal Near to Me, Value of the Day, Special Buy
• Target team member discounts may not be used with online competitor price match
• All matches are done against pre-tax prices; guest is responsible for applicable taxes.

Visit Target.com/morereasons beginning October 22 to get more details, including terms and conditions.

Best Buy
Because customers indicate price is one of their most important considerations when purchasing a product, Best Buy will have competitive prices throughout the Holiday season and, with their Price Match Guarantee, Best Buy Blue Shirts (Employees) will, if asked, match prices of a competitor’s local retail store, another local Best Buy retail store and BestBuy.com on any identical available product for sale during the Holiday season (Nov. 22 through Nov. 26 excluded). Best Buy will also price match any gift purchase made between Nov. 4 and Dec. 24 until Jan. 24, 2013.

Best Buy will match the new, identical, immediately available current pre-tax appliance and electronics hardware products price for these designated major retailers: 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. Appliance and electronics hardware products include audio hardware, video hardware, cameras, camcorders, desktop computers, notebook computers, e-Readers, tablets, TVs, MP3 players, small appliances, major appliances, gaming handheld devices and consoles. Best Buy will not price match accessories, during the return and exchange period or the online prices of third party vendors (Marketplace Vendors) on major retailer websites. Valid for purchases made between October 7, 2025 - November 17, 2025 and November 27, 2025 - December 24, 2012. Best Buy may amend these terms at any time. All other terms and conditions of the Best Buy Price Match Guarantee apply. See Store for details.

For the second year in a row, Best Buy is offering free shipping on all online orders now through Dec. 24, 2012. If a customer visits our stores and a product is not available, Best Buy will provide free shipping to the customer’s home.

For more info on Best Buy’s Price Match Guarantee please visit BestBuy.com

Walmart
Walmart is committed to providing low prices every day. On everything. So if you find a lower advertised price on an identical product, tell them and they’ll match it. Right at the register.

They’ll match the price in the following types of ads:*

• Buy one, get one free ads with a specified price
• Example: Buy one for $2.49, get one free (BOGO)
• Competitors’ ads that feature a specific item for a specified price
• Preferred shopping card prices for specific items that are in a printed ad
• For fresh produce and meat items when the price is offered in the same unit type (lb. for lb.; each for each)

*The following are guidelines and limitations:

• They will match any local competitor’s advertised price.
• They do not require customers to have the ad with them to honor a competitor’s ad.
• Items purchased must be identical to the ad (size, quantity, brand, flavor, color, etc.)

They do not match the price in the following types of competitor ads:

• Items that require a separate purchase to get the ad price
  • example: “Buy [item A] to get [item B] for $C”
• Items with no actual price that require a purchase to get free product
  • example: “Buy both [items A & B] to get [item C] for free”
• Items that require a purchase to get a competitors’ gift card
  • example: “Buy [item A] to get a $B gift card
• Buy one, get one free (BOGO) ads with no actual price given
• Going out of business or closeout prices
• Percentage off
  • example: “All mascara, 40% off”
• Competitors’ private label price promotions

They do not honor:

• Ads when the actual price for items cannot be determined
• Internet pricing
• Misprinted ad prices of other retailers
• “Going out of business” sales or “closeout” prices

PayPal
From now through Dec 31st, PayPal will refund customers up to $1000 if they find that an item purchased through PayPal is advertised for cheaper elsewhere during the holiday season. When you check out with PayPal and find your item advertised at a lower price within 30 days, they’ll refund the difference. PayPal will also pay for return shipping, limited to $100 total and $25 per eligible item, and offers six-month special financing on purchases of $99 or more (pending credit approval).

Key Features:

• 30-day price protection (up to $250 per item and $1000 maximum during the promotion period) when you use PayPal as your payment method
• 7-day price protection on airplane tickets at the same airline
• Covers eBay Buy It Now purchases of new items from top-rated sellers

Sears

Retail Competitors - Stores
If you find a lower price on an identical brand and model number currently available for sale at another local competitor’s retail store, Sears will match that price. Just bring in the original advertisement to a sales associate at the time of, or within 14 days after, your purchase.

Retail Competitors - Online
If you find a lower online price (including any costs for shipping and handling, but not delivery) on an identical brand and model number currently available from a local competitor’s retail store honoring its own online price and the item is currently available for sale and delivery in your area, Sears will match the price of the merchandise. Just print the ordering page (including the costs for shipping and handling), and bring it to your Sears store at the time of, or within 14 days after, your purchase. If you are purchasing the item from sears.com, please fill out a Price Match form. Sears will not price match internet-only retailers.

Sears Branded Stores and Sears Branded Websites
If you find a lower price on an identical brand and model number from another Sears branded non-outlet retail format or website, Sears will match that price. Sears will not price match limited time Online Only events, special Online Price, or conditional Online Only Special Offers on our websites. Only items listed as Sold by Sears or Sold by Kmart are eligible for price matching on our websites. Sears will not price match any Marketplace items or any items sold by Sears Outlet or searsoutlet.com. All other rules for qualification apply.

Exclusions
Sears will not price match competitor’s items that are limited in quantity, offered for sale for less than six hours during a day or door busters. Sears will not price match items offered for sale Thanksgiving Day through the Monday after Thanksgiving, bonus or free offers, special offers, online-only offers, bundled offers, rebates, any special financing offers, coupons, protection agreements, clearance or closeout prices, or prices on used, damaged, returned, open box or display merchandise. Sears will not price match services (including, but not limited to, delivery, installation, and assembly), parts, Sears Licensed partner websites, digital services, Sears Presents or Shop At Home catalogs. Stores in Puerto Rico, Alaska, and Hawaii will not match any online prices. Sears will not match typographical errors or competitor’s prices that result from a price match. Sears will not price match Kenmore items at non-Sears Holdings retail formats.

Price Protection Policy
Buy with confidence from Sears. If an item you have purchased from Sears goes on sale for a lower price within 14 days of your purchase, Sears will refund the difference. All Price Match rules and exclusions apply including no Price Protection adjustments between Thanksgiving Day and the Monday after Thanksgiving.

To claim a Price Protection Policy adjustment, go to your original Sears store where the purchase was made with your receipt. If your purchase was made on Sears.com, please fill out a Price Protection form. You will be given a refund for the difference of the original selling price and the current advertised/reduced price. Apparel clearance merchandise and conditional Online Only Special Offers do not qualify for Price Protection Policy adjustments.

For more info please visit Sear.com/Pricematch