Black Friday shoppers will soon descend upon stores and snap up the best deals when doors open. If you find the early hours and big crowds daunting, you should look into Black Friday price match policies.
SEE ALSO: Our Guides to the Top Black Friday Stores
Not every store will meet or beat the prices of its competitors on Black Friday. Read on to learn how price matching works, and see a breakdown of the various Black Friday price matching policies for Home Depot, JCPenney, and more.
How to Get a Black Friday Price Match
Be Ready to Show Proof
This is kind of a no-brainer, but you need to have proof of a lower price at a competitor if you want a store to price match. Bring a sales flyer with you that has the price you want the retailer to match. If online matching is available, load up the item's sale page on the competitor's website, and have your smartphone ready to show the cashier.
The fine print for most stores states that the price must be verified by store associates. While you should be ready to show proof, also be prepared for the associates to confirm the price on their own. They may verify it by calling the competitor or looking up the ad on an in-house device.
Be aware that you might get hassled if you show up with a photocopy of the flyer, or a screenshot of the price on your phone (rather than a live webpage), as those could potentially be doctored.
Also be aware that many retailers have different policies about price matching on Black Friday, so not all price matches will be possible. (More on this below.)
Know What Items Typically Qualify
Some retailers offer price matching, but only for select items. For example, most vendors won't honor price matching for items from third-party or marketplace sellers. And certain retailers say they'll match any local retailer, but "local" can vary from store to store. When in doubt, ask a manager.
What Is a Price Adjustment?
If you buy an item and it goes on sale shortly thereafter, you may be eligible for a price adjustment. Asking for a price adjustment from the store will sometimes net you cash or store credit for the difference between the price you paid and the new sale price.
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So if you buy a TV for $399, but the store later drops the price to $350, you could get cash back. Some retailers even offer price adjustments when you find a lower price at a competing store.
Many major stores only offer price adjustments within 14 days of purchase, although some retailers have longer or shorter eligibility periods. Not all retailers offer this perk, and of those that do, not all of them offer it during Black Friday. It's worth asking about your local store's policy for price adjustments before Black Friday.
Do Stores Price Match on Black Friday?
The short answer is: it depends. Some retail stores have different policies during Black Friday season, so it's important to understand the terms wherever you plan to shop. In fact, many major retailers explicitly exclude purchases made during the period of Thanksgiving through Cyber Monday.
Check out the guide below to learn more about some of the biggest retailers' policies on price matching. We've included info about whether they honor price matching for Black Friday, as well as their general policies for online price matching.
Black Friday Price Match Policies for 2019
| Store | Does It Price Match Black Friday Ads? | Matches Online Prices | Time Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon | No | No, Amazon doesn't officially match prices at all | Not applicable |
| Bass Pro Shops | No | Yes | At the time of purchase, or within 30 days of purchase |
| Bed Bath & Beyond | No | Yes, though some conditions apply | At the time of purchase, or within 14 days of purchase |
| Best Buy | No | Yes, for local and other select retailers (like Amazon, Crutchfield, Dell, HP, and TigerDirect) | At the time of purchase, or within the return and exchange period |
| Cabela's | Yes (Terms don't indicate Black Friday is exempt) | Yes, for select retailers | At the time of purchase |
| Dick's Sporting Goods | Yes (Terms don't indicate Black Friday is exempt) | Yes, for select retailers | At the time of purchase, or within 14 days of purchase |
| eBay | No | Yes, for select retailers | Within 48 hours of purchase |
| Home Depot | Yes (Terms don't indicate Black Friday is exempt) | Yes | At the time of purchase |
| JCPenney | Yes | Yes | Within 14 days of purchase |
| Kohl's | No | Yes, for select retailers | At the time of purchase, or within 14 days of purchase |
| Lowe's | Yes (Terms don't indicate Black Friday is exempt) | Yes | At the time of purchase, or within 30 days of purchase |
| Michaels | Yes (Terms don't indicate Black Friday is exempt) | Yes, for select retailers | At the time of purchase, or within seven days of purchase |
| Newegg | No | Yes, on items with the Price Match Guarantee badge | Within 14 calendar days of purchase |
| Petco | Yes (Terms don't indicate Black Friday is exempt) | Yes, for select retailers | At the time of purchase |
| PetSmart | Possibly (Terms indicate "special events," which could include Black Friday) | Yes, for select retailers | At the time of purchase |
| Staples | No | Yes, for select retailers | At the time of purchase, or within 14 days of purchase |
| Target | No | Yes, for select competitors | At the time of purchase, or within 14 days after purchase |
| Walmart | No | Yes, for select competitors | At the time of purchase |
Readers, what are your tips for getting lower Black Friday prices? Have you ever used price matching or price adjustments to get a Black Friday deal? Let us know in the comments below!
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