Target and Wal-Mart are two stores known for their deals and budget-friendly prices. When scouring these two retailers for the best prices, consumers who want to score big savings arm themselves with coupons and apps. And it's possible to save even more at each store, if you take advantage of their price match guarantees. Understanding the price match policies will help you shop strategically and get the best prices on specific items.
When using the Wal-Mart price match guarantee and the Target price match guarantee, you should know exactly what is covered and what isn't covered under the policy.
WAL-MART PRICE MATCH EXCLUSIONS
Many savvy shoppers already know Wal-Mart as a store that's budget-friendly _ check your local Wal-Mart ad, and you'll generally find prices that are highly competitive. Experienced shoppers know to take advantage of further savings by using Wal-Mart coupons. And shoppers who want to save even more can take advantage of price matching at the store.
But before you do all your shopping exclusively at Wal-Mart, expecting to take advantage of its price match guarantee, know what's excluded so you aren't disappointed. Here are some key exclusions from the Wal-Mart price match guarantee:
_Prices from its Marketplace or from third-party sellers
_Prices from auctions or retailers requiring memberships
_Prices that cannot be determined independent of other items; this means in order to price match, the fees, shipping charges, etc. must be determinable.
_Price items from bundle offers, instant rebates, mail-in offers or any offers, including financing
_Prices that cannot be determined following a percent-off or dollar-off coupon on the item
_Items that other retail stores have marked as clearance, close-out, liquidation or limited quantity
_Any items that require a minimum quantity for purchase
_Damaged, used or refurbished items
_Misprinted or inaccurate prices
_Wal-Mart One-Hour Guarantee items
_Prices on items on Wal-Mart.com or with other retailers between Thanksgiving Day and Cyber Monday, including Wal-Mart Black Friday sale prices
Additionally, rain checks are not offered for items not currently in stock at Wal-Mart on available on Wal-Mart.com. And price matching isn't offered online in Alaska, Hawaii or Puerto Rico for in-store purchases at Wal-Mart.
TARGET PRICE MATCH EXCLUSIONS
Target is another store popular with shoppers looking for good prices on everyday items. Savvy shoppers know to check out Target ads and use the store's Cartwheel app to get even better prices than advertised Target sales. And to make comparison shopping even better, you can take advantage of the store's price match guarantee; Target's price match guarantee was updated in 2013 to include online price matching.
To make sure you know exactly what you're getting into as a Target shopper, though, you need to also understand what isn't covered in its price match policy. Here are some important exclusions:
_Clearance items, closeout items and liquidation sale items
_Items that are damaged or in an open package
_Refurbished, pre-owned, rented or lease-to-own items
_Storewide or unspecific offers
_Non-branded items
_Prices that only display on a website after a user logs into the website
_Incorrectly priced items
_Anything that's a typo
_Limited-time or quantity-specific offers
_Daily deals, coupon offers, credit card or gift card offers
_Financing plans, service offers or bundled offers
_Sales tax promotions
_Free items
_Rebates or mail-in offers
_Contract mobile phone devices or plans
_Optical wear
_Target Portrait Studio pricing
_Target Clinic or any Target Pharmacy purchases
_Product services such as warranties at Target or game reservations at Target
_Prices from Target's "Marketplace" stores and from third-party sellers
_Items purchased with the Cartwheel phone app
Also, note that Target gift card offers and Target coupons cannot be combined with a price match. Manufacturer coupons will be honored but only after a price match is made following the Target coupon policy. And items containing alcohol will be honored for the price match guarantee, but are subject to state regulations, which vary.
