Last researched and checked: August 12, 2026
Price matching used to be almost automatic at many big retailers. In 2026, that is no longer true. Some stores still match competitors, some only match their own lower prices, and others have dropped traditional price matching altogether.
This guide separates those policies so you know what is actually worth asking for before you buy. I checked the current policies from the retailers themselves, but policies can change without much notice, so always verify the official terms before making a large purchase.
The biggest 2026 surprise: Target no longer price matches Amazon or Walmart, and Walmart does not match competitor prices either. Both still have limited ways to match or adjust to their own lower prices.
Price Matching at a Glance
| Store | Competitor price match? | Own-price adjustment? | What matters most |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best Buy | âś… Yes | âś… Yes | Qualified competitors; identical, new, immediately available item |
| Home Depot | âś… Yes | Varies by channel/policy | Identical qualifying item; verification required |
| Lowe’s | ✅ Yes | ✅ Requests accepted | Identical in-stock item; shipping/delivery considered |
| Office Depot / OfficeMax | âś… Yes | âś… Within policy window | New, identical, in-stock item; up to 14 days |
| PetSmart | âś… Yes | âś… PetSmart.com in store | Direct-seller competitors only; no marketplaces |
| DICK’S Sporting Goods | ✅ Yes | Policy-dependent | Exact brand/model/color/size/quantity; exclusions apply |
| JCPenney | âś… Yes | âś… Up to 14 days | Identical item and current advertised competitor price |
| Kohl’s | ✅ Limited/channel-specific | ✅ Yes | Store and Kohls.com rules differ |
| Walmart | ❌ No competitors | ⚠️ Limited | U.S. stores can match qualifying Walmart.com price |
| Target | ❌ No competitors | ✅ Up to 14 days | Target.com/store/qualifying Target Circle prices only |
| Amazon | ❌ No | ❌ Generally no standard post-purchase match | Separate pre-order guarantee exists for eligible products |
| Costco | ❌ No competitors | ✅ Costco.com reductions within 30 days for many members | No match to other retailers or warehouse price for Costco.com |
| Sam’s Club | ❌ No competitor match | ⚠️ Club discretion | A club may choose to match another Sam’s Club club price |
| Apple | ❌ No traditional competitor match | ✅ Apple price reduction protection | 14-day window for qualifying Apple price drops |
“Own-price adjustment” means the retailer may refund or match the difference if its own price drops. That is different from matching a competing retailer.
The Major Stores: What the Rules Actually Say
Walmart: No Competitor Price Matching
Walmart’s current U.S. policy is much narrower than many shoppers remember. Walmart does not price match competitors. For a purchase made in a Walmart U.S. store, the store may match the price of the identical item advertised on Walmart.com, subject to restrictions, verification, and the manager’s final decision.
Walmart.com also says it does not price match competitor prices, Marketplace/third-party sellers, Walmart store prices, or a Walmart.com item that simply drops after you bought it.
Target: Matches Target, Not Amazon or Walmart
Target changed one of the best-known retail price-match policies. In 2026, the standard policy is about matching Target’s own lower prices: Target.com, eligible Target store pricing, or qualifying Target Circle deals. Requests can generally be made at purchase or within 14 days.
The item must be identical in brand, size, weight, color, quantity, and model number. Target’s current policy does not provide the old-style competitor match to Amazon or Walmart.
Best Buy: One of the Stronger Big-Retailer Policies
Best Buy still matches the current price of qualified online and local competitors for immediately available new products, as long as the exact requirements are met. Its official competitor list includes major names such as Amazon, Apple, Costco, Home Depot, Lowe’s, Sam’s Club, Target, and Walmart.
Third-party marketplace sellers are excluded. Clearance, refurbished, open-box, limited-quantity, bundle, coupon, financing, and certain holiday/event prices can also be excluded. Best Buy also says that if its own price drops during the applicable return and exchange period, you may request the lower Best Buy price.
Home Depot: Yes, With Like-for-Like Requirements
Home Depot still maintains a Price Match Guarantee. The key is that the competitor’s product must be truly identical. Home Depot specifically warns that even a different finish or slightly different model number can make a request ineligible.
Home Depot’s current policy also says the match applies to the product price itself rather than competitor shipping or service costs in the general policy. Specialized installed-project programs can have separate like-for-like rules, so always check the exact department.
Lowe’s: Strong Lowest Price Guarantee, but Read the Exclusions
Lowe’s says it will match a current lower price on an identical in-stock item from another local retailer. For online requests, shoppers can use chat or call for validation. Its comparison includes the item plus shipping or delivery cost.
Important exclusions include clearance, open-box, refurbished, seasonal and damaged merchandise; services and installation; BOGO and free offers; certain special events; membership-only pricing; wholesale pricing; and third-party marketplace sellers. Lowe’s also says its Lowest Price Guarantee cannot be combined with another Lowe’s offer, discount, promotion, or coupon.
More Stores That Still Price Match
Office Depot / OfficeMax
Matches qualifying in-store or online competitor prices on new, identical, in-stock items at purchase or within 14 days. Marketplace, clearance, liquidation, out-of-stock, holiday-sale and several other offer types are excluded.
PetSmart
Matches identical, in-stock products from direct-seller competitors in pet specialty, grocery, pharmacy and big-box retail, including official competitor websites. Marketplace sellers, Temu, eBay, auctions, clearance and BOGO-style offers are excluded.
JCPenney
JCPenney says it offers a price match guarantee. If an identical item has a lower currently advertised competitor price within 14 days after purchase, shoppers can request the difference. Certain services are excluded.
Kohl’s
Kohl’s is channel-specific. Stores may match a competitor’s in-store price and Kohls.com pricing. Kohl’s also says Kohls.com may match a direct competitor’s online price for an identical new-in-box item when the price is verifiable. Coupons generally cannot be applied to a price-matched product.
DICK’S Sporting Goods also advertises a Best Price Guarantee. The product must be the exact same brand, model number, color, weight, size and quantity and available from a qualifying retailer. BOGO, rebates, out-of-stock, pre-sale and several special-price categories can be excluded. Check DICK’S current policy before asking.
Stores That Do Not Offer Traditional Competitor Price Matching
Amazon
Amazon’s customer-service policy says it does not offer price matching. There are separate rules such as the Pre-order Price Guarantee for eligible not-yet-released products, but that is not general competitor price matching.
Costco
Costco explicitly says it does not price match other businesses or retailers. However, many non-reseller Costco.com purchases that drop in price within 30 days can qualify for a Costco.com price adjustment. Costco.com does not match warehouse prices because online pricing can include shipping and handling considerations.
Sam’s Club
Sam’s Club does not present a traditional competitor price-match policy. Its help center says each club has the option to match another Sam’s Club club’s pricing, but clearance and markdown items are excluded. That is very different from matching Walmart, Costco, Amazon or another outside retailer.
Apple
Apple’s published U.S. sales policy is about its own price reductions rather than matching another retailer. If Apple reduces the price of an Apple-branded product within 14 calendar days after you receive it, you may request the difference within the stated window. Limited-time reductions and special sales events such as Black Friday are excluded.
Price Match vs. Price Adjustment: Don’t Mix These Up
Competitor price match: Store A lowers its price because Store B has the identical item cheaper.
Own-price adjustment: The store refunds the difference because its own price dropped after you bought the item.
That distinction matters. Target, Costco and Apple can still save you money after a price drop even though they do not operate the same kind of broad competitor-matching program that Best Buy or Lowe’s does.
How to Get a Price Match Approved
- Match the exact item. Check model number, UPC, brand, size, color, capacity, quantity and condition.
- Confirm who actually sells it. “Sold by Amazon” can qualify where an Amazon Marketplace seller does not.
- Check stock. Many retailers refuse matches when the competitor is sold out or only has limited quantities.
- Use a live price. Old screenshots and expired ads may not be accepted.
- Look for member-only restrictions. Warehouse-club, loyalty, military and paid-member pricing is commonly excluded.
- Separate coupons from prices. A retailer may match the base price but refuse to stack a coupon on top.
- Ask before paying when possible. It is usually easier than chasing a refund later.
- Keep your receipt. It is essential for most post-purchase adjustments.
A Simple Script That Works
“I found the exact same model in stock for less at [retailer]. Do you price match that retailer? I have the current product page right here if you need to verify it.”
Keep it simple. The employee normally needs the model, seller, price and availability—not a five-minute explanation.
Why Price Matches Get Denied
- The model number is different by one character.
- The competitor is a Marketplace or third-party seller.
- The item is open-box, refurbished, used, clearance or liquidation.
- The competitor is out of stock.
- The lower price requires a coupon, membership, trade-in or financing offer.
- The deal is a BOGO, free-gift, bundle, rebate or limited-quantity promotion.
- The lower price is part of a Black Friday, Cyber Monday or special event excluded by the retailer.
- The retailer cannot independently verify the price.
Can a Credit Card Cover a Price Drop?
Sometimes. Traditional credit-card price protection is much less universal than it once was, but it has not disappeared completely. Capital One currently says price protection is available on some of its card products and can reimburse an eligible cardholder if a qualifying item is later advertised for less, subject to the card’s terms.
Do not assume that “purchase protection” means “price protection.” Purchase protection usually covers events such as theft or accidental damage; price protection is specifically about a lower advertised price after purchase. Benefits can vary even between cards issued by the same bank.
Before You Ask for a Match, Make Sure the “Lower Price” Is Actually Better
A $20-lower sticker price is not automatically a $20 savings. Check shipping, required memberships, installation, warranty, return policy, seller reputation and package size. The cheapest listing can become the worse deal once the whole transaction is compared.
Price Matching FAQ
Does Walmart price match Amazon?
No. Walmart’s current policy does not match competitor prices. A Walmart U.S. store may match the identical qualifying item on Walmart.com, subject to its restrictions.
Does Target price match Amazon or Walmart?
Not under Target’s current standard policy. Target now focuses on eligible lower prices at Target.com, Target stores and qualifying Target Circle deals, generally within 14 days.
Does Best Buy price match Amazon?
Yes, Amazon is on Best Buy’s qualified competitor list. The item must satisfy Best Buy’s rules, and a third-party Amazon Marketplace seller does not qualify.
Can I price match after I already bought the item?
At some retailers, yes. The window and whether it applies to competitors or only the retailer’s own price varies. Office Depot says up to 14 days for qualifying competitor matches, Target gives up to 14 days for eligible Target price changes, and Costco.com has a 30-day own-price adjustment policy for many non-reseller purchases.
Do stores match Marketplace sellers?
Usually not. Best Buy, Lowe’s, Office Depot and PetSmart are among the retailers that specifically exclude third-party marketplace or reseller offers in their price-match rules.
Can I use a coupon after a price match?
Do not count on it. Best Buy says a coupon cannot be used on a product that has received a price match. Lowe’s says its guarantee cannot be combined with another Lowe’s offer, promotion, discount or coupon. Kohl’s also restricts coupons on price-matched products.
The Rule I’d Remember
Before buying an expensive item, take 60 seconds to check the exact model at two or three competitors. If your retailer still price matches, you may get the lower price without changing where you shop. If it doesn’t, check whether it offers its own post-purchase price adjustment instead.
Official Policy Sources Used for This Guide
This article was researched using current official policy/help pages from Walmart, Target, Best Buy, Home Depot, Lowe’s, Office Depot, Kohl’s, JCPenney, PetSmart, DICK’S Sporting Goods, Amazon, Costco, Sam’s Club, Apple and Capital One. Retail policies can be revised at any time, including around holiday events and local promotions. Use the official-policy buttons above for the latest terms before making a purchase.