What are your Black Friday price match strategies?

Frank's Pricematching FAQ
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Many stores will allow you to pricematch on Black Friday. YMMV for many reasons though.

Store policies can change from year to year and even individual stores/managers may have different policies.

I've taken Best Buy's sale ad and pricematched DVDs over at Walmart. Instead of waiting around in the long lines and heavy traffic at Best Buy, I got in and out of Walmart in no time at the same price.

Pricematching is the best way to do it. We didn't do much shopping last year (I think we did everything at Target actually), but the year before, we pricematched everything at ToysRUs. We were there when the store opened and they price matched everyone else's ad with no problems. Our son was 5 then, so most of what Santa delivered was toys, but this year may be different. He's older, so it's becoming more expensive toys and electronics.

I purchased a computer from BB on wednesday and tried to PM it on friday morning and was shot down and was asked to do a return & rebuy and they had a 15% restocking fees, so watch out if u r trying to PM items with restocking fees

Sounds like a lot of horse crap at BB. If the sale is on a major CC, than you might get them involve on your side. It been a while since my last dealing with BB. While they replaced my PS2, the sale staff attempted to sell me another service contract (only one replacement for my money). I got attention by raising my voice and asking why BB wanted to f_ me over a few times

I never tried pricematching, to be honest...I might try it this year, but I won't pass up an early venture to the "hot deal" stores in hopes of a pricematch-- because if things go wrong, you just passed up a nice deal in an effort to save a little more time and money.

Don't forget that some deals can't be pricematched-- does anyone remember BF 2002, Best Buy had a 75GB Western Digital hard drive for $49 (at the time it was a steal)...but the only problem is that Western Digital doesn't MAKE a 75GB drive? Obviously that prevents people from pricematching it elsewhere. Inside the box everyone got a slip saying "Congratulations, you received an 80GB drive instead".

I have never attempted a price match. For the most part, the stores don't want to deal with it because of the huge lines.

I prefer just to go out and get all the deals on my list!

I did do a couple of price matches last year, and they happened to work well. One was after we visited the store offering the particular deal but was out, so PM'ed at competitor. Other was just for convenience since we were there already. In that case it was harder to get someone to do it, due to the long lines they try to serve first. Also be carefull with the specific times that an offer may be valid for, since they probably will only PM during same times. They may also offer excuses like needing to check availability at the competitor before PM-ing, which obviously would be nearly impossible.

How well do return/buys work? I guess you would be okay cause then you can get a receipt within specified dates for rebates?

I price match all my ads at Walmart. Even throughout the year I price match there. Of course it has to be the same exact item to price match, but it is so convenient. I get all my ads in order and then take them to Walmart on Black Friday. I get to my 24 hour walmart and start shopping before they open the black friday crates by getting my oher competitors items. I throw them all in thebasket have a relative get in line at the register and then take my new basket to get all of Walmarts Black Friday deals. By the time I am done, I have all my christmas shopping over with and don't have to deal with going to other stores. I do this throughout the year with Walmart matching all of my grocery stores ads and believe me I save so much money this way.

It's pretty YMMV. I heard some grumblings by people at various stores, where managers weren't even allowing people to do returns because of this.

Some stores were also pulling items from their shelves that were in the black friday ad, so people couldn't pre-buy. I'd expect to see more of that.

On regular sale weeks it's pretty easy.

Assuming you were able to buy on sale item before BF sale, and went back to BB to PM,
only with recepit, they HAVE to PM, don't they, since they have the 30day price guarantee policy?
I cannot see how they can get away with that.

they could allow you to PM and give you back the difference to your credit card. But often times return/rebuys involve a rebate. If you don't actually get the item re-rung, then you wouldn't qualify for the rebate on that day. Makes the whole thing rather complex.

Also, many PM policies now exclude pricematching to "Special Sale" pricing. Which makes even regular pricematching more difficult. So, some stores could claim this is a special sale and deny it. Claiming it's a special One Day Only sale.

Either way, it doesn't hurt to try. Just not guaranteed in every store as they have been trying to "make up" reasons to deny.

Depending on the item, it's easier for me to just pricematch to another store that doesn't have the same sale rather than return/rebuy.

I see, so much to learn, thanks!

Hello fellow shoppers....I called WM corp offices today to ask them if they were going to PM other BF ads....YES, Lee said, they will PM the ads.

My (24 hour) Walmart closes Thanksgiving Night and doesn't open back up until 6 or 7 am on Black Friday. My best-friend and I do an annual BF shopping trip (just for fun, really) and we price matched a few items there last year with no problems.

The only thing for people to remember is, they will not match BOGO or % off sales.

We like getting up really early and going around to all the different stores, but in the end Walmart is always the old stand-by.

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Just a warning. Kmart has been having some super daily toy buys around here - one great toy price per day for the past two weeks, but problem is they only stock a few of the special toys. I went to Toys R Us to pricematch and they called three local Kmarts, found out they were out of the item, and refused to PM. I thought that was pretty lousy.

What is BOGO?

Buy One Get One

Not sure if you all know this but Toys R Us will NOT be price-matching this year! There is a disclaimer on thier website and I also called up quite a few stores in my area to confirm this and they all said the same thing, no pricematching on BF whatsoever

I can't seem to find pricematch policies on anybodys websites...it also seems they've taken down the links to email customer service for an answer. Does anyone have a copy of the pricematch policies for Wal-Mart, Target, Toys R Us, Kmart, EB Games, or Best Buy?

Thanks!

Pricematching FAQ



That's best buy from the thread i linked. Don't know about the others that you mentioned. Someone else will have to cover those

Here is TRU's PM policy taken right from their website:

Competitor must have advertised item in stock and ad must show specific item and price. Prices are matched after Toys “R” Us coupon savings have been deducted from original price. Does not apply to percent-off, telephone sales or internet retail web sites with the exception of the R Us websites (e.g. toysrus.com). Price Guarantees for R Us web sites should be done when a guest requests and should be verified by checking the current price on the internet site. The final Price Guarantee amount would be the price of the .com item plus the cost to ship it Price Guarantee only given within 14 days of original purchase date with a valid receipt. Price Guarantee is not in effect for other retailer special offers or doorbusters from Thursday, Thanksgiving Day, through Sunday.

NO COMPANY (target, toyrus, kmart, etc) is going to price match this year for the Doorbusters or the 3 day sale except WALMART. I Was just at Toy R US and they said this is there policy now and they said all the company are doing that except Walmart.

I live in Gastonia, NC and we went to Toys R US yesterday to purchase the new Ninetendo DS. We have always shopped Toys R US the day after Thanksgiving and they will match anyone's ad price. This year there is a small white piece of paper at the register that states We will not price match from 11/26-11/28. I want all those die hard shoppers to be aware of this. If I would not have gone to Toys R Us yesterday and just showed up as i always do the morning after Thanksgiving and sat outside in the cold for 2 hours before the store opens, I would have been very upset the day after Thanksgiving. I did not buy my Ninetendo DS so Toys R US lost a sell of $300.00 plus yesterday from me and will not get my group of shoppers sell's the day after Thanksgiving.

Just need to let you all be aware of the sittuation

Sad but seemingly accurate. The only exception that I am aware of is Meijer -which is a regional store.

People NEED to be aware in advance, or there will be a lot of disappointed, frustrated and angry shoppers - and for once it will NOT really be the store's fault as they seem to be trying to get the word out.

Can someone help me? I want to buy the emachine that is on sale for $279.98 at Office Depot. The closest to me is in NY (I'm in CT). Do you know which stores would price match this? I am very new to this and realy appreciate the info!!

Thanks so much!!

Circuit City will not PM on BF.. as a current employee it is against there rule of thumb to PM on BF/anything "limited" ...get pissed at the customer service associates all you want but you will only make people behind you waiting a bit more pissed. Just forwarning you. Dont waist precious seconds for other customers either if the associate can special order or raincheck something you want not in stock.. you will also get a no BF. Thanks.

How would you know if you can price match that black friday sales?

Thats not what the manager at my local Circuit City told me when I was in there two days ago.

YMMV as differant store managers have the flexibility to vary some policy, especialy if the store is excessivly busy.

So it sounds like avoiding Circuit City and going elsewhere with THEIR ad to pricematch is your best bet anyway. If you take an ad to Staples and they have the product they give you the price plus and additional 10% off.

Sears and Wal-Mart both pricematch. In fact Wal-Mart really encourages you to bring in other's flyers. The advantage is that you will get that price that day. Like the Laptop at CC. You still have to pay more than 499 and send out all those stupid rebates... when all you have to do is take it to Wal-Mart (they have the same exact model) and they will give it to you straightup for 499. AND YOU CAN PUT IT ON LAYAWAY. Circuit City does not allow you to put computers on layaway.

Plus since the other stores probably don't have that item on sale then you will also have better chances at getting it if you are pricematching.

Shop on the web, check out model numbers, or go to the stores early in the week.

most of all.. HAPPY SHOPPING!

I called my local Walmart today & they told me that they will price match on Black Friday if it's a regular sale, BUT NOT a door-buster or if it's only on sale for a few hours (ie the 6 - 11 sales).
Good Luck All!

There are some ODs in CT - what part of CT? better yet - you can look for the nearest store here: http://www.officedepot.com/stores/input.do?requestor=

If that doesn't work, they MIGHT be available to buy online at ODs web site.

If you price match (PM) you have to match the exact model at another store and that store must be willing to PM OD. If your local store is smart, they will claim that since OD doesn't have a store (B&M) in your area, they will not PM. Your best chances, from what I have heard are walmart and staples (maybe). That is IF they carry the exact model - check their web sites.

I'm sorry to say that - well, Scarsdale is lovely this time of year. Look on the bright side - I can't see people in well heeled Scarsdale getting in line outside ANY store (ok, maybe Tiffany's) at 3am!!

Good luck - sorry no really good news on that - post back if you have more ?s.

I have some new citibank credit cards this year that have price protection. From the looks of it, I can buy in advance and then get the adjustment.

Need to see if there are any exclusions though.

Citibank® Price Protection Program

Can't stand seeing something you just purchased advertised for less?
We offer sympathy. (And a refund.)
You can save up to $1000 on purchases you've already made with our Price Protection Program. Here's how easy it is: if you see a printed advertisement for the same item by the same manufacturer for a lower price within 60 days after you make a store purchase with your Citi Diamond Preferred Rewards Card, you're in luck. Citi will refund the difference, up to $250/$1,000 per item/annually.

* The Citibank® Price Protection Program is underwritten by Triton Insurance Company. Certain conditions, limitations and exclusions apply. Details of coverage will be provided once you become a cardmember.

I always bring all the sale ads to Wal-Mart to PM. They do it right at the registers, so it doesn't take any extra time. I will be p'od if this year they ban PM on Black Friday.

Just to let you know BB price matches anything with in 30 days of the date of purchase. Yes, there normally is a restocking fee of 15% if you were to return the product just for the hell of doing so but with price matching that should not have occurred I would go back and ask to speak to a manager. (I work at the CS desk at a local BB.)

I admit I've been shopping BF for years and I have never actually tried the "buy in advance, PM on BF" thing. Does it actually work for stores that are generally overcrowded, like BB and CUSA? Any tips from someone who's actually had success?

The only card that I know still have price protection program is Citibank Diamond Preferred card or some other Citibank cards.

Link

Me too. I'll be talking to our local Wal-mart BEFORE bf to find out if it will be the same here.

I have this card and its great for PM. It also doesn't factor in any PM you might do at the store. So for BF where I have the ads in advance I'll buy something the week before than PM at the store. This has two advantages

1) I don't have to wait in a long checkout line as typically the customer service line is shorter. I have yet to have a problem with a store matching its OWN price (if this comes up I always have the item in the car and would just return and rebuy. To do this you need to be at the store during the doorbuster/BF time period).
2) I don't have to worry about things being out of stock because I already bought it

I than use my credit card to PM again. So basically anything that goes on sale for 50% or more at BF is free (the max you can PM an item is $250). If you are going to do this you should make a photocopy of you original receipt before you PM at the store in case they mark up the receipt. I have been denied a PM because the receipt was no longer legible cause the guy used a sharpie.

K