I’ve been reading a lot of confused and discouraged comments lately, because it seems that everyone is having different experiences when price matching at Target. I hear some of you saying that your store won’t accept a Target coupon on a price match, and many of you are unsure of just exactly what the procedure is for obtaining a price match.
So you’ll be thrilled to know that Target has an updated Low Price Promise Policy on their site that should answer many, if not all, of the questions I’ve seen, as well as be a useful tool in getting all Target stores on the same page in price matching.
I recommend printing the entire document and carrying it with you, but here are a few notable pieces of info:
- The entire original printed advertisement must be presented at checkout.
- Target does not match coupon-required offers but guests can use Manufacturer or Target coupons when requesting a price match.
- The program covers items with the identical brand name, size, weight, quantity and model number of the item at Target stores.
- Online pricing will not be price matched.
There is also a long list of other exclusions that you’ll want to look over, including the newly added exclusion of timed events (e.g., early bird, doorbusters).
So what is the process for price matching at Target?
Originally you had to take the item, your coupon(s), and the ad to the customer service desk so that they could perform the transaction. Lately I’ve heard that many of you have been able to price match at a regular regsiter with the rest of your transaction. I’d imagine that this is the direction they’ll be moving in as a standard, but you’ll still have to verify which procedure is in place at the store level for the time being.
If you aren’t also carrying the Target Corporate Coupon Policy with you, I’d recommend printing it as well so you have all of the information at your fingertips should an issue arise.
S. Wade
I was able to price match at the Target in Watauga, TX, without any hassles today. It was my first attempt at price matching. They had me go the customer service desk. My cashier told me she was more than capable of doing it, but that the store manager will not allow cashiers to do so. Also, I know many of the Targets in this area allowed price matching for the Alphabet Caterpillar. I tried several locations yesterday and today and they were all out.
Matthew
i did the alphabet pals leapfrog match yesterday and was one of the lucky ones that got to price match + use a coupon and get it for 53 cents :)
Target Employee
Hi everyone! I am glad to see so many Target shoppers here. I work at the Guest Service Desk at a Las Vegas Target and I hate the way management treats our coupon policy. Just so you know, it is not that the cashiers want to be ignorant or mean but the Target I work at is more likely to yell at you if you take a coupon or price match something they don’t want you to than to take a counterfeit $100.00!!! Here a few issues at Target and why they are so strict.
1. Target cashiers are timed per transaction. If you get a guest with coupons we get a “red” score simply because it takes more time to process the transaction. Same thing with checks, if you pay with a check or let your child count out $2.00 for their toy we are at jeopardy of being yelled at or written up if we don’t improve our average score. The Guest Service desk is not timed so go there if you have a lot of coupons or price matching.
2. When you use a coupon at Target and then return that item you get the full amount of the item back, not the amount you paid therefore you end up with more money in your pocket. This is why we limit how many coupons you can use. For instance I wanted to do the Hasbro game promo for Pictureka Flipper. I bought it and used the $5 Hasbro coupon and the $5 Target Coupon. I paid $13 and change for it after my discount. I returned it the next day because I got the ad for KMart and wanted to price match making the game under $5.00 when I returned it I received $18.00 because they give you the amount of the manufacterers coupon back. The Target coupons work differently so those aren’t included in the amount refunded. You can see how Target wouldn’t want that to happen and believe me we have crooked people that simply buy and return coupon items to make money off of them. They are ruining it for the legit moms that are just trying to get a decent price on an item.
3. If you get an item that your coupon doesn’t work on at the register go to Guest Services on your next shopping trip and say you forgot your coupon, or you could even try it before you leave the store that day. As long as it is within a few days you will be ok. I wouldn’t do this all the time but if you feel the coupon is valid give it a try. One plus is that the item isn’t right there looking you in the face so they can’t say that isn’t the same item pictured. I know I am a lot more reasonable with people than the cashiers simply because I frequent these sites and know how things should go down with the coupons.
4. When I want to do one of the promos that you guys discuss I usually go to a different Target than the one I work at because my Target is strict and unreasonable! I did the Hasbro game promo for Pictureka Flipper, Guesstures and Clues Secrets and Spies and the Up/Monsters’s Inc deal and walked out with all those items for $36.00. My Target wouldn’t do it but the one 3 miles away didn’t even blink!
5. For anyone that tried to do the Alphbet Pals promo – YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO!!!!! We received a Christmas promo that specifically says “WE WILL GLADLY HONOR 2 DAY SALE PRICE MATCHES!!!!” (excluding timed events like 6-9pm) As soon as I walked into work on Friday I was told we would not honor them, about an hour later I read the flier that we received from corporate and I was so excited I wouldn’t have to turn anyone else away but when I pointed it out to my front end managers they still would not let me honor the TRU ad + the coupon.
I hope this helps you guys. I am currently hoping I don’t get fired because I price matched the Best Buy ad and used the coupons for 2 different customers that bought Up and Monsters Inc. I will probably get written up for it : ) Anyways, if you have any questions about this just ask here and I will do my best to get you an answer. I hope to see you at my Target because I will help you whenever I can with this coupon situation!!! See you soon…
Las Vegas Anonymous Target Employee
hippiedad
I live in the chicagoland area and have not had this problem, in fact I got the UP blue ray and Monsters Inc blue ray dvd’s for thirteen dollars with coupons and price match described in deal seeking mom this very evening before I read these comments. My problem was finding a store that had both, I finally got them at the third target I went to and that was the last copy of m. inc., the service desk assistant call the last store and they held the copy for me . Also at each of the stores I went to they told me they would honor my $28.00 in coupons and the price match ( I brought in three different ads each with a lower price then target’s and they gave me the lowest priced one as a match) so you help me save around 80%, Thanks DSM.
P.S. I am also sending in for the rebates that add up to $14.00 you had added to the info, bringing my final cost down to ZERO when I get the checks.
Dani
Just wanted to share a Target toy deal for this week:
The Furreal Lulu the Cuddlin Kitty is supposed to be on sale this week for $39.99 (according to the circular) but is ringing up at $36.00. Even the website is showing the lower price (https://www.target.com/FurReal-Friends-LuLu-Cuddlin-Kitty/dp/B00243ZBS2/ref=sc_ri_1). Use the the $10 off Target printable toy coupon and it comes to $26 before tax. Not bad…I was going to price match the TRU ad that has it for $39.99 but this is a heck of a lot easier!!
Sarah
Personally, I don’t think Target is all that well organized when it comes to these policies that are supposedly laid down in concrete.
Time and time again I have heard from Target employees reporting just how much latitude and individual store has in setting “policy.”
My local Target doesn’t even bother to answer their phone a lot of the time. It literally can take hours to just get one person to even hello.
The employees seem to not have any info whatsoever on when Monsters Inc will be back in stock and are stumped as to how one would find out. Worse, you call the corporate “customer service” and you speak with someone in India that is well intentioned but has zero idea of what Monsters Inc is, much less what a Blu-Ray/DVD combo pack is. They just blindly follow the listed inventory online. I think a 2 year old could give you equally reliable service.
Oddly, Target has been known to call Wal-Mart the “Evil Empire.” Pot calling the kettle black.
I am so thrilled some of you have such a great store, it makes my day to know that people get low hassle service. I am totally stressed out by the employee reporting that they can be written up for actually doing their job.
Becky, I truly admire your preparation and organization. That is not the average person, at all. Kudos.
I don’t think the woman you encountered should be hammered for being upset, given this marketing tactic is meant to create just the situation the Glade purchaser encountered and, hopefully, they won’t ever notice. Few do.
Point being, a customer should NOT have to know the policy of the company better than the cashier, much less the management. A customer should not have to have so much burden put upon them that the average prudent person can’t reasonably decipher what is expected of them to meet the requirements.
Stores know this and exploit the living bleep out of it, knowing that governments are very slow to enforce the rules, if at all.
Target local employees AND corporate have willfully and intentionally lied to me. I don’t take kindly to that. Yes, don’t shop there blah blah, but that only goes so far, consumer laws are broken and that has to be accounted for.
Were it not for people that press the issue, companies would continue with wishy washy policies and local “executive decisions” as the norm. Some couponers botch things up for everybody if they get excessively greedy, but many couponers and bargain hunters help the average shopper in getting things straight.
Alan
Target corporate policies mean nothing! They decide when they want to follow their own guidelines. They are the kings in the corporate world of the bait and switch. When it comes to couponing and shopping (in general) I stay away from Target. I have filed complaints with the BBB and the Florida Dept. of Consumer Affairs so far. I hope other people who waist their time and resources as a result of Target’s silly games will do likewise.
evonne
does anyone know where to find what toys r us/ babies r us price match and accepting compeiteres coupons policy are
Char
I just did 2 price matches at Target for the 3 Musketeers Barbies. One Target made me purchase at the register then go return & re -buy at customer service. The other Target did it all at customer service. Totally worth any hassle though, I price matched from this weeks Rite Aid flyer for 9.99 and used the target printable coupons for $5 off. So the $19 Barbie was $5.
Lori
Funny that you mention Rite Aid, Char. I tried to ask for a price match at Target today with the current Rite Aid flyer. They said that they don’t match Rite Aid ads, although they do CVS. What’s up with that?
renee
just to let everyone know wal-mart takes target coupons. i dont go to target anymore because its a hassle. i have gotten to know a hand ful of checkers at my wal-mart, that dont give attitude with price matching and coupons. but they will take other stores coupons so you can ad match and stack coupons.
Kari
I just tried to get the target near my house to price match a toy that toys r us was out of, and the manager refused saying that the way he INTERPRETED the toys r us ad was that the toy I was looking for was “limited quantities” even though the ad did NOT say that. Also, in the ad I recieved from target, there was nothing that said “exclusions apply” or anything for their price matching, just that it had to be a current ad from a local competitor. He said he wasn’t going to price match it because it was too big of a price difference and told me to go somewhere else. Thanks target, I think i WILL take my business elsewhere.