You Can Shop Now and Get Black Friday Prices Later
You don’t have to wait for Black Friday to get the best deal – and this year in particular, you might not want to wait that long to get started . Some major retailers offer price matching guarantees that may be applied retroactively; and by making the jump in shopping for gifts now, you are more likely to catch popular items while they are still in stock, as stores have limited stocks due to supply chain problems associated with the pandemic.
What is price comparison?
Price negotiation is when a retailer sets a lower price for the same item in a competing store before you make a purchase. While some chains adhere to price negotiation for online purchases (via customer service line or chat portal), this is more commonly suggested for in-store purchases.
To get a price match, you must show proof of a competitor’s lower price to the registry or customer support using flyers, web page printouts, or by listing online ads on your phone (ideally they include a date). The item must be identical to what is available online or in the store (some items may be limited – don’t expect price comparisons for third-party sellers or marketplace sellers).
Some retailers also offer price adjustments when they match their own price if you bought the same item just before the store lowered the price as part of a new promotion. You are usually given a window of several weeks to require price adjustments.
Who Offers Black Friday Price Comparisons?
While pricing policies vary, they are offered by major retailers such as Walmart, Best Buy, Target, JCPenny, Dick’s Sporting Goods, and Lowe’s. The only catch is that every store has its own restrictions, and most of them don’t honor the price negotiation for Black Friday specials. Of those that do, Best Buy and Target have the best policies.
Best Buy accepts price matching, which can be done either in-store or via chat portal , and if you sign up for a free My Best Buy membership and purchase items marked “Black Friday Price Guarantee”, you will be automatically refunded the difference if the price will fall no later than November 26, 2021
Target and Target.com match the prices of most major retailers (including Black Friday deals) and will even refund the difference if you find a lower price within 14 days of purchase (this also includes price adjustments). According to The Krazy Coupon Lady , price negotiation can be confirmed on the spot at the checkout or via the chat portal .
For more information on who is offering what, check out the chart posted by Deal News (located at the bottom of the page). Note that while many retailers offer price comparisons, the catchphrase is “restrictions apply.” Deals are usually limited to select competitors and for various periods of time after you first make a purchase. However, even with these restrictions, there are all sorts of ways to save money year round.
(And if you’re interested in Amazon – no, they don’t offer price comparisons.)