Consumer Alert: So you shopped early! Here’s where you can price match to get the best deal

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — In this consumer alert, I answer the question every bargain hunter is asking following last week’s investigation: If I do all my Christmas shopping early, what happens if my gifts go on sale later?

In last week’s investigation, I showed you how our nation’s broken supply chain is affecting our holiday hunt for toys.

I placed orders for 10 top toys on Oct. 20 and often found toys out of stock at major retailers. That’s why retail experts say this year we can’t wait for those post-Thanksgiving sales. We need to buy now. But there are few things more frustrating than buying that gift and seeing it on sale days later.

So the big question: Will stores offer a price match? I did some digging. Here are the policies at the two big-box giants: Walmart and Target. And the retailer with the most generous price match policy is definitely Target. The Holiday Price Match Guarantee started on Oct. 24.

You can ask for a price match on or before Dec. 24, but you must keep your receipt. It will price match in-store if you have the ad for any local competitor as well as 29 online competitors. They are as follows:

• Amazon.com
• Apple.com
• BedBathandBeyond.com
• Bestbuy.com
• Barnesandnoble.com
• Buybuybaby.com
• Chewy.com
• Costco.com
• CVS.com
• DicksSportingGoods.com
• Gamestop.com
• HomeDepot.com
• JCPenney.com
• Kmart.com
• Kohls.com
• Lowes.com
• Macys.com
• Newegg.com
• OfficeDepot.com
• Petco.com
• Petsmart.com
• SamsClub.com
• Sears.com
• Sephora.com
• Staples.com
• Ulta.com
• Walgreens.com
• Walmart.com
• Wayfair.com

Here are the limitations. You can only get a refund while the sale is valid. The item must be exactly the same and clearance items as well as bundled offers from competitors don’t count.

Do you remember when Walmart’s price match policy was incredibly consumer-friendly?

Yeah, well those days are gone. I’ll start with the exclusions. Walmart will not price match a competitor’s Black Friday or Cyber Monday sales. It won’t price match third-party sellers or competitor bundles or mail-in offers. It will price match 28 online competitors. They are as follows:

• Academy.com
• Amazon.com
• AutoZone.com
• Babiesrus.com
• Basspro.com
• BedBathandBeyond.com
• Bestbuy.com
• Cabelas.com
• Chewy.com
• DicksSportingGoods.com
• DollarGeneral.com
• FamilyDollar.com
• HomeDepot.com
• JCPenney.com
• Kmart.com
• Kohls.com
• Lowes.com
• Michaels.com
• Newegg.com
• OfficeDepot.com
• Oreillyauto.com
• Pepboys.com
• Petco.com
• Petsmart.com
• Sears.com
• Staples.com
• Target.com
• Walgreens.com

But here’s the huge caveat: It’s up to the manager’s discretion. That’s right. The policy states, "The manager on duty has the final decision."If you’re ordering online and find a lower price elsewhere, you have to call customer service and that rep "has the final decision" about whether to match a competitor’s price.

Amazon doesn’t have a price match guarantee, but I’ll let you in on a secret. If you see a lower price elsewhere, find the product on Amazon and scroll down to the bottom under “product information.” Under the feedback tab, you’ll see the question, "Would you like to tell us about a lower price?"

I’ve done that. I’m a prime member and get free shipping. The competitor had the item for $10 cheaper but didn’t have free shipping. I checked back with Amazon two days later, and voila! Amazon had lowered the price.

So, if you’re shopping early as advised. There is the risk of the item you want going on sale later, but there’s a greater risk of not being able to find it at all if you wait.