After testing out new programs and policies in November and December during the holiday season, a few retailers choose to hold on to the more successful ones.

One of those retailers, Target, announced Jan. 8 that it will offer year-round price matching with online retailers.

According to Target spokeswoman Jenna Reck , “We learned a lot from the Holiday Price Match, and applied those insights to the development of this new, yearlong program.”

Now, shoppers can look forward to matching prices from Amazon.com, Walmart.com, BestBuy.com and Toysrus.com (or Babiesrus.com) any time they choose. Additionally, Target will match prices from its own website, which runs special promotions from time to time.

Ashley Williams , executive team leader at the Valley View Target store in Roanoke, said that price matching was well received over the holidays.

“During the holidays we saw it quite a bit. We received an iPad to make it more convenient for guests. We could actually find the best price for them and match it for them,” Williams said.

The iPad is still available in guest services for customers to compare prices, but Williams says fewer shoppers have been using the service lately.

“I think it’s still very new to them,” she explained.

She also credited some of the drop-off to January being a slow month for the retailer in general.

Policy details

As Target’s website states, the price-matching policy is meant to encourage “one-stop shopping,” an effort by the retailer to get shoppers in stores while saving their own time and money.

There are some important aspects to note about the new policy, which Reck described as a combination of the store’s former price match and price adjustment policies.

First, an item must be in stock at one of the websites mentioned above, not at just any online retailer. Clearance, closeout, damaged, used and refurbished products being sold at those websites are excluded.

Second, Target will still accept both store and manufacturer coupons after price-checking a product. Target coupons will be applied before the price match is made, and if the competitor’s price is still the lowest then Target will match that price. Then manufacturer coupons will be applied.

It’s also important to note that products advertised as limited time, limited supply or limited quantity are excluded from price matching.

Additionally, shoppers can present a competitor’s online or printed price plus their Target receipt within seven days of purchase to receive a price adjustment if they find a better deal.

With free price comparison apps such as RedLaser, Barcode Scanner and Google Shopper available on smartphones (all you need to do scan a product barcode), it’s easy to take advantage of Target’s policy.

Other stores that also offer year-round price matching and/or price adjustments locally include Sears, Lowe’s, Best Buy and Kohl’s. To view those retailers’ price-matching policies, visit the Shoptimist blog at blogs.roanoke.com/Shoptimist.

To read Target’s price matching policy in full, visit https://corporate.target.com/about/shopping-experience/our-low-price-promise.

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