Why does Target not price match other Targets when it comes to marked down items?

[Dr.Girlfriend]

The Target closest to my house had an item I wanted at 50% off and I figured I'd pick it up today on my lunch break while I was out and about. The Target closest to my work has the same item, but it's not marked down...it's full price. I asked if they price matched and they said no.

Why is that?

 

[kwelch10377]

Most retailers won't do it for clearance items. There are times an item may only be clearance at one store, you would them have someone running around to all the other local stores to get the full price item for the clearance price. Stores would end up losing a lot of money if there wasn't that restriction, especially since a lot of times they usually are losing money anyway when it is put in clearance.

If you look at the price match policy for retailers, most will have the exclusion of matching prices that are clearance or being sold as promo items during special events (like black friday or a grand opening)

 

[tlbwriter]

Also, most stores won't price match themselves because they are not the competition. Target wants to lure you away from Walmart. They do not care about luring you away from a different Target.

 

[disdanny]

Probably an individaul store overstock situation.

Unless it's an advertised price, individual stores have discretionary pricing policies to address their own best interests.

For example, our local grocery chain may have an abundance of some item left after a prior week's sale, whereas another branch of the same chain may have sold out. The one with leftover stock will sell at a reduced price to move the excess inventory, even though it is not a current advertised sale price.

 

[Imzadi]

The prices at Target are marked down according to their computer system. When I lived within 25 miles of 6 different Targets and was heavily into shopping, I would haunt the various Target deal threads on coupon boards. I was on the west coast at the time, and I noticed that things would get marked down on the east coast a couple weeks sooner than the west coast. The mark downs go according to this: 25% off, then 50%, 60% - 75%, then finally 90% off, before the item goes to salvage. This was great as I could scout out which Targets near me had the items, what were their current prices, and which ones I had to head to the first thing when they opened on mark down day. Different departments mark down on different days each week. There is a list online somewhere. 3 - 4 of the stores might be marked down to the same price, i.e. 50% off, in the same week, while the other ones lagged by a week or two, even though they were all within the same vicinity.

I just had to keep showing up each week and scanning the items until they got marked down to the right price. The scanner is your best friend at Target. Never rely on the sticker price for markdowns. By the time they've been sticker priced, an employee will have scarfed it up first.

I got a $79 toaster oven for $9.99. That was one of my best deals. I need a new one soon as it is finally conking out after several great years of use. Too bad I'm not close enough now to a Target, to make the hunt there worthwhile.

 

[Geoff_M]

I asked if they price matched and they said no.

Why is that?

For one very simple reason, price matching is for matching competitor's prices. Target isn't their own competition. The purpose of such policies is to try and capture a sale that would otherwise go to someone else. Target doesn't care if you buy an item from one location or another... it goes in the same pot.

 

[golfgal]

The prices at Target are marked down according to their computer system. When I lived within 25 miles of 6 different Targets and was heavily into shopping, I would haunt the various Target deal threads on coupon boards. I was on the west coast at the time, and I noticed that things would get marked down on the east coast a couple weeks sooner than the west coast. The mark downs go according to this: 25% off, then 50%, 60% - 75%, then finally 90% off, before the item goes to salvage. This was great as I could scout out which Targets near me had the items, what were their current prices, and which ones I had to head to the first thing when they opened on mark down day. Different departments mark down on different days each week. There is a list online somewhere. 3 - 4 of the stores might be marked down to the same price, i.e. 50% off, in the same week, while the other ones lagged by a week or two, even though they were all within the same vicinity.

I just had to keep showing up each week and scanning the items until they got marked down to the right price. The scanner is your best friend at Target. Never rely on the sticker price for markdowns. By the time they've been sticker priced, an employee will have scarfed it up first.

I got a $79 toaster oven for $9.99. That was one of my best deals. I need a new one soon as it is finally conking out after several great years of use. Too bad I'm not close enough now to a Target, to make the hunt there worthwhile.

Actually, from what I hear from people that work at Target, they are pretty strict on employees taking advantage of sale items like this-especially Black Friday deals.

 

[johnsontrio]

This has been a recurrent theme on the Budget Board. Target has different everyday pricing on items depending on location and I'm guessing the demographics and competition in the area. The only prices you can count on are the advertised sale prices. We have 3 Targets in our town with very different prices. Drove me crazy until I started buying most of my H&B items on CVS way cheaper using coupons and Extra Care Bucks. Now days I bet I don't spend $50 a month at Target.

 

[minniecarousel]

My son and daughter-in-law each work at Target - different stores. They each have a surplus of different items. One will be sold out of one thing, yet fully stocked at the other one.

 

[kwelch10377]

For one very simple reason, price matching is for matching competitor's prices. Target isn't their own competition. The purpose of such policies is to try and capture a sale that would otherwise go to someone else. Target doesn't care if you buy an item from one location or another... it goes in the same pot.

There are actually some retailers that will match prices amoung (not including clearance and black friday/grand opening specials) their own stores and website.

Target may actually match other Target stores prices, no where does it say in the policy that you can't. It only says you can't match Target.com and clearance or closeout prices. While it does say competition, one could argue that Targets can compete with each other for store sales since each store manager needs to look at their individual store sales.

 

[taitai]

The prices at Target are marked down according to their computer system. When I lived within 25 miles of 6 different Targets and was heavily into shopping, I would haunt the various Target deal threads on coupon boards. I was on the west coast at the time, and I noticed that things would get marked down on the east coast a couple weeks sooner than the west coast. The mark downs go according to this: 25% off, then 50%, 60% - 75%, then finally 90% off, before the item goes to salvage. This was great as I could scout out which Targets near me had the items, what were their current prices, and which ones I had to head to the first thing when they opened on mark down day. Different departments mark down on different days each week. There is a list online somewhere. 3 - 4 of the stores might be marked down to the same price, i.e. 50% off, in the same week, while the other ones lagged by a week or two, even though they were all within the same vicinity.

I just had to keep showing up each week and scanning the items until they got marked down to the right price. The scanner is your best friend at Target. Never rely on the sticker price for markdowns. By the time they've been sticker priced, an employee will have scarfed it up first.

I got a $79 toaster oven for $9.99. That was one of my best deals. I need a new one soon as it is finally conking out after several great years of use. Too bad I'm not close enough now to a Target, to make the hunt there worthwhile.

Employees who do that are fired. Quickly fired. Target is very, very strict on that.

 

[mumumouse]

Sorry, I know this is an old post, but I am in the middle of an online correspondence battle with Target.

I bought an item for full price at a Target store, but then noticed it is on clearance (50% off) online at Target .com and in other Target stores.

I am trying to get a price adjustment. I purchased 3 days ago and have my receipt. I actually spoke to someone at Guest Services in store at time of purchase. They said item was not on sale and would not be anytime soon.

I have learned a lesson here. Prices apparently vary from store to store and I would not have paid full price for this, but was having a hard time locating the item.

Target is not budging. They are saying they will not “price match” in store purchase with Target.com.

Or rather, they will not “price match” a clearance item.

I paid full price, so should’t this be a price adjustment?

I think it is tacky that they prefer to treat a customer this way, instead of making the adjustment.

 

[Allison]

paid full price, so should’t this be a price adjustment?

No.
They don't price match the website.

 

[MrPTato]

Sorry, I know this is an old post, but I am in the middle of an online correspondence battle with Target.

I bought an item for full price at a Target store, but then noticed it is on clearance (50% off) online at Target .com and in other Target stores.

I am trying to get a price adjustment. I purchased 3 days ago and have my receipt. I actually spoke to someone at Guest Services in store at time of purchase. They said item was not on sale and would not be anytime soon.

I have learned a lesson here. Prices apparently vary from store to store and I would not have paid full price for this, but was having a hard time locating the item.

Target is not budging. They are saying they will not “price match” in store purchase with Target.com.

Or rather, they will not “price match” a clearance item.

I paid full price, so should’t this be a price adjustment?

I think it is tacky that they prefer to treat a customer this way, instead of making the adjustment.

Why not buy the one online at the 1/2 off and just return the full price one?

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

Sorry, I know this is an old post, but I am in the middle of an online correspondence battle with Target.

I bought an item for full price at a Target store, but then noticed it is on clearance (50% off) online at Target .com and in other Target stores.

I am trying to get a price adjustment. I purchased 3 days ago and have my receipt. I actually spoke to someone at Guest Services in store at time of purchase. They said item was not on sale and would not be anytime soon.

I have learned a lesson here. Prices apparently vary from store to store and I would not have paid full price for this, but was having a hard time locating the item.

Target is not budging. They are saying they will not “price match” in store purchase with Target.com.

Or rather, they will not “price match” a clearance item.

I paid full price, so should’t this be a price adjustment?

I think it is tacky that they prefer to treat a customer this way, instead of making the adjustment.

I used to work the Target service desk. Things are clearance for different reasons like damage, overstock, repack, etc... That's why they don't price match clearance items. Secondly, the online returns get hairy when it comes to price matching ANYWAY because of all the outside sellers the big box companies use now through their websites. It's complicated and annoying.

I would just return the item and buy the cheaper one.

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

Price match/adjustment are the same thing.

 

[Imzadi]

Why not buy the one online at the 1/2 off and just return the full price one?

Yes, just add up to $35 of stuff which (I think) is for free shipping. Then return all the extra items you don't want, along with the full priced item.

 

[Gracedis1]

Target has always price matched for me their target.com price. I've never tried to pm a different store's price though.

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

Target has always price matched for me their target.com price. I've never tried to pm a different store's price though.

They match a lot of other stores as long as it is from the primary seller. For example, they will price match Amazon.com, but it has to be fulfilled and shipped from Amazon.com, not any other seller through the website. Walmart.com uses other sellers on their website now too so it's getting harder and harder continue the price matching policy.

 

[sam_gordon]

Sorry, I know this is an old post, but I am in the middle of an online correspondence battle with Target.

I bought an item for full price at a Target store, but then noticed it is on clearance (50% off) online at Target .com and in other Target stores.

I am trying to get a price adjustment. I purchased 3 days ago and have my receipt. I actually spoke to someone at Guest Services in store at time of purchase. They said item was not on sale and would not be anytime soon.

I have learned a lesson here. Prices apparently vary from store to store and I would not have paid full price for this, but was having a hard time locating the item.

Target is not budging. They are saying they will not “price match” in store purchase with Target.com.

Or rather, they will not “price match” a clearance item.

I paid full price, so should’t this be a price adjustment?

I think it is tacky that they prefer to treat a customer this way, instead of making the adjustment.

Return the one you got for full price and order one from Target.com. Even if you pay for shipping, you'd come out ahead.