Have you ever wondered how I price match and use other retailers' deals? If so, you are not alone. Price matching is one of the most advantageous stratagems that intelligent shoppers can use to save cash without visiting multiple stores. This is the process of asking the store where you are already shopping to match the price for an item lower than what a competitor has sold. You will develop the confidence in knowing that the best deal always reaches your pocket.
What is Price Matching?
The price match can be the retailer's guarantee to match an identical product price in another store. This ensures that the best deal is given to its customers without having them run from place to place. But what does price matching imply, and how is it done? Those retailers offering price matching customarily set up a rule and condition that decides who qualifies for it.
Many stores in Canada offer price matching to keep the competition off. Knowing these price match rules can help you make the most of these savings opportunities.
Benefits of Price Matching
Why is price matching such a huge deal to shoppers? The foremost and fundamental reason for consumers is cost savings. You will be sure you will get the best price without going around town. Here are a few key benefits:
Finding the lowest price and matching that price allows for cost savings on your purchases without accepting a higher price from your store of choice. It will avoid driving around or checking multiple websites for a price. Instead, you can find the best price right where you are, saving time and effort. Price matching saves customers from the hassle of making multiple trips to different stores to take advantage of various competitor prices. You can enjoy your competitor's prices at your own fave shopping spot.
Cost savings
Convenience
No Hassle of Multiple Trips
These benefits of price matching make it a no-brainer, easy, yet effective option for bargain shoppers.
How Does Price Matching Work?
The process for price matching can vary from store to store but is typically relatively smooth. Here is how this usually goes:
- Find a better price at a competitor.
- Bring proof of the better price (flyers, screenshots, etc.).
- Verify that the product matches precisely, including the model number and size.
- Verify that the competitor's product is available.
Some retailers will price-match for online purchases. Others will not, restricting the offer to in-store purchases. Check the store's price-matching policy to see if you're eligible.
6 Price Matching Tips to Help You Save Big
Price matching can save you a lot, but it does take some strategy to master. Follow these six tips that smoothly guide you through the process to get the best deals without falling into some common pitfalls in price matching.
Ensure Items Are Identical
When price matching, items need to be an exact match—barcode, color, size, and model number. Even minor discrepancies render you ineligible to price match.
Keep It Local
If your lower-priced item is not from a competitor in your area, it will not work. Most price-matching policies do not count stores outside your region.
Be Prepared to Show Proof
Bring proof of the lower price with you, such as a printed flyer or a shot of it on your phone or tablet. With evidence, some stores will match.
Expect Some Sales to be Excluded
Not all sales are created equal when it comes to matching prices. Common exclusions include holiday sales, clearance items, and products on limited-time promotion.
Check it's in Stock
Most retailers require that the competitor's product be in stock. If not, the price match may be rejected.
Understand How Online-Only Retailers Are Different
Online-only stores may have different policies when it comes to price matching. Know the differences in price matching between online-only stores versus brick-and-mortar ones.
Bonus Tip: Pay Attention to the Checkout Screen and Get Stuff for Free
Many Canadian retailers have signed the Scanner Price Accuracy Code, a policy that can save you even more money when price matching. If something scans in higher than advertised, you could get that item for free or at a discounted price, usually up to a certain amount.
This under-the-radar benefit is available on items purchased from participating retailers, and knowing about it ensures that you don't have to pay more than you should. Pay close attention to the checkout screen to spot any discrepancies and possibly snag extra savings in addition to your price-matching deals.
Canadian Stores with Price Matching Policies
Not a lot, but a few major retailers in Canada offer price matching, and all have their conditions and price match rules. A quick rundown of it goes like this:
Remember, the conditions vary with every store, so ensure the conditions before attempting a price match.
Common Price Match Mistakes
As you see, price matching is one of the most innovative ways of saving, but there are common mistakes made by most shoppers, which are:
- Just because a store offers a price match doesn't mean they have the best price every time.
- Using self-checkout or express lanes: Price matching may not be provided at these lanes.
- Not persisting- if initially denied: If anyone declines to match your price, it is not worth asking them again. Politely request them to do so. Sometimes, the cashiers may not be aware of their store's policies.
Apps And Websites That Make Price Matching Easier
This is the way to make price matching a lot easier with the following apps and websites:
- Rebee: This is an app that allows you to look at flyers of local stores and compare their prices.
- Flipp: A potent tool for searching for the best deals worldwide and organizing price-matching opportunities.
- Sale Whale: It helps scan the best prices within a proximity to make requesting a price match easier.
These tools can save one's life by automating the entire process of finding and tracking sales.
Conclusion
Price matching is an effective means, in a very convenient manner, to save money on your routine purchases at a store or online. Knowing how to price match and which retailer has what policy can save you time and ensure you always get the best deal. Knowing how price matching works gives you the confidence to ask a retailer to match a competitor's price with no chance of overpaying for merchandise. Plus, with price comparison apps like Rebee and Flipp, finding good deals is not complicated.
