Best Buy, Target, Walmart and other retailers offer price-matching policies

There is nothing more frustrating than purchasing a pair of headphones, OLED or backpack only to discover that it was cheaper elsewhere. In order to keep customers happy — and prevent them from going elsewhere — many retailers offer price-matching policies where they promise to match a lower price that you’ve found elsewhere. That’s information that could come in handy, especially given Black Friday is right around the corner and Amazon’s Prime Early Access Sale kicks off on October 12th.

Here are some price-matching guidelines for major retailers. These policies should be noted. First, all price-matching policy have a number rules. We’ve summarized some of the rules here, but you’d be advised to go to the links that we’ve provided and read the policy carefully. Second, and logically enough, retailers that serve as marketplaces for other sellers, such as Amazon or Costco, don’t have price-matching policies.

Some retailers have price-matching policies that they suspend for special occasions like Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Amazon Prime Day. These price matches can also save you money at other times. These price matches are worth keeping in mind.

Keep in mind that there are exceptions for most rules. So if you’re looking for a deal on a product and you know of a lower price elsewhere (or one that was offered previously at the same retailer), it never hurts to call (and in some cases, live chat from your PC or phone) and ask if they’ll match the price. What are you waiting for?

Amazon doesn’t offer price matching.

Target will match the purchase price of any item you find cheaper at Target or elsewhere. Select list of competitorsIf you request it within 14 days of purchase, or at the time of the purchase, Either bring your proof in to the store or call 1-800-591-3869.

You can buy an item in-store or online beginning October 6th. Target will match itUp to December 24th However, this price-matching policy does not apply to doorbusters and competitors’ lightning sales, like those Amazon offers.

Best Buy’s Price Match Guarantee states that a product could be eligible for a price reduction if it’s new, identical to the competitor’s product, immediately available at a qualifying competitor’s store or on its site, and not shown on Best Buy’s exclusion list (which includes “items for sale the Friday before Thanksgiving Day through the Monday after Thanksgiving”).

You have to either communicate with Best Buy via its on-site chat, making sure you’re able to show the ad or website with a lower price, to get the difference. Or, call 1-888-238-7289 or visit any Best Buy or Pacific Sales location.

Best Buy will also do this upon request Match the previous online or in-store prices as long as it’s done during the return and exchange period.

Walmart’s online store offers price-matching on items purchased from Walmart stores if the item is in stock at Walmart.com, however, the policy doesn’t apply to those who live in Alaska, Hawaii, or Puerto Rico.

While we’ve Some claims have been made that Apple will price-match up to 10 percent for products bought at certain major retailers, there is no official policy on the company’s website.

Apple states that it will reduce the price of Apple-branded products within 14 days after you receive your item. You can visit an Apple Store, or contact the Apple Contact Center at 1-800-676-2775 for a refund or credit. However, that doesn’t apply to special sales like Black Friday or Cyber Monday.

B&H says that it might be able to honor a current lower price or match the price of a competitor, but it does so on a case-by-case basis. Contact the Customer Service department using the online form. Chat, EmailYou can also call (800) 606–6969 or (212) 444-6615.

Costco will not price match its competitors. The website says that Costco will match prices with its competitors. You can get a credit for any difference between the price that you paid and the promotional priceIf you purchased the item online from Costco, you can request a credit up to 30 calendar days prior to the price change. Visit the Costco membership counter if you purchased the product at a Costco warehouse.

Dell will price match a new computer with the same features and specifications as your current one before you buy it. You can order from Dell, HP or Apple. Call 1-888-969-4533. Chat online to run a price check, but you’ll need to provide a link to the competitor’s product.

Within 30 days of purchase, you can contact the company to inquire about any price differences. The restrictions are extensive and not available between Thanksgiving Day (or Green Monday) and the Monday after Thanksgiving.

DJI did not offer any price-matching policies. DJI can reduce the price of any product within seven days after it was received. You can contact DJI within this time frame at http://www.dji.com/contactRequest a refund or credit for any difference between the price that you have been charged, and the current selling prices. This doesn’t include special sales events, such as Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

If you find a lower price from a qualifying competitor on an eBay Deal item that you bought within 48 hours — or on another product with the “Best Price Guarantee” symbol attached to it — you’ll get “110 percent” of the difference. eBay will issue you a coupon to cover the difference between the price you paid for the item and the price the competitor is selling it at, plus 10 percent. The coupons expire 30 days after they are issued.

The products must be new and unopened and identical to the competitor’s item. You must contact Service at eBay, and if they verify your claims are legitimate, you will receive the coupon and be able to use it toward your next eBay purchase.

GameStop’s official price-matching policy is not mentioned on its website. However, August saw the following: GameStop tweets that the store will price-match items sold and shipped by Amazon as long as they’re available online or in-store. GameStop mentioned Amazon in the tweet. Others have also reportedThe store will price match items bought from Target or elsewhere.

According to HP’s website, the company will match the current pre-tax price for new comparable PCs and identical HP printer, display, and accessory model numbers from nationally recognized online retailers, such as Dell, Amazon, Newegg, and Best Buy. While the specs must be identical, the model number of the computer’s product may not be. Call to request the match. 1-800-888-0229. You can’t request a price match via email or chat, though, and the policy does not extend to items bought during promotional periods.

Email HP if you discover a comparable product at an even lower price within the return window. myhpsales@hp.com. This only applies to branded HP products and doesn’t apply to products purchased during certain sales events, like the week of Thanksgiving and the week afterward.

According to Google, the company doesn’t currently offer a price-match guarantee.

Historically, Lenovo has offered a price-matching policy, but right now its website doesn’t mention one. If anything changes, we’ll update this article.

Microsoft will pay the difference if the price of a product purchased in the Microsoft Store is lower than the one listed until January 2, 2012.

And other times, Microsoft will refund you the difference if it lowers the price of a product within 30 days of purchase, though this doesn’t apply to special sales events like Black Friday.

You can contact Microsoft’s Sales and Support team at 1-877-696-7786 to get a refund.

Newegg offers price-matching on select items; these products are identified by the label “Price Match Guarantee” that appears in the price box on the right of the product page. This applies regardless of whether you find a lower price at Newegg or at another major retailer. Within 14 days of purchase, you must notify Newegg about the lower price.

The price-match guarantee does not apply to major holiday sales events like Black Friday, Cyber Monday, or Green Monday.

You can request a price match against other Sam’s Club stores, but not competitors. Note that this doesn’t apply to items on markdown or clearance.

We didn’t find anything on Sonos’ website regarding the company’s price-matching policy.