Do you shop at stores that price match? via Shutterstock
This is a post by staff writer Yazmin Cruz.
The 2012 holiday season price-matching wars have begun and customers are being guaranteed the lowest prices. Yipee! This year, not only are retailers enticing consumers with their promotions, but so is Paypal. Look below for holiday price matching policies at Target, Best Buy, and Paypal.
Best Buy – Bargain Babe shared in her Black Friday 2012 post that Best Buy will price match with major online sellers. Best Buy will match prices on electronics and appliances, but not other products. The retailer will not price match the week of Black Friday through Cyber Monday. Bummer.
Best Buy will have to verify the rival’s price is actually lower at that moment and a salesperson or manager can refuse to match a price if they deem it too low.
Target – You’ve got competition, Amazon! Target is another retailer that will price match with major online sellers including Amazon.com, Walmart.com, BestBuy.com, ToysRUs.com or BabiesRUs.com. The new policy will run from Nov. 1 through Dec. 24 and include items on Target.com. To take advantage of this new policy, you’ll have to bring proof of the lower price. Online prices from Nov. 22—26 are excluded.
Pro tip: Both Best Buy and Target’s new price-matching policy excludes Amazon Marketplace seller prices. Only items sold directly by Amazon qualify.
Paypal – The digital payment service, Paypal, is also getting in on the action. Through the end of December, if you use PayPal to buy an item, and find it for less within 30 days, PayPal will credit you the difference.
You’ll have to find a printed ad or a take a screenshot of a non-auction online advertisement that includes the item’s manufacturer, model number, the lower sale price, the store or dealer’s name, and the sale date.
There’s also a limit to the amount of money you can get back per account. PayPal will only cover up to $1,000 in total claims, and each claim can’t be more than $250 each. Paypal will not price match on Thanksgiving, Black Friday, or Cyber Monday. Note, Paypal won’t refund handling, packing, or processing fees.
Another incentive to use Paypal is it will pay for return shipping if you decide to return the purchase and the store doesn’t cover it. The company will either send you a mailing label to use or reimburse you for what you’ve paid out-of-pocket.
Amazon – With the exception of TVs, Amazon does not price match. For TVs, if you find a lower price on another qualifying website within 14 days after the date they ship your order, you can let them know and they’ll credit your original payment method. Ditto if they lower their own price within 14 days.
Walmart– This retailer ad-matches competitors prices, but does not honor internet pricing. Walmart will generally match prices only if the shopper presents a valid print advertisement from a competing store, with the exact item and a lower price clearly presented.
Do these promotion make you want to use PayPal or shop any of these retailers?
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Welcome to Bargain Babe! I’m Mara, and I’m so glad you’re here. I am an obsessive bargain hunter and penny pincher, and I am determined to live a full life without EVER paying full price. 
Finding the best deals online can be a daunting task. Especially with all the options available today. Amazon, Buy and even Google are great ways to compare prices and check to see if you can find it cheaper.
Great Post!