With the news that Target will be price-matching as well as Best Buy will match online prices, I have to wonder one thing....Is this a good thing for the customers behind you who aren't taking the time to price-match...or for the store and their relationship with those "non-price-matching" customers??
Now - before you say "Not my problem"...follow me on this one....
I have written many times about the need to be an ethical and considerate couponer. To date, most of that has been confined to getting the best deals at the grocery stores, drug stores and online. I haven't talked that much about price-matching because, aside from Walmart, none of the stores in my area DO price-match. But the bottom line is...price-matching CAN be a major inconvenience to the other customers around you (and affect their realationship with that store).
Now we are getting in to 2 major retailers price-matching online sites such as Amazon. As a deal-hunter, I am THRILLED. But putting myself in the shoes of a few of my neighbors? It's going to be a big fat hairy mess!
Consider the scene: You are in Target with your Kohl's, Walmart, Best Buy, Staples and 8 other circulars
Cashier: scans an item
You: Oh - wait - that item is $0.18 cheaper at Kohl's this week (you KNOW there will be people who argue over that little of an amount). I would like a price adjustment!
Cashier: stops the transaction, looks at circular, overrides price, scans next item
You: Oh - that item is $4 less at Walmart this week. I would like a price adjustment!
Cashier: stops the transaction, looks at circular, overrides price, scans next item
You: Oh - that item is $2.67 less on Amazon right now. Hold on - let me pull it up on my iPhone to show you
Cashier: stops the transaction, waits 180 seconds until you are able to pull up the deal on your iPhone (because we all know that Target is the place where cell phone reception goes to die), overrides price, scans next item
Customers Behind You: Not only slowly plotting your death, but vowing to never again shop at Target or Best Buy so they don't have to be held up by YOU people
Further - Best Buy and Target have said that they will only price-match when the item is sold by Amazon.com. How many times have you looked for an item on Amazon and found it being sold at a MUCH lower price through a 3rd party seller, but with a crazy-high shipping rate? Can you just picture the people waving their phone at the $8/hour cashier saying "NO! I don't care if it is being sold through 'Lin's House of China! and I won't get it for 8 weeks and I have to pay $18 shipping' I want you to MATCH THIS PRICE of $4 less!"
I don't know - for me, it doesn't seem like price-matching will be worth it this year. I don't know that I want to spend he time to do it, nor to I want to annoy the people in line behind me. When I use coupons at the grocery store, that is one thing. But Christmas shopping and holding up the line? That just seems a little too Grinch-y for me.
What do you think?
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Connie
I more than likely will not price match anything (more than likely not even remember that I can) but I think if you are just price matching 1 item and you have the sales flyer in hand and ready (or on top of the item and circled) then I don't think it is a big deal. Someone doing what you said in your post would be very annoying though.
Now, there are times of the day and days of the week when the stores aren't as busy and I think those days/times would be best for someone who plans on price matching a lot of items (but of course offer the person behind you with only a couple of items to go ahead of you).
Sarah K.
I have not read the info carefully, so I'm not sure, but I thought at Target you had to go to customer service to price match? So it shouldn't be an issue at the registers? But then again... as I understand every Target seems to do things their own way, so who knows!