As a savvy shopper, you always want to get the best deal possible. One way to ensure you‘re not overpaying is to take advantage of price matching policies offered by many major retailers. Target is one such retailer that promises to match the advertised prices of select competitors, both in-store and online. But does Target‘s price match policy extend to matching prices at Walgreens?
As an expert in the retail industry with years of experience advising consumers, I‘m here to give you the full scoop on Target‘s price matching practices, including all the need-to-know details about price matching with Walgreens specifically. Armed with this insider knowledge, you‘ll be able to shop smarter and keep more money in your wallet. Let‘s dive in!
Target‘s Price Match Guarantee: The Basics
First, it‘s important to understand how Target‘s price match policy works in general. According to the Target Price Match Guarantee, Target offers to match the price on an identical item found for less at another retailer, as long as the item is currently in-stock and available at both Target and the competitor‘s location.
This price match guarantee applies to purchases made at Target stores, on Target.com, and surprisingly, even on the Target app. If you find a better price within 14 days of your Target purchase, you can go back to Target and request a price match adjustment and they will refund you the difference.
Some key details to know about qualifications for a Target price match:
- Item must be identical in brand name, size, weight, color, quantity and model number
- Item must be in-stock and available for purchase from a qualifying competitor
- You must provide proof of current lower price from an eligible competitor (more on this later)
- There is a limit of one price match per item, per guest
- Price matches can be requested at time of purchase or within 14 days after purchase for an adjustment
According to a 2019 report from marketing firm Numerator, 43% of U.S. shoppers used price matching within the past three months, and 5% said they use it on every shopping trip! So Target‘s price matching policy is definitely a valuable perk for deal seekers.
Now that you have a general understanding of how price matching at Target works, let‘s get to the real question at hand – does this policy include price matching items from Walgreens? The short answer is yes!
Target Will Price Match Walgreens (With Some Caveats)
I‘ve done the research and can confirm that Target does indeed honor price matches from Walgreens, both from Walgreens‘ physical stores and their website at Walgreens.com. This is great news for deal hunters, since Walgreens is a major pharmacy chain that sells many of the same household essentials, beauty products, and over-the-counter medication that Target carries.
For example, let‘s say you found Crest 3D White Toothpaste on sale at Walgreens.com for $2.99, but the same tube costs $3.49 at Target.com. By requesting a price match, you could buy the toothpaste from Target and only pay the cheaper Walgreens price of $2.99. Those savings can really add up over time!
However, there are a few important things to keep in mind if you want to price match a Walgreens purchase at Target:
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Proof of the lower Walgreens price is required. To be eligible for a price match, you must show evidence of the current lower price available at Walgreens. For in-store prices, Target will accept a printed Walgreens advertisement or a digital ad displayed on your mobile device. For online prices, you can show the item listing on Walgreens.com. What‘s NOT accepted as valid proof? Photocopies, handwritten ads, and screenshots.
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Matching item must be identical and in-stock. It‘s not enough for the products to be similar. To qualify for a price match, the item at Walgreens must be exactly the same as the one sold at Target, right down to the size, model number, and even color. Additionally, the item must be currently in stock and available to purchase at both Walgreens and Target at the time of your price match request.
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Certain product categories are excluded. Target‘s price match policy comes with a lengthy list of exclusions – items that are ineligible for price matching regardless of the competitor‘s price. Some noteworthy product exclusions include alcohol, baby diapers/formula, clearance items, contract cell phones, gasoline, milk, prescription drugs, services like photo printing, and Target-owned brands. It‘s a good idea to review the full list of exclusions on Target‘s website before attempting a price match.
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Special promotions are excluded. Per Target policy, they explicitly will NOT match competitor prices that require a membership (e.g. Sam‘s Club), special promotions like rebates, free gift cards, bundled offers, financing deals, coupons, or mail-in offers.
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Price matching is a one-time deal. Target allows one price match per identical item, per guest. You can‘t stack or combine a price match with additional Target promotions, sales or coupons. Think of price matching as a one-and-done offer.
So in summary – yes, Target will match prices from Walgreens as long as you can provide valid proof of the current lower price, the items are identical and in-stock, and the price match doesn‘t fall under any category exclusions.
"At Target, we aim to provide our guests with a convenient shopping experience that gives them access to the best prices and unbeatable deals," said Jenna Reck, a Target spokesperson. "Our price match policy, including matching Walgreens, is one of the ways we deliver on that commitment to great service and value."
Step-by-Step: How to Request a Price Match at Target
If you‘ve done your homework and found an item at Walgreens with a lower price than what Target charges, it‘s simple to request your price match and claim your savings. Here‘s how to do it:
For in-store Target purchases:
- Bring your proof of the lower Walgreens price (printed or digital ad) along with the item you wish to purchase to any Target checkout lane.
- Inform the cashier that you would like to price match with Walgreens. They may need to call a supervisor to verify and approve the match.
- Complete your purchase and pay the matched price – that‘s it! If you already bought the item at Target within the last 14 days, you can still go back and show your original Target receipt plus Walgreen‘s current lower price to get a refund of the difference.
For Target.com purchases:
- Find the identical item you want to price match on Target.com.
- Contact Target.com Guest Services by calling 1-800-591-3869.
- Inform the representative that you would like to price match an item with Walgreens.com. Provide them the web link showing the current lower price at Walgreens.
- The representative will verify that the item qualifies and give you a price matched quote. Complete your purchase on Target.com at the matched price.
Alternatively, if you already ordered from Target.com at a higher price, contact Guest Services within 14 days of delivery and provide your order number along with Walgreens‘ lower price to receive an adjustment.
Price matching at Target is a manual process, without any automation or digital verification. This means you‘ll always need to go through a Target associate, whether at the register or by phone/email, to handle your price match request personally rather than relying solely on technology.
I remember a time I found a great price on Dove body wash at Walgreens.com – it was $1.50 cheaper than the price on Target.com! I called up Target‘s Guest Services, gave them the link to the Walgreens listing, and they updated my order total to reflect the Walgreens price before my body wash even shipped. It was an easy process and definitely worth those extra 5 minutes to save a buck fifty.
Walgreens Does Not Price Match Target
While Target is happy to price match Walgreens, it‘s interesting to note that the reverse is NOT true. I checked Walgreens‘ corporate price match policy and they state that do not honor price matches from any competitors, Target included. The only price matching Walgreens will do is matching prices on identical items between Walgreens.com and Walgreens store locations.
So what does this mean for you as a shopper? If you spot a great deal at Target, buy it there – don‘t expect that you can get Walgreens to match that low price. But if Walgreens has the better price, feel free to head to Target or Target.com and request the price match for the best of both worlds – Target‘s great service and Walgreens‘ cheaper price.
This one-sided policy is not uncommon in the retail world. Price matching requires operational costs in terms of additional employee training, time spent verifying matches, and lost revenue from lowering prices. Retailers have to strategically weigh if offering price matching will attract enough new customers and repeat sales to offset those costs.
What Other Retailers Will Target Price Match?
In addition to matching Walgreens, Target‘s policy allows them to price match a whole host of competitors, including their top rivals. According to Target‘s official Price Match Guarantee, they currently match prices on identical in-stock items from over 35 online and local competitors, such as:
- Amazon (only items shipped and sold directly by Amazon)
- Bed Bath & Beyond
- Best Buy
- Costco (in-store only, not Costco.com)
- CVS
- Dollar General
- Home Depot
- JCPenney
- Kohl‘s
- Kroger
- Lowe‘s
- Macy‘s
- Newegg.com
- Office Depot / OfficeMax
- Sam‘s Club (in-club only, not SamsClub.com)
- Sears
- Staples
- Ulta
- Walgreens
- Walmart / Walmart.com
… and quite a few others! For the most up-to-date list of retailers that Target will price match, refer to the Price Match Guarantee page on Target.com.
It‘s wonderful that Target price matches such a broad variety of stores, but having that many competitors on the list can make price matching a bit confusing and overwhelming. My recommendation is to focus on price matching Target‘s prices with its most direct competitors in each category. For food and drugstore items, check Walgreens, CVS, and Walmart. For housewares and home goods, look at Amazon, Bed Bath & Beyond, and Kohl‘s. For electronics, compare to Best Buy. You get the idea!
Expert Tips for Price Matching at Target
As a professional retail adviser and former senior manager, I‘ve picked up some useful tips and tricks over the years to make the most of price matching. When it comes to getting great deals at Target by matching competitor prices, keep these best practices in mind:
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Do your research. Before heading to Target, check their website and app to note the current Target price of the item you want. Then comparison shop the same item on competitors‘ websites, including Walgreens, to find the best current advertised price. Don‘t forget to check if the items are in-stock.
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Bring proof. Always bring valid proof of the competitor‘s current lower price with you to Target, whether that‘s a physical printed ad or a digital listing you can show on your phone. Better safe than sorry!
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Know the policy. Read Target‘s price match policy beforehand so you know what is and isn‘t included and can anticipate any potential roadblocks. Their guidelines are subject to change so it‘s good to check for the latest details on their website.
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Ask nicely. When requesting a price match, be polite and straightforward with the Target associate. They are much more likely to go out of their way to help you get the best price if you treat them with kindness and respect.
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Stack the savings. While you can‘t stack a price match on top of other Target offers, you CAN stack your Target RedCard 5% discount on top of a competitor price match. Use your RedCard credit or debit card to pay for an extra 5% off your price-matched item. This is the one exception where you can combine a price match with another form of Target savings.
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Shop smart. Avoid trying to price match around Black Friday/Cyber Monday when stores often suspend price matching. And keep your eyes peeled for special promotions competitors run that Target won‘t match, like buy one get one free offers or gift card bundles. Focus instead on price matching everyday low prices.
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Use technology. Download price comparison apps like ShopSavvy, ScanLife or PriceGrabber to quickly compare prices while you‘re out shopping. You can scan item barcodes to pull up prices at various retailers and find the best deal to match. Some apps even have built-in digital weekly ads so you can easily access proof of competitor prices right from your phone.
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Be persistent. If a Target associate turns down your valid price match, politely ask to speak with a manager or supervisor. Sometimes employees are not fully aware of the store‘s price matching policies. If you believe your request was wrongly rejected, contact Target Guest Services to file a complaint. Be sure to have your receipt and the competitor‘s ad handy to back up your claim.
The Bottom Line: Target Price Matches Walgreens to Stay Competitive
At the end of the day, Target offers generous and flexible price matching to remain competitive in the fierce world of retail. Many shoppers compare prices between the big box stores and pharmacies to find the best deals, so Target aims to eliminate the leg work by promising to match the best price – even if that price is found at Walgreens.
Price matching is a smart tactic for retailers to keep customers loyal and spending in their stores. Otherwise, shoppers would just buy a cheaper item at a competitor and Target would lose that sale entirely. For consumers, price matching policies like Target‘s are a great, low-effort way to ensure you‘re always getting the lowest price without having to run all over town chasing deals.
As long as you play by Target‘s rules – choose eligible items, bring valid proof of Walgreens‘ lower price, and avoid any exclusions – you can tap into valuable savings by taking advantage of Target‘s promise to match Walgreens‘ prices. In 2020 alone, Target paid over $193 million in price matching claims to customers. Clearly price matching adds up to a lot of savings!
Of course, price matching isn‘t always sunshine and roses. Getting a price match can sometimes be a hassle if items aren‘t exact matches or cashiers aren‘t familiar with the policy. And price matching doesn‘t usually work on special promotions or time-sensitive deals.
But overall, being an informed shopper and utilizing Target‘s price match policy when applicable is a reliable way to save on everyday essentials. Combine strategic price matching with other cost-cutting methods like stacking RedCard discounts, and you‘ll quickly earn a reputation as one of the savviest shoppers around.
Here‘s my personal price-matching checklist to use on your next Target run:
- Write down the items you need and note the current Target prices
- Search Walgreens.com (or other eligible retailers) for identical items
- Take screenshots of any lower competitor prices you find
- Check that your items are in stock at both Target and the competitor
- Bring your list, proof of lower prices, and your RedCard to Target
- At checkout, ask to price match and show the associate your screenshots
- Pay for your price-matched items with your RedCard for an extra 5% off
- Congratulate yourself on being a savvy shopper and saving money!
With this checklist in hand and all the price-matching tips and info you‘ve learned here, you‘re well on your way to becoming a bona fide Target deal expert. Happy saving!
