Target‘s Price Adjustment Policy: How It Works and Tips to Maximize Your Savings

As a savvy shopper, there‘s no better feeling than scoring a great deal at your favorite store. But what happens if that shiny new coffee maker or designer handbag you just bought at Target goes on sale a week later? Are you stuck paying the higher price?

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The good news is, Target has your back with their price adjustment policy. In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll walk you through everything you need to know to take advantage of price adjustments at Target and keep more money in your pocket.

What is a Price Adjustment?

First things first, let‘s define what a price adjustment actually is. In simple terms, it‘s when a retailer refunds you the difference if an item you bought goes down in price within a certain timeframe after your purchase.

Many major retailers, including Target, offer price adjustments as a courtesy to their customers. It‘s a way to ensure you feel confident about your purchase and give you peace of mind that you‘re getting the best price.

Target‘s Price Adjustment Policy: The Nitty Gritty

Now that we‘re clear on what price adjustments are, let‘s dive into the specifics of Target‘s policy. Here are the key things to know:

14-day window: You have 14 days from the date of purchase to request a price adjustment at Target. This applies to both in-store and online purchases.
Proof of purchase: To be eligible, you‘ll need to show either your original receipt, your packing slip for online orders, or an electronic receipt from your Target account.
Target items only: The price adjustment policy only applies to items sold and shipped by Target, not third-party sellers on the Target website. It also excludes final clearance and closeout items.
Same item only: The lower priced item must be exactly the same as the one you purchased – same size, color, model number, etc. No substitutions allowed.

There are a few other nuances and exceptions to Target‘s policy that we‘ll get into later. But those are the broad strokes that will apply to most shoppers in most scenarios.

How to Request a Price Adjustment at Target

So you‘ve realized that an item you bought is now selling for less – lucky you! Here‘s how to go about requesting your price adjustment from Target, step-by-step.

For In-Store Purchases:

Locate your original receipt – either a paper copy or an electronic version in your Target account.
Bring the receipt to your local Target store within 14 days of purchase. You don‘t need to bring the physical item unless you want to return it.
Go to the Guest Services desk or any checkout lane and let the associate know you‘d like to request a price adjustment.
Show the associate your receipt and they‘ll look up the current price of the item. If it‘s lower than what you paid, you‘ll be refunded the difference to your original form of payment.

For Online Purchases:

Find the packing slip that came with your order or pull up the order details in your Target account.
Call Target Guest Services at 1-800-440-0680 within 14 days of your delivery date. Alternatively, you can chat with an agent on Target.com.
Provide the agent with your order number and item details. They‘ll verify the current selling price and process the adjustment if applicable.
The refund will be issued to your original payment method, usually within 3-5 business days.

Requesting a price adjustment is a pretty straightforward process, but there are a few things to keep in mind. If you paid with a gift card, your refund will be issued as a Target gift card. And if you used any coupons or discounts on the original purchase, your adjustment may be reduced by that amount.

Items Eligible for Price Adjustments

Target is quite generous with their price adjustment policy compared to some other retailers. Most items in the store are fair game, including:

Clothing and accessories
Home goods like furniture, decor, and kitchenware
Electronics and tech gadgets
Toys and sporting goods
Beauty and personal care items
Pet supplies
Non-perishable food and drinks (excluding alcohol in most states)

Whether you‘re refreshing your wardrobe, upgrading your home theater, or stocking up on essentials, you can buy with confidence knowing that Target has you covered if the price drops within that 2-week window.

Items Excluded from Price Adjustments

Of course, there are a handful of exceptions to Target‘s price adjustment policy. The following items are typically not eligible for post-purchase discounts:

Clearance, closeout, liquidation, and "while supplies last" items
Target-owned brand gift cards
Alcohol, where prohibited by state law
Items sold and shipped by third-party sellers on Target.com
Photo and personalized orders
Optical orders (contacts and glasses)
Clinic or pharmacy purchases
Starbucks or other cafe items
Custom orders like curtains or furniture

These exclusions are fairly standard across retailers. The key one to note is final clearance items – once something hits rock-bottom pricing, Target considers that sale final with no adjustments.

Special Considerations Around Sales and Promotions

Target runs sales and special promotions throughout the year, which can affect how price adjustments are handled. Here‘s what you need to know:

Target Circle Discounts: Price adjustments can be made on purchases using Target Circle offers, as long as the item is still in stock and the offer is still valid.
Target RedCard Discounts: The 5% discount for RedCard holders is applied after any price adjustment.
Buy One Get One (BOGO) Deals: If you purchased items in a BOGO deal and one of them gets reduced in price, you are eligible for 50% of the price adjustment on one item.
Black Friday/Cyber Monday: During major sales like Black Friday, Target has been known to extend their price adjustment window so you can shop early with confidence. In 2022, for example, items purchased starting in October were eligible for adjustment if they dropped in price through December 24.

The bottom line is, even if you take advantage of a coupon or special promotion, you can still request a price adjustment if the item gets marked down further within that 14-day timeframe. Just be aware of any shorter adjustment windows during holiday sales.

Price Adjustments vs Price Matching

A question that comes up often is how price adjustments differ from price matching. While they both involve getting the lowest price, there are a few key differences:

Timing: Price matching is done at the time of purchase if you find a lower price at a competitor. Price adjustments are done after purchase if the price drops at the same retailer.
Retailer: Price matching involves comparing prices at different stores. Price adjustments only apply to price changes within the same retailer.
Exclusions: Target is more restrictive with competitor price matching and excludes items purchased on Target.com. Their price adjustment policy applies to both online and in-store purchases.

In general, Target is known for having a more generous price adjustment policy than price match policy. It‘s still worth checking their website for the most up-to-date guidelines on both before making a purchase.

Tips for Maximizing Price Adjustments

Now that you‘re an expert on Target‘s price adjustment policy, here are some pro tips for making the most of it:

Keep your receipts! You can‘t request an adjustment without proof of purchase. Make a habit of holding onto receipts or scanning them into your Target account for at least 14 days.
Set calendar reminders. Put a note in your phone or calendar to check prices on big ticket items 10-14 days after purchase. That way you don‘t forget and miss out on potential savings.
Know the market. If you‘re buying something that tends to go on sale often, like small kitchen appliances, consider waiting until closer to the end of the 14-day window to purchase. That increases your chances of catching a price drop.
Let apps do the work. Apps like Paribus can automatically track your online purchases and notify you if a price adjustment is available. It makes the process a lot easier for frequent Target shoppers.
Be persistent. If you‘re certain a price adjustment should apply but you‘re not getting anywhere with customer service, politely ask to speak with a manager. They may be able to make an exception, especially if you‘re a loyal Target customer.
Stack savings. Combine price adjustments with RedCard discounts, Target Circle offers, and rewards programs like Ibotta to compound your savings on every purchase.

With a little organization and strategic thinking, price adjustments can be a key part of a smart savings strategy. It just takes a bit of discipline to keep track of your purchases and act quickly when prices drop.

Are Price Adjustments Good for Retailers?

As a consumer, price adjustments are a no-brainer – of course we want the lowest price possible! But it‘s worth considering the policy from the retailer‘s perspective as well.

On one hand, price adjustments can eat into a store‘s profit margins if too many customers take advantage of them. It‘s essentially paying people for waiting to make a purchase, which seems counterintuitive to making money.

However, there‘s a strong argument that price adjustments are ultimately good for retailers because they foster customer loyalty and brand trust. Knowing that you can always get the best price at Target, even after the fact, makes you more likely to shop there over competitors.

Additionally, academic research has shown that stores actually make more money in the long run when they have price adjustment policies. One study found that profit increased nearly 8% when retailers offered adjustments vs not, because it drives higher initial prices, increased sales volume, and lower costs related to returns.

So while price adjustments may cost retailers in the short term, they seem to pay off in building long-term customer relationships. Target is making a bet that your loyalty is worth more than the occasional 10-20% they refund on a purchase.

The Fine Print: Additional Rules and Exceptions

As with any policy, there are a few obscure rules and loopholes to be aware of with Target price adjustments. Here are some final things to note:

Multiple Adjustments: If an item‘s price drops more than once during your 14 day window, you are only entitled to one adjustment from the original purchase price to the lowest current price.
Limited Quantities: If an item is advertised as limited stock or "while supplies last," it‘s ineligible for price adjustments. The same goes for products that sell out completely after you make a purchase.
Returns: If you buy an item, get a price adjustment, and then return the item, your refund amount will be based on the last price you paid after the adjustment.
Competitors: Target does not adjust prices based on competitor offers, period. They will only adjust based on the price at Target.
Price Errors: If an item is listed at the wrong price due to a system error, Target reserves the right to refuse a price adjustment to that price.

When in doubt, it never hurts to call Target Guest Services or chat with them online before making a purchase you hope to adjust. They can verify how the policy will apply to your specific scenario so there are no unpleasant surprises later.

Putting it All Together

We‘ve covered a lot of ground in this ultimate guide to Target‘s price adjustment policy. To recap, here are the key takeaways:

You have 14 days to request a price adjustment on eligible items at Target if the price drops after you buy
Proof of purchase is required, but the process is simple and can be done in stores or online
Most regularly-priced items are eligible, with a few standard exceptions
You can still get adjustments on sale and promotional items within the window, with some limitations
Strategic use of price adjustments in combination with other savings tactics can help you maximize every dollar spent at Target

Whether you‘re a die-hard Target fan or an occasional shopper, it pays to understand and utilize their price adjustment policy. It‘s a valuable tool in the savvy consumer‘s belt to ensure you never overpay for the things you need and want.

The next time you‘re hemming and hawing over a big purchase at Target, remember that the price adjustment policy has your back. Go ahead and treat yourself to those new wireless earbuds or that cozy throw blanket. Worst case, you can always request the difference back if they go on sale next week.

With a bit of diligence and strategic shopping, you really can have it all – quality products at unbeatable prices from your favorite store. That‘s the beauty of the price adjustment policy, and just one more reason to love Target.