[Shopping Tips] Target Just Changed Their Price Matching Policy — Here's What You Can and Can't Do Now
Target Just Changed Their Price Matching Policy — Here's What You Can and Can't Do Now
You're standing in the electronics aisle at Target. You pull out your phone and find the same item on Amazon for $18 less. You walk to Guest Services to get that $18 back — and the employee tells you they can't do that anymore. Sound familiar? Here's exactly what changed and what you can still do to save money at Target.
What Happened?
For years Target customers were able to get the lowest possible price by matching prices with competitors like Amazon and Walmart. But that policy came to an end on July 28, 2025.
Target ended its competitor price matching after running it since 2013 — for over a decade Target was one of the only major brick-and-mortar retailers that would match Amazon and Walmart prices on identical items. That's gone now.
Many shoppers still don't know about this change. They walk into Target expecting the old policy to work — and end up confused and frustrated at the register. This post will clear everything up so you know exactly where you stand.
What You Can NO LONGER Do at Target
Since July 28, 2025 these things are gone:
- ❌ Price matching Amazon — even for items sold and shipped directly by Amazon
- ❌ Price matching Walmart — in store or online
- ❌ Price matching Best Buy, Walgreens, CVS or any other outside retailer
- ❌ Price matching any website that isn't part of Target's own system
Savvy shoppers will notice that Target prices run approximately 13% more expensive than Amazon and 8% more than Walmart — meaning shoppers who relied on price matching will now be stuck paying Target's higher prices.
One frustrated Reddit shopper put it perfectly: "I've gotten some crazy deals price matching to Amazon plus using my discounts. R.I.P. price matching."
Another said simply: "Well I'll just buy less or buy it where it's cheaper."
What You CAN Still Do — The New Rules
Here's the good news — Target's price matching didn't disappear completely. It just changed. And if you know the updated rules you can still save real money.
✅ You CAN still match prices within Target's own system
Target now only matches prices found within Target itself — Target.com, Target stores, the Target App, and items from Target Plus partners. So if the same item costs more in your local store than it does on Target.com — you can still get the difference refunded.
This is actually more useful than it sounds. Target's prices often vary between the store shelf and the app or website. Always check the Target app before you buy anything in store — you might find it cheaper online and get the difference back on the spot.
✅ You CAN still get a price adjustment within 14 days
If you buy an item at Target and the price drops within 14 days — you do not need to return and repurchase. You just need your receipt and the lower price must still be active. The catch: it must be a Target price drop — not a competitor's price.
Here's how to request it:
- In store: Bring your original receipt to Guest Services and ask for a price adjustment
- Online: Contact Target Guest Services through the Target app chat or by phone
The item must be identical in brand, size, weight, color, quantity, and model number — and you need your original receipt either physical or digital.
✅ The Holiday Price Adjustment Window — Plan Ahead
During the holidays Target stretches the adjustment window far beyond the standard 14 days. For the 2025 season any item purchased November 1 through December 24 was eligible for a price adjustment if Target's price dropped any time before December 24.
This is one of the best reasons to shop Target early for holiday gifts. Buy early, watch for Target price drops through December 24, and claim the difference back if the price goes down. You get the item secured AND potential savings if the price falls later.
Target is expected to run a similar holiday guarantee in 2026 — watch for their official announcement in October.
🎯 The Secret Update Nobody Is Talking About
Here's something most Target shoppers don't know yet:
As of January 15, 2026 Target quietly updated its policy to allow Target Circle deals to be combined with a price match. This is a big win for anyone looking to stack savings. You can now get the lower Target price AND use your Circle coupons at the same time.
Before this update you had to choose one or the other. Now you can stack both — which means real savings if you use Target Circle regularly.
How to use this:
- Download the Target app and sign up for Target Circle — it's completely free
- Before asking for a price match — activate any available Circle deals for that item
- Then request your price match at Guest Services
- You get both the lower price AND the Circle discount applied
How to Still Save Money at Target — Smart Strategies
Just because competitor price matching is gone doesn't mean you're out of options. Here's how experienced Target shoppers are adapting:
Strategy #1 — Always check the Target app before buying in store A major frustration for shoppers is price discrepancies between Target's physical store shelves and its own app. This actually works in your favor now — if the app shows a lower price than the shelf you can get that difference at Guest Services. Make it a habit to check the app for every item before you put it in your cart.
Strategy #2 — Use the Target Circle app for weekly deals Target Circle is free to join and offers personalized deals, weekly discounts, and bonus earnings on certain purchases. Many of the best Target deals are only visible through the Circle app — not on the shelf price tags.
Here's how to join:
- Download the Target app
- Tap "Target Circle" at the bottom
- Sign up with your email — completely free
- Browse your personalized deals before you shop
Strategy #3 — Track price drops with your purchase history After you buy something at Target — keep your receipt and check back on the Target app or website within 14 days. If the price drops even slightly you can get that difference back. Small adjustments add up over time.
Strategy #4 — Compare prices BEFORE you go to Target Since you can no longer match Amazon or Walmart prices at the register — do your homework before you leave home. Check the same item on Amazon, Walmart, and Target.com. If Amazon is significantly cheaper — buy it there. If Target's price is competitive — go to Target.
Strategy #5 — Shop Target's weekly sale section Every week Target runs sales on specific categories. Check the "Weekly Ad" section in the Target app before you shop. Items on weekly sale plus a Circle deal can still add up to great savings even without competitor price matching.
Items That Will Cost You More Now
With the change of Target's policy shoppers will no longer be able to save money by matching competitors' prices in store or online. The new policy limits price matching to Target's own pricing — both in store and online — including eligible Target Circle deals and only if the price drops within 14 days of purchase.
The categories where you'll feel this most:
- Electronics — TVs, laptops, headphones, tablets where Amazon frequently beats Target's prices
- Toys — especially during the holiday season when prices fluctuate wildly between retailers
- Kitchen appliances — often significantly cheaper at Walmart or Amazon
- Baby products — a category where Amazon and Walmart consistently run lower prices
For these categories specifically — always compare prices before going to Target. The 13% average price difference adds up quickly on big ticket items.
💡 Golden Tips From Real Target Shoppers
These are tips gathered from real people navigating the new policy:
"I just use the app religiously now." Experienced Target shoppers say the Target app has become essential since the policy change. They check the app price for every single item before putting it in their cart. In-store price different from the app price? Go to Guest Services and get the lower price.
"I set up price tracking for items I want." Smart shoppers are now tracking Target prices using free tools so they get notified when something drops within that 14-day window. You can use Visualping.io — paste any Target product URL and get an email alert the moment the price drops. Then you have 14 days to claim the difference.
"I stack Circle deals with everything." Since January 2026 Target Circle deals can be combined with price matches — which most shoppers still don't know. Savvy shoppers activate every available Circle deal before checking out and ask Guest Services to apply price matches on top.
"For big purchases I just go to Amazon now." Many Reddit users are honest — for electronics and big ticket items they've simply switched to Amazon or Walmart where they know the price is lower. Target has become their store for essentials, groceries, clothing, and items where the convenience outweighs the price difference.
"I still shop Target for Target-exclusive items." Target has a lot of brands and products you can't get anywhere else — their owned brands like Good & Gather food, All in Motion clothing, and Threshold home goods. For these items there's nothing to price match anyway — Target is the only option. These are often excellent quality at fair prices.
The Bottom Line
Target's competitor price matching is gone and it's not coming back. Target said the move was an effort to simplify its pricing strategy. Whether you agree with that decision or not — knowing the new rules means you can still shop smart.
The key things to remember:
- ✅ You can still match prices between Target.com and Target stores
- ✅ You can still get price adjustments within 14 days — for Target price drops only
- ✅ You can now stack Target Circle deals WITH price matches since January 2026
- ✅ The holiday price window extends from November 1 through December 24
- ❌ Amazon, Walmart, and all outside competitors are no longer eligible
Knowing these rules puts you ahead of most Target shoppers who are still walking in expecting the old policy and leaving confused.
Have you been caught off guard by Target's new price matching rules? Share your experience in the comments below — and if you have a money saving tip for shopping at Target now, I'd love to hear it!
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