WSJ: Price Adjustment Policies of Big Retailers

[micnic]

Found this in the WSJ:

 

http://blogs.wsj.com/holidaysales/2008/11/19/shopping-holiday-sales-keep-your-receipts/?mod=rss_WSJBlog?mod=blogmod

 

November 19, 2008

Amid Early Sales, Here Are Price Adjustment Policies of Big Retailers

The Wall Street Journal’s Anna Prior from The Wallet with tips on taking advantage of holiday sales:

 

The holiday shopping season’s best deals are traditionally found the day after Thanksgiving, but low September and October sales have spooked retailers into offering deals and steals much earlier in the season. “This year is an anomaly,” says retail expert George Whalin, president and CEO of Retail Management Consultants. “This November stores have been aggressive in their promotions.”

 

Some of the current deals may be enticing, but should holiday shoppers hang on for even bigger holiday sales?

 

Not if they want to get their hands on a hot-ticket item, says Mr. Whalin. “Retailers are going to run their inventories leaner this year than they’ve done in the past,” he says. “If you desire to own the hot product, buy it when you see it on sale, because it might not be around [later].”

 

But what if you summon the courage to buy something, only to see the item go on sale a week or two later?

 

Many stores offer price adjustments year round and even extend their policies during the holidays. Just be sure to save your receipts—these become essential in proving you paid a higher price for the item.

 

Here are some of the price-adjustment policies and exceptions for some large retailers:

 

 

Best Buy:

The electronic and entertainment retailer’s year-round price adjustment policy is currently in effect. If an item goes on sale within the normal return or exchange period for that product, you can bring in the receipt and a cashier will have the price difference credited back to you.

 

During the holiday season, Best Buy expands its price-adjustment and return policies. For most merchandise purchased after Nov. 1, the store’s normal return policy (which varies depending on what you buy) doesn’t kick in until Dec. 24, giving you extra time to return items or present receipts for price adjustments. However, don’t hit the snooze button on the morning after Turkey Day.

 

“Doorbusters on the day after Thanksgiving are considered a limited-quantity item and you do not get a price adjustment,” says Best Buy spokesman Brian Lucas. So if you purchased an item before Thanksgiving, only to find it listed among the Black Friday doorbusters, the store will not give you a price adjustment for that particular discount.

 

Target:

Target’s price adjustment policy will remain unchanged during the holidays, according to Target spokeswoman Jana O’Leary.

 

Target will adjust the price of any item that goes on sale at their stores the same week or the week after the purchase, as long as you present the original sales receipt. This includes the deeply discounted items featured in the store’s post-Thanksgiving holiday circular.

 

To grab a sneak peek of the circular, visit www.target.com/weeklyad starting at 2am CST on Nov. 26.

 

Wal-Mart:

Since Wal-Mart considers itself to be an everyday low-price leader, the big-box retailer does not have a price adjustment policy because deals and discounts are available every day, according to company spokesperson Melissa O’Brien.

 

Instead, Wal-Mart will match a market competitor’s printed advertised price on the exact same item, so bring in the competitor’s circular if you want to ensure you’ll get the best price.

 

The store’s policy also applies to Black Friday items listed in the store’s circular.

 

As for what those Black Friday discounts will be, Wal-Mart will confirm their deals on their Web site next Monday, says O’Brien.

 

Macy’s:

Macy’s will make a price adjustment if an item is offered at a lower price within 10 days of your purchase, as long as you present your original receipt. Black Friday doorbusters are unique to that day and may not be subject to price adjustments.

 

Nordstrom:

This department store’s year-round guideline for price adjustments is two weeks, although exceptions are left up to the store manager’s discretion, according to an email from Nordstrom spokesperson Julee Kraus.

This general policy will apply during the holiday shopping season.

 

Gap, Old Navy and Banana Republic:

All three stores offer a one-time price adjustment on an item as long as you bring in the original receipt within 14 days of your purchase.

Edited November 21, 2008 by micnic

[tobal2]

My DW spoke with one of the managers at a local Target today and was told that they will NOT honor price adjustments for items in the 2 day after Thanksgiving sale. I had no problems getting an item adjusted last year - has anyone else been told something similar in their local Target?

 

 

 

EDIT - changed my wording above, my question was actually about adjusting the price of an item that WAS bought from Target and then goes on sale during the 2-day sale after Thanksgiving. Last year I got an adjustment on something, this year we were told that they will not do an adjustment if it's on an item in this weekend's ad.

Edited November 25, 2008 by tobal2
bad wording on my part

[KBsDarling]

remember there is a difference between an adjustment and a match

 

Target will not MATCH another stores ad

They will ADJUST a previous purchase to the new sale price within a set amount of days (have heard 3,7, 10 and 30 so YMMV on that one)

[Mrs.Gumshoes]

I'm not sure why any local Target manager would say that they aren't honoring price adjustments when, right there in the WSJ article, it says that the price adjustment policy remains in effect for Black Friday? The only items that cannot be adjusted are those considered clearance.

 

You can email Target at corporate and have them respond to a personal inquiry for their price adjustment policy. Just in case we encounter any problems that Friday or Saturday, we will have the email with us to challenge any objections:

 

From:<[email protected]>

[Add to Address Book]

 

To:[email protected]

Subject:RE: Target Price Adjustment Policy

Date:Monday, November 17, 2008 3:28:09 PM

[View Source]

Dear Vxxxxxxxxx,

 

It sounds like you have some questions about our price adjustment policy.

 

We're able to make adjustments on sale merchandise if we advertise a lower price

either the same week or the week following your Target purchase. Adjustments can

be made with your original receipt and as a reminder this service isn't

available on clearance merchandise.

 

Want to check the price of something? Just stop by Guest Service during your

next visit. Our team members will be happy to help you.

 

Target provides the latest merchandise at the lowest possible price. Be sure to

check out our circular online and stay up-to-date with what's on-sale. Click on

"WeeklyAd" during your next visit to www.target.com.

 

Thanks for shopping with us. We'll see you again soon at Target.

 

Sincerely,

 

Axxxxxx

Target Guest Relations

www.target.com