If you're waiting in line in front of a store right now, you're not alone.
As many as 152 million Americans were expected to shop today and the rest of the weekend, based on a survey for the National Retail Federation. That's up almost 10 percent from last year.But there's little comfort in numbers today. Consumers are vying for those 10 42-inch Sharp televisions for $200 at Best Buy and other limited door-buster deals.Price-matching is one strategy to consider as you compete for products, especially if you can't get to all the stores with attractive deals.But the rules can be tricky this weekend. For example, Target will not match prices on Black Friday, even though it will any other day. Other retailers have adjusted their policies. Walmart, for example, will match Black Friday prices today but won't honor its usual post-purchase price-matching policy afterward. So if you buy something at Walmart today and see it cheaper elsewhere later, the retailer won't reimburse you for the difference, as it would other times."Walmart has always price matched on Black Friday," DealNews.Com CEO Dan de Grandpre said. "But you can't come in the second week of December and get them to match a Black Friday deal."Staples also recently changed its policy to cover a select group of retailers, although they include Walmart and Best Buy, according to DealNews. But in another twist, Staples said it will match only online prices from those retailers for merchandise bought on the Staples website, and only in-store prices will be matched in its stores. No mixing.Another issue with price-matching is that manufacturers are increasingly making Black Friday products specific to a retailer, de Grandpre said."Stores often price match by product code, and even though the product is the same at another retailer, the code may end with a T for Target or W for Walmart," he said. "Then the retailer may say it's not the same product and not price match. Retailers are finding ways to get around price matching."An example is the Sharp television deal from Best Buy. The model number doesn't show up in its Black Friday ad, so price-matching with another retailer would be difficult.Shopping advisers say to bring the ad with the price you're trying to match and simply ask whether the retailer will honor it. The Black Friday ads are in the newspaper and posted online at the retailer's website, and are available through smartphone apps like the Star-Telegram's iCircular.Here are some other strategies to consider:Check online first. Many retailers are offering their deals online through the weekend with added incentives like free shipping and potentially avoiding sales taxes. For example, Gap is offering up to 60 percent off the entire store online and launched the website ShopYourselfSocial.com to help shoppers find the best deals from its brands like Gap, Banana Republic and Old Navy.Some retailers are apparently charging different prices online than in their stores, as well. RadioShack made Consumer Reports' list of "naughty" retailers this week for charging almost twice as much for an HDMI audiovisual cable in its stores as on its website. Checking online would ensure that you are paying the least possible.Use coupons. Sears is offering $10 off $30 in clothing, and Macy's is offering $10 off a $25 purchase, according to Edgar Dworski, founder of consumer resource guide ConsumerWorld.org. Many retailers put similar coupons in the mail, in newspaper circulars or on retail websites or social media, so be sure to take notice of this free money.The most visited coupon sites on Black Friday last year were BlackFriday.info, CouponCabin.com, RetailMeNot.com and Groupon.com, according to comScore, a retail analysis company.Several sites can help you compare prices instantly. ShopLocal.com ranked as the most-visited comparison site on Black Friday last year with 2.1 million visitors, up 45 percent from the prior year, according to comScore. The Price Checker at ConsumerWorld.org will also show you prices for a product from multiple retailers. DealAlerter.com will notify you when prices drop on your product. PriceHistories.com can be used to compare today's price for an item against prices for the past six months.Download apps for deal suggestions from websites and social media. Apps are available at BlackFlyday.com, BFAds.net, BlackFriday.info and DealNews.com.Finally, remember that retailers are offering deals and discounts through the weekend and into Cyber Monday. So if you miss shopping today, more deals are likely later.Teresa McUsic's column appears Fridays.Do they match prices?
Amazon. No. Typically the e-tailer matches prices only for televisions, but not on Black Friday. Amazon does watch competitor's prices closely, however, and often makes changes to match or beat them.
Best Buy. No. Normal policy allows price matches with a copy of the competitor's ad, but not from Black Friday through Cyber Monday (Nov. 25-28).
Home Depot. Yes. Also, will beat competitor's price by 10 percent for exact item.
Lowe's. Yes. Also, will beat competitor's price by 10 percent. Must have ad, or store will call for you.
Office Depot. Yes. Must show ad. Also will reimburse from 14 days of purchase if you find lower price in ad.
RadioShack. No
Sears. Not this weekend. But with normal policy Sears will match a price within 14 days of purchase and will discount price by 10 percent.
Staples. Yes, but only with a group of select retailers including Walmart, Best Buy and Amazon, but not Target. Also, will only honor online price matches from other retailers with an online purchase at Staples. Must show ad with lower price on identical item or within 14 days of purchase, and Staples will pay the difference.
Target. No. Normally will price match within seven days of purchase.
Walmart. Yes. Will match price for item bought Black Friday but will not reimburse with post-purchase price matching on a Black Friday price.
Source: DealNews.com
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