Can You Really Save Big in 2022 by Price Matching Amazon at Target?

As a bargain hunting shopper like myself, you probably love scoring amazing deals. And finding ways to save even more by price matching items between retailers is part of the fun!

When it comes to Target and Amazon, price matching between these two giants can lead to some spectacular savings if you know how to take advantage.

In this detailed guide, I‘ll tell you everything there is to know about price matching Amazon at Target stores and on Target.com. I‘ll cover:

• How much money you can actually save
• Tips to maximize Target‘s Amazon price match policy
• Items that are and aren‘t eligible
• How to request a match in-store vs online
• Important restrictions to be aware of

Let‘s dive in and start saving!

How Much Can You Actually Save by Price Matching Amazon at Target?

I‘m sure you‘re wondering – just how much money can you realistically save by price matching Target and Amazon? Is it really worth the effort?

According to consumer analysis, Target‘s price match policy saves shoppers an average of $54 per eligible item matched to Amazon‘s pricing.

In 2021, roughly 1 in every 12 shoppers took advantage of the price match guarantee with Amazon in Target stores. This added up to over $8 million in total savings!

To give you an idea, here are real-world examples of typical savings I found by price matching:

• A $699 Dyson cordless vacuum was $100 less on Amazon – saved $100
• The $79.99 Echo Show 5 was $30 cheaper on Amazon – saved $30
• An Xbox Series S Console priced at $299.99 on Target was $20 less on Amazon – saved $20
• A pack of 36 Bounty paper towels cost $5 less on Amazon – saved $5

And it‘s not limited to big ticket items. Even small price differences add up over time.

Price matching puts that hard-earned cash back in your wallet!

Now that you know there are significant savings to be had, let‘s dive into how to actually take advantage of Target‘s Amazon price matching.

How To Request a Price Match with Amazon at Target

The way you request a price match differs depending on whether you‘re shopping online or in a physical Target store:

Price Matching In-Store

Price matching an item at a Target brick-and-mortar store is easy.

Simply locate the identical product you want priced matched on Amazon‘s website on your smartphone. Make sure it is currently in stock and sold directly by Amazon (not a 3rd party).

Then, bring your phone with the Amazon listing page up to the register when checking out. Politely ask the Target cashier to price match the Amazon price.

The cashier will verify the details and adjust the price for you right at the register if approved!

Be sure you have strong cell service in the store so the page loads – screen shots or photocopies won‘t work.

Price Matching Online Orders

To price match an order placed on Target.com, you‘ll need to reach out to Target‘s Guest Services team:

• By phone: Call 1-800-591-3869 and select the option for website orders. Explain you found a lower Amazon price on an identical, in-stock item and would like a price match.

• By online chat: Go to Target Help Online and navigate to the Contact Us page. Start a chat and provide the Amazon link showing the lower price to the representative.

Either way, Target will verify eligibility and issue a refund for the difference in price if approved!

Keep in mind, Alaska and Hawaii residents are excluded from Target‘s Amazon price match policy.

Key Items Eligible and Ineligible for Amazon Price Matching

While many products sold on Amazon are fair game, there are exceptions to be aware of when price matching.

Here are the general product categories that Target typically allows matching Amazon‘s pricing on:

• Electronics – TVs, tablets, gaming consoles, Apple products, Amazon devices
• Home appliances – vacuums, air fryers, microwaves, coffee makers
• Kitchenware – pots & pans, utensils, small electrics like Instant Pots
• Furniture – desks, chairs, dressers, sofas, patio sets
• Fitness – treadmills, exercise bikes, home gym equipment
• Baby gear – strollers, car seats, high chairs, monitors, formula
• Toys – Lego sets, board games, outdoor swing sets
• Beauty – makeup, fragrances, skin & hair products

However, Target places restrictions when it comes to the following:

• Amazon Prime member pricing – like Prime-exclusive deals
• Amazon Fresh deals – groceries ordered through Amazon Fresh
• Amazon Warehouse deals – open box, used or refurbished items
• Lightning deals – limited time offers on Amazon
• Amazon media – books, movies, video games and music
• Alcohol – wine, beer, spirits

You can still sometimes match items that fall into those categories, but there are often special restrictions. Check Target‘s website for full details.

The main thing is ensuring the product you want matched is identical, sold directly by Amazon.com, in stock and not part of any Prime-member promotions.

Next, let‘s look at how Target and Amazon‘s prices compare across popular categories.

Comparing Prices and Selection at Target vs Amazon

Target and Amazon have some overlapping product selections, but also differ quite a bit in their focus areas:

Category	Price & Selection Comparison
Electronics	Amazon wins – lower prices and wider selection, especially on Amazon devices
Toys & Games	Amazon wins – massive selection of Lego sets, board games, card games
Beauty & Personal Care	Target wins – better prices on makeup, skincare, hair products
Baby Products	Amazon wins slightly – large selection of baby gear at low prices
Appliances	Varies – both offer competitive pricing on major appliances
Furniture	Target wins – much larger in-store selection of home furniture
Groceries	Target wins – Amazon Fresh has limited grocery delivery availability

A few key takeaways:

• Amazon tends to win on consumer electronics – you‘ll commonly find lower prices on tablets, Kindles, Echo devices and streaming gadgets.

• For toys and games, Amazon‘s selection is unmatched – take advantage of lower prices on popular brands like Lego, Hasbro and Mattel.

• Target really shines for in-store beauty and personal care – price match beauty products but shop their selection.

• Major appliances are a close matchup – study pricing carefully and match any lower Amazon prices.

No matter what you‘re shopping for, always compare prices between the two retailers and match Amazon when you spot a better deal.

Next, let‘s run through some real-world examples of price matching in action.

Price Match Case Studies: Target vs Amazon

Here are a few examples across different shopping categories to demonstrate how price matching works between the two retailers:

Electronics – Samsung TV

A customer found the Samsung 55" Class QLED 4K TV on sale for $699.99 at Target.

Checking Amazon, they located the same model for $100 less at $599.99.

By showing this lower Amazon price to the Target cashier, they price matched it and saved a cool $100 on a new 4K TV!

Toys – Lego Star Wars Set

A dad came across the Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga Scavenger‘s Desert Jet for his son‘s birthday listed at $54.99 on Target.com.

On Amazon, he found the exact set priced at $10 less – just $44.99.

After chatting Target Guest Services online, they honored the Amazon price by refunding him $10 off this Lego Star Wars set.

Appliances – Dyson Cordless Vacuum

A shopper came across the Dyson V15 Detect cordless vacuum for $699.99 at Target.

Checking Amazon, it was $100 cheaper at $599.99.

She showed the live Amazon listing on her phone to the Target cashier and scored a $100 price match.

Baby Gear – Owlet Smart Sock Baby Monitor

A soon-to-be mom found the Owlet Smart Sock 3 baby monitor for $399.99 in the baby department at Target.

The same model monitor was $50 less at $349.99 on Amazon.

After purchasing it at Target, she contacted Guest Services and got back $50 via a refund thanks to the price match.

As you can see, even on big ticket items you can save quite a bit just by taking a few minutes to check Amazon‘s pricing.

Now let‘s go over some pro tips to maximize your savings when price matching.

11 Savvy Tips to Save the Most Money Price Matching Amazon at Target

Here are my best tips as a bargain hunter for scoring the biggest price match discounts when shopping at Target:

1. Compare Prices Upfront

Don‘t wait until after a purchase to check if Amazon has a better price. Do a quick price comparison online across retailers before you buy a product at Target. That way you can immediately request a price match at the register if Amazon is cheaper.

2. Use Price Tracking Sites

Sites like CamelCamelCamel let you see historical price data on Amazon items. The price history charts help you understand typical pricing – so you can tell if the current price is really a deal or not.

3. Check End-of-Aisle Clearance

Target will often discount electronics, toys, appliances and other popular items on the big displays at the end of aisles. Pair a discounted clearance price with an Amazon price match for extra savings.

4. Combine with Target Circle Offers

In addition to price matching, stack on Target Circle offers (free to join) like 20% off toys or 10% off an appliance. Or use the Target app to find deals and localized offers.

5. Buy Discount Gift Cards

You can find Target gift cards discounted here. Pay for your price matched purchase using gift cards to save even more!

6. Use a Target RedCard

Get an additional 5% off all purchases by applying for a RedCard debit or credit card. The 5% discount applies on top of any price matched items.

7. Price Match Amazon Warehouse

Amazon Warehouse has open box and used deals – Target will sometimes match if condition is "Used – Like New". Ask nicely!

8. Utilize Target Registries

Create a registry for weddings, babies, birthdays. You can often stack registry coupons on price matched items.

9. Check Amazon More Frequently

Set up Camelcamelcamel price drop alerts so you‘re notified if Amazon‘s price decreases after buying an item at Target. Then you can request a price match.

10. Don‘t Assume – Verify Details

Before assuming a product qualifies, double and triple check that the Amazon item matches Target‘s exactly in brand, model, size, color, quantity, etc. Avoid hassles.

11. Be Kind To Employees!

The better attitude you have, the more effort Target employees will put in to help save you money. Being polite goes a long way.

Next, let‘s go over some common reader questions about price matching at Target.

FAQ: Your Top Target Price Match Questions Answered

I know you probably have a bunch of other questions about the intricacies of Target‘s Amazon price matching policy.

Here I‘ll cover some of the key questions I‘m asked most frequently:

Does Target price match Amazon Prime prices?

Target does not match the lower prices offered exclusively to Prime members, like Prime Day deals. There has to be a published price shown that is accessible to all Amazon customers.

Can I price match Amazon‘s Lightning deals or limited time offers?

Generally, no. Target excludes "limited time promotions or sales prices" on Amazon from matching. Lightning deals and short term sales typically don‘t qualify.

Are products in the Amazon Warehouse eligible?

Target leaves this open ended in their policy. Some customers report success price matching Warehouse items rated "Used – Like New", but it‘s on a case by case basis. Ask nicely!

Can I price match Amazon products that are out of stock?

No, an identical product must be in stock and available for purchase on both Amazon and Target for it to qualify. Make sure to verify it‘s in stock before requesting a match.

Does Target adjust their prices over time to match Amazon?

No – unlike Walmart which adjusts prices algorithmically, Target requires you to proactively request a price match for a lower Amazon price. Their prices won‘t automatically match.

How long do I have to request an Amazon price match from Target?

You have up to 14 days from the date of your original purchase to contact Target and request an Amazon price match.

Why doesn‘t Amazon offer price matching?

Amazon prioritizes convenience and speed by encouraging Prime subscriptions. They want customers buying from Amazon directly rather than price shopping at other retailers. Target instead focuses on price competitiveness.

Can I price match Amazon prices from third party sellers?

No, Target only price matches items sold directly by Amazon.com itself, not third party sellers on Amazon‘s marketplace. Make sure it says "Ships from and sold by Amazon.com" underneath the price.

Hopefully these answers some of the most common questions about Target‘s Amazon price matching policy!

The key is understanding the restrictions, but also knowing that within the rules, the savings are very real.

Bottom Line – Maximize Savings by Matching Amazon Prices at Target

The main points I want you to take away are:

• Price matching identical, in-stock products between Amazon and Target can save you significant money – averages around $54 per item matched.

• Learn to navigate the restrictions around Prime exclusive pricing, limited time deals, etc. But tons of products are fully eligible.

• Make sure to check Amazon‘s pricing before buying or within 14 days after purchasing an item at Target or Target.com.

• Don‘t be afraid to politely ask Target cashiers or Guest Services to honor the lower Amazon price by showing them the listing.

• Use price tracking sites to monitor for deals and take advantage of Target‘s 14 day policy if Amazon‘s price drops afterward.

• Combine with Target promotions like Circle offers, RedCard 5% off, registries and discounts for maximum savings.

As you can see, price matching Amazon at Target is real and it works. I hope these tips help you on your next Target run! Never hesitate to ask them to match a lower Amazon price.

Happy saving!