Price matching in Canada is when a retailer will match a competitor’s lower price to earn your business. The product has to be identical, and some policies are very strict about online vs. flyer prices.
Some grocery stores that are known for low prices offer price matching, like No Frills, FreshCo, Real Canadian Superstore, and Giant Tiger. Costco and Walmart Canada do not offer price matching, but Costco offers limited price protection.
There is a lot of squinting at fine print when it comes to price matching, but the savings can be seriously worth it. Here’s our complete guide to price matching in Canada – so you can make sure you’re always getting the lowest price.
Key Takeaways
- Price matching in Canada is popular at many grocery stores, like No Frills.
- You usually have to show a flyer to get the price match.
- There are several types of price matching in Canada that could save you money.
- Show the flyer at the customer service desk or cash register to get the match
So first, what is a price match?
Price matching is a practice where a retailer agrees to match a lower advertised price from a rival store, selling you the same product for the lower price. Products are marked up for retailer profit, but price matching is their strategy to attract business.
To remain competitive and increase brand loyalty, large retailers will offer to match competitors’ prices for the same items. Sometimes they'll even beat the prices. It depends on their specific price-matching rules.
Many retailers are committed to providing value to their customers by offering products at the lowest prices, but things can slip by them. The details concerning the specifics of what a given retailer will match can be found in a retailer’s price match policy or price match guarantee.
Here’s my real-life example:
When my first child was born, my wife and I agreed that a digital camera with video recording capabilities was in order. Once I decided on a Canon model, I noticed a pretty awesome 1-day sale at Aden Camera with a 25% discount on the camera we wanted.
The store was located downtown and there was no way I was going to make it there in time before the store closed. Instead, I walked into a Best Buy where the same camera was listed for the original price of $1,099.
Long story short, after about 15 minutes and a price match later, I walked out of Best Buy with the camera we wanted for $825. #PriceMatchFTW
Want to see the price match policy for a specific store? Check out this list of 23 popular Canadian retailers.
Types of price match deals
Since there are several common practices for price matching, we'll go over the different types of price matching here. We'll also provide examples for each to help you see what it would be like in practice.
The standard price match
The first and most common practice is to simply match the competitor’s lower advertised price.
Example price match
If an item is sold for $10 at Store A and for $6 at a competitor’s store, Store A will sell you the same item for $6 upon presentation of the competitor’s flyer.
Price beat by a percentage of the difference
Another common price-matching practice is to beat a competitor’s lower advertised price by matching the lower price with an additional discount. The discount is given as a percentage of the difference.
For example, Memory Express's Uber Price Beat Guarantee says that if customers find a lower price from an authorized Canadian retailer, they'll beat it by 10% of the difference.
Example price match
If an item is priced for $100 at Memory Express and you find the same item for $80 somewhere else, the customer would be able to purchase the item from Memory Express for $78.
Price difference: $100 - $80 = $20
10% of difference: $20 x 0.10 = $2
Final price: $80 - $2 = $78
Price beat by a fixed percentage
A similar practice is to beat a competitor’s lower advertised price by first matching the lower price, then providing an extra fixed percentage discount.
Home Depot’s price guarantee specifies that they’ll beat a competitor’s lower price by an additional 10%.
Example price match
If an item is priced for $100 at Home Depot and you find the same item for $80 elsewhere, you'd be able to purchase the item from Home Depot for $72.
10% of lowest price: $80 x 0.10 = $8
Final price: $80 – $8 = $72
Price matching something you already bought
Sometimes you can even get a price match deal on items you already purchased.
One situation where this may apply is if you bought something then found the same item at a cheaper price from a competitor’s store (within a certain amount of time). In this case, some retailers will refund the difference between your purchase price and the competitor’s lower advertised price.
If you bought an item at Memory Express then you find out a week later they lowered the price, they'll refund you the difference.
Example price match
Say you bought something for $100 at Memory Express, then see it for $80 at Best Buy the next day. If you bring it up to Memory Express, they'll refund you $20.
Related: The Best Price Comparison Sites In Canada
Price protection
Price protection works similarly to price matching but slightly differently. Instead of matching a competitor's price, they'll match their own.
If they reduce their own price on a product within a set period of time after you made the purchase, price protection means they'll refund the difference to you upon request.
Memory Express is clearly the kings of price matching, since they're a good example for all of the more rare policies. If you find out within 15 days that they lowered the price of an item you bought, they'll refund you the difference.
Example price protection
If you bought an item for $100 and check back and see the price has been lowered to $80 the next day. You’d be refunded the $20 difference, upon request and approval.
Get price protection through your credit card
Your credit card may offer price protection as part of its insurance package. Just keep in mind the item must have been bought with your credit card in order to qualify for the protection.
It’s uncommon, but here are some of the best credit cards in Canada that offer price protection. you have 60 days to make your claim, with a $500 limit per claim and $1,000 limit per year
| Credit card | Price protection policy | Annual fee, income requirements | Interested? |
|---|---|---|---|
| MBNA Rewards World Elite Mastercard | * Within 60 days * Lifetime limit of $60,000 | * $120 * $80K personal or $150K household | Learn more |
| Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite | * Within 60 days * Up to $100 per item * Up to $500 per year | * $150 * $60K personal or $100K household | Learn more |
| Scotiabank American Express | * Within 60 days * Up to $100 per item * Up to $500 per year | * No annual fee * $12K personal | Learn more |
Related: Best Travel Insurance Credit Cards In Canada
How to get a price match
Retailers don’t make it easy to get a price match – here are several ways to improve your chances.
What you should bring
Say you find a sale price on a new TV, and you want to try to get it price matched at your favourite store.
Get proof of the lower price
Collect the flyer that notes the price and model number. If the sale is online, print out the ad.
- The ad must clearly indicate the price and model of the item. Model numbers must be identical.
- Look carefully at quantity in stock and shipping costs, as retailers won’t price match if the competitor doesn’t actually have the item in stock.
You may be able to use your phone to show the competitor’s ad to the manager.
Review the retailer's price-matching policy
Confirm the price-matching policy of the store you'd like to buy from.
The policy will tell you the necessary documentation (e.g. flyer vs print-out) you’ll need, as well as any store-specific rules. It’s worth spending a little time to prepare to ensure a successful price match, as each retailer handles price matching differently.
You can never have too much information. Print out the policy if you want.
Have the phone number for the company's head office just in case
Some store managers may be reluctant to do price matching, even if it’s store policy.
Ask politely but don’t be afraid to call the head office for clarification if store staff are untrained or hesitant to help with the price-matching process.
Getting the price matched at the store
Ready? Go to the customer service desk at the store, and then do the following:
- Inform the associate that you're asking about a price match for a competitor.
- Show your flyer or print out with proof of a lower price.
- Be polite and wait while the associate asks questions. They may call the competitor store to verify the price and the stock.
- If the details line up, your price match request should be granted.
Congratulations! Your price has been matched and you’ve saved money.
What to do when they say no
If you are 100% certain that the store policy offers price matching, calmly explain it to the store associate and ask them to ask a manager or call the corporate office. Show the printout of the store’s current price match policy, if asked.
If you're still refused but believe you have a case, call the company’s head office while in the presence of the customer service representative to clear up any miscommunication.
Bonus tips for a better price-matching experience
Try these additional tips to improve your chances and value.
- Choose retailers that offer a fixed percentage discount on price-matched items for the lowest prices. Remember, even a price difference of a single penny should allow you to save 10% if such a policy is in effect.
- Go to the store at peak hours. Cashiers can get overwhelmed by the number of people in line and may approve the price match without much scrutiny to keep the line moving.
- Ask multiple people for a price match. If the first associate doesn’t honour your price match request, try your luck with another cashier.
- Try another location of the same retailer. Other stores may be more lenient or offer better customer service by adhering to their policies.
- Think outside the box when choosing retailers for a price match. Many stores have branched out from their traditional product lines to include new product categories. They may even have more inventory as most people wouldn’t consider them as their first choice to purchase that specific product.
Common price matching restrictions
The key to a successful price match is to ensure that the request falls within the boundaries defined by the price match policy.
Although each retailer has different requirements, the following restrictions generally apply:
- Products must be identical in brand, size, weight, colour, quantity, and model number.
- Product must be in stock at both places.
- A printed copy of the competitor’s flyer or ad must be provided. Some stores don't accept photocopies or flyers printed from online.
- In some cases, the lower price must be from a local competitor, meaning the same city or metropolitan area.
Here are several exclusions that usually cancel out a price-matching policy:
- Buy one get one free (BOGO) offers
- Special orders
- Rain checks
- Items from paid membership clubs (e.g. a retailer that requires a membership to join, such as Costco)
- Clearance, closeout, damaged products, used, refurbished, open packages, or liquidation sales
- Door crashers or limited-time sales including Boxing Day, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday
- Mail-in offers or instant rebates
- Sales tax promotions
- Credit or financing programs
- Pricing or typographical errors
- Free offers
- Gifts with purchase
- Display merchandise
- Bid pricing or volume discounts
- Items that can't be combined with any other offer
- Some brick-and-mortar stores won't match a competitor’s online prices
Some retailers definitely do price match under these scenarios as well, they're just common exclusions. Refer to individual price match policies for details.
Price matching is worth the effort
The price matching experience with the camera, though successful, didn’t go as smoothly as I had hoped.
I approached a CSR with a flyer advertising a lower price, and asked for a price match. He was skeptical of the sale and reluctant to proceed with the match. He called the competitor’s downtown location to confirm the price and stock, and with an irritated look, hung up the phone.
Surprisingly, the CSR reported that the competitor was out of stock and that even if they had any left, he could only match an authorized Canon dealer.
In most cases, the benefits of price matching outweigh the hassle.
Save money
The most obvious benefit to price matching is saving money on the product. But the price-match guarantee can come in handy for saving money other ways, too
Unused gift cards: Find an identical item at another store that’s also in stock at the store you have a gift card to. Price match so your gift card doesn’t go to waste, and you don’t spend any real money on the purchase.
Rewards: If it’s available, combine the price match guarantee with earning extra rewards. Your points can be used toward future purchases, increasing your savings.
Save time
Price matching can actually save time, if you can visit a single store for multiple purchases.
One-stop shop: Go to a price matching grocery store with flyers in hand, and you’ll save money as well as time by consolidating your errands to a single stop.
Shorter lines: When people flock to a store with a sale, simply grab the flyer and head to another shop that offers price matching to get the same item and same price without the wait.
$75 GeniusCash + Unlimited transactions for $0 + Ding-free non-affiliated ATM usage.
$25 GeniusCash + $50 bonus for funding a new account, and $0 commissions on stocks & ETFs
$12 GeniusCash + Access trusted news coverage 24/7 + Digital and home subscription options.
$25 GeniusCash + Delicious meal choices with fresh ingredients + Front-door delivery.Worth every minute
Despite the CSR's claims, I happened to know that Aden was an authorized Canon dealer in Canada.
I called Aden from my cell phone and put the phone on speaker. Aden confirmed the price, indicated they had plenty of inventory in stock, and verified that they were an authorized Canon dealer.
The CSR then called over a manager who had no choice but to oblige and match the lower price.
In the end, the 15 minutes spent was well worth the effort for the $275 I saved.
Don’t be fazed if you're initially denied the price match.
Come prepared. Call the competitor ahead of time to confirm both the stock and the price.
FAQ
How does price matching work in Canada?
Price matching policies vary between retailers, but it’s when a shop commits to beating or equally a competitor’s price on an identical product in order to get your business. Most policies require that you show a flyer.
What is the difference between price matching and price protection?
Price matching is when a different retailer will match a competitor’s price on an identical item. Price protection is when the same retailer will refund you the difference if they drop their prices in a certain time frame.
Does Walmart Canada still do price matches?
No, Walmart Canada does not currently offer price matching.
Do Real Canadian Superstores do price matches?
Yes, Real Canadian Superstores have an ad match policy. Be prepared to show a flyer with the competitor’s lower advertised price.
Does Costco price match in Canada?
No, Costco does not price match in Canada with other retailers. However, Costco offers price protection for certain items if you buy them and they go on sale within 30 days of your purchase. Costco’s return policy is popular, too.
Leave a comment
Comments
If they refuse it can be difficult especially with a smaller company. They probably don't have a head office you can contact to get things resolved.
Unless you are willing to take some sort of complaint or action against them with the Better Business Bureau or a consumer protection agency for your province. There's also the possibility of legal action for false advertising. None of those things are probably worth your time though.
If they won't do the price protection, simply purchase a new one on sale and return the old one. They have a 90 day return policy. Tell them you are going to do this, and they will likely just give you the adjustment because it will cost them more if you return.
If all else fails, you can buy the new one and return it unopened with the old receipt. Some people don't think that is very ethical, but honestly it saves the store money over you returning and re-buying because they end up with a completely saleable unopened product vs an opened returned product.
Having to make the purchase in advance is sometimes a requirement. Usually they will give you both options, but no I don't think there any laws about this sort of thing because price matching is a policy implemented by the retailers themselves. They can basically put whatever terms and conditions on it they want. As long as they spell out exactly how the policy works in their terms and conditions, then they aren't really false advertising.
Only getting a credit on your account kind of stinks instead of an actual refund though. Might not be worth the hassle because of that, but if you are committed to the Kobo platform and you know you'll be making future purchases - it could still be OK.
Even though you are in a smaller rural area, some of your local stores might match online competitors - I guess it depends on how rural you are exactly.
Great story Brad - thanks for sharing. So glad you found the information helpful. An extra 20% of the difference is pretty rare as it usually tops out at 10% - so good work there!
It's getting easier all the time Jason, that's for sure!
That's unfortunate to hear Alex. I haven't tried a price match in a Canadian Tire store for a while. I have successfully done it in the past though. I should try it again soon to see if my local stores give me a hard time or not.
Yes, that's news to me Mark. I didn't realize that the supplier was on the hook for price matching. Are you sure that is always the case? I remember about a decade ago Staples was famous for pulling products off the shelves when a competitor had an amazing sale going on so they wouldn't have to price match those big price differences with their insane 50% price match policy they had at the time.
I'm pretty sure it wasn't the supplier on the hook back then but the store itself.
Well, in a lot of cases this measure makes sense Jake because stores frequently put something on sale at insane prices but only have limited quantities on hand so they don't end up losing too much money. These are called loss leaders to get people in the door.
Other stores with price match policies don't want to lose money every time someone puts out a loss leader.
It's a terrible customer experience, I agree with you, but I understand the reason why they have this exclusion.
This is as about as close to a complete tutorial as you are going to get. Not much additional help I can give you here.
You might also check out my complete guide to stacking coupons and deals.
- Groceries
- Camping supplies
- Electronics, game systems, computers, games, TVs, etc
- Clothing
- Home building supplies like: flooring, plumbing, paint, lumber, counter tops,
tools, etc
- Decorating items
- Lighting
- Outdoor living stuff like lawn mowers and BBQs
- Major appliances
- Storage items
- Basically almost anything that goes in your house
Why pay full price when you can price match at a store that is closer to you and sometimes get 10% lower than the lowest price? They are paying you to spend less gas and less time driving. I believe a urban family of 4 could be saving $75 - 100 per person per month by price matching just on groceries. (Depending on your skill and dedication to price matching) In 2012 the average family of 4 spends $644.92 a month on food... JUST groceries and consumables with no shampoo, conditioners, bathroom tissue, laundry soap, razors, antiperspirant, toothpaste, dental floss, or cleaning supplies. This does not include a budget for clothing or gifts. I have watched the shopping at Walmart and people spend over $200 to go get a week of supplies every week. Here is some food for thought on even bigger items. Things like fridges, stoves, ovens, and laundry machines people will go into stores ... look at them ... pick one and buy right away. They spend way too much money and they didn't start at the right place. I start looking for these things online ... I check consumer reports and narrow down my choices there. I don't want to buy a dud, so it helps me eliminate a few choices. Then I go to stores like Home Depot online and Lowes ... both offer 10% lower prices and I like Lowes better because they will match any online Canadian price. Most of the time the prices are within a few dollars but often Home Depot is $2 cheaper. So on a $1000 purchase of a nice fridge at Home Depot, you can go to Lowes and get it for $900 because of the 10% lower price. If you are redoing your kitchen, it is a fast way to pay less. When it comes to price matching, you can price match almost anything.