Does Best Buy Price Match Walmart Prices in 2023? Yes, Here‘s How I Save Money Using Price Matching.
As an ecommerce business owner, I‘m always looking for ways to save money on electronics and appliances for my home office and warehouse. And in my experience, one of the best tricks is price matching between major retailers like Best Buy and Walmart.
So when it comes to getting tech deals, the first question I ask is: Does Best Buy price match Walmart in 2023?
The answer is yes! As a savvy shopper, you can definitely use Best Buy‘s price match policy to get Walmart‘s low prices in 2023 and beyond.
In this detailed guide, I‘ll share insider tips from my years as an ecommerce seller on how to successfully price match Walmart at Best Buy. You‘ll learn:
- Which Walmart prices Best Buy will match
- How to request a Best Buy price match with Walmart
- Important restrictions on Best Buy‘s Walmart price matching
- When you need to make the price match request
- If future Walmart price drops qualify
- And more money-saving details!
Let‘s dive in and explore how you can pay Walmart prices on your next Best Buy electronics purchase.
Can You Price Match Walmart In-Store Prices at Best Buy?
The first thing I check is whether Best Buy will match the price I saw on a visit to my local Walmart store.
The good news is Best Buy does price match with Walmart retail locations. But there are a few guidelines:
The Walmart must be within 25 miles of the Best Buy store. Best Buy considers this their definition of a "local competitor".
You need to verify the Walmart price is for the identical item, including size, model, color, quantity, etc.
The item must be in-stock at that specific Walmart location. Best Buy won‘t match prices on out-of-stock inventory.
According to Best Buy’s Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2022 Results, they now have 980 large-format stores. Walmart has over 4,700 retail locations in the U.S. So there‘s likely a Walmart store conveniently close to a Best Buy in your area.
Once you’ve confirmed these details, there are a few easy ways to show Best Buy the lower Walmart in-store price:
- Bring the Walmart sales ad showing the price into Best Buy
- Show the price on the Walmart app
- Call the Walmart store so the Best Buy rep can verify the price
As long as everything checks out, Best Buy will match Walmart‘s in-store pricing without hesitation in my experience. Just remember you have to make the request before purchasing the item.
Can You Price Match with Walmart.com?
Beyond in-store deals, I also comparison shop on Walmart.com when buying big ticket items like laptops and TVs.
Luckily, Best Buy also allows Walmart.com price matching, with a couple caveats:
- The identical item must have in-store pickup available from a Walmart located within 25 miles of the Best Buy.
- You need to show Best Buy the active Walmart.com page with current pricing and local in-store pickup information. Screenshots don’t count.
This allows Best Buy to confirm both the online pricing and local inventory just as if it was in a store.
I simply navigate to the product page I want price matched, expand the “Check store availability” module, and enter my zip code. As long as a local Walmart has that item in-stock for pickup, I’m good to go.
Then I politely ask the Best Buy employee to verify the Walmart.com price and local availability before they adjust my total. It’s worked every time!
How Do You Request a Walmart Price Match at Best Buy?
Over the years, I’ve price matched with Walmart at Best Buy hundreds of times. Here are the simple steps I take:
Find a lower price for an identical, in-stock item on Walmart.com or in a nearby Walmart store.
Bring the details to Best Buy:
- For Walmart stores, have the ad, app, or store phone number ready.
- For Walmart.com, have the live product page pulled up.
Go to Best Buy’s customer service desk before purchasing.
Politely ask the employee to price match Walmart’s lower price.
Show them the proof of the Walmart price:
- For in-store, provide the local store location.
- For Walmart.com, show the product page with local pickup.
Have the rep verify all the price match details.
Once approved, purchase the item at the new lower price!
Make sure your receipt shows the updated price match amount.
I find having the supporting details handy makes the process smooth and fast. Best Buy reps want to honor the price match, you just have to follow their policy.
Being polite and firm when making the request also goes a long way. I simply say “I found this $50 cheaper at the Walmart down the street. I‘d appreciate if you could please match that price for me before I purchase it here today.”
That friendly approach has gained me instant approval every time!
Can You Price Match Walmart After Buying at Best Buy?
This is one piece of the policy that trips many shoppers up. Best Buy only allows price matches at the time of original purchase.
If you realize you missed a lower Walmart price after leaving Best Buy with your item, it’s too late to go back and request a price match. Even minutes after the transaction, Best Buy considers that a completed past purchase.
Here are a few reasons why retroactive price matching isn‘t allowed:
- It prevents buyer’s remorse returns when customers see cheaper prices elsewhere.
- Best Buy wants to encourage upfront price research before purchasing.
- It limits price matching abuse and the need for after-the-fact price verifications.
- It simplifies the process by containing it to one transaction.
I know it can be disappointing to miss a lower price later on. But restricting matches to the time of purchase keeps things fair and manageable for the retailer.
The only exception is if you find a cheaper BestBuy.com, Best Buy app, or Best Buy in-store price after purchasing. Then you can request a retroactive price adjustment.
But for Walmart and other external retailers, the policy is firm. No price matching after purchase. Knowing this motivates me to double check prices before handing over my credit card!
Will Best Buy Give a Refund If Walmart Lowers Its Price?
This is another common question I had in the early days of price matching. What happens if an item I just bought from Best Buy then goes on sale at Walmart?
Well, unfortunately Best Buy‘s policy does not guarantee you the lowest possible ongoing price across retailers.
If Walmart lowers its price a day or a week after I buy something from Best Buy, that’s not grounds for getting a refund. Even immediately the next day doesn’t qualify.
You are only protected from a lower advertised Walmart price that exists at the direct time of your Best Buy transaction. Any future price drops do not apply.
Now if I saw a cheaper Walmart price later on, I could return the item to Best Buy within the standard 15-day window and re-purchase it to get the lower price.
But Best Buy will not refund the difference between what you already paid and a new lower Walmart price. The benefit of their price match is only instantaneous, not ongoing.
I know it seems like you should get the best price no matter what if it drops shortly after. But like most retailers, Best Buy’s policy is limited to that transaction moment to avoid constant price monitoring and refunds.
Does Best Buy Match Walmart Offers, Bundles, and Deals?
The last key thing I learned is that Best Buy strictly price matches Walmart’s normal everyday prices. They do not matchconditional discounts, special offers or bundled sales from Walmart.
For example, Best Buy would NOT match these types of Walmart promotions:
- Get a $50 Walmart gift card when you buy this TV
- Spend $100, get $25 off instantly
- 25% off video games with trade-in of an old console
- Free printer with purchase of a laptop
- 12 months special financing or layaway offers
Even if the bottom line price seems lower with the offer or bundle, Best Buy only matches straightforward, non-promotional pricing. As a business owner, I understand not wanting to price match “gimmicky” deals.
When requesting a match, I stick to regular Walmart prices with no strings attached. That way there’s no ambiguity and Best Buy happily approves the adjustment.
The Bottom Line – Be an Informed Shopper!
In closing, successfully price matching at Best Buy does require knowledge of their policy details and restrictions. But this guide arms you with everything you need to save money in 2023!
Here are my top tips:
Compare Walmart in-store and website prices, but double check identical model numbers.
Confirm your local Walmart has in-stock availability before going to Best Buy.
-Politely request the price match at customer service BEFORE finalizing your purchase.
Provide all the required proof – show them the ad, app, or website.
Only match normal everyday Walmart prices, not special bundle deals or offers.
If you follow these steps, Best Buy will happily approve your Walmart price match request on the spot. Knowing how to take advantage of their policy has saved me thousands over the years!
So next time you’re buying electronics, appliances or other items carried at both big box retailers, do a quick Walmart comparison. With the right approach, you can pay their low prices and still enjoy Best Buy’s customer service.
I hope these insider tips help you keep more money in your pocket while still getting to shop your preferred stores. Let me know in the comments if you have any other Best Buy price match success stories!
