Does Home Depot Price Match Amazon In 2022? (Full Guide for Sellers)
As an experienced ecommerce seller, I am often asked if retail giants like Home Depot will price match deals found on Amazon. With Amazon capturing nearly 40% of the US ecommerce market, according to eMarketer, traditional retailers are feeling pressure to compete on price. This guide will share insider tips on successfully getting Home Depot to match Amazon prices in 2022.
Overview of Home Depot‘s Price Match Policy
Home Depot offers a "Low Price Guarantee" to match competitors‘ prices in-store and online. This includes identical items sold directly by Amazon.com, not third party sellers. However, Home Depot excludes matching:
- Amazon Prime member prices and Prime-exclusive deals
- Prices from independent sellers on Amazon Marketplace
- Clearance, discounted, or open box merchandise
- Installation services, custom items, and more
Store managers have discretion to deny price match requests. So policies can vary by location. Only non-Prime Amazon prices are eligible.
Why Sellers Should Care About Home Depot‘s Price Match Policy
As an ecommerce seller, you likely list your products on multiple platforms like Amazon, eBay, Walmart Marketplace, and your own website. Savvy sellers constantly monitor competitor pricing across sites to stay competitive.
I recommend also checking major retailers like Home Depot. A 2020 survey found 72% of shoppers check Amazon before making a purchase. If you can get Home Depot to match an Amazon price, it opens up another major sales channel.
Dropping your Home Depot price to match Amazon can help you stay visible in product searches and retain the "Buy Box" on Amazon. You avoid losing the sale entirely to competitors.
How Consumers View Retailers‘ Price Match Policies
Surveys indicate price matching policies influence where many consumers make purchases:
68% say price matching makes them more likely to buy from a retailer.
75% have used retailers‘ price match guarantees in the past year.
94% of those who used price match were satisfied with the retailer‘s policy.
So Home Depot‘s willingness to price match does impact purchase decisions. This table compares Home Depot‘s policy to key competitors:
| Retailer | Matches Amazon | Matches 3rd Party Sellers | Matches Prime Prices |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home Depot | Yes | No | No |
| Walmart | Yes | Yes | No |
| Target | Yes | No | No |
| Lowes | Yes | No | No |
As you can see, Home Depot takes a middle ground approach compared to rivals. Now let‘s dive into how to make their price match policy work for you as a seller.
Step-by-Step Guide to Getting Home Depot to Match Amazon Prices
Here are the proven tactics I recommend based on my years as an ecommerce seller leveraging retailers‘ price matches:
In-Store Price Match
Print out or pull up on your phone an image clearly showing the current lower Amazon price and that it is sold directly by Amazon (not a third party seller).
Politely request a price match when checking out at the register. If initially denied, ask to speak to the store manager.
Calmly but firmly explain to the manager why you believe your Amazon product qualifies for a price match based on Home Depot‘s policy.
Offer to wait if they need time to verify details with Amazon. If you hit roadblocks, try another Home Depot location or return another day to speak to a different manager.
Online Price Match
Locate the identical Amazon item priced lower and sold directly by Amazon. Copy the product link.
Initiate a live online chat with Home Depot Customer Service. Share the link and request they price match Amazon.
Alternatively call 1-800-430-3376 and explain your price match request over the phone. Provide any details they ask for.
Politely ask to speak to a supervisor if the first agent will not approve your reasonable price match request.
Price Adjustments After Purchase
Bring your Amazon receipt showing what you paid to the Home Depot customer service desk within a few days.
Request they retroactively match the lower Amazon price by issuing you a refund for the difference.
This policy is only for the original purchaser and contingent on Amazon still having the item in stock.
Negotiating Amazon Price Matches with Home Depot Managers
Getting in-store price matches approved often comes down to politely negotiating with the store manager on duty. Here are some tips from my experience:
Lead with empathy – "I know matching Amazon prices can be a headache, but I‘d really appreciate your help here."
Offer win-win compromises – "If you match the price today, I‘ll come back here first next time I need something."
Clarify the policy – "Your website says you match direct Amazon prices. This seems to qualify based on that policy."
Come prepared – Having printouts, links, and product details ready makes their job easier.
Try different managers – Each has their own style. One may rigidly adhere to policy while another shows more flexibility.
Escalate professionally – If you feel a manager is not correctly applying the price match policy, call Home Depot‘s corporate customer service line to report your poor experience.
With the right approach, many sellers have success getting store managers to approve reasonable Amazon price match requests. It just takes preparation and perseverance.
Categories Where Home Depot Is Most Likely To Match Amazon
While Home Depot decides price matches on a case-by-case basis, in my experience they are most competitive in these product categories:
- Power tools – drills, saws, sanders, etc.
- Outdoor equipment – lawn mowers, trimmers, leaf blowers
- Grills and outdoor cooking
- Major appliances – fridges, stoves, dishwashers
- Lighting and ceiling fans
- Storage and organization
Check top-selling items in these categories on Amazon for opportunities to request Home Depot price matches. You increase your odds when they sell a high volume of that particular product.
The Pros and Cons of Amazon Prime for Sellers
When requesting Home Depot price matches, be aware they will not match the lower prices offered exclusively to Amazon Prime members. Here are some pros and cons of Prime I consider as a seller:
Pros
- 163 million members is a huge market
- Primes convert at higher rates and spend more
- Prime products get preferential search placement
Cons
- $119 per year fee eats into margins
- Have to cut prices deeply to compete for Prime sales
- Hard for small sellers to offer fast Prime shipping
My rule of thumb is Prime makes sense for high volume sellers who can negotiate low shipping rates with Amazon. For lower volume sellers, the fees often don‘t justify the boost in Prime sales. But you must closely monitor Prime prices from competitors and react.
Why Retailers Won‘t Match 3rd Party Seller Prices
Home Depot and most other major retailers exclude matching prices offered by Amazon Marketplace third party sellers. There are some valid reasons for this policy:
Difficult for retailers to verify pricing from thousands of small sellers
Risk of price manipulation if sellers list fake low prices just to show competitors
Challenging to match pricing that is constantly fluctuating
Easier to consistently apply policy for Amazon direct prices
As a seller, be prepared that only the official Amazon price for a product will be matched, not your own third party listing price. Consider vendor accounts to sell directly to Amazon if volume justifies.
Useful Pricing Tools for Identifying Match Opportunities
Advanced repricing software tools like PriceSpider, Sellery, and RepricerExpress are very helpful for identifying price match opportunities across retailers. Here are some key features I recommend:
Monitor competitor pricing across multiple sales channels in real time
Customizable alerts when competitors‘ prices drop
Identify biggest pricing differences to focus your price match efforts
Automatically submit price change requests on supported channels
Track your match request history and win rate
Investing in a robust repricing solution pays dividends for serious sellers playing the price match game.
Best Practices for Compiling Price Match Documentation
To get the most out of your price match requests, I advise having clear documentation prepared upfront:
Printouts – Have printouts or digital screenshots ready to show in stores or attach to online price match requests.
Product links – Copy/paste the exact product URLs rather than general Amazon category pages.
Product identifiers – Note the ASIN/ISBN number and UPC to eliminate any confusion identifying matched items.
Seller verification – Highlight where the listing states "Ships from and sold by Amazon.com" rather than a third party.
Shipping confirmation – Verify Prime items still have "FREE Shipping" displayed, rather than paid shipping that might invalidate a match.
Follow these best practices when compiling your price match evidence. It shows you have done your homework and eliminates reasons for retailers to deny the request.
My Best Tips for Getting the Most Out of Home Depot‘s Price Match
As an ecommerce seller making ample use of retailers‘ price match policies, here are my top tips for getting the best results:
Focus on high cost, large ticket items where the match represents significant dollar savings. Don‘t waste time haggling over small dollar items.
Be reasonable – don‘t request matches for items drastically below Home Depot‘s cost. Managers will usually recognize true price errors.
If you can‘t get one Home Depot location to approve a match, try another or speak to corporate customer service to report inconsistent application of the policy.
Follow up any verbal approvals you receive with the manager‘s name and date in case proof is later requested.
Be polite and charming when requesting price matches in stores. Building rapport with managers helps your case.
When purchasing on Amazon for future price match, allow 1-2 days before submitting requests in case the price fluctuates again.
Take advantage of seasonal sales events like Black Friday when retailers are more flexible with matching competitor prices.
I hope these insider tips help you make the most of Home Depot‘s price match policy. Let me know if you have any other questions!
