MINNEAPOLIS, MN - Target announced earlier this week that in an effort to counteract "showrooming" among consumers, it is offering a year-round price match against online retailers, including Amazon, Walmart, BestBuy and Toys "R" Us, Techcrunch reports.
The price match applies for up to seven days following a store purchase and includes print ads from local retailers, too. It follows a recent price match guarantee over the holidays.
Techcrunch said price-matching "can be a dangerous game" and cited recent complaints to the attorney general in several states. In one instance, Best Buy cited an iPhone 5 price match, alleging it lost $65,000 on the day of a Walmart Facebook promotion, when it had to match the chain€™s $150 price despite iPhones being out of stock in many Walmart stores.
Showrooming is an increasing concern for the retail industry. Last year, comScore reported that 35% of web and mobile users were engaging in showrooming, which led them to buy online rather than at a brick-and-mortar store.
Target€™s price match may be requested at Guest Services prior to a purchase with proof of the lower price, or by brining in an original Target store receipt and proof of the current lower price.