Best Buy Price Match Policy (2026): Amazon, Walmart & More

By Thomas Bennett Financial expert at Priceva

Published on August 22, 2025
Updated on May 14, 2026

Best Buy is one of the largest electronics retailers in the US, and its price match guarantee is designed to keep it competitive. The idea is simple: if you find the same item at a lower price from an eligible competitor, Best Buy will match it.

This policy applies to both in-store and online purchases, and includes well-known retailers like Amazon, Walmart, and Costco. Best Buy’s price matching policy helps customers save money while ensuring they don’t have to shop elsewhere for the best deal.

In this guide, you’ll learn how the Best Buy price match guarantee works, how to request a price match, which competitors qualify, and what exclusions apply. You’ll also see how to take advantage of post-purchase adjustments and how tools like Priceva can help track competitor prices in real time.

Table of Contents
Best Buy Price Match Policy Explained: Amazon, Walmart & More
Understanding Best Buy's Price Match Guarantee
Qualified Competitors and Marketplace Coverage
How to Request a Price Match from Best Buy
Price Matching After Purchase and Return Period
Exclusions, Limitations & Special Cases
Price Match Eligibility Checker
FAQ

Understanding Best Buy's Price Match Guarantee

Best Buy’s price match guarantee promises to match a competitor’s price for an identical item that is immediately available. Best Buy's price adjustment applies to both in-store and online purchases, but the competitor must be on Best Buy’s approved list.

The best buy price match guarantee also covers price adjustments during your return and exchange period. If the price of an eligible item drops after you buy it, Best Buy will refund you the difference.

Items must match in brand, model number, and specifications. The competitor’s price must be verifiable via a current advertisement or website listing. For online matches, the item must be sold directly by the competitor—not through third-party sellers.

Best Buy's commitment to competitive pricing is a stated company priority: as CEO Corie Barry said:

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"We have something for every budget, with deals across a wide range of price points."

Corie Barry. CEO Best Buy — Q3 FY2026 Earnings Call, November 27, 2025

Qualified Competitors and Marketplace Coverage

Best Buy will match prices from a range of approved retailers. These include major national chains, warehouse clubs, and specialized electronics stores. Prices from these competitors must be for items in stock and immediately available.

Third-party sellers on marketplace sites like Amazon or Walmart are not eligible. The item must be sold directly by the competitor listed below.

Category	Competitor Examples
General Retailers	Amazon (sold by Amazon only), Target, Walmart
Warehouse Clubs	Costco, Sam’s Club (membership pricing allowed if you have a membership), BJ’s Wholesale Club
Electronics Specialists	B&H Photo Video, Crutchfield, Microcenter
Brand Stores	Apple
Home & Appliance Retailers	Home Depot, Lowe’s (for applicable electronics or appliances sold there), Menards, Nebraska Furniture Mart, RC Willey
Sporting Goods	Dick’s Sporting Goods

Best Buy also price matches local competitors’ websites if the store is within your market area. Competitor’s prices must include any applicable delivery fees for accurate comparison.

How to Request a Price Match from Best Buy

The best buy price match policy works both in-store and online, but the process differs slightly.

For in-store matches, bring proof of the competitor’s price—either a printed ad, a screenshot, or a live webpage on your phone. Go to the Customer Service desk or speak with a Customer Specialist at checkout. A Customer Specialist will review and verify the competitor's price.

For online matches, you can use the chat function on BestBuy.com or call 1-888-BEST BUY. You’ll need the competitor’s website link showing the lower price and product details. Price match requests via email are not accepted.
If you’re ordering online for in-store pickup, complete the price match before finalizing the purchase. Only the original purchaser can request a post-purchase price match.

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"When requesting a price match at Best Buy — especially online — always use the chat function rather than calling. Phone calls leave no paper trail. Chat transcripts are timestamped, attributed to a named agent, and can be referenced if the match is later challenged or reversed. Written confirmation of a price match approval is the single most important piece of documentation you can have if the refund fails to process."

Thomas Bennett Financial expert at Priceva

Price Matching After Purchase and Return Period

Best Buy's standard return window for price adjustments is 15 days from purchase. My Best Buy Plus and Total members receive a 30-day adjustment window on most products. During the holiday season, items purchased October 31 through December 31 can be matched through January 15 of the following year — always verify on BestBuy.com.

Best Buy allows multiple price adjustments within the 15-day (or 30-day Plus/Total) return window. For example, if an item drops twice within your window, you can request a refund each time. Pre-orders are automatically adjusted if the price drops before release.

This applies to both online and in-store purchases, but only the original purchaser can make the request. For scheduled deliveries, adjustments must be processed before delivery.

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"The most common reason a post-purchase price adjustment gets denied isn't the policy — it's the evidence. The competitor's price you saw at 9 AM may have changed by the time Best Buy processes your request at 2 PM. Before you submit, take a full screenshot of the competitor's product page with the price visible and the URL in the browser bar. On mobile, capture the timestamp in the system clock."

Thomas Bennett Financial expert at Priceva

Exclusions and Limitations You Need to Know

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"Of all the exclusions in Best Buy's price match policy, two account for the vast majority of customer complaints: Prime-exclusive prices and Thanksgiving-to-Cyber-Monday blackout dates. Both are completely legitimate under Best Buy's policy, but customers rarely read the fine print until after they've been turned down. If you're planning to price match during Black Friday week or against an Amazon Prime deal, you're most likely going to be denied — know this before you go in."

Thomas Bennett Financial expert at Priceva

The best buy price match policy has important exclusions:

Marketplace products sold by third-party sellers on Amazon, Walmart, or Newegg.
Clearance, refurbished, open-box, or pre-owned items.
Membership-only prices (unless you have the membership).
Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and other special event pricing.
Bundle offers, “free gift with purchase” deals, and financing offers.
Contract cell phones or carrier installment plans.
Liquidation sales, coupons, trade-in offers, or gift card promotions.

Services such as delivery or installation are not eligible for price matching. Certain transactions like Best Buy Education or Best Buy Business orders may be excluded. Items with limited quantities or advertised as “limited” may also be ineligible.

Best Buy Price Match Blackout Period

Best Buy applies a seasonal blackout period during major holiday shopping events. The retailer generally does not match competitor prices from the Thursday before Thanksgiving through Cyber Monday. This restriction exists because holiday pricing changes rapidly and often includes limited-time promotions that competitors cannot sustain consistently.

However, Best Buy’s own Holiday Price Match Guarantee still applies during this period. If Best Buy lowers its own price after a purchase, eligible customers may still request a refund for the difference within the holiday adjustment window.

Amazon Prime Day creates another common source of confusion. Prime-exclusive prices available only to Prime members are not eligible for matching. If Amazon publicly displays the same lower price without requiring Prime membership, Best Buy may theoretically match it if all other conditions qualify.

Scenario	Does Best Buy Price Match?
Competitor lowers price during Black Friday blackout	❌ No
Best Buy lowers its own holiday price	✅ Yes
Amazon Prime Day Prime-exclusive deal	❌ No
Amazon public non-Prime price	✅ Potentially
Costco member-only pricing	❌ No
Costco standard public pricing	✅ Yes

Special Cases

Warehouse club pricing like Costco or Sam’s Club can be matched if you have a valid membership. However, prices that require a store-specific credit card may be excluded.

Best Buy won’t match prices below cost or prices from unauthorized sellers. Mobile app pricing is eligible if it’s from an approved competitor and the item is in stock.

Special rules apply for phones purchased on installment billing plans. Sales tax holidays and regional promotions are handled according to local regulations.

Price Match Eligibility Checker

Best Buy’s price match policy contains many small exceptions that can confuse shoppers. This quick checker helps determine whether a specific scenario usually qualifies under the official rules. Eligibility still depends on item availability, identical model numbers, and competitor approval at the moment of verification.

Situation	Eligible?	Reason
Samsung TV on Amazon (sold by Amazon)	✅ Yes	Qualified competitor, sold directly by Amazon
AirPods on Amazon (third-party seller)	❌ No	Item must be sold directly by Amazon
Costco member-only price	❌ No	Member-exclusive pricing is not eligible
Costco standard public price	✅ Yes	Qualified competitor with public pricing
Walmart.com item in stock	✅ Yes	Walmart qualifies as approved competitor
Amazon Prime Day Prime-exclusive deal	❌ No	Membership-only pricing excluded
BestBuy.com public sale price	❌ No	Price match applies to competitor pricing only
Target item available online	✅ Yes	Target is an approved competitor

FAQ

Does Best Buy price match Amazon marketplace sellers, or only items sold directly by Amazon?

Only items sold and shipped directly by Amazon are eligible. Marketplace listings from third-party sellers do not qualify for Best Buy’s price match guarantee.

Can I get a Best Buy price adjustment after purchase if the price drops within 30 days?

Yes, as long as you are within the return and exchange period. Standard return window is 15 days (30 days for My Best Buy Plus/Total members). You can request multiple adjustments if the price drops more than once during this time.

Does Best Buy do price matching on Black Friday deals and special promotions?

No, Best Buy excludes Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and other major promotional events from its price match guarantee.

How long do I have to request a Best Buy price match after purchase?

Standard Best Buy purchases qualify for price matching within 15 days of purchase. My Best Buy Plus and My Best Buy Total members receive a 30-day window. Holiday purchases made between October 31 and December 31 typically qualify for adjustments through January 15.

Does Best Buy price match during Black Friday or Cyber Monday?

Best Buy generally does not match competitor prices during the Thanksgiving-to-Cyber-Monday blackout period. However, the retailer’s own Holiday Price Match Guarantee still applies if Best Buy lowers its own price after purchase during the eligible holiday window.

Does Best Buy price match Prime Day deals?

Prime-exclusive Amazon prices do not qualify because they require a paid membership. If the same item appears at a public non-Prime price on Amazon, Walmart, or Target, Best Buy may match it if all other requirements are met.

Does Best Buy price match in-store if I show a competitor’s price on my phone?

Yes. Customers can show a live product page or screenshot from an approved competitor directly on their phone. The item must be identical, currently in stock, and sold directly by the approved retailer rather than a marketplace seller.

What should I do if Best Buy denies my price match after approving it?

Best Buy often uses a two-step process involving approval followed by verification. If the competitor changes the price before final processing, the adjustment may be canceled. Save screenshots with timestamps, keep chat transcripts, and escalate the issue with a case ID if necessary.

Can I price match at Best Buy using the app?

Yes. The Best Buy mobile app supports price match requests through chat and customer support features. The same eligibility rules apply as on BestBuy.com, including competitor approval, item availability, and exclusion policies.

If you want to track Best Buy price drops automatically before submitting a match request, tools like Priceva can monitor thousands of SKUs across Best Buy, Amazon, Walmart, and other approved competitors in real time. Instant alerts help shoppers and retailers react faster when prices change, especially during major sales events where discounts disappear within hours. Automated monitoring also helps identify whether a lower price comes from an eligible direct retailer or a third-party marketplace seller that Best Buy will not match.

About the author

Thomas Mitchell Bennett

Financial Expert at Priceva
25+ years in finance, banking & e-commerce pricing

Thomas Mitchell Bennett is a financial expert with over two decades of experience in the banking and consultancy sectors. A Wharton School graduate (B.S. Finance, 1999), Tom has helped numerous financial institutions refine their lending processes and pricing policies. His work focuses on responsible lending, pricing transparency, and e-commerce market intelligence.