Does Macy's Price Match in 2025? Policy Changes & Strategic Analysis

By Thomas Bennett Financial expert at Priceva
Published on July 23, 2025
If you’re shopping at Macy’s and wondering whether you can get a better deal by showing a lower price elsewhere — the short answer is: not anymore. Macy’s price match policy has changed, and for 2025, it reflects a shift seen across many department stores. While Macy’s doesn’t price match competitors anymore, it does offer limited price protection through its internal price adjustment system. That means if the price drops shortly after your purchase, you might still be eligible for a refund of the difference — but only under specific rules.

In this article, we break down exactly what Macy’s price adjustment policy covers, how to request a price adjustment, and what items qualify. We also analyze what this change means for competitors like Target and Best Buy, especially in categories like furniture, apparel, and seasonal promotions. Whether you’re a shopper looking to save or a retailer studying Macy’s strategy, this guide covers everything you need to know — with practical tips, current rules, and a deeper look at how traditional retailers are adapting in 2025.

Does Macy's Price Match? Current Policy Analysis

Macys made a major shift in 2022. The retailer discontinued its competitor price matching program. In short: Macy’s doesn’t price match competitors anymore. That includes Target, Best Buy, or even local department stores.

While Macy’s price match used to apply to select categories, the current stance is clear—they offer no price matching on competitor deals. The updated policy focuses solely on internal price adjustments. From a strategy perspective, this simplifies operations and reduces risk from market-wide price drops. But it also limits Macy’s ability to compete with aggressive third-party pricing from online sellers.

For businesses analyzing this shift, it reflects a broader retail trend: favor internal control over external price chasing. It’s also a margin protection move, especially in volatile pricing categories like electronics or furniture.

Macy's Price Adjustment Policy Framework

While Macy’s no longer matches competitor prices, it still offers a form of price protection. The Macy’s price adjustment policy allows customers to claim a refund if an item they bought drops in price on Macy’s website or in-store shortly after purchase.

Here’s how it works. If you find a lower price on an item within 10 days of purchase, you can request a price adjustment. This applies only to items sold directly by Macy’s, not third-party sellers. If approved, they will refund the difference to your original form of payment.

Unlike traditional price match policies, this system doesn't require proof of competitor pricing. Instead, it rewards buyers who monitor Macy’s price drops post-purchase. For businesses, it’s a smart compromise. It supports customer trust and encourages continued spending without the headaches of verifying proof of the lower price across every online seller.

Price Adjustment Request Processes and Operations

If you want a price adjustment from Home Depot, the best proof is your receipt. But what if it’s gone? Don’t worry — they’ve got options. With Home Depot receipt lookup, you can retrieve your order using your credit card, phone number, or online order history. So yes, you can still get your price difference refunded even if the physical slip disappeared.

It’s part of what makes Home Depot’s return policy so strong. You don’t need to jump through hoops or keep stacks of paper cheque. Their systems are built for verifiable shopping, which makes it easier to match the lower price if something changes after the purchase. The smoother the process, the more likely customers are to return.

This flexibility is also strategic. From a business intelligence standpoint, Home Depot makes it easy to retain happy customers while protecting against fraud. Retailers watching should note how important digital records are in managing post-purchase experiences effectively.

Furniture and Mattress Category-Specific Rules

Furniture and mattress purchases at Macy’s come with their own set of rules. These are high-value, logistics-heavy items. That’s why Macy’s uses a slightly different formula to process price adjustment requests in this category.

First, the adjustment window may be longer than 10 days, depending on whether you chose White Glove delivery or regular shipping. For White Glove orders, the price adjustment period starts after delivery, not after purchase.
That reflects the reality of long lead times in furniture fulfillment.

Second, Macy’s caps price adjustments on furniture and mattress purchases to $100. So even if the price drop is larger, you won’t get back more than that. Still, that’s a helpful way to get the best price possible on big-ticket items.

This capped system offers predictability for Macy’s and a modest reward for savvy shoppers. Businesses in the home goods space should note how Macy’s balances flexibility with cost control here. It's a blueprint for price protection on large, freight-sensitive categories.

Price Adjustment Exclusions and Limitations Analysis

Like most price adjustment policies, Macy’s has its share of fine print. And it’s important to know what’s not eligible for a price adjustment before you buy.

Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and other major sale price events are excluded. Macy’s wants to protect its limited-time promotions. It also doesn’t price match competitors, so if Target offers a better deal, you won’t get an adjustment.

Items sold by third-party sellers, clearance merchandise, and special online codes are also excluded. These categories often reflect short-term supply chain discounts, not true pricing changes. Macy’s price adjustment system is designed to capture actual markdowns from their internal pricing teams.

Also excluded: purchases made outside the return and exchange period, price errors, and items not in-store and online at the time of the request. Businesses analyzing these exclusions can learn how Macy’s draws clear lines around price protection while maintaining pricing agility for promotions.

Strategic Implications for Retail Competitive Analysis

So what does all this mean for the broader retail ecosystem? Macy’s doesn’t price match competitors anymore, but they still retain price adjustment to reward loyal shoppers.

This internal-only policy reduces pressure to match prices from retailers like Amazon or Target. It also protects Macy’s margins while providing a fallback for customers who find a better price later on.

For business strategists, this shift is revealing. Price match may no longer be sustainable in a marketplace dominated by fluid pricing, third-party sellers, and rapid price drops. Instead, internal price protection mechanisms offer a controllable path to customer satisfaction.

With tools like Priceva, competitors can still monitor Macy’s price adjustment behavior, spot promotional trends, and use this intel to craft more agile campaigns. Macy’s policy reflects a retail world moving away from reactive pricing and toward structured, proactive price management.

FAQ

What items qualify for Macy's Price Adjustment?

To be eligible for a price adjustment, the item you bought must be sold directly by Macy’s, not a third-party seller. The item must be identical, in stock, and purchased at full price. If the item goes on sale within 10 days of when you made your purchase, you can submit a request and Macy’s may refund you the difference. The request must fall within the allowed days to request a price adjustment. Eligible adjustments typically apply only to in-store prices and online purchases from Macy’s website. This allows shoppers to protect their spending in the event of a quick markdown after purchasing an item.

What are the disqualifying factors for price adjustments at Macy's?

Items sold by third-party sellers or marked down during Black Friday promotions are not eligible for a refund. If you’re purchasing an item during a one-time sale or with heavy discounts, it usually falls under Macy’s final sale policy. Pricing errors, clearance markdowns, and items outside the 14–30 days return policy also make a request for price adjustment invalid. Macy’s will not refund the difference between what you paid and the new price in these cases. To qualify, the item must be identical and meet all internal criteria before any store credit or refund is issued.

Does Macy's price match during major sales events like Black Friday?

No, Macy’s doesn’t price match competitors or offer price adjustments on Black Friday, Cyber Monday, or other limited-time sales events. These discounts are treated as final, and Macy’s policy excludes them from adjustments. Even if the item you bought drops in price during one of these events, you can’t request a refund or get store credit for the difference between what you paid and the sale price. This applies even if you try to submit a request shortly after the purchase. Unlike tools like Capital One Shopping, Macy’s internal system does not automatically adjust for these pricing changes.

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