Have YOU Experienced Target’s App Price Switch?

By Mary | Senior Staff Writer

Feb 06, 2019 @ 6:58 PM MST

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Heads up!

Rumor has it that select Target shoppers are finding discrepancies between Target’s in-store prices and the mobile app prices. For instance, some shoppers have purchased various products in store for a certain amount (i.e. electric razor for $99) and whenever they leave Target, the same product is significantly lower in the Target app (i.e. $69).

However, as soon as the shopper walks back in to the store to ask for a price match, the price goes back up, making it difficult to prove the lower price without taking a screenshot in the parking lot and showing that to customer service. Yikes! You can watch this news video for more details.

Have you experienced this price switch at Target?

If so, check out this tip from Hip2Save reader and Target Guest Service Team Leader, Shannon:

“I am a Guest Service Team Leader at Target and deal with this question consistently. I can tell you that there is no price discrepancy in the app. What is happening is that when you are in the store it is designed to give you the store pricing and the aisle location to find the item. When you leave the store it switches to Target.online because you are no longer at the location. All you need to do is log on to Target.online (via internet browser, not the app) and we can price match no problem! We can even pull it up on our own devices to see the online price if it is easier.” – Shannon

Up next: Target Circle Loyalty Program Launching in Select Markets

Join The Discussion

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Kristin February 7, 2019 at 3:56 am MST

Yes. This is why, if possible, I always buy online and pick up in store.

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Danielle February 7, 2019 at 5:03 am MST

Happened to me around Christmas time. I turned off my location, got the discounted price, and then haven’t been back since!

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Heather February 7, 2019 at 5:19 am MST

This happens to me. That’s why I scan everything in my cart first & place the price match items separately. They always price match for me, but I make sure to do it right then.

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Mamabear February 7, 2019 at 7:32 am MST

Walmart does this also and will not match the online prices if lower.

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Samantha Mount February 7, 2019 at 2:39 pm MST

Walmart will price match their website. It’s the only way they price match now. I did it recently with a booster seat I purchased for my daughter. It was $5 cheaper on their website. They changed the price with no issues.

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Pat Goff February 7, 2019 at 7:51 am MST

I just lost my respect for Target.

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Pat Goff February 7, 2019 at 7:59 am MST

I can’t find app settings on my target app to turn it off.

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Pat Goff February 7, 2019 at 8:16 am MST

Target must have taken app settings off so we can’t turn it off.

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Angela Moody February 7, 2019 at 1:08 pm MST

I still see it. It’s under app settings, click on your profile (far bottom right) then scroll to app settings and it is the first option.

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Pat Goff February 7, 2019 at 8:20 am MST

Guess I won’t be shopping at Target. There is no way to turn off the location in the app. Bummer.

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Melissa Chow February 7, 2019 at 9:34 am MST

Just pull up the actual website on your phone. That works just as well.

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Liz February 7, 2019 at 8:42 am MST

I have quit going to Target for most things because of Cartwheel. There are times when I’ve gone into the store and the app won’t even work. When I’m at home and looking it seems to work fine.

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Sharlene February 8, 2019 at 7:26 pm MST

I’ve had this problem before. I updated my phone’s software, made sure I had the most recent Cartwheel app, made sure my wifi was on. Fixed the problem I was having. I also have brought the printed Cartwheel barcode for the cashier to scan.

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MelindaStezenko February 7, 2019 at 8:47 am MST

Has happened to me a few times. I live five minutes from Target so when I got back home and realized what was actually going on, I purchased the Echo Dot online for in store pick up and returned the more expensive Echo Dot at the same time.

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Shelley T. February 7, 2019 at 9:18 am MST

I’ve asked before, and my Target says they won’t match their own online prices. It seems that Target policy is to match their online prices, but my store doesn’t want to do that. Is there anything I can do to get them to do this?

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Melissa Chow February 7, 2019 at 9:32 am MST

You ask to speak to an LOD or store manager OR find the price match faq and show it to them.

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Melissa Chow February 7, 2019 at 9:39 am MST

https://help.target.online/help/subcategoryarticle?childcat=Price+Match+Guarantee&parentcat=Availability+%26+Pricing
ask to speak to an LOD or store manager OR find the price match faq and show it to them.

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Nana Donna 2 6 February 7, 2019 at 9:25 am MST

To turn off your location services for the Target app, access the Target app through your phone’s settings. There in the Target app, via your phone’s settings, go to location and camera permission. There you can turn off the location services. That is what I did for my android phone. I hope this helps. I haven’t been able to test it out yet.

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Melissa Chow February 7, 2019 at 9:31 am MST

Yes, my brother works for Target and confirmed this as true. The way to get around it is to pull up the actual target website instead, there you will still get the lower price when asking for the price match.

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Surgibelle February 7, 2019 at 4:14 pm MST

I have been having this problem at JoAnnes Fabric with my EARNED rewards.

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RK February 7, 2019 at 6:24 pm MST

Thanks for posting this. I always used to price match with the app when I am in store.

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CobbersMom February 8, 2019 at 11:03 am MST

Yes, it happened to me when I went to buy a video game for my son. Thankfully, I decided not to get the higher-priced one that showed up when I walked into the store. Then for some reason I can’t even explain, I checked again on the app back in my car because I was still confused and a little miffed, and saw the price had dropped back down, so I ordered it from my car and went inside to pick it up. Good grief! I got a good deal by chance, but that just ticked me off no end.

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tamiwood February 8, 2019 at 1:46 pm MST

This is dirty business. Shame on you Target.

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Sandra February 9, 2019 at 8:15 pm MST

Target updated their app.
https://www.cbsnews.online/amp/news/target-app-price-switch-target-updates-app-after-tv-station-revealed-price-switches/

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