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Tech Tuesday, January 8th 2013 at 6:15 pm

Target Will Now Price Match Amazon, Among Other Retailers, All Year

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Standard retailers have been feeling the pinch of online retail for a long time now. The ways in which they deal with their online competitors vary, but whatever it is online retail has going for it, it’s not far from traditional retail’s thoughts. That’s why it’s become such a common event for places like Target to match the prices found at their online rivals during the holidays. For Target, however, the holidays are about to be extended. The company will now match the prices of Amazon each and every single day of the year.

Amazon isn’t the only folks that target is, ahem, targeting. Walmart and Best Buy will be getting the same treatment. Even so, it’s pretty clear that Amazon is the real rival in this case. Target’s looking to avoid the showrooming phenomenon where folks take a look at products in person before ultimately ordering them online.

Unfortunately for Target, this particular initiative is all backwards. Matching prices from competitors puts the onus on the shopper. Given the speed of Amazon’s deliveries, and the fact that folks will still have to check online for better prices, it’s pretty unlikely that someone’s going to say, “Oh, hey, this is $20 at Target, but it’s $5 at Amazon. I think I’ll drive to Target to make them match the price.” They’re just going to order it online.

A for effort, though.

(Yahoo! News via The Verge, image via Roadsidepictures)

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  • Anonymous

    I see this getting them some business and of course a little trouble. Especially in the entertainment area. Of course people are not likely to check for diapers and clothes, but with websites like cheapassgamers around, I suspect this will bolster target in the entertainment area if they can keep it up.

  • bob

    well they didnt say all online retailers just Amazon Best buy and Walmart

  • new bob

    I feel like ““Oh, hey, this is $20 at Target, but it’s $5 at Amazon. I think I’ll drive to Target to make them match the price.” They’re just going to order it online.” is wrong most people have smart phones so they are just going to price check it on their phone and if they are already there they dont have to wait for or pay for shipping and if you are buying something off the internet it could be lost borken stolen (while in transit) tones of things but if you buy it at the store you have it right then things like headphones i dont want to wait a week of them to come in i want them now it will be woth the 30min trip to target

  • Dave

    If you’re going to jam an entire essay into one sentence without any punctuation, it needs to be much longer. It’s like you’re not even trying.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1745027821 Jeremy Pennini

    There is a Target not far from my house. As good as Amazon is, I’d rather go to Target.

  • Anonymous

    Amazon is kinda a big deal. I can’t think of another retailer that would be a bigger deal.

  • Phil

    Ummm… I can sit, be home “surfing” the web, finding what I need with a lot of online merchants offering free shipping. Why waste my time shopping Target, waiting to find a parking space, wasting gas, trying to find the item I saw inline plus wating for management to check a online price?

  • Phil

    Glad we have a online ‘feebdback’ editor. Does this site pay you well?

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1564333479 David Evans

    My daughter works at Target now and we are there several times a week due to picking her up afterwards so.. I think I will be shopping at Target more rather than Online at Amazon. :D