Cherrypicking. This is one of the longest practiced traditions of the frugal. What is cherrypicking, you may ask? Cherrypicking is the practice of perusing sale papers for the best deals and then only purchasing the items that are loss-leaders (designed by the store to bring people through the door hoping they will purchase things that are not on sale).
In this day and time of high gas prices, it may not be in your best interests to spend the time and gas to drive all around town for your savings. Luckily many stores practice price matching!
Price matching is a technique that allows you to take your local store circulars to any store that pricematches, purchase the exact item advertised in the ad, and the pricematch store will honor their competitor's price! Wow, what a time and money savings!
The only store in my area that pricematches is Walmart. Here is what their corporate website says about their pricematch policy:
"Our goal is always to be the low price leader in every community where we operate. Our customers trust us to have every day low prices ... there's no need for "special sales." Should a competitor in the area have a special sale price on a product through a circular advertisement, the customer may bring that printed ad into the store and we will honor it for the same item. " Walmart Corporate Policy
Our local Publix doesn't price-match, per say, but they do accept all competitor coupons, meaning that when Albertson's puts out a $5 of an order of $50 or more coupon in their circular, I can bring it to whichever store has the best deals and use it there.
Interested in pricematching at your store? Here are my best tips for successful pricematching:
- Make sure you bring the competitor's ad into the store with you. Circle the items you plan to price match so that they are easy to see in the ad.
- Be very careful to purchase the exact type and size indicated in the advertisement.
- Place all price match items together on the belt so that you don't miss items or have to go back to fix a price.
- Let the checker know that you will be price matching and be ready to point out each item in the ad as it is scanned.
- Smile and say "thank you." to the checker. It goes a long way to build good will.
- If you get resistance from the checker, present your printed copy of the store's price match policy. If the matter is not resolved that way, politely ask to see the manager. If, in the end, you keep getting resistance, be polite, and call the store's corporate office for ultimate satisfaction. But above all, be courteous!
For more Frugal Friday tips, check out Biblical Womanhood!
What great information! I always wondered how this process worked!
I've done this a few times. It saves on gas as well, so you don't have to go all around town to different stores for their sales.
its amazing how far a postive attitude and a smile will go, isn't it?
Great tips! Thanks so much for sharing. I really need to start price-matching. I tend to only shop at one store for the reasons you mentioned, and I know they price match. I have yet to get on that bandwagon though. I am going to start the next time I go grocery shopping.