Have YOU Experienced Target’s App Price Switch?

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Target App

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).

Target Mobile App

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.com because you are no longer at the location. All you need to do is log on to Target.com (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

Comments 86

  1. Alicia

    Yep. It’s been happening to me for months and it really makes me mad. I try to screenshot before I leave the house.

    • Chris

      Is it on certain items you buy or what type items? I want to test at my local target as well

  2. Carrie

    That is likely what happened to me when I went to purchase a video doorbell right before Christmas! I drove to the store right after work, 30 minutes out of my way because online it was priced as a good deal, but when I pulled it up in store the price was different and it was no longer a good deal! The employee must have thought I was crazy when trying to tell them it was priced lower just 30 minutes before! Needless to say, I didn’t get the video doorbell.

    • Carrie

      I just googled this and an article popped up that said disabling the app to use your location will cause the app to always give online pricing. I just changed my settings for the Target app! Hope this works!

      • Jennifer

        Yes Carrie. That was my solution. This is an old problem and I’ve been doing this for about a year and it always fixes the issue.

        • Gina G.

          I just got an Galaxy Note 9 so I’m trying to figure it out. How do I turn off the location & the automatic wifi connection? Thanks!

  3. KateT

    I wonder if it would help to turn off the automatic wifi login? I do when I’m there, as I find I cannot load other apps (Ibotta) or search for competitive prices while in store.

  4. Lauren

    Turn off using the store’s WiFi and don’t have Location Services on.

  5. Jessica

    Yes! I drove to target to price match a lego set with my sons. In store I pulled it up on my app and it was regular price! was able to pull up the site on my phone and find it but I was very upset I thought the price changed and I had promised my son he could get the set.

  6. Crystal

    Yes!!! I’ve actually noticed this for over a year but thought I was losing it. lol

  7. Carrie

    If you’re using the app, it will give you the current price of the store nearest you. Or “your” target. Sometimes if you turn off the store it will give you Online price which is usually cheaper. It took a while but I got used to it. Sometimes I just use my laptop and pickup in store so I get the OL price.

  8. Lori

    Yes! It happens frequently to me! I’ve even experienced a better price with the app in store and when I walk up to the front to pay it changes and I can’t bring the lower price back up until I’m in the parking lot. They will not accept screenshots here! So frustrating. Also, they will not honor the clearance price in store on the app as well. I’ve been told very loudly and rudely by a cashier that that is their policy. I did bring out up with a manager who confirmed that was true, but Louise, why is it so difficult?!

  9. shannon

    Yes my dad wanted turbotax from target bc online it was saying it was 39.99 we get to target and it was 49.99 my dad did show the girl the price and she honored it and we got the $5 gift card for purchasing it

  10. MaryAnn

    Yes, I noticed this a long time ago. Instead, I open Target’s website on my phone’s browser. Then I just toggle between the app for cartwheel and the browser for price matching.

  11. Amber

    This happened to me with Home Depot and Lowe’s. We bought a camera set at HD full price and within the week the price was drastically lower at Lowe’s. I went to HD to price match and get the difference and when I googled it Lowe’s was no longer available on the search. I’m glad I took a screenshot before I left home. Otherwise I would have been frustrated and out of luck.

  12. jax

    Yes it happened with a rain jacket I even scanned it in store but by the time I went to check out it showed the in store price.

  13. erica

    Really loved getting bargains at target but any more really upset with my local store that im thinking about cut my card and not going there at all

  14. Samfs2016

    Yes I have also noticed this several times but I came to a conclusion that if our internet is on and location service is on as soon as we enter the store its showing prices that is in store.So its better to take a screenshot with date of that day.

  15. cooper

    yep. this has been happening for years (i noticed this for quite some time). the trick – don’t use the WiFi in the store! when you connect to the WiFi it shows the price in the store NOT online!

    if you have to connect to the WiFi in the store cause of poor cellular coverage – open the web browser on your phone (firefox, chrome etc) and go to target.com that way – DON’T use the app.

  16. Jenn

    Yikes! Not expected from Target. I know Walmart has different prices online and in store sometimes and they don’t price match In-store and online.
    Thanks! for letting us know about Target

  17. Noel

    I notice quite some time ago, I usually opt for in store pick up, that way I pay the lower price.

  18. Sarah

    I always use the website to price match because the app changes to whatever is the store price is. Works all the time.

  19. Emily

    Yes!!!! So frustrating. I’ll be home and it’s one price and I get to the store and it’s showing a higher price on the app. I just order online and pickup in store anymore.

  20. Rose

    Very intetesting… I notice cheaper online prices, but not the switch. I use Target WiFi, but I always have location services off. Once, I went to customer service and they returned me the difference. Other times, I just place an online order while I’m still in the store as long as I don’t have coupons or Cartwheel discounts. I have a Red card; so, shipping is free. Hmm… I’ll have to check it out next time. 😢

    • jenn

      I’ve placed an order in store too, haha!

    • Nana Donna 2 6

      I’ve done this on a couple occasions while shopping at Kohls. As long as the item is in the store where you are shopping (like a clearance item online is less than what it is in the store), you can order that item for free same-day pickup at that store. If they aren’t busy, you can show/give the item to the department CS clerk, explain to them what you’re doing and once they have received the “order”, they’ll process it if not busy. They typically have 2 hours to do this. But you’ve helped them with not having to go search for it. It was all worth it for a combined savings of $30 for me in November. My grandson was excited about his new birthday athletic shoes, and I was a happy Nana! WIN-WIN!

  21. cooper

    Forget to say – last September (around that time) when there was an exclusive RedCard coupon $100 off for Dyson vacuums – the one I wanted was $249.99, but in store it scanned as full price $299.99 – went to price match it – I had a huge argument with guest services – they kept saying that is an “online exclusive price” I was what the F are you talking about? Target price matches everything in store to their website…So I said F it went to a different Target and they price matched it without any issues.

    so yeah Target like most stores seem to make their own rules up by location based on management, which makes for a poor shopping experience….then you wonder why people shop online.

  22. stacey

    Omg yes! Saw a baby outfit for clearance in size 18 months, but all other sizes regular price. I went to counter for them to adjust and was told no because not coming up on their end at that price. I even gave her my phone so she could touch different size etc. I left without purchasing and called target customer service. I emailed them the screenshot because once again showing on their end regular price. He gets my email and says oh you have to purchase it through app at regular price, but when you go to pick up item in a particular store will price adjust! Um no ty sir. Next day they had changed price in app. I also tried to add to cart and once in cart went to regular price sp definitely was not going to let them dupe me. I told him they suck!

  23. Paula

    Old navy in-store won’t honor online prices either .
    We were there yesterday and a pair of jean were $39.99 in -store. $24.99 online . The cashier told us it’s from a “different warehouse”.
    So dumb, you just can’t fight it sometimes

    • cooper

      I bet if you went to a different Old Navy store they would price match it…cause they are suppose to do that.

      like I said every store loves to make up their own rules…until more people complain i doubt corporate will do anything.

    • lisa

      I work at a department store and we dont always honor our online prices because they have different sales and coupons. Yes it doesnt make sense and is confusing. However, we usually try to work with the customer to give them the best deal but company policy is to not adjust in store prices from online.

  24. Marie

    Our Target has redesigned and now effectively blocks cell coverage while you are in the store. Everthing was fine, until they started installing things in the ceiling. Haven’t gone back. No other store in my area does this, yet.

    • reclemen

      That might explain why I have such a hard time connecting in the store!

  25. maria prygon

    this happened to me ; i even spoke to the manager to get the price adjustment and they refused to do it; I called customer service when i left and they gave me some lame execuse why they couldnt give me the cheaper price but they did send me a gift card for the difference

  26. Alex

    I’d like to suggest using a browser called duckduckgo.com they hide all your private data while searching, so you don’t get scroogled. Use it to shop, especially when you are looking for hotels, airlines and now apparently when price matching.

    You can turn off app location permissions and location services, which may help. Or just use the ddg search instead of Google.

  27. A.B.

    Cooper, I had the exact SAME experience with the Dyson last year, and an eerily similar situation as another reader, with the Ring Doorbell… I just thought I was either unlucky or crazy! It’s like a bait-and-switch scam. Darn you Target, for making me love you so much, and then being difficult! Thanks for highlighting this, H2S! Very interesting!

  28. Ashley

    I did notice this on a clearance toy. Online showed $12.99 but then changed to $19.99 while I was in the store. I know we can’t price match clearance but I thought it was weird.

  29. Amanda

    This has happened to me a couple times but I was able to show them and get it for the price on the app.

  30. Sou

    That happens to me all the time. So I would do now is go on target.com that’s where you can see the lower price and will not change when you walk into the store.

  31. Nicole

    One thing I’ve noticed, if you add the item to your cart it will show the online price. I just show them my cart screen when price matching.
    I noticed this when I put an item in my cart that was on clearance in store, but was out of the size I needed, in my cart it was full price.
    Or just use your browser instead of the app. It’s frustrating, but worth the cheaper price.

    • Christina

      THIS exactly. I just add it to my cart in the app when shopping in store and it shows me the online price. Slightly annoying but worth the extra step if it ends up saving me money through price-matching.

  32. Theresa Popoloski

    This just makes one more strike against Target. I have no plans to shop there ever again as soon as I use up a $10 gift card. Their customer service is horrendous, the stores don’t have a lot of choice, the sales are pathetic, and I’ve heard from locals that they treat employees badly. I’d rather spend my money elsewhere.

  33. Dani

    This has happened to me and the cashier did not honor the screenshot said it had to be live!!!

  34. Denise

    I find this happens to me with in store prices. The price at check out is always higher than what the ticket on shelf says! I heard a few years ago target got sewed for this very issue. Seems as though they didn’t learn their lesson

  35. Corina

    Yes, it has happened to me. I was able to get the price adjusted down. Frustrating….

  36. Sherry

    It’s your location on the app. It will show the in store price. Turn it off and the online price will show up. However I like using the app because I find clearance items not marked in store, but full price online. The app will tell me if the in store price is lower. Saved $50 on sheets and a comforter this week. In store it was $26, online $75. Plus my Targets pull the item up on their ipad to match, they don’t match what’s on my phone.

  37. Justin

    Yes. This was happening to me all throughout Christmas and I thought I was crazy. I finally realized that if I turned off my location to the Target app, that fixed the price switching. I don’t need aisle numbers anyways. That would pretty much be the only thing location gives you beyond telling it what Target you shop at.

  38. Taylor S

    Been happening to me for a couple of years actually!

  39. Michelle

    Yes it happened to me too. I had to turn off Wi-Fi and the price changed back. Tricky, tricky!

  40. jenn

    Yes!! I was just thinking it was my regional prices being higher.

  41. Jeff

    Yes this happened to me with batteries. I took the batteries to CS for a price match.

  42. Maria Martin

    I don’t use the app, but for months, I’ve looked at things online at Target.com, and when I go to the store, they are ALWAYS more expensive. I brought it to a clerk’s attention and w/out question, they matched the on-line price. I don’t shop at the physical store anymore, until I look on-line for items at home first, because they ARE cheaper on-line. Especially if you’re buying a higher priced item.

  43. happy

    When i have gone to customer sevice for the price adjustment, I was told that it was their policy to look it up on their Target ipad
    device that is at the checkout for verification purposes due to fraud. Fraud by the customer?!? Or, the retailer?!?

  44. CK

    While shopping in store, I scan every item on the Target app. If the online price is cheaper, I take a screenshot and show it to the checkout person who gladly adjusts the price 🙂

    • Lisa

      Wish our stores would do this, but they won’t allow screenshots. They won’t even let me show them on my phone, they use their tablet to verify and it’s never correct.

  45. Diana

    Yup! Its been going on for awhile. I would see things online and go to store thinking im getting a bargain! But when im in store the price goes up! Wth!!! I started taking screenshots and thats worked! 🙂

  46. Molly

    Yes I’ve noticed this for a long time. Customer Service always honors it for me and will sometimes look it up on their phones to verify. I still love my Target!

  47. Natalie

    THis is 100% true!!! I had to turn off my location to get different pricing. It is also true that you should scan everything!! Even sale items! Because the app I would say 1 time out of 4 has a lower price and they will match it.

  48. Lisa

    Yep, been this way for several months for me in more than one Target. I’d say it’s hsppened to me at least 30 o times in the last 4 or 5 months. The last time being this last Sunday. The price difference went from $42 to $79 so a pretty big difference. I just returned it and reordered online for pickup.

  49. Mickey

    And I wonder I was going crazy due to too much wine killing my brain cells

  50. Melissa Foy

    While it is frustrating, the app is designed to make your shopping experience easier so if location services are on and you use the app it’s going to show you where it is located in the store and how much it is. You can either shut off location services or access target.com through your browser and the issue is fixed. You could also ask a team member. Their equipment is equipped with a price match ad which they should be using at guest service to verify the price anyway.

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