There’s something about shopping at Target that makes you spend money like water. The last thing you need after a Target spree is to discover that some of the items you recently purchased are now sold at a much lower price.
Luckily for your bruised wallet, you can take advantage of Target’s price adjustment option and recover some of the money.
This guide breaks down the Target price adjustment policy, focusing on what items qualify, how long you have to request a refund, and what steps to take. We’ll also show you how apps like Settlemate can automate price adjustment requests and make sure your money doesn’t slip away.
What is a price adjustment?
A price adjustment or a price protection is like a post-purchase safety net, allowing you to claim a partial refund if an item you bought is discounted shortly after checkout.
Retailers use price adjustments to build trust, encourage repeat purchases, and reduce returns. Shoppers get the ease of mind, knowing they can purchase beloved items without waiting for sales and still be protected from overspending.
However, you should know that these policies come with specific rules that directly impact your chances of getting your money back:
- Firm deadlines: You typically have 7–14 days from the date of purchase to submit a request.
- Eligibility criteria: Your item must be identical to the discounted one and usually immediately available for purchase.
- Key exclusions: Clearance items, products bought with promo codes, and purchases made during major sale events like Black Friday or Cyber Monday are often excluded.
- Required proof: You must provide a valid receipt or order confirmation as proof of your original purchase.
What is the Target price adjustment policy?
Target’s price adjustment policy is fairly generous compared to most other retailers. If the price drops on Target.com or at a Target store, you can request the difference within 14 days from the purchase date, as long as the item on sale is identical to the one you bought and the new price is listed and valid at the time of request.
To be considered identical, the product for which you request a price adjustment must be exactly the same brand, model number, size, color, weight, quantity, and version. Produce is also eligible, but it must be sold in the same unit of measure.
Items excluded from the Target price adjustment policy include:
- Refurbished, damaged, used, pre-owned items
- Open packages
- Deals that require a minimum purchase
- Gift card offers and just-for-you bonuses
- Bundled offers
- Target items (if price-matched with Target Plus items)
- Items bought at a different Target store
Target’s price adjustment policy on clearance, final sale, closeout, or liquidation products states that these items are also excluded.
Target Price Adjustment Policy: Other Provisions
Below is additional information on how Target handles price adjustments:
Tip: Target offers its customers another option to save some money. If a sale item is out of stock at your local Target, you may be able to ask for a rain check. This option allows you to buy that item later at the same discounted price, usually within 30 to 45 days, depending on your state.
Rain checks are issued in-store only and exclude items such as clearance products, music, software, and movie titles.
How to get a price adjustment at Target
For in-store purchases, you have two options:
- Request a price match at checkout if you are buying a product now, and you’ve found a lower price online.
- Request a price adjustment after the fact at Guest Services, with a paper or digital receipt.
In either case, you must provide proof of the lower price. You can show the discounted price from the website on your phone, as long as the link is live and verifiable. Screenshots won’t cut it.
If you ordered through Target.com or the Target app, here’s what to do:
- Contact Guest Services via online chat or by phone.
- Share your order number and item information.
- Point the customer service representative to the lower price on the Target website or in the app.
According to a Reddit user, if you lose the original receipt or packing slip, you can search the Purchase History for the item’s barcode. It can be used as a receipt for price adjustment purposes.
If your claim is approved, the refund will go back to your original payment method.
What’s the trouble with manual price adjustment requests?
Price adjustments sound like a no-brainer, but claiming them on your own is more work than you’d expect. Here’s why:
- Constant vigilance: Retailers don’t politely notify you when their prices drop. You have to keep track of what you bought, when you bought it, and whether the price changed within the narrow eligibility window.
- Rules within rules: Your eligibility for a price adjustment may depend on numerous details, such as where you bought the item, how you paid for it, and whether a gift card was involved. These elaborate criteria can confuse even the savviest shoppers.
- The proof chase: Receipts, order numbers, live links, and correct store locations all have to line up perfectly before customer support can review your request. This can get especially tricky if you’ve shopped at multiple stores and have to keep track of different requirements.
- Endless back-and-forth: Chat queues, hold times, follow-up messages, and re-explaining your case can turn a quick win into a drawn-out task. For smaller refunds, many shoppers decide it’s not worth the effort.
Thankfully, a single app can eliminate these frictions. Settlemate monitors price drops for you and streamlines price adjustment requests without you having to lift a finger.
How to make Settlemate your after-purchase safety net
The price adjustment refund window comes and goes fast. Settlemate Retail Savings Autopilot monitors your Target and other purchases and auto-files the adjustment when you qualify so you don’t miss out.
Here’s how it works:
- We automatically detect Target and other receipts in your inbox.
- We watch your purchases against the policy window defined by each retailer.
- We file the refund request with your receipt when a price drop triggers eligibility.
- You get the difference returned to your original payment method automatically.
Let Settlemate Retail Savings Autopilot be your after-purchase safety net. Download the app on the App Store or Google Play today.
Our money-back guarantee makes the service risk-free. If you don’t make more money than you spend on your subscription fee in the first 12 months of using the app, you’ll get a full refund.
Frequently asked questions
How to request a price adjustment on the Target app
You can start a chat through the app in order to connect with a Guest Services agent and then request a price adjustment.
Is there a Target pre-order price guarantee?
Target doesn’t have a traditional pre-order price guarantee. Your final charge is determined by the item’s price on the day it ships, not the day you place the order. If the price drops between your order date and the shipment date, but then increases again before it ships, you will be charged the higher, current price. The system doesn’t honor or lock in the lowest price that occurred during the waiting period.
Does Target have a low price guarantee?
As of July 28, 2025, Target no longer offers price matching with competitors like Amazon or Walmart.
How price adjustment policies vary from retailer to retailer
Target isn’t the only retailer that offers protection against post-purchase price drops. Below, you can explore how other retailers handle price adjustments:
