Does Big Lots Price Match in 2024? Everything You Need to Know

Price matching policies allow savvy shoppers to get the lowest price possible on their purchases. And with rising prices across the board in 2024, who doesn‘t want to save money where they can?

As you may have heard, Big Lots offers price matching under certain conditions. But does this policy still exist in 2024? And exactly how does it work? I‘ll answer all those questions and more in this detailed guide.

How Prevalent Are Price Match Policies in Retail Today?

Before diving into Big Lots‘ specific policy, let‘s take a minute to understand why price matching is so commonplace nowadays…

According to retail data company IntelligenceNode, over 50% of major US retailers now offer some form of price match guarantee. Why is this number so high?

Benefits for Retailers

• Builds trust and goodwill with customers
• Discourages "showrooming" – inspection at one store before buying for less elsewhere
• Gives flexibility to meet or beat competitor pricing

Benefits for Shoppers

• Confidence in getting the best price
• Saves time checking prices across different stores
• Provides leverage to negotiate a better deal

So in short – it‘s a win-win. Both stores and customers have good incentive to take advantage of price match policies.

Does Big Lots Offer Price Matching in 2024?

The short answer – yes they do!

Big Lots‘ price match guarantee is still going strong in 2024. I checked their latest policy details to confirm.

However, it does come with specific restrictions around what qualifies and the timeframes in which you need to request it. Let‘s take a closer look…

Overview of Big Lots’ Price Match Policy

Here are the key details shoppers should know about Big Lots’ current price match policy:

• You Can Request Price Match Up to 7 Days After Purchase: This gives you some leeway to find a better deal.

• Match Must Be from Competitor Brick & Mortar Store: So no matching Amazon or other online-only retailers.

• Item specifics must match: This includes SKU, size, quantity, flavor etc. No matching slightly different items.

And one critical caveat…

• Big Lots Reserves the Right to Decline Any Price Match Request: Even if you meet all the criteria, they can still legally refuse.

My Insider Tip: Be extra polite and patient with Big Lots employees when asking for a price match. If the first person denies you, nicely ask if a manager could review to see if an exception can be made.

Now that we‘ve covered the basics, let‘s get into specifics…

What Items Qualify for Big Lots’ Price Match?

Big Lots sells a huge variety of discount products – from furniture and seasonal goods to groceries and brand name items.

Do all these products qualify for price matching?

Unfortunately, no. Here are some examples of exceptions that are excluded:

• Open box items
• Clearance merchandise
• Limited inventory/availability promotions
• Bundled offers with free gift cards
• Special financing or payment plan offers

On the flip side, here are some examples of regular Big Lots products that would qualify:

The key things to evaluate are:

• Is it identical item being sold normally at competitor store?
• Is it at everyday regular price, not special discount?

If you can answer YES to those – then request that price match!

Step-by-Step Guide to Getting a Big Lots Price Match

Armed with the knowledge of what qualifies – let‘s walk through the full process now:

Step 1: Identify Competitor Brick & Mortar Store With Lower Price

This first vital step is locating another store (think: Walmart, Target, etc) selling your exact product at regular price for less.

Step 2: Record Evidence Within 7 Days of Your Purchase

You‘ll need to capture proof of competitor‘s lower pricing to show Big Lots employee. This can be:

• Printed ad
• Digital photo of shelf tag
• Screenshot of online listing

Step 3: Politely Request Price Match at Customer Service Desk

Next, return back to Big Lots within 7 days of purchase and ask a customer service rep for a "price match based on [Competitor Name]"

Step 4: Provide Documentation, Confirm Details Identical

Show your evidence of lower price to employee. Also confirm together that details like SKU, size, etc all match.

Step 5: Wait for Decision

Employee will review and make final call to approve or deny price match. Remember to be patient and kind during this process.

And that‘s the full playbook for requesting a Big Lots price match in 2024!

While not guaranteed, it‘s worth asking about if you happen to find a notably lower price somewhere else on an identical item you just bought. Using the steps above, you can increase your chances of having Big Lots honor that competitor pricing.

The Pros and Cons of Price Matching at Big Lots

Let‘s wrap up with a quick rundown of advantages and disadvantages to keep in mind:

PROS

• Get the lowest price possible when you find better deals
• Only takes a few minutes to request when in store
• Price match can be used up to 7 days after purchase

CONS

• No price matching from Amazon or online stores
• Big Lots can deny any request for any reason
• Can be confusing validating all policy fine print

So while not a sure thing, the Big Lots price match option makes it well worth your effort to ask – just know the limitations going in.

The Final Word on Big Lots Price Matching

I hope this clear, up-to-date guide gave you all the details needed to take advantage of Big Lots‘ current price match policy.

The key takeaways:

• Verify restrictive policy criteria are met
• Always provide evidence from local brick & mortar competitor
• Be extra polite and patient with employees

Follow those tips, and you just may get approved for that sweet price match when you find better deals elsewhere!

Let me know if any other Big Lots pricing questions come up. Happy savings!