You’re probably paying more than you need to. Canadian retailers are increasingly embracing price-matching policies to attract budget-conscious consumers, offering shoppers significant opportunities to save money without the hassle of visiting multiple stores. With Canadians able to save up to $600 annually through strategic price matching, knowing which stores offer these policies has become essential for smart shopping.
- Major Grocery Stores That Price Match
- Loblaws-Owned Chains Leading the Way
- Regional Players
- Electronics and Technology Retailers
- Best Buy’s Comprehensive Coverage
- Other Electronics Stores
- Home Improvement and Hardware Stores
- Notable Exclusions and Policy Changes
- Walmart Canada’s Strategic Shift
- Canadian Tire’s Recent Change
- Costco’s Approach
- Learning from the U.S. Retail Changes
- Key Requirements and Limitations
- Consumer Research Insights
- Maximizing Your Price Matching Success
Major Grocery Stores That Price Match
Loblaws-Owned Chains Leading the Way
Several major grocery chains under the Loblaws banner have maintained robust price-matching programs. Real Canadian Superstore matches prices from local supermarket competitors on up to four items per visit, letting customers collect PC Optimum points while securing lower prices. The “Won’t Be Beat” policy at No Frills works similarly, matching advertised prices from local competitors with proof of a current flyer.
FreshCo takes it a step further with their “Lowest Price Guarantee,” not just matching competitor prices, but beating them by one cent on up to four matched items per transaction. Customers must show either a paper or digital flyer to claim these savings.
Giant Tiger offers an “Ad Match Guarantee” that beats local competitor prices by one cent. They also provide price adjustments within 14 days if an item’s price drops. Maxi, operating exclusively in Quebec, carries out similar policies, matching any local competitor’s price on identical items.
Regional Players
Save-On-Foods takes a unique approach by offering Western Family-branded products for free when a customer shows a national brand equivalent at a lower advertised cost (some exceptions apply). IGA highlights select items with its “Unbeatable Price Guarantee”, selling them for one cent less than competitors’ advertised prices, but only on specifically marked items.
Electronics and Technology Retailers
Best Buy’s Comprehensive Coverage
Best Buy Canada stands out with a wide-reaching “Low Price Guarantee”. They price match authorized Canadian dealers for up to 30 days after purchase if you find a lower price. However, the policy excludes sales from marketplace sellers like those on Amazon.ca, eBay.ca, or for refurbished or liquidated products, and doesn’t apply during sales events like Black Friday.
Other Electronics Stores
The Source offers a “Best Price Guarantee”, matching advertised prices from authorized Canadian retailers. During major sales, price matching is temporarily paused, but post-purchase price drops at The Source can still be matched within the return period.
Visions Electronics will beat a competitor’s price by 15% of the difference at checkout (with some brand exclusions).
Home Improvement and Hardware Stores
The Home Depot matches local retailer prices and beats them by 10% for in-store items; for online-only retailers, they do a straight match. Just ask at checkout or contact customer support.
Rona supports a “hassle-free” price match within 25 kilometers, both in-store and online, for up to 15 items per customer. Home Hardware matches advertised local competitor prices on identical in-stock items, subject to reasonable quantity limits.
Notable Exclusions and Policy Changes
Walmart Canada’s Strategic Shift
Walmart Canada discontinued their price-matching program on October 15, 2020, as confirmed by multiple news outlets. A spokesperson explained, “Over time, we have seen minimal usage of our ad match program, while at the same time the program has been causing delays at the checkout,” as reported in this official Global News article. The company cited an administrative burden and low adoption, but continues to offer “Rollbacks” and weekly flyer specials to provide value.
Canadian Tire’s Recent Change
Canadian Tire ended its price-matching policy in August 2022, now focusing on the Triangle Rewards Program, promotional flyers, and special sales instead. Corporate news is available via the Canadian Tire Corporation newsroom.
Costco’s Approach
Costco Canada does not match prices with other stores, stating their prices are already highly competitive. However, they do allow price adjustments within 30 days for items bought at Costco.ca if the price drops online.
Learning from the U.S. Retail Changes
While not directly impacting Canadian shoppers, changing policies from U.S. retailers provide additional insights. When Target first introduced price matching, company leadership promoted it as a way to offer shoppers better value. However, as of July 2025, Target has discontinued its competitor price matching policy, with representatives noting that most price matches were requested within their own stores rather than with external retailers.
Key Requirements and Limitations
Most Canadian retailers require that matched items be identical in brand, model, size, and color, sold by a Canadian store with a physical location (not online-only or third-party sellers), and must be in stock. Special event pricing, such as Black Friday, Boxing Day, or Cyber Monday, is usually excluded, as are clearance or liquidation items and advertising errors. Some stores have a “local competitor” requirement, typically set at around 25 kilometers, and quantity limits (four per transaction is common for grocery stores).
Consumer Research Insights
According to KPMG’s Kostya Polyakov, Partner and National Consumer and Retail Leader, research shows that “Our survey found 85 per cent of Canadians identified price as the number one factor that influences their buying decisions. They hunt for the best prices online before deciding to purchase, but still want to touch and feel the merchandise.” This finding shows just how important price matching is for Canadian shoppers.
Maximizing Your Price Matching Success
To make the most of price matching:
- Bring proper documentation (current flyers, print or digital, or screenshots from a competitor’s site).
- Be prepared to show that the competitor has the item in stock.
- Combine price matching with loyalty programs (for example, collecting PC Optimum points at Real Canadian Superstore and No Frills).
- Avoid special sales that are excluded from price-matching policies.
Price matching remains a smart way for Canadians to stretch their shopping budgets. Though some major retailers like Walmart and Canadian Tire have moved away from these policies, many others still offer competitive programs at the grocery, electronics, and home improvement levels.
