I’m so sorry that several of you had trouble with the Leapfrog Alphabet Pal deal at Target yesterday. I’ve done a good amount of research on why this happened and I wanted to let you all know what I found out.

Target’s list of exclusions in their price matching policy were originally listed HERE on July 12th of this year. The exclusions listed here are:

* Target.com or online retail promotion
* Competitor’s Free Product
* GiftCards
* Limited quantity items
* Open box or damaged
* Clearance or closeout
* Mail-in offers
* Services (warranties, assembly, etc.)
* Bundle offers
* Special order
* Sales-tax promotions
* Liquidation/going out of business
* Special financing
* Coupons
* Used or previously owned
* Display merchandise
* Pricing or typographical errors
* Club or loyalty

These exclusions, though, were only in their original press release (at the link above) and not listed out on their official “Price Matching Policy” page in their FAQ section. All the official page said was that some exclusions apply.

Yesterday, after Target got bombarded with calls and emails about the Toys R’ Us 2-day ad, they decided to make their policy clearer, so they added the following to their price-matching policy page (which originally just said that some exclusions apply):

* Online retail promotions or products advertised on another company’s web or mobile sites, even those advertising in-store prices.
* Competitor’s free product, bundled offers, or special purchases
* Gift cards and coupon-required offers
* Sales tax promotions
* Timed events (e.g., early bird, doorbusters)
* Limited time or quantity items
* Damaged product or opened packaging
* Clearance or closeout items
* Prices advertised only as a percent off or $ off
* Mail in offers or instant rebates
* Product services (warranties, assembly, etc.)
* Going-out-of-business liquidations
* Special financing
* Used or previously owned items
* Display merchandise
* Pricing or typographical errors
* Club or loyalty programs
* Owned brands (i.e., Home, Merona, Circo, Market Pantry and Archer Farms)
* Mobile coupons
* Target Portrait Studio, Optical, and Clinic offers

In addition to adding “doorbusters” and “early bird” sales to the list, they also sent out a memo to the stores yesterday telling them not to honor “doorbuster” ads.

This is completely within Target’s rights as a company, even though I am disappointed in their decision.

I hope that helps to clear things up. Please feel free to leave a comment with any additional questions – although I can’t guarantee that I’ll have an answer.

I guess I’ll be doing my Black Friday price-matching at Walmart again this year…