What a supermarket’s price-match policy actually requires you to show

First check whether the supermarket accepts customer price-match requests at all: a cheaper competitor screenshot does not establish that it does. If requests are accepted, ask what proof the particular policy requires, then keep the exact product, seller, current price and offer conditions together so staff can assess the comparison.

1. Check what the programme actually promises

The phrase “price match” can describe a retailer setting its own prices rather than inviting you to negotiate at the checkout. Read the explanation beneath the headline before collecting a folder of competitor specials.

IGA’s published programme automatically matches selected products weekly against Coles and Woolworths regular shelf prices at participating stores. It excludes promotions and specials, and product availability differs between stores. It tells shoppers to look for blue price-match tickets, rather than submit a competitor catalogue [S1].

That means a competitor’s temporary special is outside the programme described on that page. For a question about a marked item, point staff to the product and its ticket and ask them to explain the programme’s application.

Woolworths’ online terms state that it and Everyday Market partners are not obliged to match prices, including between the website and other sales channels [S2]. Treat that as the stated position for those online terms, not as a promise that a store employee will approve your request.

• [ ] Does the policy invite customer requests, or describe automatic pricing?
• [ ] Does it cover your store and shopping channel?
• [ ] Can staff identify the current terms before you choose the item?

2. Separate a competitor offer from a scanning discrepancy

If a register charges more than that same shop’s shelf ticket, describe it as a scanning discrepancy. That is a different question from asking the shop to match another retailer’s price. Coles calls its relevant in-store programme the Promise on Price Scanning [S3].

For a scanning query, keep the receipt if you have paid, identify the item and show staff the shelf ticket you were relying on. Ask them to check the applicable policy. A competitor catalogue will not explain why this shop’s register and shelf ticket differed.

For organising documents after purchase, use these ways to keep receipts and warranty details together. Keep your price query with the relevant transaction so you can explain what happened without searching through unrelated receipts.

3. Identify the exact product before comparing prices

If the store confirms it accepts requests, start with product identity. Put the item you intend to buy beside the competitor listing and check:

• [ ] Brand and full product name.
• [ ] Flavour, formulation or other variant.
• [ ] Weight, volume or number of items in the pack.
• [ ] Whether it is a single pack or a multipack.
• [ ] Any restriction to selected varieties.

A smaller pack can have a lower shelf price while being a different purchase. A similar-looking own-brand product also needs to be treated as a separate comparison. Ask whether the policy permits either comparison instead of assuming similarity is sufficient.

You can still use supermarket unit pricing to compare different pack sizes when deciding what to buy. That is a value comparison for your shopping decision; the store must separately explain whether those packs qualify under its matching terms.

4. Keep the seller and date visible with the price

For an accepted request process, ask which evidence formats staff can verify. A live product page, a dated catalogue or a shelf photograph may be useful material to discuss, but this checklist does not establish that any particular supermarket accepts them.

Avoid cropping the evidence down to a price alone. Preserve the seller’s identity, product description, offer dates and any location information. On a website, keep the selected store or postcode visible where possible. Save the page for reference as well as taking a screenshot, so you can reopen it if asked.

A photo you took last week establishes what you saw then. Before travelling specifically for a request, check whether the offer is still available and whether the policy asks for current evidence. An old receipt is useful purchase history, but ask before treating it as proof of a current competitor offer.

5. Show the conditions attached to the offer

A large price on a catalogue page can be separated visually from the conditions that explain it. Read the surrounding wording and keep it in your evidence.

• [ ] Is the price available only to members?
• [ ] Must you buy more than one item?
• [ ] Does a coupon, app activation or minimum spend apply?
• [ ] Is it clearance, damaged stock or a local offer?
• [ ] Does the policy require the competitor item to be in stock?
• [ ] Are online offers or delivery charges addressed?

These are questions to resolve, not exclusions attributed to every supermarket. If the terms say nothing about a condition, ask staff rather than filling the gap with another retailer’s rules.

For the separate question of whether the advertised reduction is convincing, read how to spot false discounts and sale tactics. A valid offer and an eligible price-match request are two decisions to check individually.

6. Ask before paying and keep the answer specific

As an editorial preparation step, ask before paying rather than assuming you can obtain a retrospective adjustment. Check where requests are handled, whether approval is needed and whether any quantity or timing limit applies.

A useful opening is: “Does this store accept customer price-match requests? I have the same product listed by this seller, with these offer dates and conditions. Is that comparison covered, and what evidence do you need?”

If the answer is no, ask which part of the policy rules it out. That could resolve a missing detail, or establish that the programme never accepted this kind of request. Avoid buying on the expectation that another staff member will later approve it.

7. Decide whether the extra trip is useful

Once eligibility is clear, consider the rest of the shop. A possible reduction on one item does not automatically justify another journey, a delivery charge or buying extra packs your household will not use. Compare those practical costs with the choice of buying from the cheaper seller directly.

For goods you buy repeatedly, working out cost per use before buying offers a broader value check. Keep that decision separate from collecting more proof for a request the store has already said it does not accept.

Your next step: identify the programme your local supermarket actually operates. If it accepts requests, ask for its evidence requirements and save one complete comparison for the exact item you need.

How we checked this: Official IGA, Woolworths and Coles pages checked on 6 October 2026. Named programme statements are sourced; the preparation checklist is editorial guidance. No price-match request, purchase or retailer service was tested.

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