Estimated reading time: 11 minutes
Explore the price matching policy of major Canadian grocery stores like No Frills, IGA, Maxi, and more. Learn about FreshCo’s fantastic return policy and quality products.
“Ad Match” and “Price Match” are the same and are used interchangeably throughout this post.
Price Match Groceries To Save Money
What is price matching in Canada?
Price matching is when a grocery store offers customers the ability to ask them to sell a product for the same price as a competitor.
I feel all Canadian grocery stores that offer price matching have similar commitments to their customers. In other words, the policy is the same across the board.
Grocery stores that price match, such as No Frills, IGA, Maxi, Real Canadian Superstore (RCSS), Giant Tiger, FreshCo, and Save On Foods, offer the best prices to their customers.
Recently, I updated the Return Policy for each major Canadian Grocery Store and realized that Freshco has a fantastic policy.
If you aren’t entirely satisfied with an item, return it to the store with your receipt within 14 days, and not only will we refund your money, but we’ll replace the item.
At FreshCo, they are proud of the quality of our products and have a Double Fresh Guarantee.
It goes further than the double fresh guarantee, as you’ll learn further down the post.
Canadians who are willing and ready to ad match will get the best bang for their grocery budget.
Related: How much should my grocery budget be?
Top Seven Canadian Grocery Stores That Price Match
When Mrs. CBB and I ad match at No Frills, we no longer bring print flyers.
It was a hassle and time-consuming for the cashier and customers waiting behind us.
Although each of the seven grocery stores below that do ad matches allows print flyers, a mobile phone reigns supreme.
If you haven’t already downloaded the Flipp App on your mobile phone, this is the most popular among shoppers who ad match.
You get all Canadian flyers in one spot and can customize the app to include your favorite stores, create shopping lists, and match prices.
With over 2000 stores listed across Canada and potential savings of up to 20% just by using the Flipp app, it’s worth the hype.
Download the Flipp App from the App Store, Google Play, and Huawei App Gallery.
Learn more about the Flipp App!
Related: How much should retired couple spend on groceries?
1. Real Canadian Super Store (RCSS)
- RCSS will ad match if you show them a lower advertised price. See in-store for a list of current competitors that they price match against.
- They reserve the right to limit the quantity available to four units per Ad Matched item purchased at a competitor’s price, regardless of variety.
- RCSS will not match competitors’ private label offers on non-identical brands or other special offer types; see full explanation for details.
- The competitor’s advertisement, whether printed or digital, must be complete with all necessary information and in an acceptable format.
RCSS will also not ad match any “spend x get x,” “Free,” or “Clearance” discounts obtained through loyalty programs or offers related to our third-party operations (post office, gas bars, dry cleaners, etc.).
Read the full RCSS Ad Match Guarantee
2. No Frills Does Price Match
Grocery shopping at No Frills is popular because they offer an ad match guarantee.
No Frills is also listed as one of the cheapest grocery stores in Canada.
Step 1: Find A Price To Price Match
If you find a major supermarket that competes with No Frills advertising a lower price on a product, you can price match this item.
Bring the cashier the print or digital ad to receive the same product for a lower price.
Ensure the offer hasn’t expired and that it’s from a major supermarket competitor as listed in your local No Frills store.
Step 2: Locate The Same Product At Your No Frills Store
When visiting a No Frills store, ensure that you find the same item in the store.
The items you plan to price match must be the same brand, type, size, and measurement (by weight or by unit).
Step 3: Ask For A Price Match At The Cash Register
When you go to the cash, show the cashier the competitor’s advertisement – with valid dates – before they scan the item.
The cashier will verify that the advertisement meets all the criteria and apply the discount to match the competitor’s price.
Read the full No Frills Price Match Guarantee
3. Giant Tiger
At Giant Tiger, they call price match an ad match guarantee for their customers.
The mission of Giant Tiger follows the premise of Canadian Budget Binder blog.
Delivering the most outstanding value for your family budget is our mission, every day.
Giant Tiger
Ad Match So Customers Save More Money At Giant Tiger
Our Ad Match Guarantee means “We will beat the advertised price of any competitor.”
Like most stores, that price match shows the cashier at Giant Tiger a local competitor’s lower price on an identical advertised item for the current flyer, and you’ll receive the same price for one cent less.
How To Request The Giant Tiger Ad Match Guarantee
- Online Only: Contact the Giant Tiger Customer Service team for items available online. Include your name, order #, and the link to the competitor’s website or digital flyer. The competitor must have stock for us to facilitate an ad match.
- In-store: Present the valid flyer (print or digital) to the cashier for approval. Giant Tiger will beat the price by one cent on the spot.
Read the full Giant Tiger Ad Match Guarantee
4. FreshCo Offers Customers The Lowest Price
The FreshCo “Lowest Price” guarantee means that if a discount supermarket competitor within your area offers a lower price, they will sell the same product to you for one cent less than the competitor’s advertised price. See store for more details.
You must show the cashier the competitor’s price in their current flyer (print or digital).
Stores FreshCo Will Price Match With:
Price matching at FreshCo is available in conjunction with the following stores;
- No Frills
- Food Basics
- Real Canadian Superstore
- Wal-Mart in Ontario
- Real Canadian Superstore
- Save-On-Foods in BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba.
- Walmart in BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba.
Price Match Guidelines FreshCo
These guidelines are subject to change at any time.
- Their guarantees apply only to identical items or comparable items.
- Do not apply to any of the following items: products sold by in-store third-party vendors, prescriptions, gift cards, liquor, tobacco, products which may not be discounted by law, and also exclude ‘spend x get x’ purchased items, clearance sale items, and ‘free’ promotions and discounts for items obtained through loyalty or other customer programs.
- The FreshCo “Lowest Price” guarantees do not apply to competitor misprints.
- Eligible price-matched purchases are limited to four per customer.
- The FreshCo price match guarantee may not be used with any other offer.
- FreshCo reserves the right to change at any time to the price match guarantee.
Read the full FreshCo Price Match Guarantee, Double Fresh Guarantee, In-store Guarantee, and Turkey Price Guarantee.
5. Save On Foods
We Match prices if a competitor within our geographical trade area offers a lower advertised price than our current in-store price on any identical grocery item.
Save On Foods does not match the price of any online purchases.
First, visit the customer service desk at Save On Foods to ad match before you shop with the ad’s expiry or effective date.
Save On Foods reserves the right to limit quantities.
To ad match a competitor, show Save On Foods the active online ad or a screenshot on your phone that outlines the price, location, and date for which the ad is valid.
Non-Eligible Price Match Items At Save On Foods
Products at Save on Foods that are not eligible for price matching:
- Mandatory ‘multi-buys’
- ‘Spend x get x Free’
- Reduce to clear
- Percentage discounts
- Discounts that are obtained through loyalty programs.
Read the full Save On Foods price match policy.
6. Maxi Unbeatable. Period!
I’ve translated the Maxi Ad Match Policy into English to ensure I gave you the proper information.
The option is available on their website if you prefer to read Maxi’s policy in French.
As part of the “Unbeatable. Period! “, if a large competing market identified by the store, located in the province of Quebec and the geographic commercial area of this same store, sells an item that we also offer in our store at a price lower than ours, we have to present an original copy of printed or digital proof of the competitor’s price (including Flipp, Rebee and/or Glouton) and we will sell you the relevant item at the same price (limit of 4 units per item, all varieties combined).
Maxi Grocery Store
For a list of competitors in each Maxi store’s price adjustment program, visit your local Maxi/Maxi & Cie store.
Read the full Maxi Price Match Policy
7. IGA Unbeatable Price Guarantee
If a major supermarket competitor within the IGA store’s geographic trade area offers a lower price on any item they post in a flyer with an “Unbeatable Price” tag, they will sell you that item for one cent less than the competitor’s price.
You must present the competitor’s flyers with valid dates for ad match consideration.
An IGA ad match guarantee applies to identical items with the same brand, size, and attributes.
The IGA store reserves the right to determine major supermarket competitors at their discretion.
Exclusions IGA Price Match Policy
The guarantee does not apply to any of the following items:
- Products sold by in-store third-party vendors
- Gift cards
- Liquor
- Tobacco
- The ad match guarantee does not apply to competitor misprints.
- Purchase quantities are based only on what is available in the IGA flyer.
- A customer cannot combine offers with a price match.
Read the full IGA Price Match Guarantee.
Is Price Matching Worth It?
Whether you struggle to meet your monthly grocery budget goals, it’s always worth saving wherever possible.
Price matching is created for the customers of grocery stores who want them to return time and time.
Remember that even the smallest amount of money saved in each grocery shop adds up at the end of the year.
Save $5 weekly for 52 weeks, a price-match savings of $260 yearly.
Pair price matching with coupons, digital offers, and rewards points where possible, and save top-tier!
Discussion: What is your favorite grocery store in Canada to price match at?
Please leave your comments below.
Thanks for reading,
Mr. CBB
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