Best Buy is gearing up to go head-to-head with Amazon on prices this holiday season.
The Wall Street Journal reports that Best Buy is planning to match prices on many items offered by Amazon and other online retailers during the holiday shopping season. The move appears to be part of a larger effort from Best Buy to crack down on the number of consumers who scope out products in bricks-and-mortar stores and then buy them more cheaply online, a trend known as showrooming.
In addition to the expanded price match policy -- which the Journal notes will likely exclude certain items -- Best Buy is also said to be introducing free home delivery for products that aren't in stock in stores. In this way, the company will further limit the incentive for consumers to turn to sites like Amazon.
In general, the major bricks-and-mortar retail chains avoid directly acknowledging the threat Amazon poses to their business. However, like Best Buy, several of these chains have taken steps in recent weeks to clamp down on the showrooming trend, typically by focusing on making the shopping experience more convenient.
Wal-Mart is reportedly testing a same-day delivery service in select cities; Target is planning to put QR codes on toys for the holiday season.