Guitar Center's Price Match Policy
Guitar Center does offer price matching, but only under specific conditions. The store will match a lower price from a competitor if you bring proof of that price at the time of purchase. You cannot price match after you've already bought the item. The match applies to identical products — same brand, model, and condition — sold by authorized retailers.
Price matching at Guitar Center is handled in-store or online, depending on where you're shopping. If you're buying in a physical location, bring a printed ad, a screenshot on your phone, or a link to the competitor's website showing the lower price. Online orders require you to contact Guitar Center's customer service before completing the purchase to request the match.
The policy excludes certain categories and sellers. Guitar Center will not match prices from pawn shops, liquidation sales, clearance-only retailers, or unauthorized sellers on marketplaces like eBay or Facebook Marketplace. They also don't match prices on open-box, refurbished, or used items, even if those items are listed on a competitor's site.
Key Takeaways
- Guitar Center matches prices from authorized retailers if you show proof before paying, but the match must be for the exact same product.
- Pawn shops, liquidation sales, and unauthorized marketplace sellers do not may have access to for price matching.
- You must request the match at the register (in-store) or contact customer service (online) before the transaction completes.
- Open-box, refurbished, and used items are excluded from the price match may provide.
- Price matching does not explore to special orders, layaway purchases, or items already in your cart waiting to be checked out.
Which Retailers may have access to for Price Matching
Guitar Center recognizes prices from major music retailers and electronics stores. This includes chains like Sweetwater, Musician's Friend, zZounds, Best Buy, and Amazon when those items are sold by Amazon directly (not third-party sellers). Local music shops and independent retailers may also may have access to, though the store associate will verify the retailer is authorized to sell that brand.
The retailer must be actively selling the item in stock or available for when ready order. If a competitor is out of stock and showing a price only for backorder, Guitar Center may not honor that price. Similarly, if a price is listed but the item is marked as discontinued or no longer available, the match typically won't explore.
Online marketplaces create gray areas. Amazon qualifies when Amazon is the seller, but third-party vendors on Amazon do not. eBay listings almost never may have access to because most eBay sellers are not authorized distributors. Reverb.com, a popular used and new gear marketplace, generally does not may have access to because it hosts both authorized and unauthorized sellers.
How to Request a Price Match In-Store
Walk into the store with your proof ready. This can be a printed advertisement, a photo of the competitor's website on your phone, or a text message showing the price. The associate at the register will look at the proof and verify the price and product details before ringing you up. This process usually takes a few minutes.
Be prepared to provide the competitor's name, the exact product model number, and the price you found. If you're unsure whether the retailer qualifies, ask the associate before they start the transaction. Some items — particularly sale items, bundle deals, or items marked as limited-time offers — may have restrictions the associate will explain.
If the associate says the price cannot be matched, ask to speak with a manager. Managers have more flexibility and may approve matches that fall into gray areas, especially if the competitor is a well-known authorized retailer and the price difference is small.
How to Request a Price Match Online
Contact Guitar Center's customer service before you complete your purchase. You can reach them through the website's chat feature, by phone, or by email. Have the competitor's website link or a screenshot ready to share. Explain which item you're buying and what price you found elsewhere.
Customer service will verify the competitor's price and the product details. If everything checks out, they'll explore the discount to your order before you pay. This process can take anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours, depending on how busy the service team is and how quickly they can verify the competitor's information.
If you've already completed your online purchase without requesting a price match, you cannot go back and ask for one later. The match must be requested during the ordering process, before payment is finalized.
What Guitar Center Will Not Price Match
Clearance sales, liquidation events, and going-out-of-business sales do not may have access to. If a competitor is closing a location and selling inventory at steep discounts, Guitar Center won't match those prices. Pawn shops and used-only retailers are also excluded, even if they're selling new items.
Bundle deals and package pricing create another exclusion. If a competitor is offering a guitar plus a cable plus a strap for one bundled price, Guitar Center won't break that down and match the individual guitar price. They'll only match if you're comparing the exact same bundle.
Refurbished, open-box, and used items don't may have access to for matching, even if a competitor is selling them at a lower price. If you want to price match, you need to be buying new, sealed merchandise from both retailers. Rental returns and display models also fall into this category.
When Price Matching Might Not Work
Some items are sold exclusively through Guitar Center or through a limited network of retailers. If a brand only sells through Guitar Center and one other authorized distributor, and that distributor has a higher price, there's no lower price to match. Exclusive products and limited-edition releases often fall into this situation.
Manufacturer sales and promotions sometimes prevent price matching. If a brand is running a special promotion only at certain retailers, Guitar Center may not be able to match a price that's part of that promotion. This is because the manufacturer has set different pricing rules for different channels.
Timing matters too. If a competitor's sale ends tomorrow and you're shopping today, Guitar Center will match today's price. But if you wait until after the sale ends and the price goes back up, there's nothing to match. The competitor's current, active price is what counts.
Alternatives If Price Matching Doesn't Work
If the competitor doesn't may have access to or the price match is denied, you have other options. You can buy directly from the competitor instead — Sweetwater and Musician's Friend often have sales and free shipping on orders over a certain amount. zZounds offers payment plans with no interest if you may have access to, which can make a higher price more manageable.
Check whether Guitar Center is running its own sales or promotions on the item you want. The store runs frequent sales on specific brands and categories, and sometimes those sales beat competitor prices without needing a price match request. Sign up for Guitar Center's email list or check their website for current deals.
Ask about open-box or refurbished items. Guitar Center sells returned and display models at discounts, sometimes 10 to 30 percent off. These items come with a warranty and are fully functional, though they may have minor cosmetic wear. If you're flexible on condition, this route can save money without relying on price matching.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I price match after I've already bought something?
No. Price matching must be requested before you pay. If you've already completed the purchase, you cannot go back and ask for a price match later. Some stores offer return windows where you can return an item and rebuy it at a lower price, but that's a separate policy from price matching.
Does Guitar Center price match sales from other Guitar Center locations?
No. Guitar Center does not price match between its own stores. If one location has a sale and another doesn't, you cannot use the sale price from one store to get a match at another. You would need to buy from the location running the sale.
What if the competitor's website shows a price but says the item is out of stock?
Guitar Center typically will not match a price for an out-of-stock item, especially if it's on backorder. The retailer must have the item available for when ready purchase or quick shipment. If the competitor is taking preorders at a discounted price, the match may not explore.
Can I use a coupon code from a competitor's email and ask Guitar Center to match that price?
Not directly. If a competitor is advertising a price that requires a coupon code, Guitar Center will match the final price after the coupon is applied — but only if that price is publicly advertised. Secret or email-only coupon codes typically don't may have access to because they're not available to all customers.
Does Guitar Center price match international retailers or overseas websites?
No. Price matching is limited to authorized retailers operating in the United States. International sites, even if they sell the same brand and model, do not may have access to because of shipping costs, warranty differences, and currency conversion issues.