Key facts
- Target stated prices could vary based on local costs, regulation, competition, and store or channel-specific discounts.
- Target's loyalty program, Target Circle, gathers customer shopping history to promote relevant deals and offers.
- Walmart CEO John Furner reaffirmed the company's "Every Day Low Prices" strategy, stating they price "the product, not the person."
Target stated on Thursday that it does not use customer data to raise prices based on shoppers' identities or locations, aligning with similar assurances from rival Walmart. The retailer clarified that while prices might differ due to local costs, competition, or specific discounts, they would remain consistent for all customers within the same platform or location. Target's loyalty program, Target Circle, collects shopping history to offer relevant deals but does not influence pricing. This follows recent statements from Walmart denying the use of technologies like digital shelf labels and AI chatbots for dynamic pricing, with CEO John Furner emphasizing the company's commitment to pricing products, not individuals, and maintaining customer trust.