Academy Sports Price Match Policy: Beat by 5%, Retailers & Exclusions

Academy Sports + Outdoors promises more than a match: when you find a qualifying lower price, it beats it. The catch is in the details: which stores count, what proof you bring and which deals are off the table. Here's how the policy works, based on Academy's own price match page. For returns and other store policies, see the Academy Sports + Outdoors store page.

How Academy's price match works

If you find a lower price on an identical, in-stock item advertised in print by any local retailer, or by one of Academy's select online retailers, show Academy the valid ad and it will beat that price by 5% ¹. Academy calls this its best price guarantee and says it doesn't just match competitor prices, it beats them ¹.

Academy also matches itself across channels: Academy.com prices for in-store purchases, and in-store prices for Academy.com and Academy app purchases ¹.

Which retailers Academy price matches

Printed ads from any local retailer qualify ¹. For online prices, Academy names these retailers ¹:

Items sold by a third party are excluded across the board ¹. On Amazon and Walmart, that means a lower price from a marketplace seller won't count ¹.

What qualifies for a price match

• Identical item. It must be the same brand and the same model number as the product in the competitor's ad ¹.
• In stock at Academy. Academy has to have the advertised product in stock at the time of purchase, in store or online at Academy.com ¹.
• Current, valid price. The advertised price must be current and valid at the time of purchase, and not promoted by a third party ¹.
• Verified by Academy. Team members check whether the ad qualifies, and Academy can verify the price and availability of identical items ¹.
• Quantity limit. Academy can limit price-matched quantities to one per customer, per day, per item ¹.
• Pre-tax. All price matching happens before tax; Academy can't cancel or override sales tax ¹.

What Academy won't price match

Academy can decline to match ¹:

• Misprinted ad prices
• Clearance prices
• Closeout and "going out of business" prices
• Buy One Get One Free offers
• Timed events and other special promotions
• Rebates and coupons
• Prices that require a club membership
• Limited quantity offers

Academy also doesn't issue rain checks under the policy ¹, and it may take reasonable action to prevent fraud and abuse ¹.

How to request a price match in a store

1. Bring a valid copy of the printed or digital ad, or the competitor's website ¹. Academy accepts the entire printed ad or a digital version on your mobile device ¹.
2. Make sure the item is in stock at your local Academy store ¹.
3. Show an associate the advertised price. The associate verifies the competitor and, if the ad is valid, beats the price by 5% ¹.

How to request a price match on Academy.com

Find a valid copy of the printed or digital ad or website, then contact Academy's Customer Service team and give them the advertised price ¹. For Academy.com and app purchases, you can send the proof by email or mail ¹. If the team can validate the competitor's ad or website, Academy beats that price by 5% ¹.

Price adjustments after you buy

Academy also adjusts prices on items you've already bought, if they meet certain requirements ¹. Items purchased within 14 days of the date on your original receipt may be eligible ¹. Academy's price match page doesn't list those requirements in full, so ask Customer Service or a store associate before you count on an adjustment, and keep the original receipt.

Combining a price match with coupons and discounts

Don't plan on stacking a price match with Academy's own deals. The coupons and myAcademy Rewards offers on Academy's offer terms page when we checked, such as the Rewards welcome offer and the SMS sign-up coupon, and the current Military + First Responders discount each say they can't be combined with a price match ². A new offer could have different terms, so check the fine print on the one you have. Academy also notes that its pricing, promotions and availability may vary by location and online ². If you qualify for both, compare the beat-by-5% price with the discounted price and pick the better deal. See our Academy military discount guide for that offer's terms.

Quick tips

• Check the model number on the competitor's ad before you go; brand alone isn't enough ¹.
• Make sure the seller is the retailer itself, not a marketplace seller on Amazon or Walmart ¹.
• Confirm the item is in stock at your Academy store before the trip ¹.
• Clearance, BOGO and limited-quantity deals won't qualify, so don't bring those ads ¹.
• Compare with other stores' rules, like Target's price match policy, or browse our price matching guides.