Wal-Mart Ups Ante in Holiday Price Matching

UNDATED (AP) - Wal-Mart is announcing a new strategy that it hopes will pull in procrastinators early by giving them a big incentive: a guarantee that they'll get the lowest price no matter when they buy during the holiday season.

The Bentonville, Ark., discounter said Monday it will be matching prices on many of its products. Shoppers who buy something at a Walmart store between Nov. 1 and Dec. 25, but then find the identical product elsewhere for less, can get a gift card in the amount of the difference.

The offer excludes merchandise bought on Wal-Mart's website and some other products, such as groceries.

The price guarantee comes as Wal-Mart Stores Inc. tries to solidify its position as the low-price leader for the holiday 2011 season.