@Jen - Yes, Walmart does normally price-match items (as long as the ad lists a specific price, they don't match "X percent off"). But this article was about Best Buy not price-matching items on Black Friday.

@Chris S - You're right, the big box retailers DO get their own special models of certain items (computers, TVs, etc.) made just for their chain. When Wal-Mart had a "pre-Black Friday" sale earlier in November, they were offering a Compaq laptop for $300. But the specs were not posted on the website, and sure enough, the model number (which included the letters "WM") was not searchable on Compaq's own website. You had to go to the store, wait in line and see the actual item to see the specs. (And much to my surprise, it actually was a pretty good deal. Further to my surprise, my local store had more than 70 laptops, when the ad promised a minumum of 10.) But even with just 10 per store, think of how many Wal-Mart stores there are... it's no surprise that Wal-Mart can get a manufacturer to make a "custom model" that can't be price-matched elsewhere.

@Ron - Not surprised to hear what Big M is doing. I live in Central NY, not too far from the corporate HQ of Big M's owner, Penn Traffic. They've been in and out of bankruptcy for years, battling all sorts of financial problems. Usually, P&C supermarkets (the Penn Traffic stores in my area) are more expensive than the others. The only thing worth going to P&C for is their weekly sale items -- of course, as you mentioned, IF they're actually in stock! No question this company needs to make more money to stay alive, but treating customers like this isn't the way to do it.