Showrooming: The ultimate price match

EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - A major retailer is changing the way it does business, in an effort to keep customers from going online for a better deal.

Best Buy says it wants to eliminate the practice of consumers trying out a product in a store, only to search for a better price comparison elsewhere.

Starting March 3, 2013 the company will begin offering on-the-spot price matching.

Best Buy is the first retailer to publicly come out with a permanent price match guarantee.

In a statement issued to Eyewitness News, Best Buy said "customers don't need to drive to a store to look at a product and then go back home, purchase it online and wait for it to be shipped."

Online retailers are still at an advantage since most don't charge sales tax, but federal legislation has been introduced to help level the playing field.