Price Adjustment: Get Money Back After the Price Drops

You buy something, and a week later it is cheaper. Do not just sigh. Many retailers have a policy that refunds the difference, but you usually have to ask. This is how to do it before the holiday sales start.

Key takeaways

• A price match works before you buy. A price adjustment works after.
• Windows differ by store, and some are only about two weeks.
• Keep your receipt and screenshot the lower price the day you see it.

Two policies, one difference

1. Price match. You show a lower price before you pay, and the store matches it. Many stores only match their own prices, or only certain competitors.

2. Price adjustment. You already paid. The price dropped within a set window, and the store refunds the difference.

Both are store policies, not laws. Each store decides its own rules, so read them first.

Six steps to claim a price adjustment

1. Find the policy before you buy. Search the store's name plus "price adjustment policy". Note the number of days and what is excluded.

2. Note your purchase date. Put a reminder on your phone for the end of the window. Check the price once a week until then.

3. Check the exclusions. Clearance items, final sale items, limited time doorbusters, and items sold by outside sellers are often left out. Look for those words.

4. Capture proof. Screenshot the lower price with the date and the item name. Keep your receipt or order number handy.

5. Ask the right way. Online, use the store's chat or help page, and ask for a price adjustment on your order. In a store, bring the receipt to customer service. Online orders and store orders may need to be handled in the matching place.

6. Compare it with a return. If the window has passed but the return window is open, you can return the item and buy it again at the lower price. Check that the item is still in stock and the sale is not gone.

A quick example

Say you pay $120 for a pair of headphones. Nine days later the same store lists them at $90. If you are inside the window, you ask for $30 back. If you wait three weeks, you may get nothing. The only difference is that you asked in time.

Do not count on your card

Credit card price protection used to cover this. Several large issuers have dropped it over the years, so do not assume your card still does. Read your card's current benefits guide, or call the number on the back.

A tip for the holidays

Holiday sales swing prices a lot. Before you buy a gift in October, ask whether the store has a longer holiday return or adjustment window. Our guide to holiday return policies lists what to check. To judge whether a discount is real in the first place, see is that sale real. If you tend to buy on a whim, the 24 hour rule helps.

Your checklist for this week

• ☐ Look up the price adjustment policy for the stores you use most.
• ☐ Set a reminder for the end of the window on anything you bought recently.
• ☐ Check current prices on your last two big purchases.
• ☐ Save a screenshot and receipt for each one.
• ☐ Ask for the difference if the price dropped.

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Policies change, so check each store's current rules. Check the current price before you buy. See our disclosure policy for details.