Amazon’s Updated Price Match Policy (Now Valid ONLY for TV Purchases)
Amazon Shoppers! Make note of Amazon’s Updated Price Match Policy…
If you’ve purchased a TV sold and fulfilled by Amazon.com AND find a lower price on another qualifying retailer’s website within 30 days after your purchase date, Amazon will refund you the difference on an Amazon Gift Card, taking any differences in shipping and promotions into account. If Amazon lowers their own price within 30 days after your purchase, let them know and they’ll refund you the difference as well.
I spoke with a customer service rep and was told…
“It has been our long-standing approach not to offer post-purchase price adjustments except on TV’s.”
I am upset by this. It’s a new change to their policy not a long standing one which doesn’t make sense. I’ve received several price matches in the past and am very sad to see they won’t be doing it anymore.
No need for Paribus anymore for me.
Same here! Saved a ton before but no need now
It’s not like I buy a tv every other day
From my understanding this has been Amazon’s policy for a long time. it was just never enforced. I’ve received numerous price adjustments over the 10 years plus I’ve been a member and will miss them. But in this day and age where shareholders are demanding a larger profit, the fat gets trimmed. Not only will Amazon gain a bigger profit from not doing the price adjustments, they’ll probably lay off a number of customer service reps because the call (chat/email) volume will no longer be there to support current staff in the long run. Of course my own shopping strategy of getting the lowest price possible will probably include Amazon less than before because of this policy. Good-bye Amazon. You’ve been great. Time to start looking into Jet now.
Was always told by Amazon if it was within 7 days of my purchase date ( give or take ), if the price dropped i could get the difference, just ask them. Not anymore, very sad about this. I always saved money this way!
I’m sure things like Parabus are the reason for this. I revoked access to my account and changed my passoword months ago bc I think it caused my account to be flagged. I have to enter a captcha now with every single login due to unusual behavior on my account.
I just ran into this with Amazon. Really bummed as they have always always done it in past and nothing was announced abut change. Nearly every place does
Price adjustments these days. Amazon should too 🙁
I’m wondering if introductions of apps like Paribus has forced this change…
This is disappointing. I ran into this issue and the customer service rep kept copying and pasting the policy in the chat until I asked for a supervisor. It was nice to get a little back when their prices changed, typically I would just turn around and give it right back to them.
I urge all your readers to check with their state on this, since some states require a business to adjust a price within seven days if it goes on sale. Even though Amazon does not have physical storefronts, they do have Fulfillment Centers in many states and that would necessitate them abiding by that state’s law.
Where do we check?
You can check with your state’s Attorney General, and that is who to make a complaint to as well, they will investigate and try to provide a resolution.
Unrelated to Amazon…. but my local Walmart just put up signs that said they were not going to be price matching any more either. Bummer!!! =(
I’ve always thought that post-purchase price adjustments were ridiculous. I’m someone who uses coupons, rebates, looks for a sale, etc but that just always seemed to be going too far for me. If you aren’t happy with the price when you buy something then maybe reconsider the purchase. Retailers DO actually need to make a profit to stay in business.
Ouch! I guess the truth does hurt lol. I concede, you’re right. Guess we’ve just been spoiled a bit and gotten used to it. I’ll still sick with Amazon, still got lowest pricea most of the time and plus free 2 day average shipping, can’t beat it 😆
I think price adjustments are fair and actually save the retailer money. I mean, if they wouldn’t adjust the price you could return the item you bought and then purchase it again at the new lower price which means it would be extra work for the retailer as far as restocking. And in particular if you were purchasing it through an online retailer that offered free shipping and free returns it would cost them quite a bit extra. Most people are not going to ask for the price adjustment so it’s just a nice bonus for those who are paying attention. I think things like Paribus kind of ruined it.
I think it’s actually less chances that people are willing to return and rebuy, especially if it’s a big item plus taking in consideration of how big of a difference in price (whether worth of not) . The hassle of repackaging and dropping off at post office is definitely not comparable to making a simple phone call /sending a simple email to get price adjustment.
I have a chase freedom card and they offer price match policy and add 1 year warranty to purchases. Love it!
So does Discover. That’s probably the only way around this now.
I just repurchase the item with prime and return the higher price item. I told Amazon they would lose out by changing this policy, so now they pay double shipping for me to get the lower price.
I will do this too. They actually encouraged this when I asked about price adjustment the other day. Which I told them was pretty silly, as it ends up costing them a lot more money…….
So Prime members can return items with Amazon paying the return cost?
No, only clothes and shoes ship back for free that I’ve seen unless specifically mentioned in the item that returns are free.
Yes, prime members can return anything shipped/sold by Amazon free for 30 days
Also, you have to drop the item at a UPS box or location. Pick up is only free if something is wrong with the item.
How did you return a product without getting charged for the return shipping? Amazon charged me for returning a product i purchased that was the wrong item. And I told Collin about this weeks ago, so im surprise it took so long to make a post?
As far as I know shoes and clothes have free return shipping…most everything else doesn’t even if purchased with prime.
If u return it because the item was defective or not fit as described, they will pick-up for free.
I don’t understand this: most major retailers allows price adjustments (within a week of purchase usually). I rarely ask for it but over the past couple of years, I have asked for price adjustments through Wayfair and Target (and Amazon) within a few days of original purchase and never had a problem. Amazon is starting to disappoint me, especially since 2-day shipping with Prime does not always mean 2 business days. Just my 2 cents.
I was told this a month ago. Never did get any price matching ever. Lol.
Personally worked for Amazon and policy was NOT to do price adjustments. As a CSA you were allowed a certain amount of exceptions, which is what most CSA’S would give out of courtesy. I do advise to be careful with TOO many returns, once you reach a limit your account will be flagged and can result in account termination.
Really? Boo. I buy things like multiple bathing suits and bras just to try them on and return the ones that don’t fit. How many returns is too many?
Feeling that here. My local postal service lost my subscribe and save order. When I called Amazon to have them replace the items the CS credited and reordered each item separately making my account look like I had returned 12 items. Next day I got an email that my account had been closed. Wasn’t even my fault but they won’t listen. Amazon is so unfair in that they unjustly accuse customers of foul play and close accounts. What kind of merchant turns away paying customers? Boggled my mind.
I didn’t renew my amazon prime this year because I didn’t want to pay for return shipping. Some people get away with free returns, but I didn’t. This price adjustment policy completely turned me off to Amazon. I’ve found many other sites that are just as cheap if not cheaper. Amazon used to have an edge on online shopping but not anymore.
The only way I’d buy on Amazon anymore is with a Chase Freedom or Discover card. Even a department store gives you an adjustment if something goes on sale at a lower price. I understand the volume Amazon does but I can see over the past few years a decline and they don’t seem as customer friendly as they once were.
I purchase almost daily from Amazon. I’ve noticed their customer service has not been as accommodating as they used to be. Did Amazon outsourse customer service to India. The past few times I have chatted with a rep, the person was from India.
Lol, funny you mention that. I feel that whenever I call customer service, in any retail store (kohl’s, Macy’s, Walmart, etc), it’s a person with an Indian accent. Nothing wrong with it, simply an observation.
Yes almost all large companies have outsourced their CS to either India or Philippines. I think it’s only if your ask for a mgr after they (considered level 1) have tried but was still unsatisfactory, then the mgr is U.S. based. Besides the bad connection I get sometimes from their end, I’ve havr had no problem getting my issues resolved, all are very polite.
Some people think online shopping and Amazon in general has been responsible for the demise of brick and mortar stores. A lot of department stores have closed locations or are completely going out of business (sports authority) in recent months. Therefore Amazon and Walmart alike can now change their price match/adjustment policies because the competition is not as intense as before and of course to increase the bottom line. In the end, can we give them wrong? They want to save money just as we do. I just hope they don’t take it too far though and act like monopolies. One thing to note is that most likely other stores may follow. It’s up to us as consumers to make our voices heard on whether we continue to patronize stores with policies we don’t like.