Apple price adjustment policy: A quick guide

Apple products are great, but they aren’t exactly cheap. And nothing hurts quite like buying a new MacBook or iPhone only to see it go on sale just days later.

Luckily, Apple has you covered with its price adjustment refunds.

In this guide, we’ll break down the Apple price adjustment policy and go over its key conditions and exclusions. We’ll also look at how the Settlemate app puts price adjustment requests on autopilot so your refund happens seamlessly.

What is a price adjustment?

When a product you just bought goes on sale, you can get the price difference back by requesting a price adjustment. These policies, sometimes called price protection or a price guarantee, let you shop when you want, without holding off for the next big sale.

Here’s a simple example:

1. You buy a product for $400.
2. Its price drops to $350 a few days later.
3. You reach out to the retailer and ask for a price adjustment.
4. The retailer refunds you the difference ($50), typically to your original payment method.

Price adjustment policies are popular among retailers because they build trust and brand loyalty. When a brand helps you save money after a purchase, you’re more likely to shop there again, even before big sales events.

Unlike returns or exchanges, price adjustments don’t involve sending the product back. The refund is just the price difference.

Remember that stores aren’t required to offer price adjustments. Those that do usually have strict rules about:

• Which products qualify
• How long after the purchase you can request an adjustment
• Providing proof of purchase

How do Apple’s price adjustment refunds work?

The Apple price drop refund rule lets you request a price adjustment for any Apple-branded product if:

• The product’s price drops within 14 days of the day you receive it.
• You reach out to Apple within 14 days of the price change.
• You can show proof of possession.

Apple allows price adjustments for up to 10 units of a single product. However, the policy doesn’t cover limited-time promotions, like Black Friday or Cyber Monday deals. So if you buy a product just before a big sale and the price drops for that event, you won’t be able to claim a price adjustment.

Once Apple approves your price adjustment, you have two options for receiving the difference:

1. Get a refund to your original payment method.
2. Receive Apple credit to use toward purchasing other products.

Since price adjustment policies can change, it’s always smart to check Apple’s website or get in touch with customer support to confirm the latest rules before submitting a request.

What do customers say about Apple’s price adjustment policy?

Customers have shared mixed experiences with Apple’s price adjustment policy on Reddit and Apple’s community forums.

For example, one user mentioned that Apple’s customer support team told them they could only get a price adjustment by visiting a physical store, even though the policy doesn’t explicitly state that. Another user went to the store expecting to get Apple credit, but the sales assistant couldn’t issue it, so they offered a refund instead.

Both these experiences are a bit dated, so Apple may be more consistent now in honoring its price adjustment policy. Either way, if you’re eligible for a price adjustment, it’s always worth claiming it and recouping some of your spend.

How to claim a price adjustment for Apple products?

Requesting a price adjustment at Apple involves a few key steps:

1. Keep an eye on Apple’s website: To secure a price adjustment, you need to catch a price drop within 14 days of receiving your product. This means checking Apple’s website or visiting Apple stores regularly.
2. Find your receipt: You’ll need proof of purchase, so dig up your receipt, either in physical or digital form.
3. Contact Apple: To request a price adjustment, reach out to the Apple Contact Center at 1-800-676-2775 or visit an Apple store. Some agents may not be familiar with the policy, so explain politely but persistently that you’re entitled to a refund.
4. Submit proof of possession: An Apple agent will explain how to provide proof of possession to qualify for the adjustment. It usually involves submitting your receipt or invoice, but in some cases, especially for in-store requests, you may also need to show the actual product.
5. Wait for Apple to process your request: Apple doesn’t specify how long it takes to process your request, but once approved, you’ll get your refund back to your original payment method or as Apple credit.

What’s the issue with manual price adjustment requests?

Requesting a price adjustment may seem simple enough, but doing it all on your own can be tricky. Here’s why:

If the idea of tracking prices and dealing with customer support sounds exhausting, there’s a much easier way: Settlemate. It’s an app that automates the entire process of requesting price adjustments, helping you get your money back with minimal effort on your part.

How Settlemate gets your price adjustment automatically

Prices drop after you buy. Most people never notice, or they miss the refund window while figuring out the process or hunting for receipts.

Settlemate Retail Savings Autopilot turns price adjustments into background recovery: it parses purchase confirmations in your inbox, tracks price changes for the products you bought, and files the request for you so you get the difference back without the hassle.

How it works:

1. You link your email for automatic receipt detection.
2. Settlemate Retail Savings Autopilot logs purchases and monitors for price drops within each store’s price adjustment window.
3. We prepare and submit the refund request with your proof of purchase on your behalf as soon as a drop hits.
4. If approved, the credit will be refunded to your original payment method and you’ll get a notification about the money you just got back.

Get started with Settlemate today. Download the app from the App Store or Google Play and let Settlemate Retail Savings Autopilot handle all your price adjustment refunds for you.

Settlemate’s Value Guarantee means we’re committed to helping your membership pay for itself. If it hasn’t after a qualifying year, we can extend your membership at no cost every 12 months until it does.

Frequently asked questions

Does Apple have a return policy?

Apple lets you return products within 14 days of receiving them. To be eligible, make sure to include all original accessories and packaging, and have your receipt handy. Note that gift cards and electronic software aren’t covered by the return policy. Meanwhile, some products may have special return conditions, so it’s best to check Apple’s website for the latest info.

Does Apple offer a product warranty?

Apple offers a two-year warranty for its Apple-branded hardware and accessories. The warranty covers defects in materials and workmanship, but doesn’t apply to consumable parts (like batteries or protective coatings), cosmetic damage, or damage caused by third-party components.

Does Apple offer price-matching?

Apple doesn’t have an official price match policy. However, some customers on Reddit reported that they got the company to match other stores’ prices for specific products, sometimes up to 10% off. Since this isn’t a formal policy, there’s no guarantee you’ll get a price match, but it’s always worth trying.

What other retailers offer price adjustments?

Price adjustments aren’t just an Apple thing; a lot of popular retailers may offer them, including: