Amazon prices change frequently, so many people assume there’s a way to recoup the difference when sudden drops occur.
In this guide, we’ll reveal whether you can get an Amazon price adjustment and what alternative options the retailer offers. We’ll also introduce you to Settlemate, an app that automates your price adjustment requests and helps you get refunds without any hassle.
What is a price adjustment?
A price adjustment or a price drop protection enables you to request a partial refund if the price of something you recently bought drops. While this may sound like a consumer-specific perk, it also benefits the retailer by:
- Strengthening consumer loyalty and brand image
- Reducing the costs of processing returns and exchanges
- Remaining competitive when other retailers offer lower prices
Retailers also set specific rules within their price adjustment policies that you should be aware of. Common conditions include:
Does Amazon refund if the price drops?
The short answer is no, you can’t request a price adjustment on Amazon. The no-price-adjustments policy applies across the board, so it doesn’t matter if an Amazon item is sold by Amazon itself or by a third-party seller.
According to testimonials of Reddit users, Amazon used to do price adjustments, but stopped around mid-2016. So, if you want to recoup the money after a price drop, you have to explore alternative options.
Alternatives to the Amazon price drop refund
Here’s how to get money back from Amazon if the price drops:
- Use the “Tell us about a lower price” feature
- Choose the return and repurchase workaround
1. Use the “Tell us about a lower price” feature
Many product pages have a Tell us about a lower price feature, where you can report a lower price you found elsewhere, including on another Amazon listing. This works as a pricing-related feedback that Amazon passes to the seller.
While this option may not be as helpful as a price adjustment, there’s an opportunity that the seller will drop the price. If they do, you can return the full-priced item and repurchase it at the lower cost.
Here’s how to use this feature:
- Go to the Feedback section on the product detail page (if available)
- Choose the “Would you like to tell us about a lower price?” option
- Select either the Website (Online) or the Store (Offline) option
- Tap Submit Feedback
2. Choose the return and repurchase workaround
Since Amazon’s return policy is relatively generous, the most reliable way to get back the price difference is to return the item and then order it at the lower price.
To start the return process, go to Your Orders and select the Return Items option next to the product you want to send back.
Before you initiate the return, here’s what you should keep in mind:
- 30-day time window: Most items can be returned within 30 days of delivery, but overall, eligibility depends on the product. Some categories and listings are marked as non-returnable on the product page, so there won’t be a Return button next to them.
- Extended return window during holidays: During the holiday season, most items can be returned for an extended period that can last up to 3 months. Check Amazon’s website for specifics once the holiday shopping season starts.
- Condition of the item: To get a full refund, the item needs to be in its original, unused condition and returned in its original packaging.
Since certain product categories follow different timelines, there are some exceptions to the 30-day time limit:
Good to know: Refunds are issued once Amazon or a third-party seller receives the item and confirms it meets eligibility criteria. Processing the request typically takes up to 30 days, and longer if the retailer needs additional information.
Which items don’t qualify for return?
Here’s an overview of products that don’t qualify under Amazon’s return policy:
- Personalized products
- Pet medication products
- Perishables
- Products that have shipping restrictions
- Products that can’t be resold due to health or safety concerns
- Redeemable products
- Amazon Pharmacy products
- Certain digital products
- Automobiles
- Final sale products
Are price adjustments worth your while?
Even though Amazon doesn’t have a price adjustment policy, plenty of retailers do, and you should take advantage of it. The strategy especially pays off for regular shoppers, as the money they get for each request can soon build up into a sizable sum.
While it sounds like a no-brainer, many shoppers skip price adjustments after actually dealing with the process. Claiming them manually often comes with hiccups like:
- Relentless price checking: Keeping tabs on multiple purchases across different retailers quickly turns into a tedious daily chore.
- A maze of policies: Each store has its own rules, exceptions, and fine print. What qualifies at one retailer might be excluded at another, and figuring out the specifics requires time, focus, and likely an elaborate Excel sheet.
- Narrow time windows: Most price adjustment policies give you a narrow window to act. Miss it by a day, and the opportunity for a refund is gone, even if the delay was caused by slow customer service.
You can remove these hiccups using Settlemate. This handy app streamlines the entire price adjustments process by tracking the prices and automatically sending requests for eligible claims on your behalf.
How Settlemate saves you hours and dollars
Chasing a $10 refund feels like a chore. But over a year, those small wins stack up—only if you track price drops consistently. The problem is, who actually has time to track and chase retailers after every purchase?
Let Settlemate Retail Savings Autopilot handle the monitoring and paperwork in the background so that you can recover the difference and keep your time.
Here’s how this works:
- Automated detection & monitoring: Settlemate tracks post-purchase price drops on products you’ve bought based on the receipts in your inbox.
- Hands-off claims: We generate and send the price adjustment refund request when eligible.
- No chats, no forms, no waits: You get a notification once your money is on its way back to you.
Download Settlemate on the App Store or Google Play and make Settlemate Retail Savings Autopilot your set-it-and-forget-it refund assistant.
Settlemate stands behind its value with a simple promise: if the money you recover within the first year of using the app doesn’t cover your subscription costs, you’ll qualify for a full refund.
Frequently asked questions
Does Amazon price match if the price drops?
No, Amazon doesn’t do price matching. According to their official price-matching help page, they strive to offer “low, competitive prices every day,” so they don’t feel the need to match the prices of competitors.
Is there still an Amazon 30-day price guarantee policy?
No, Amazon doesn’t have a 30-day price guarantee. They don’t offer any type of price adjustment or price matching. What they do offer is a 30-day return window for most items.
Can you return Amazon items without original packaging?
Amazon’s return policy requires the products to be returned in their original packaging. That said, if the item is unused and still has all original tags attached, it may be worth contacting customer service.
At what stores can you get price adjustments?
Check out how other retailers approach price adjustments:
