There’s something special about shopping at Michaels. You walk in for ribbon and leave with paint, frames, yarn, and a fulfilling feeling that this new project is going to be amazing. What is sure to burst that bubble is the moment you spot the supplies you bought went on sale soon after you brought them home.
The good news is that Michaels offers a way to do right by you so you don’t feel like you’re being overcharged for shopping a tad early. The option to get the money difference back is called a price adjustment. These policies come with specific conditions, deadlines, and fine print that can be easy to miss when you’re focused on creative pursuits, rather than deal chasing.
Our guide explains how the Michaels price adjustment policy works, including how long you have to request a refund, which items qualify, and what situations are excluded. You’ll also learn why manually tracking price drops can be harder than it sounds and how tools like Settlemate can help automate price adjustments so savings don’t slip through the cracks.
Price adjustments 101
If a store offers price adjustments, you can avoid the hassle of returning the item you bought at full price and repurchasing it at a discount by requesting a refund of the price difference.
These policies usually come with specific conditions that define when you can ask for a price adjustment, which items qualify, and how eligibility for the refund is verified. These rules help retailers manage refunds while giving shoppers a fair shot at post-purchase savings.
Here’s an overview of the rules that typically apply with most retailers:
What is the Michaels price adjustment policy?
Michaels has a low-price guarantee that covers both in-store and online purchases. Their policy also includes competitor price matching for select stores. For your price adjustment or price matching request to be approved, it must meet Michaels' criteria:
Important note: Michaels can change its price adjustment and price matching policy without notice, so always double-check the latest policy before filing a claim.
How does the Michaels price adjustment work?
The process for requesting a price adjustment at Michaels depends on whether you bought the item in-store or online. Still, the logic is the same in both cases: spot the lower price, confirm the item qualifies, and request the adjustment within the allowed time frame.
Here’s how it typically works:
- Confirm the item is covered under the current policy: Make sure that you meet the eligibility criteria listed above.
- Gather proof of the lower price: For in-store purchases, this usually involves bringing a current ad, printout, or photo showing the lower price. For online orders, you’ll need to check that the lower price is currently listed and valid at Michaels and/or one of its approved competitors.
- Check if you’re within the seven-day window: Once the time window closes, even a valid lower price won’t qualify.
- Submit your request through the right channel: In-store purchases are handled at the register or service desk. Online orders must go through Michaels’ customer service. Stores can’t adjust online purchases.
- Receive the price difference: Once Michaels verifies the price and item eligibility, it’ll adjust your purchase to the lower price, and the refund will be issued to your original payment method.
What’s the issue with manual price adjustment requests?
The steps for requesting price adjustments are similar across most retailers, but it’s precisely what can cause you to walk away from the refunds you are eligible for.
Each requirement introduces a dilemma that can discourage you from proceeding with the request:
- Has the price changed after purchase?
- Is this the right competitor?
- Does this count as a sale or promotion?
- Is the item identical enough?
- Where is that receipt now that you need it?
One small mismatch or one uncertain answer at the register can end the process on the spot.
What if there’s a way for you to avoid missing out on savings without the manual price comparisons, policy monitoring, and receipt handling?
Settlemate takes the guesswork, price adjustment policy debates, and retailer follow-ups off your plate.
How Settlemate gets your price adjustment automatically
If you are like most people, you probably don’t even notice that the prices have dropped, or you miss the refund window while figuring out the process or hunting for receipts.
Settlemate Retail Savings Autopilot turns price adjustments into background recovery: the app 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:
- You link your email for automatic receipt detection.
- Settlemate Retail Savings Autopilot logs purchases and monitors for price drops within each store’s price adjustment window.
- We prepare and submit the refund request with your proof of purchase on your behalf as soon as a drop hits.
- 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.
To get started with Settlemate, download the app from the App Store or Google Play and let the Retail Savings Autopilot handle all your price adjustment refunds for you.
Settlemate also gives you peace of mind with its generous refund policy. If the money you recover through the app doesn’t cover your subscription cost within the first year, you may be eligible for a full refund.
Frequently asked questions
What is Michael’s return policy?
You can return most items within 60 days as long as they’re new, unused, and in original packaging. Returns are accepted both in-store and online.
Returns from a MichaelsPro order are subject to stricter rules, as they require a return authorization first.
Does Michaels do receipt look-up?
If you don’t have a receipt, Michaels may still allow the return with a valid photo ID and, when possible, a receipt lookup through your Rewards account.
Keep in mind that if you earned reward points on that purchase, those points will be removed from your account after the return is processed.
How price drop adjustments work at other retailers
Many well-known brands offer their own version of price adjustments. These guides show you how other brands handle post-purchase price drops, so you can quickly see where refunds are possible, how much effort they require, and what to watch out for:
