Joined Nov 2012
Carl N
Forum Thread
Amazon has stopped honoring price protections now
April 30, 2016 at
11:32 AM
Until recently amazon had a policy where they would refund the price difference on an order that was up to a week old.
If you ordered something and it's price dropped since, they'd refund the price difference. I've used this policy many times to save 10's of $$ over the year(s). It made a lot of business/customer sense because it avoided the hassle of returning an item only to reorder it at the lower price. It costs the customer in time and convenience. It obviously costs amazon to reship the replacement item.
Today I wanted to use that benefit and I was told that they changed that policy and they no longer refund the price difference. I was asked to send the item back and reorder the new one at the lower price. I was shocked cos, it just didn't make much sense.
In this case, the price difference was a few $ so I'm not all that bothered. But had they're been atleast 10-15$ difference, I'd do it in a heart beat.
I'm really disappointed with this change in their policy!
If you ordered something and it's price dropped since, they'd refund the price difference. I've used this policy many times to save 10's of $$ over the year(s). It made a lot of business/customer sense because it avoided the hassle of returning an item only to reorder it at the lower price. It costs the customer in time and convenience. It obviously costs amazon to reship the replacement item.
Today I wanted to use that benefit and I was told that they changed that policy and they no longer refund the price difference. I was asked to send the item back and reorder the new one at the lower price. I was shocked cos, it just didn't make much sense.
In this case, the price difference was a few $ so I'm not all that bothered. But had they're been atleast 10-15$ difference, I'd do it in a heart beat.
I'm really disappointed with this change in their policy!
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If you ordered something and it's price dropped since, they'd refund the price difference. I've used this policy many times to save 10's of $$ over the year(s). It made a lot of business/customer sense because it avoided the hassle of returning an item only to reorder it at the lower price. It costs the customer in time and convenience. It obviously costs amazon to reship the replacement item.
Today I wanted to use that benefit and I was told that they changed that policy and they no longer refund the price difference. I was asked to send the item back and reorder the new one at the lower price. I was shocked cos, it just didn't make much sense.
In this case, the price difference was a few $ so I'm not all that bothered. But had they're been atleast 10-15$ difference, I'd do it in a heart beat.
I'm really disappointed with this change in their policy!
It's just not worth it for a few bucks here or there.
Although in my cases they sent me PS3 bundles missing either a controller, a game or that looked way different than the condition they were supposed to be(i.e. scratched up but listed as 'like new').
I think Amazon wants us to believe we could never live without them, but personally I'm starting to think I would be just fine.
Oh the horror in waiting a week for something you ordered....
I think Amazon wants us to believe we could never live without them, but personally I'm starting to think I would be just fine.
Oh the horror in waiting a week for something you ordered....
As for me, I've gone back to buying most stuff from B&M stores as opposed to online(whether Amazon or not) since there's no difference between Amazon and the physical stores here now due to the collection of sales tax by Amazon in this state(PA).
It also doesn't help them that they've shipped me some NAD(not as described) items from their warehouse deals before or that their warehouse reps packaged my items poorly. Although the former is due to spotty grading by the people at NorAm who take in trades from other customers and the latter is due to Amazon holding their warehouse reps to a metrics system where they have to pump out X number of packages an hour.
OP, the policy you note has not changed. For years, Amazon has not guaranteed their pricing. Generally though, the reps were good about making one time exceptions, but if it was for a few dollars, personally I just took the hit. Plus, I usually order the slickdeals from Amazon anyways, so I've never really been burned.
And yes, Amazon does track problem users and they do ban for life.
Of course retailers would much rather you be a sap and keep bending over.
Don't forget to grab those ankels firmly!!
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Seriously.... I thought this was dead for awhile. they may have done some courtesy/one-off discounts since but the "policy" is long-since dead.
I was able to do so until this weekend. I had most recently used it 2 months ago in March 2016
If you ordered something and it's price dropped since, they'd refund the price difference. I've used this policy many times to save 10's of $$ over the year(s). It made a lot of business/customer sense because it avoided the hassle of returning an item only to reorder it at the lower price. It costs the customer in time and convenience. It obviously costs amazon to reship the replacement item.
Today I wanted to use that benefit and I was told that they changed that policy and they no longer refund the price difference. I was asked to send the item back and reorder the new one at the lower price. I was shocked cos, it just didn't make much sense.
In this case, the price difference was a few $ so I'm not all that bothered. But had they're been atleast 10-15$ difference, I'd do it in a heart beat.
I'm really disappointed with this change in their policy!
I purchased stereo speakers on Amazon for $299. The price dropped to $286 five days after I made the purchase so I started a help chat session to have them adjust the price, as I have done successfully many times in the past couple years. The chat moderator said Amazon prices fluctuate all the time and they couldn't adjust my final order. They only adjust on TVs and it is their "long standing" policy. I called Amazon directly on the phone and the gentlemen reiterated that the "new" policy is for TVs only and their policy just changed on April 28 but was very vague about the subject and couldn't tell me where I could find the policy in writing.
If anyone can find something in writing on Amazon's website (or anywhere on the web for that matter) about this policy, I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks!
i think the price protection policy hasn't existed for years and probably ended when they went to more dynamic pricing. the "one-time exception" service for people is either being enforced or just terminated.