Price Adjustment Policy: Claim Money Back After a Price Drop

The price drops two days after you paid full price, and you only notice because you opened the page to check your order. Annoying. It might not be too late.

A price adjustment policy lets you claim the difference from some stores when their own price falls soon after you buy. Here's how to do it in about 10 minutes, with a script to read out and a checklist of what to keep. I haven't phoned these stores myself. The windows below come from each retailer's own policy page, which I read on 14 October 2026.

Quick answer: To use a price adjustment policy, note your purchase date, check the store's window (usually one to two weeks), then ask customer service for the difference with your order number and proof of the lower price. Windows, exclusions and proof rules differ by store and country, so read the official page first.

What do you need, and how long does it take?

Plan on about 10 minutes, plus a wait for the refund. Have these ready:

• Your order number or paper receipt, and the exact purchase date.
• The item's current lower price, shown on the store's own website or app.
• The store's policy page, open in another tab.
• Your phone, in case staff want to see the price live.

The catch: there's no universal rule. Each store writes its own policy, and rules differ by country, so treat everything below as a snapshot of what the pages said on the day I read them. Confirm yours before you act.

Is a price adjustment the same as a price match?

No, and mixing them up costs people refunds. A price adjustment compares what you paid with the same store's later price. A price match compares the store's price with a rival's. Some stores offer both, some only one.

Walmart is the one to watch. Its price match page lists items bought on Walmart.com that later drop in price as excluded. That page was last updated in June 2023, so look for a newer version before you give up.

How to use a price adjustment policy: 6 steps

Step 1: Write down your dates

Note the day you ordered or paid, and the day the item arrived. The clock starts at different moments depending on the store, so you'll need both dates.

Step 2: Find the store's window

Search the store's help pages for "price adjustment", "price protection" or "price match guarantee". Use the store's own page, not a blog post. Read three things: how many days you get, what starts the clock, and what's excluded.

Step 3: Check the drop qualifies

Most refusals come from the item, not the timing. Check that:

• The lower price is the store's own advertised price, not a marketplace seller's.
• It's the identical model, size and colour.
• It's a regular price cut, not a flash sale, clearance or a holiday event, which many policies exclude.
• You didn't use a promo code that the policy says can't be combined.

Not sure the new price is a genuine drop rather than a regular dip? A price history checker shows how the price has moved.

Step 4: Gather your proof

Do this before you contact anyone. Here's what to keep:

• Order confirmation or receipt: paper or digital, showing the price you paid.
• Order number: most stores ask for it first.
• A screenshot of the lower price: with the store's web address, date and time visible. Some stores won't accept it as proof, so also have the live page ready.
• Your dates: when you ordered, when it arrived, and when you spotted the drop.
• A contact record: the agent's name, a chat transcript or a reference number, saved as you go.

The FTC's consumer advice puts it plainly: keep records of purchases so you can hold a seller to its promises.

Step 5: Ask, using this script

In a shop, go to customer service with your receipt. Online, use the store's chat or phone line. Stay calm, keep it short and say it like this:

"Hi, I bought [item] on [date], order number [number], for [price you paid]. It's now [new price] on your website, and I'm within your [number]-day price adjustment window. Could you refund the difference to my original payment method?"

Then ask two follow-ups: how much the refund will be, and when it should show up.

Step 6: Get it in writing and watch your statement

Ask for an email or reference number confirming the refund. Then check your statement. Stores say they refund to the original payment method, so look there first. If nothing appears, follow up with your reference number.

What do the big stores' price adjustment policies say?

These are snapshots from each store's own page, read on 14 October 2026. Best Buy says it may amend its terms at any time, and others can too.

Best Buy (US)

• Window: if Best Buy lowers its own price during the return and exchange period, it will match the lower price on request. Its return page gives 15 days for most products, 60 for My Best Buy Plus and Total members, and 14 for activatable devices such as phones.
• How: online orders go through chat or phone (1-888-237-8289). In a store, ask an employee.
• Skip this if: the item is clearance, open-box or from a marketplace seller. Its price match exclusions also list special daily or hourly sales and the Thursday before Thanksgiving through the Monday after.

Target (US)

• Window: you can ask at purchase or within 14 days after. For an adjustment up to 14 days later, you need the original receipt or packing slip.
• How: Guest Services in store, or chat or phone (1-800-591-3869) online, with your order number.
• The catch: Target says screenshots and pictures can't be accepted. Show the price live on your phone. Clearance, closeout and pricing-error items are excluded.

Macy's (US)

• Window: request within 10 days of the order date. For furniture and mattresses, the 10 days run from delivery or the ship date.
• How: chat or phone (1-800-289-6229) for online orders. In a store, bring your receipt.
• The catch: the lower price must be an advertised Macy's price, promotional discounts can't be combined, and Direct from Vendor items aren't eligible.

Apple (US)

• Window: if Apple cuts the price of an Apple-branded product within 14 calendar days of the day you receive it, you can ask for a refund or credit of the difference within 14 days of the price change.
• How: at an Apple Store or by phone on 1-800-MY-APPLE.
• The catch: it covers up to 10 units, Apple may ask for the product and proof of possession, and limited-time cuts and sales events such as Black Friday don't count.

John Lewis (UK)

• Window: you must have bought within the last 7 days, counted from the day you placed the order, not the delivery date.
• How: an online request form with your order details or shop receipt. John Lewis says it replies within 48 hours.
• The catch: this one compares with rivals, not its own later price. The cheaper item must be identical, in stock, and sold by one of the 25 retailers it checks. Marketplace sellers, flash sales, multi-buys, member-only prices and promo codes don't qualify.

What mistakes make a price adjustment fail?

• Waiting until the last day. Ask the day you notice. Windows are short, and a chat queue can eat one.
• Counting from delivery. John Lewis counts from the order. Apple counts from receipt. Check which.
• Comparing against a marketplace seller. Most policies only count the store's own price.
• Expecting sale events to count. Apple and Best Buy exclude holiday-style sales.
• Showing only a screenshot. Some stores want to see the live page.
• Not saving the agent's name or reference number. Without one, a follow-up starts from zero.

What if the store says no?

1. Ask which line of the policy rules you out: "Could you tell me which part of the policy excludes this item?" If it's an exclusion, accept it. If it's the window, ask politely whether a supervisor can review it. They don't have to say yes.
2. If your return window is still open, a return and rebuy at the lower price may work. Check the return terms first for fees, and whether the lower price is still live.
3. If you used a cashback portal, ask its help page how a partial refund affects your reward. I haven't checked each portal's rule. Our best cashback apps guide covers the payout basics.
4. If the store clearly broke its own written policy, your card issuer or a consumer agency in your country is the next stop. This is general information, not legal advice.

My take and next step

A price adjustment policy is a free option on every purchase, but only if you know the deadline. My pick: before buying anything big, read the store's window and put a reminder in your calendar two days before it ends. Skip this if: the difference is a couple of dollars and the phone queue is long.

Next step: after your next purchase, set a price alert for the length of the window. Our Keepa vs CamelCamelCamel comparison covers the trackers, and how to find hidden discounts online covers the other ways to pay less up front. More in the Money-Saving Guides hub.

Last checked: 14 October 2026, against the Best Buy, Target, Macy's, Apple, John Lewis and Walmart pages named above. Policies change, so confirm the window on the store's own page before you rely on it.

Frequently asked questions

Can a coupon or promo code stop my adjustment?

It can. Macy's says promotional discounts can't be combined with a price adjustment, and Best Buy says a coupon and a price match can't be combined on the same product. Read the terms of any code you used before you ask.

Can someone else claim for me?

Often not. Macy's says requests must come from the customer directly, and Lowe's says only the person who made the purchase can submit an online request. Have the buyer make the call, or check the store's page for an exception.

Is a price adjustment a legal right?

In the pages I read, these are store policies, not rights. Best Buy, for one, says it may change its terms at any time. Consumer law differs by country, so for a dispute, check your local consumer agency. This isn't legal advice.