You bought the coffee machine on Monday for $199.99. By Saturday the same store has it at $169.99. Can you get the $30 back? Maybe. It depends on a policy most shoppers never read, and on how many days have passed.
It comes down to price adjustment vs price match. A price adjustment is when a store refunds the difference after cutting its own price; a price match is when it matches a competitor. They sound alike but work differently, and some of the biggest retailers offer neither.
The purchases and prices in this guide are original illustrations. Store policies change often, so check the current terms for the store and the item.
Read the price-adjustment policy before you buy, keep the receipt, and check the price again before the window closes. If the store doesn’t adjust, a return and rebuy may still work within the return window.
Price adjustment vs price match.
A price match usually happens when you buy: you show a lower price from a competitor and the store matches it. A price adjustment happens afterwards: the store lowers its own price on something you’ve already bought, and you ask for the difference back within a set number of days.
When Consumers’ Checkbook reviewed the policies of about 100 major retailers in October 2025, it found most offered consumer-friendly terms, with price-adjustment periods typically running from seven to 30 days. It also found that Amazon, Target and Walmart didn’t price match or offer price adjustments: Target had recently ended its policy, and Walmart stopped matching competitors about five years earlier.[1]
Three ways to get the lower price.
- 01 / Price match
A competitor is cheaper
The store matches another retailer’s lower price, usually at the time you buy.
Check: an identical item, in stock at a named competitor.
- 02 / Price adjustment
The same store got cheaper
The store refunds the difference if it cuts its own price within the window.
Check: the window, often 7 to 30 days from purchase.
- 03 / Return and rebuy
No policy, still returnable
Return the item and buy it again at the new price, if the return terms allow.
Check: return shipping, restocking fees and stock.
The fine print that decides it.
Even generous policies come with limits. Checkbook found the same exclusions again and again, and noted that some retailers expand their price-adjustment policies or deadlines over the winter holidays.[1]
| Exclusion | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Identical items only | Same model, color and specs. Store-exclusive versions often can’t be matched. |
| Nearby or in-store only | Some stores match only in store, against a competitor with a local store. |
| In stock elsewhere | The cheaper retailer must have the item available now. |
| No warehouse clubs | Most policies exclude membership-club prices. |
| Sold by the retailer itself | Amazon prices count only when sold and shipped by Amazon, not Marketplace sellers. |
| Product exclusions | Most electronics stores exclude cell phones. |
Read the policy for the store where you’re buying, on the day you buy. Our guide to why online prices change explains why the same product can move in price within days.
Price dropped? Check your options.
Back to the coffee machine. It cost $199.99 on Monday, November 2, and $169.99 on Saturday, November 7. If the store adjusts prices within 14 days, you have until November 16 to ask for $30. If it doesn’t adjust, but you can return the machine within 30 days at no cost, a return and rebuy saves the same $30, provided it’s still in stock at the lower price.
Can you still get the difference back?
Use your receipt and the store’s published policy. Windows usually count from the purchase date.
Return costs mean return shipping or a restocking fee. Nothing is sent or saved.
Ask for a price adjustment by Nov 16, 2026 (9 days left). Bring the receipt or order number and proof of the lower price at the same store.
If neither route is open, check whether your credit card offers price protection. Some cards do, with their own time limits and exclusions, so read the card’s benefits guide before you file a claim.
Keep the right proof.
The FTC suggests collecting your purchase documents and looking for return policies and deadlines on receipts, packaging, warranties or the seller’s website. Many stores won’t take returns or exchanges after a set time, such as 30 or 90 days. If a request stalls, it suggests asking for a manager, who will often have more authority to resolve it.[2]
1. Keep the receipt or order number
A digital receipt or order confirmation is usually enough. Note the purchase date.2. Capture the lower price
Take a dated screenshot showing the price, the exact model and the seller.3. Ask before the window closes
Contact the store by chat, phone or in person, and quote its policy if needed.4. Check how the refund is paid
Ask whether the difference goes back to your card or comes as store credit.
Buy once, check twice.
The habit is simple: read the policy before you buy, set a reminder a few days before the window closes, and check the price once more. During sale season, our Black Friday price watchlist helps you decide in advance what a good price is, so a later drop is a bonus rather than a regret.
InScape brings together campaigns, Partner Offers and member benefits. Purchases through Partner Offers are generally fulfilled by the Partner, so each Partner’s own price, return and adjustment terms apply. Check them before you buy.[4]
Five price-drop checks
Compare offers, then check the terms
Browse relevant Partner Offers, then confirm the price, return window and any adjustment terms with the Partner.
Price-drop ready?
The same store cuts its price a week after you buy. Which policy covers that?
Price-drop questions, answered.
What is the difference between a price match and a price adjustment?
A price match is when a store matches a competitor’s lower price, usually when you buy. A price adjustment is when a store refunds the difference after it lowers its own price on something you’ve already bought, within a set number of days.
Does Target price match?
When Consumers’ Checkbook reviewed retailer policies in October 2025, Target had ended its price-matching policy and didn’t offer price adjustments. Policies change, so check Target’s current terms before you rely on either.
Does Amazon give price adjustments?
Consumers’ Checkbook found in October 2025 that Amazon, Target and Walmart didn’t offer price matching or price adjustments. If an item drops in price while it’s still returnable, a return and rebuy may be the only route, so check the return terms first.
How long do price adjustment windows last?
Most run between seven and 30 days from purchase, according to Consumers’ Checkbook’s review of about 100 major retailers. Some stores extend their windows over the winter holidays, so check the policy that applies to your purchase date.
Sources and research notes.
Research checked November 7, 2026. Retailer findings come from Consumers’ Checkbook’s review of published policies in October 2025; retailers often change their policies, so confirm the current terms. FTC guidance is summarized for consumers. Reference numbers in the article link directly to the relevant source.
- 01Consumers’ CheckbookShopping for the Best Deal? These Retailers Price Match or Make Price Adjustments (October 28, 2025)(opens in a new tab)
- 02Federal Trade CommissionSolving Problems With a Business: Returns, Refunds, and Other Resolutions(opens in a new tab)
- 03Federal Trade CommissionOnline Shopping consumer guide(opens in a new tab)
- 04InScapeTerms & Conditions, section 10: Partner Offers
Research method
The coffee machine, prices and dates are original illustrations, not any store’s current offer or policy. The checker counts days from the dates you enter and doesn’t send or store them.
The cover is a conceptual image created with AI.
