Can You Get a Deal After You've Paid Full Price? - Consumer Reports (2024)

You finally bought that item you’ve had your eye on. But the next morning, you get an email about a sale on that same product. If only you’d waited one more day, you could have spent less.

This scenario can leave you feeling disappointed or even annoyed, but if you’re willing to put in a little effort, you may be able to get some of your money back.

Some retailers will refund the difference without a second thought. Others may even honor a sale price from another store. Or you might be able to get some money back through your credit card company. And even if none of these do the trick, there may be one final option—return your purchase and buy it again at the discounted price.

Check the Return Policy

Especially when you’re buying a big-ticket item, it’s a good idea to know the specifics before purchasing in case plans change and you need to return or exchange your item—or, in this case, take advantage of a sale or lower price. Every retailer has its own return policy, so aside from saving your receipt, be on the lookout for the following details.

• Length of return window.
• How the refund will be issued (e.g., store credit or cash).
• How and where you can make a return.
• Whether you’re responsible for shipping costs if returning via mail.
• Whether the company has a price-matching policy.
• Length of price-match window (when applicable).

Reach Out to Customer Service

Some retailers have policies in place for partial refunds, but others do not. No policy does not necessarily mean no refund, but you may have to do a bit more work to get money back.

For example, Amazon claims to not honor price adjustments or issue partial refunds, because prices can fluctuate pretty frequently. However, one of the respondents on Facebook indicated that they were able to get some money back after contacting Amazon’s customer service, because they could have just as easily returned and repurchased for the lower price, so it’s always worth asking. When I reached out to customer service via chat about a similar situation, I was told they could not just refund the difference and that I would have to return and reorder to get the discounted price. But Amazon typically offers free returns, so it wouldn’t have cost any extra other than the time to ship the new item.

In many cases, the retailer will refund the difference of what you paid vs. the sale price, as long as your purchase was within a specified time—often 14 days. If they can’t or won’t refund to the original form of payment, you may be issued a store credit. This can be perfectly acceptable when it’s a retailer you shop frequently, but if you’d rather have the money back, try one of the next two steps.

Contact Your Credit Card Company

Depending on what cards you have, your credit card benefits may entitle you to file a claim and get a partial refund directly from them instead of the retailer.

The specifics will vary from company to company, but there are often limits on how much you can get back in a single claim and annual caps on claims. And the window of time you have to file a claim can vary—for instance, some credit providers will honor a claim for anywhere from 90 to 120 days after the purchase, which is more generous than many retailers’ policies.

Start the Return Process

If customer service is a dead end and you don’t have price protection through your credit card, you can always try returning the full-price item and buying it again at the sale price.

Some retailers may refund only the current value of the item, rather than the full price paid, if you do not have proof of what you spent (so always save your receipts and online order confirmation). This can also vary depending on how long it has been since you made the purchase, whether the item has been removed from its original packaging or otherwise has been used, or if the retailer charges a restocking fee.

You’ll also want to look into different return options, especially if you’ve ordered online. Some retailers cover return shipping costs for items ordered online, but others may take this out of your refund. This may make the eventual savings too minimal to be worth all the effort.

If possible, returning something in-store may be the better solution. Plus, if they have the item in stock and available for the sale price, you can get a new one with no wait time. Do keep in mind, however, that refunds may not be immediately credited to your account, especially if you’re getting the refund back to a credit or debit card vs. cash or as store credit.

Stores With Partial Refund Policies

Many major retailers will adjust the price of an item if a customer can show it’s available elsewhere for less when they check out.

A number of popular stores, however, do have policies for post-sale considerations, whether you find a better price elsewhere or the item goes on sale where you bought it. Some may only price-match specific retailers, others only their own pricing, so it’s important to review the refund and price-matching policy wherever you shop.

Here’s a closer look at the policies of some of the top retailers across the country. Bear in mind that these are select details, and each company has additional information that is worth reviewing further.

Bed Bath & Beyond (Overstock)
Price matching is available for ClubO members only. You can request a partial refund up to seven days after purchase. If you find a better price at Amazon, Bed Bath & Beyond, Hayneedle, Home Depot, Jet, Staples, Target, Walmart, or Wayfair, you’ll need to contact customer service with the URL and a screenshot of the product page.

Best Buy
Partial refunds are possible if you find an item on sale at Best Buy within the return and exchange period, which varies by product and member status.Just contact customer service online or via phone.

Costco
You have 30 days to request a partial refund if Costco lowers the price of an item you purchased fromCostco.com. If you made the purchase in a walk-in store, you’ll have to visit the in-store customer service department to see if you can get some money back. And the warehouse store does not price-match with other retailers.

Crutchfield
After you’ve bought an item, you have a 60-day window to request a price-match via phone or chat if its price drops at Crutchfield. The retailer does price-match against most items sold and shipped by Amazon, Best Buy, B&H Photo Video, and Sonic Electronix, but only at the time of purchase and not afterward.

JCPenney
You can request a partial refund for 14 days after a purchase if you find the item available for less at JCPenney or another retailer. The company does not honor prices listed by third-party sellers on Amazon and other marketplaces, but everything else, including items sold and shipped by Amazon, is fair game.

Macy’s
You have just 10 days to submit a request to Macy’s for a price adjustment, and the company recommends your request be done through email (customerservice@macys.com). There may be restrictions on certain items.

Staples
Staples matches prices from its competitors if you can show proof of a lower price elsewhere at checkout in-store only, or will provide a partial refund within 14 days of making a purchase of an item that goes on sale in-store or at Staples.com.

Target
If you find a better price at Target or a qualifying online competitor, Target will refund you the difference for up to 14 days following your purchase. You can bring in proof of the lower price to a store or contact customer service over the phone to get a partial refund for online purchases. And during the 2023 holiday season, from Oct. 22 through Dec. 24, Target is extending its price-matching policy. If anything you buy goes on sale for less during this time, you can request a refund of the difference.