The short answer
Can you get money back if the price drops after you buy?
Sometimes. Some retailers offer a price adjustment: if their own price drops within a set number of days (often 14 to 30), they refund the difference plus the tax on it. If you paid $249.99 and the price falls to $199.99, the difference is $50, or $53.50 with 7% sales tax. Many stores exclude Black Friday doorbusters, limited-time and clearance prices, so check the policy before you buy.
Ways to recover a price drop
| Option | How it works | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Price adjustment | The same store refunds the difference within its window | Exclusions for doorbusters, flash sales, clearance and marketplace sellers |
| Price match | A store matches a competitor's lower price at the time you buy | Usually only listed competitors, identical model, in-stock items |
| Return and rebuy | Return the item within the return window and buy it again at the new price | Restocking fees, opened-box rules, the new price selling out |
| Ask customer service | Some stores offer a credit even without a formal policy | Discretionary, so be polite and have the order details ready |
Tips for the holiday season
- Extended holiday returns. Many retailers extend returns for purchases made in November and December into January, which can make return-and-rebuy possible even when the price adjustment window has passed.
- Save the evidence. Take a screenshot showing the lower price, the date and the product page.
- Set a reminder. Note the last day of the window when you buy; the calculator shows the deadline.
- Policies change. Read the store's current price adjustment and return policy rather than relying on last year's rules.
Frequently asked questions
What is a price adjustment?
A refund of the difference when a store lowers its own price on an item you already bought, within a set number of days after purchase.
Do I get the sales tax back too?
Usually yes. The refund normally includes the sales tax paid on the price difference.
Do price adjustments apply to Black Friday prices?
Often not. Many stores exclude doorbusters, limited-quantity and flash-sale prices from price adjustments. Check the policy.
What is the difference between price matching and a price adjustment?
Price matching meets a competitor's lower price when you buy. A price adjustment refunds the difference when the same store lowers its own price after you buy.
What if the price adjustment window has passed?
If the item is still within its return period, you can return it and buy it again at the lower price, if the store allows that.