Amazon cancels 30 days price match policy from September 2008

Image via CrunchBase, source unknown Customers applying for post order price refunds started receiving emails from Amazon with change in policy as shown below :

Only orders placed before September 1, 2008 are eligible for a price difference refund under the Post-Order Price Guarantee policy. As of September 1, 2008 we are no longer offering discounts if prices change on our website after you make a purchase.

— From Amazon discussion forum

This a bad news to Amazon shoppers who cannot take this benefit any more.

What is Amazon’s Post-Order Price Guarantee policy ?

Amazon has 30 days price match policy until August, 2008. If you bought Amazon items and if there are any price variations with in last 30 days, Amazon refunded the difference to the customers who asked for it.

Who loses ?

Obviously Amazon customers. Also Amazon will be at loss as other retailers like Circuit City , Best Buy has policies in place to match the price guarantee for at least two weeks. Amazon may loose some of its customers to these retailers.Circuit City and Best Buy will sure use it to their advantage.

Tons of sites built around this will loose their visitors. One such popular site is refundsplease.com which automates this price match process where you can enter your Amazon bought items and if there are any price variations you will be alerted. Such sites will go out of existance.

Any workarounds ?

Return the Amazon bought items if you are sure they are going to have price drop.This tip will be useful during holiday season — Christmas gifts. For last two weeks of the year many consumer goods are offered at discounted prices. If your Christmas bought gift item drops in price then be sure to return them to Amazon in few weeks and order the price dropped item.