SHOPPERS may be able to get a refund if goods they bought before Black Friday and Cyber Monday were later reduced in the sales.
Some retailers have knocked up 50% off in the pre-Christmas deals bonanza – making it even more annoying for those who paid full price earlier this month.
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Prices fluctuate all the time and retailers don’t legally have to offer shoppers anything if costs drop after an item has been bought.
But some brands run price promises where they will refund you the difference if the cost of a product falls shortly after you bought it.
For example, under its Never Knowingly Undersold policy, John Lewis customers can ask for a partial refund if the price falls within 28 days of making the purchase.
The price match scheme applies to other retailers too, so if you find the exact same product cheaper elsewhere within 28 days of buying it you can ask for some of your money back.
Stores with price match policies
THESE are some of the retailers that will refund shoppers the difference if they find the same product cheaper elsewhere:
- AO.com – 7-day price match period after purchase. You’ll need to tell them the product code and where you’ve spotted it cheaper. Shoppers will need to call them or use the live chat service.
- Blacks – 7-day price match period after purchase. The retailer will knock an extra 10% off the reduced price. You can apply for a refund via the website.
- Curry’s PC World – 7-day price match guarantee after purchase, including priced reduced by voucher codes and offers. You will need to contact them online.
- eBay – Price match BEFORE making a purchase. Only match prices at Amazon, Currys, Argos, Asda, John Lewis and Tesco before you make a purchase. Difference is issued as an eBay voucher. Contact the customer care team.
- Halfords – 7-day price match period after purchase. Doesn’t cover cheaper prices due to vouchers and offers.
- John Lewis – 28-day price match guarantee. Never Knowingly Undersold covers products sold at rivals but not online-only stores. You need to fill in the application form.
Money blogger at Your Best Friend’s Guide to Cash, Kara Gammell, has already used the policy this year to get a refund worth £39.20 on a jacket she bought three weeks ago.
John Lewis slashed the cost of the coat by 20% in the Black Friday sales.
She wrote on Twitter: “I did a price match application at @jlandpartners on this @Barbour jacket I bought three weeks ago because it’s now 20pc off due to #BlackFriday2020.
“Within an hour I had a refund of £39.20 and now I’m smug”.
It’s worth bearing in mind though that the John Lewis policy doesn’t extend to online only shops like ASOS.com, Amazon or eBay.
Other retailers offer similar price guarantee schemes, such as Currys PC World and AO.com.
Shoppers can ask for a refund from Currys PC World if they find the same price cheaper at a rival – including online stores – within seven days of purchasing it.
Meanwhile, AO.com gives customers 10 days to submit a refund request.
Outdoor retailer Blacks will refund you the difference, plus 10%, if you can find the same product cheaper at a rival within seven days of making a purchase.
Some price match schemes won’t cover you after you’ve made a purchase.
For example, eBay will only price match new items sold on Amazon, Currys, Argos, Asda, John Lewis and Tesco before you make a purchase.
The items have to be in stock when you apply for the money back and the difference will be given to you as an eBay voucher.
Remember though, retailers don’t have to give you your money back simply because you could have bought it cheaper by holding off.
It’s worth contacting the shop where you bought it from to find out what its policy is.
Don’t leave it too long though because price promises may have a time limit on them.
Return an item within 14-days
Not all shops offer a price match scheme so you’re not guaranteed to get your money back.
However, online shoppers do have the right to return an item within the 14-day cooling off period – unless it’s bespoke or made to measure.
This means if you find the same product your bought for less, you can return the original item and re-purchase at the smaller price.
Remember though, you may have to buy the cheaper item before getting the money back for the returned item, or you risk missing out on the sales.
The cooling off period starts from the day your items arrive and shoppers don’t need a particular reason for returning it.
Once you’ve told the seller you no longer want the item, you have 14 days to return it.
You will have to cover the cost of the return delivery, although you should be refunded the original standard delivery charges.
The seller has 14 days from receiving the item to issue the refund, although they can dispute the claim if the item has been damaged.
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The rules don’t apply to products bought in a store, unless the item is faulty.
But some stores run their own returns policy, giving shoppers between 14 and 30 days to change their minds.
Individual policies can be found on the receipt or on the retailers’ website.
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