Amazon will no longer offer 30 day price-match guarantee

[DVD Polizei]

Amazon is probably doing this for several reasons. Their customer service reps are refunding prices on products several months out. I think they are trying to control their CSR behavior more. Second, the economy is probably taking a chunk out of their bottom line. Think about it. Shipping costs. Amazon ships a lot of stuff. UPS more than likely gave them a nice "Fuck You, Pay Me" letter, informing them of fuel costs.

I would recommend to just be more prudent when buying from Amazon. I think most of us know when a good deal is a good deal, and get on it. I don't track my purchases to the penny like some do, and this is probably driving Amazon crazy. I don't blame them. So, when a product gets within my Great Deal radar, I buy it and forget about it.

[brianluvdvd]

Any chance that they might reinstate the 30 day price guarantee?

This has really changed my buying habits at Amazon now. I used to buy with no without even thinking about it but now I think, "Well, what the price drops in the next couple of weeks?" Now I won't buy anything unless I feel like it is rock bottom...and then I even second guess the purchase.

Anyone heard any responses on this change so far since it has been almost a month since it went into effect?

[big whoppa]

If they simply don't change their prices quite so often in a 30 day period then this price guarantee wouldn't be necessary.

[Walker Boh]

Originally Posted by brianluvdvd

Any chance that they might reinstate the 30 day price guarantee?

I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt and assuming that they didn't do this on a whim, and that some analysis went into it: how much they're losing on refunds and how much paid time is being spent by CSRs dealing with it vs. the amount of money they're going to lose when a small percentage of their customers change their buying habits under the new policy. If the sales loss is a lot more than they expect, I imagine they'll bring back the guarantee.

Originally Posted by brianluvdvd

This has really changed my buying habits at Amazon now. I used to buy with no without even thinking about it but now I think, "Well, what the price drops in the next couple of weeks?" Now I won't buy anything unless I feel like it is rock bottom...and then I even second guess the purchase.

That's the biggest danger of their new plan, in my eyes. People know that their prices fluctuate.

Something you want is $20. Under the old system, you might've been more included to buy it and hope for a drop. Under the new system, you decide to wait to see if the price drops. The next day it's up to $21. Well, you're not going to pay that, so you wait until it at least drops back to $20, which might never happen, or a local retailer might come along with a better price first.

Of course, people are still going to jump on the great deals when a boxed set is 67% off MSRP. Their new policy shouldn't affect that very much. What it might affect are the many, many purchases where prices are very similar to Borders / Best Buy / etc. It'll be interesting to see how it pans out for them.

[Josh-da-man]

Originally Posted by big whoppa

If they simply don't change their prices quite so often in a 30 day period then this price guarantee wouldn't be necessary.

It is weird. The prices on certain things (not just DVDs) seem to constantly fluctuate. I've seen books, older books that are low demand, have the discount go from 34% to 27% and back and forth every few days. More than a few times, I've put things in my shopping cart only to have the price go up or down within a few hours.

I'm not really sure what the point of this is; is someone changing prices manually, or are they using some kind of algorithm to figure discounts?

[rennervision]

I was just getting ready to post this topic when I saw one was already created.

I called to get the difference in an item credited ($2) when the cst serv rep told me after September 1st they no longer do price matches. I thought she didn't understand me so I said, "No, I'm not talking about a price match with anybody. The price is now lower on your own site."

She reiterated they don't do that anymore. I didn't think it was worth arguing with her, so I just said thank you, hung up, and redialed for someone else.

The next guy who answered said the same thing, so now I'm thinking this is obviously not a fluke. I decided to try a little logic:

"So what you're saying is, if I return the item I just bought and then rebuy it, I can get the credit."

"Yes, that is correct."

"Wouldn't it be easier to just credit me the difference now?"

I swear, if he didn't agree, I was going to ask for an RMA # right then and there just to be a dick. (Although, I confess, I wouldn't have really gone through the hassle of returning it for $2.) Much to my surprise, he agreed with me and issued the credit!

[big whoppa]

^You could return it but the shipping back and forth would likely be on your dime. Depends on how big the price drop as to whether it would be worth it.

[rennervision]

If Amazon didn't change their prices every five minutes, I wouldn't check items I've already bought every day to see if it goes down in price. They could reintroduce their price guarantee and stop the crazy price fluctuations. This would probably satisfy everybody.

[foxdvd]

I just checked up on this...pulling records.

Amazon Prime member...total spent in 2007 at amazon.com $8890.

Average spent per month before new price match change in 2008- $934

Amount of that on games (pc, ds, psp, 360, ps3, ect) about $300 per month

Amount spent at Amazon since this new price-match policy- $120

Amount on games-$30.

I have spent about 800 bucks on games at other sites since the change, along with other purchases that I WOULD have made along with the game purchases.

I was a BIG spender at amazon. I did ALL my shopping for birthdays, gifts, ect at this site. In total, I prob use the price-match less then 5% of the time, but just because I now don't have the option I have moved on.

[big whoppa]

^You should tell Amazon that. The more feedback they get like that, they may go back.

[kuroiinu]

This policy definitely sucks. They even denied a price adjustment for an item that is still in "Shipping soon" status. And they won't let me cancel the order and re-order at the new price either.

UPDATE: I e-mailed them. and they refunded the price difference "as an exception." Way to go, Amazon.

[Kevin M. Dean]

In the past if the price is lower during the Shipping Soon phase and ships at a higher price, I've usually received an email a few days later with the credit due to their pre-order price guarantee. So, you may still get the lower price since their rules still apply until it actually ships.

[kuroiinu]

Originally Posted by Kevin M. Dean

In the past if the price is lower during the Shipping Soon phase and ships at a higher price, I've usually received an email a few days later with the credit due to their pre-order price guarantee. So, you may still get the lower price since their rules still apply until it actually ships.

They told me over the phone that the new policy applies once the order is placed, even if it has not shipped yet. But, since it is in "Shipping soon" status, I couldn't cancel the old order and re-order at the new lower price. As I updated above, they later agreed to refund the difference, but probably this time only.

[mmconhea]

First the tax thing and now this. When my prime membership is up, it's over.

[zoran009]

Well, they LOST my business! I think it went to their head with all success that their company is INVINCIBLE! When greed takes over then it is DOWN HILL>

[That'sAllFolks]

well, they haven't lost my busniness just ALOT of it.

The only thing that may have been abused (I'm guilty), is PMing the B1G1 items that went down in price. They should just educate their CSRs a lot better!

I don't think it will hurt their business that much for the avg consumer, but the bargain hunters and big spenders wil definately take notice. I know my father bought a Heroes set for a brother of mine. He paid like $40 bucks for it and Amazon had it in January for like $18 or so. He didn't even know about the PM and got a decent refund. I know I made out like a bandit (or so I thought at the time!) on the HD DVD Toshiba player with no less than 3 PM's.

If there is a Blu Ray player deal this year I will be a WHOLE LOT more hesitant to jump on the deal, knowing, like so many, that their price jumps up and down at the drop of a hat.

Really, as many have said, 30 day policy of PM'ing is not that extreme. Wal-Mart and Target (in a way) do it for 90 days!

[uteotw]

What I don't get is this: Nearly every other store I know (B&M) has a policy that if the item drops in price in 30 days, they will give you the adjustment. Target, Best Buy, Circuit City, etc. all do this.

But now, if I buy a TV on Amazon for $1900 and 3 days later it's $1800, I cannot get the price adjustment. (I did buy a 50" plasma for about that much and get an adjustment for at least that much.) In the past, the savings and ability to get the adjustment were enough to offset the uneasiness about buying a big-ticket item from a non-B&M store. Not anymore.

I've found I just keep things in my cart, check them from time to time, see the prices are STILL constantly fluctuating, and keep waiting for them to go down more (or again), and I buy much less.

They REALLY need to come up with a new policy that allows them to stay competitive without alienating and stiffing their customers.

[big whoppa]

From feedback here, it looks like if you bitch to Amazon, they will cave in and credit the difference.

[kuroiinu]

Originally Posted by big whoppa

From feedback here, it looks like if you bitch to Amazon, they will cave in and credit the difference.

They'll probably do it once "due to special circumstances," but I don't think they will continue to do every time there is a price drop as they did in the past.

[Tarantino]

Originally Posted by zoran009

Well, they LOST my business! I think it went to their head with all success that their company is INVINCIBLE! When greed takes over then it is DOWN HILL>

I could be wrong, but I'm guessing it has more to do with the current state of the economy and less to do with pure greed.

= J

[GizmoDVD]

Amazon has lost quite a bit of my business as well by now offering a 30 day guarantee. Oh well, Best Buy might be lovin' it.

[uteotw]

Here's a perfect example: At work, I put in my "cart" a Harmony Universaral remote for $180 and a 16 GB Zune for $171. Later at home I went to make my purchase, and the remote was $199.99 and the Zune $188.51.

They're still at the increased price, so now I'm not buying either right now. Maybe later, or maybe I'll just get them somewhere else, but either way this new policy of theirs just ain't workin' for me...

[uteotw]

Originally Posted by uteotw

Here's a perfect example: At work, I put in my "cart" a Harmony Universaral remote for $180 and a 16 GB Zune for $171. Later at home I went to make my purchase, and the remote was $199.99 and the Zune $188.51.

They're still at the increased price, so now I'm not buying either right now. Maybe later, or maybe I'll just get them somewhere else, but either way this new policy of theirs just ain't workin' for me...

Well, against my better judgment I purchased this Zune when it was $170.

And, OF COURSE, literally within the hour, it went to $160. (It's almost like they were just waiting for me.)

I knew the policy, so I know I deserve nothing, and got exactly that after emailing and calling. I was told to mail it back if I wanted, so that is what I'm going to do. And I'm done with amazon, at least for the Christmas season. All my money will be going to B&M stores nearby.

[b2net]

Just had a product drop $30. When I called, I was told the reason they HAD to change the policy was because, get this, "too many people abused the policy". I am not sure how to abuse the policy. I figure it is just the fact they cannot afford to continually give refunds. Their financial issue, not customer abuse.

Anyway, I thought I would mention that Best Buy had this same policy for Black Friday/Saturday as well. I hope this is not a sign of things to come with retailers. I had an item drop $80 in less than 20 days. I asked for a pricematch with my receipt. This would be a regular pricematch where they simply refunded the difference (not the competitor one with the extra 10%) . I was told to buy a new one and then return the old one. So I did just that. I bought a new one from a competitor for $90 less and took the orginal back to Best Buy for a full refund.

[dtcarson]

As mu