CyberCJH's Blog

Sadly, Amazon has announced (only to those who asked) that they’ve discontinued their post-order price matching guarantee.

What does this mean? Say you ordered something from Amazon today for $25. Two weeks from now, the price dropped to $20. If you noticed it and asked for a refund of the $5 difference, you’d get it. Not anymore.

While we don’t always beat the best available price on every product, we do offer deep discounts on many thousands of items and cannot offer discounts after your order is complete.

From time to time, prices on some items will change due to special offers from suppliers and manufacturers or our inventory and sales volumes. When we can offer a lower price for new purchases, we will.

You may have been able to take advantage of post-purchase discounts on orders you placed in the past, but that policy was discontinued on September 1, 2008.

The post-order price matching guarantee is one of the main reasons I shop at Amazon. Even though their prices fluctuate at an obscene frequency, sometimes changing several times each day on the same item (which I find extremely frustrating), I always knew I’d get the lowest selling price within 30 days after my purchase if I was vigilant. And, if you don’t think Amazon’s prices change that often, just click here (and then scroll down) to see at how many times I was able to get a refund due to a Amazon’s shenanigans.

Oh well, I guess I was subconsciously looking for a reason to not renew my Amazon Prime membership to stop myself from making impulse purchases while sitting at my desk at work, bored out of my gourd. All good things must come to an end.

Amazon would have probably eventually closed my account anyway for taking advantage of the post-order price matching guarantee too often. Amazon is closing accounts if they deem that particular customer unworthy of the Amazon experience. Take a look at this forum over at SlickDeals.

Maybe Wal-Mart could institute a policy like that. They already harass you for your receipt on the way out of the store. Maybe they could institute wallet inspections before you enter to make sure you’re not just going to browse and suck up all the air in the small appliances department.

written by cybercjh

Purchased 8/14/08 : Cordless Phone Batteries : Price dropped $6.90 on 8/30/08.

Total money refunded due to Amazon’s price shenanigans : $145.97

written by cybercjh

Purchased 8/13/08 : Kenneth Cole Sneakers : Price dropped $2.99 on 8/28/08.

Total money refunded due to Amazon’s price shenanigans : $139.07

written by cybercjh

What is starting out as Tropical Depression Eight is forecast to become a hurricane by Sunday. The current track indicates a possible strike somewhere in Southern Florida. Time to start preparing.

Here are some useful links.

Prepare for Hurricanes and Floods: Advice From FDA
Resources from the Food and Drug Administration on how to keep food, medical products, and pets safe during an emergency.

FEMA Hurricane Fact Sheet
Learn what to do before, during and after a hurricane.

written by cybercjh

It’s time for Open Enrollment where I work and to no surprise, premiums have risen by ridiculous percentages compared to everything else.

• Medical insurance premium up 22%.
• Retail Prescriptions : No changes to co-pay.
• Mail Order Prescriptions : Generics now free! Co-pay for brand name down 25%! (I imagine this is because the company I work for is now owned by a mail order pharmacy. Ha!)
• Dental insurance premium up 56%.
• Vision insurance premium up 33%.
• Short Term Disability insurance premium up 15%.

Don’t get me wrong – I’m very grateful I have insurance. But, when will the increases return to normal percentages?

written by cybercjh