Next time you are doing your shopping, if you’re not sure whether to buy something because you think it might go on sale later, go ahead and take the plunge. Just make sure you put it on a credit card that will pay you the difference if the item does go on sale.
More and more credit cards are offering price protection guarantees, such as Citi Price Rewind. With these programs, you can register your purchases and get money back if they go on sale later. Here’s how Citi Rewind works—in three easy steps:
- One—After buying something using your Citi card (any type of Citi card, debit or credit), go online to CitiPriceRewind.com and search for the item. You must do this within 30 days of buying the item. Once you find it, register your purchase so it can be added to a “watch list.”
- Two—Monitor the watch list to see if the item has gone on sale. If the price drops more than $25 below what you paid within 30 days of your purchase, you will be able to get a refund for the difference, up to $250 per item and $1,000 per customer per year.
- Three—submit a refund request. You can do this online, by regular mail, or by fax. Claims can be made after the 30-day tracking period is over, and must be submitted before 90 days have passed. You’ll need to upload a copy of your receipt, or provide a copy if you are mailing or faxing your refund request.
Shopping without worry or crowds
Price protection programs like Citi Price Rewind take the anxiety out of shopping. No more worrying about whether you are getting the best deal, or driving all over town to buy things at the cheapest possible price.
You can also avoid the crowds when you know your credit card will refund you the difference for items that go on sale. Black Friday is notorious for lines that start before dawn and crowds that crush in to grab flat-screen TVs and other deeply discounted items. But with price protection there’s no need to join the throng.
Go ahead and buy your new TV before Black Friday, and when the price drops, you will get a refund on your credit card statement. It just takes a little time for the process to go through.
Other credit cards that offer price protection similar to Citi Price Rewind are Visa Signature cards, and certain American Express cards. Call your credit card issuer to check and see what type of price protection they offer. If they don’t offer anything, apply for a Citi card and remember that any type of Citi card will give you eligibility to get money back through Price Rewind.