I have been using Paribus for quite a while. I know I don’t have time to watch for price adjustments, so having Paribus watch for me has been a lifesaver. Below is a simple break down of how it works and my own personal review.
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I know it has happened to all of us. You hit the BUY button on that must have item. Then, wouldn’t you know it, 6 days later, the price drops through that retailer. If only you had waited – you could have saved money! This is one of those “kick yourself moments” — or at least it used to be.
This is where Paribus can help. They work with you to help you get a refund when a price drops – after you buy!
Of course, I had my questions about this service and how it worked, so I took some time to check it out myself.
HOW DOES PARIBUS WORK?
It is pretty simple really. Many online retailers offer a price guarantee. If the item you buy sells for a lower price within a certain period after you made your purchase, you can get the difference back.
The only catch is that you have to ask them for it. I don’t have time to keep checking to see if that happens – – and neither do you. Enter Paribus. They help you with this.
They monitor and compare price changes for items, all in real time. If they find something that may be eligible, they will alert you. If the online retailer allows for it, they will even file the claim on your behalf, requesting the refund. (Keep in mind that some retailers have differing policies, so additional action may be required on your behalf).
Once the online retailer is alerted, the purchase is reviewed. If it meets the terms for the refund, then it is issued, based upon their policy. That means you may get either cash back or store credit.
Here is a screenshot of a recent purchase I made. As you can see, I paid $179.99 for the desk I purchased. The price is now $139.99. Paribus filed a claim on my behalf to get the $40 refunded to me. I did not have to do anything at all!
How sweet is that!?!
WHAT DOES PARIBUS COST?
You won’t believe this, but Paribus costs absolutely NOTHING. Not kidding.
In September 2017, Capital One acquired this company and decided that it was more important to help people save time and money than it was to charge for the service. So, they decided to offer it to free. For everyone.
That means you don’t need a Capital One card of any sort to be eligible for the service.
WHERE PARIBUS WORK?
Paribus is always looking for additional merchants with whom to work. Some of the most popular ones include Target, Walmart, Staples, Gap, Old Navy, J. Crew, NewEgg, Macy’s, Bloomingdales…and more!
You truly do nothing different with your shopping habits. Grab the items you need with the peace of mind of not having to worry if the price drops tomorrow. It is truly no risk.
BUT WAIT, AMAZON DOESN’T PRICE MATCH, DO THEY?
You are correct. Amazon does not price match when there is a change. But, what Paribus does on Amazon is watch for delivery times.
If you have an Amazon Prime account, your delivery is guaranteed within the window advised when you purchase (many times 2 days). If your order arrives after that time, you will get a notice from Paribus so you are aware.
WILL PARIBUS WORK FOR ME?
If you do not shop much online, then this is probably not the best service for you. It is designed with the online shopper in mind. Even if you only shop online from time to time, it is worth signing up because it is totally free and you never know when it will find you some free money!!
When you grant access to the service, it will go into your email. I know that you probably wondering “Is Paribus Safe?” so let me put your mind at ease.
Paribus is not “live” in your inbox. Your account is still secure. In fact, they don’t even save your password to your account. Instead, when you grant access to your inbox on Gmail or Microsoft, Paribus is provided with a token. That is presented when the Paribus Receipt Fetcher is activated.
If you use another provider another one of these platforms, the passwords are stored using multi-level security including firewalls, VPN services, intrusion prevention systems and stringent access controls on all information. They also transmit all data securely via 256 bit SSL (which is bank level encryption).
HOW DO I SIGN UP FOR PARIBUS?
Create an account at Paribus, using your email address. Make sure it is the same one you use for your online purchases as well as emails, as that is how it watches for your purchases. Next, make sure your email and your Amazon accounts are linked (you will find this in Dashboard – Settings, in your account).
That’s it! You are done!
When you shop, make sure the email address used for the purchase is the same one as on your account (as mentioned above). As you buy, Paribus will scan your inbox and look for any purchases you have made and adds them to your account.
Then, the fun begins.
They start to monitor that purchase for you through that retailer. If they find that there was a pricing adjustment, they go to work for you. If allowed, they will electronically submit the refund request on your behalf. Some retailers do not allow this, so you may need to finalize the paperwork yourself – but they will alert you so you can take care of it easily.
MY HONEST REVIEW OF PARIBUS
When I first saw the app, I was reluctant because I was not sure it would work. But, I also thought that it was worth a shot. I had my first refund of $99 happen in July 2018 on an umbrella I purchased through Home Depot. Then, I received another $3 back in December 2018 on a gift I purchased for my son.
I had to make a call to Home Depot to get the first refund, but that took me a few minutes. But, when it came to Parbus and Walmart – they did it all for me! They filed the claim and I received an email a day later that said I had an adjustment made to my purchase.
It just makes sense to use this app. That way, you don’t miss those price changes. You may not always get your money back, but it is worth it to try.
So, what are you waiting for? Why not give Paribus a try. You are out nothing at all — except for getting MONEY BACK!
