Amazon.ca prices shift constantly, and if you've already placed a pre-order, it's reasonable to wonder what happens when the price drops before release. Amazon's Pre-Order Price Guarantee covers exactly that: if the price falls between your order and the release date, you're automatically charged the lower amount, with no calls to customer service required. This guide covers how the Amazon pre-order price guarantee works, which items qualify, when you actually get charged, and what your options are if a price drops after your order arrives.
What Is the Amazon Pre-Order Price Guarantee?
The Amazon Pre-Order Price Guarantee ensures you pay the lowest price Amazon.ca offers for an eligible item between the time you place your pre-order and the end of its release date. The protection is automatic: if the price drops at any point during that window, your order adjusts without you doing anything.
One important distinction: this guarantee only applies to items sold by Amazon.ca. If you're buying from a third-party seller on the Amazon Marketplace, the guarantee doesn't apply, even if Amazon is fulfilling the order. Check the product detail page for the "Pre-order Price Guarantee" message to confirm you're covered before you commit.
Which Items Are Eligible?
The Pre-Order Price Guarantee applies to not-yet-released physical and digitally delivered items in these categories:
- Books (physical and Kindle editions)
- CDs and Vinyl
- Videos and DVDs
- Video Games
- Software
One exclusion to note: the guarantee doesn't apply to lower book prices offered through membership programs that require joining to access the discount.
How the Price Adjustment Works
Here's what happens when a price drops on an item you've pre-ordered:
- Before the item ships: Your order summary updates to reflect the lower price within 24 hours of the change.
- After the item enters shipping: Amazon charges you the lower price at the time of shipment.
- If you've already been charged: Amazon automatically refunds the difference to your original payment method within 48 hours of the release date.
You don't need to contact support or take any action. The Amazon price guarantee in Canada applies silently in the background throughout the pre-order window.
When Does Amazon.ca Charge for Pre-Orders?
When does Amazon charge for pre orders? Not at checkout. Amazon.ca charges your credit card only when your order enters the shipping process, which is typically just before or on the release date.
Between the time you place your pre-order and the shipment date, Amazon may contact your bank for a payment authorization to confirm the card is valid. This is a temporary hold, not a charge, and it clears once the actual charge is processed at shipment. If you see a pending transaction in your account, that's the authorization, not a real charge yet.
Amazon Price Adjustment Canada: What Happens After Delivery?
This is the section most people are searching for, and the answer isn't what they're hoping to hear. Amazon.ca does not offer a price adjustment or Amazon refund price drop if the price changes after your item has been delivered. Once your order is complete and the release window has closed, the price you paid is the price you paid.
The one narrow exception: if an item's price is reduced on its release date but your order has already entered the shipping process, Amazon will automatically refund the difference within 48 hours of the release date. This is part of the pre-order guarantee, not a separate price adjustment policy.
The Amazon 7-Day Price Protection Policy
Many Canadian shoppers still search for the Amazon 7-day price protection policy, hoping to get a refund when a price drops shortly after delivery. That policy was discontinued globally in 2016 and is no longer available. Amazon Canada price drop refund requests for post-delivery price changes are not covered under any current policy.
If you buy something today and the price drops tomorrow, Amazon won't refund the difference. Some shoppers in this situation choose to return the item and re-purchase at the lower price, but keep in mind that return shipping costs can easily cancel out the savings, depending on the price gap and item size.
A more practical approach: before buying anything that isn't a pre-order, check the price history using CamelCamelCamel, which tracks Amazon.ca prices over time. If the current price is at or near its historical low, it's worth buying. If it's elevated compared to previous months, waiting may get you a better deal.
Does Amazon Price Match in Canada?
No. Does Amazon price match in Canada? Not officially, and not for competitors. Amazon.ca's price matching policy states that they monitor competitor pricing to set their own rates, but they won't manually adjust a price to match a flyer from Best Buy, Walmart, Costco, or any other retailer. If you find the same item cheaper elsewhere, Amazon won't bridge that gap.
A few workarounds that don't require Amazon to act:
- If the item hasn't shipped yet, cancel your order and repurchase at the lower Amazon price if the price has since dropped on Amazon.ca itself.
- Check whether your credit card has built-in price protection. Some Canadian credit cards offer a price protection benefit that covers price drops for 60 to 90 days after purchase, even if the retailer won't match it themselves. Review your card's insurance certificate for details.
How to Cancel an Amazon Pre-Order
You can cancel Amazon pre order at any point before it enters the shipping process. Go to "Your Orders" in your account, find the pre-order, and click "Cancel Items" if the button is available. If the button isn't there, the order has already moved into shipping and can't be cancelled.
Since pre-orders aren't charged until shipment, cancelling costs you nothing. If you find a better price elsewhere before your release date, cancelling and re-ordering (or switching retailers) is a clean option with no financial penalty.
If you're unsure whether a price is actually competitive, check the item's price history on CamelCamelCamel before deciding to cancel. Prices often fluctuate back and forth on Amazon, and the "current" price isn't always the lowest you'll see.
Is Pre-Ordering on Amazon Canada Worth It?
Saving money on Amazon Canada pre-orders is fairly low-effort when you stick to the categories covered by the guarantee. You lock in your spot, you don't pay until the item ships, and if the price drops before release, you automatically pay less. There's no downside to pre-ordering eligible items you were planning to buy anyway.
The guarantee doesn't help with post-delivery drops or third-party seller items, but for Books, Games, Video, CDs, and Software sold directly by Amazon.ca, it's a useful built-in protection. The main thing to remember: verify the "Pre-order Price Guarantee" message is visible on the product page before you commit, and confirm the item is sold by Amazon.ca, not a marketplace seller.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Amazon Canada offer a price adjustment after delivery?
No. Amazon.ca does not offer price adjustments for items that have already been delivered. The only exception is the Pre-Order Price Guarantee, which covers items sold by Amazon.ca from your order date through the end of the release date. Once an item has been delivered outside that window, the purchase price is final.
How long does the pre-order price guarantee refund take?
If the price drops before your order ships, the lower price is reflected in your order summary within 24 hours. If the item has already shipped when the price drops on release day, Amazon automatically refunds the difference to your original payment method within 48 hours of the release date.
Does the pre-order guarantee apply to Prime Day or Black Friday deals?
Yes, it can. If your pre-ordered item goes on sale during a promotional event like Prime Day or Black Friday before its release date, and the item is sold by Amazon.ca in an eligible category, the guarantee covers that price drop too. The key is that the sale price must occur before the end of the release date.
Can I cancel a pre-order if I find a better deal somewhere else?
Yes. You can cancel a pre-order at any time before it enters the shipping process by going to "Your Orders" and clicking "Cancel Items." Since you haven't been charged yet at that point, there's no cost to cancelling. If the "Cancel Items" button is no longer available, the order has moved to shipping and can't be stopped.
How do I track Amazon.ca price history before pre-ordering?
CamelCamelCamel tracks the price history of Amazon.ca products over time. Before pre-ordering (or buying anything on Amazon), you can search the item on CamelCamelCamel to see whether the current price is at or near its historical low or whether it's likely to drop further. It's a useful check before locking in any purchase.
