Naresh Kumar
← Blog
14
  1. The gap has closed
  2. The script
  3. Before you walk into the store
  4. The bottom line

← Blog

How a price tracker got me $459 back on my MacBook Pro

I bought a MacBook Pro for $4,589.99 and had a small script watch the price. On day 14 it dropped to $4,130.99, and Micro Center refunded the $459 difference. How to set up the same price watch with an AI assistant, no Python needed.

Written by
Naresh Kumar
Published
Reading time
5 min
Topic
Tech & AI

I bought a MacBook Pro from Micro Center for $4,589.99. I also knew Micro Center will match a lower price if it drops after you buy, so the same day I wrote a small Python script to watch the price for me.

I gave it the product link and had it check the price every hour. On day 14 it told me the price had dropped to $4,130.99. I walked into Micro Center, showed them the lower price, and they refunded me the difference: $459.

Fourteen days of price checks I paid $4,589.99 on day 0. The script checked the price every hour. On day 14 the price dropped to $4,130.99, and the $459 difference was refunded. Paid $4,589.99 Checked every hour Refund $459 Now $4,130.99 Day 0: bought Day 14
Two weeks of hourly checks, then a $459 drop.

That’s a great outcome. Even better, you no longer need to know Python to do this.

The gap has closed

A few years ago, “write a script that checks a web page every hour” was a job for a programmer. Today, AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude and Claude Code have closed most of that gap. You can describe what you want in plain English and get working code back. Some assistants can also run scheduled tasks for you, such as checking a page every day and reporting back.

There are two ways to do this.

Option 1: Ask an AI assistant to watch the price for you

  1. Copy the product link.
  2. Paste it into ChatGPT or Claude and ask something like: “Check the price of this product every day and tell me if it drops below $X.”
  3. If you’re tracking a big purchase, you can also upload your receipt and ask it to watch for a lower price at competitors too. Many stores match competitor prices, especially during the holiday season.

Before you rely on it, know these limits:

  • The chat has to be able to run on a schedule. A normal chat answers once and stops. Look for a scheduled tasks or reminders feature, and check whether it needs a paid plan.
  • The price may be out of date. Assistants often use search results, which can be weeks or months old. When I searched for my own laptop, some of the prices that came back were from a snapshot more than three months old.
  • Some stores block automated visitors. Micro Center showed my script a “Just a moment…” check page. If the AI can’t load the page, it can’t see the price.
  • Hide private details on your receipt (card numbers, address, phone) before you upload it.

Always open the product page yourself before you go to the store.

What to hide on a receipt A receipt for a MacBook Pro at $4,589.99. Keep the item, price, purchase date and order number visible. Cover the card number, address and phone before uploading it. Receipt MacBook Pro $4,589.99 Purchase date Order number Card Address Phone Keep Hide
The store needs the item, price and date. The AI doesn’t need your card, address or phone.

Option 2: Have the AI write the script for you

This is what I did, and it’s the most reliable option because it runs on your own computer, in a real browser. You don’t need to know Python. You can ask Claude or ChatGPT: “Write a small Python script that asks me for a product link and checks the price every hour.” Here’s how the one I ended up with works.

The script

It asks for a product link and how often to check. It opens a normal Chrome window, reads the price, and prints whether it dropped, went up or stayed unchanged since the last check. Every price is saved to price_history.csv.

How the script works Ask for a product link and how often to check. Open Chrome and load the page, waiting if the store shows a check. Read the price, skipping products that are no longer carried. Compare it with the last check: dropped, went up or unchanged. Save it to price_history.csv. Wait, then check again. Ask for a product link and how often to check Open Chrome, load the page Wait if the store shows a check Read the price Skip it if no longer carried Compare with the last check dropped · went up · unchanged Save the price price_history.csv Wait, then check again
One loop, every hour, until you press Ctrl+C.

The script is about 120 lines, so it lives on GitHub with its setup steps: iamarunr/price-tracker-python. You need Python 3 and Google Chrome; it uses Playwright to control your installed Chrome. Download it (Code → Download ZIP), open a terminal in its folder, and set it up once:

python3 -m venv .venv
.venv/bin/pip install -r requirements.txt

Then run it:

.venv/bin/python price_tracker.py

A few notes:

  • Keep your computer awake. It only checks while the script is running.
  • Check the first price by eye. Once, my script printed a price that wasn’t on the page at all. The listing was discontinued, and the page still had an old price hidden in its code. That’s why the script now checks for “no longer carried.” Compare the first printed price with the one in the browser window.
  • It prints to the terminal. If you want an email or a phone notification, ask the AI to add one.

Before you walk into the store

  • Know the deadline. Price adjustments usually only apply for a limited time after you buy, often the return window. My drop came on day 14. Check your store’s policy on the day you buy.
  • Bring proof. Have your receipt and the product page with the lower price open on your phone.
  • Match the exact model. Stores usually match only the same model and configuration, and in stock. A different color or memory size may not count.
  • Ask about competitors. Many stores, including during the holidays, will match a competitor’s lower price. Ask what they accept.

The bottom line

I love that a few minutes with an AI assistant can now do what used to take real programming. If you’re buying something expensive this holiday season, set up a price watch the same day you buy. It’s quick and often free. Most days nothing happens, but on a big purchase a single drop can be worth a lot. You never know: it got me $459 back on my MacBook.