How to tell if a discount is real or fake

A displayed discount is not proof of savings. Every year, retailers inflate prices before a "sale" to show a misleading rebate. Here's how to tell if a discount is real — without getting fooled.

The 5 signs of a fake discount

• A "was" price with no dated reference. If the "recommended price" points to nothing verifiable, it's a marketing number.
• A rise right before the event. The price climbs 2–3 weeks before Black Friday, then "drops": the rebate is fictional.
• False urgency. Countdowns, "only 2 left", "deal of the day": pressure keeps you from checking.
• A huge, round percentage. -70% on a recent, in-demand product? Suspicious.
• No trace elsewhere. The same product is the same price (or less) at a competitor, with no "sale".

The 30-second method

The only truth is the price history. Compare the "sale" price to what the product actually cost in previous months. If it's near its usual price — or its high — the discount is cosmetic. If it hits its all-time low, it's serious. Our price history guide shows how to find it.

What the law says

Under the EU Omnibus directive, any "was" price must be based on the lowest price of the last 30 days. A useful but partial safeguard: it doesn't prevent a rise 31 days earlier. We explain it in our dedicated guide.

Automate the check

Checking each product by hand takes time. UniverTrack tracks the real price, detects artificial hikes before a "sale" and alerts you when the drop is genuine. You never buy at the wrong time again.