Stuff We Want: How to Tell a Real Deal From a Fake “Was” Price
That giant red badge is doing a lot of acting. Here's the 60-second check, plus five real listings from today's list that show how it works.
#ad. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Hand-picked by The Deez List. Disclosure
Every big sale, Reddit fills up with the same question: is this actually a deal, or did someone just draw a red line through a made-up number? It's a fair question. A crossed-out "List Price" is the retail version of a guy saying he's six foot "in boots."
Here's the honest version. The List Price is usually the maker's suggested price, and that red savings badge is measured against it. Plenty of products haven't sold anywhere near their List Price in months. So the badge can be technically true and still tell you almost nothing.
The 60-second check:
1. Ignore the badge. Seriously. Scroll past it like it's a timeshare pitch.
2. Find the usual selling price. Paste the product link into a free price tracker like Keepa or CamelCamelCamel and look at the chart for the last three to six months. If today's price sits near the bottom of that line, it's real. If the price jumped up right before the "sale," the "was" price is fake.
3. Check who's selling it. Look at "Ships from" and "Sold by" under the Buy button. Third-party sellers aren't evil, but returns, warranty and stock can work differently.
4. Check the exact color, size and model. The deal you saw is often for one color only, and older generations love to hide next to newer ones.
Now the fun part. Here are five real listings from today's Deez List that show each trap in the wild.
1. The Headphones With the Overconfident Badge
On the listing today, the badge is measured against a List Price far above what these have usually sold for lately. Is it still under its usual price? Yes, it is. Is it the half-price miracle the badge suggests? Not really. Also look under the Buy button: it's sold by Focus Camera LLC, a third-party seller, and there are dozens of other new and used offers on the page. Make sure you're buying new if you want new. The headphones themselves are the real deal: two processors running 8 microphones for noise canceling, plus Auto NC Optimizer that adjusts to how you're wearing them.
2. The Backpack Whose List Price Lives in a Fantasy World
Same trick, bigger gap. The List Price on this backpack is way above its usual selling price, so the badge brags more than it should. The plot twist: it's still a solid real deal compared to its usual price. That's the point of the check. A fake "was" price doesn't mean a bad buy, just a smaller win than advertised. The bag expands 1.5 inches, meets most airline carry-on rules, and has a fold-down shelf, compression straps and a side water bottle pocket. Also, different color options show different prices today, so tap each one.
3. The Lunch Box Where the Color Changes the Deal
The price on our list today is for the Sandpiper color. Tap a different color on the same page and the price changes. This is the most common "wait, why is mine more?" moment on any big sale. It's a 5 L soft cooler with a leakproof interior, a compression-molded lid and base, a wipe-clean lining, and a body made from recycled polyester fabric that's bluesign APPROVED. Pick the color first, then decide if it's a deal.
4. The Rare Honest List Price (It Exists!)
The good guy of the list. This set's List Price lines up with what it usually sells for, so the savings badge is about as honest as badges get. Bonus trick for LEGO: the set number (42196 here) lets you compare the exact same box anywhere. It's an 806-piece build for ages 9 and up with a moving V10 engine, working steering and opening doors, and it's about 11 inches long when you're done.
5. The Coffee Maker That Changed Its Price Before Lunch
Two lessons in one coffee maker. First, its List Price is close to its usual price, so the badge is fair. Second, the price changed between our morning list and lunchtime. Prices move during the day, so the number you saw at 7 AM isn't a promise. And note the "Gen 2" in the name: when a product has generations, make sure the deal is on the one you actually want. This one brews 6, 8, 10 or 12 oz, can brew hot over ice, has three strength and temperature settings, and has a 72 oz removable reservoir.
Skip it if: the only thing convincing you is the badge. If the chart shows the price spiked right before the sale, or the deal only works in a color you'd never use, walk away. There's always another sale.
The verdict: ignore the List Price, look at the usual price, then check the seller, the color and the model. That's it. Or let us do the boring part: every pick on the daily Deez List is compared to its usual selling price, not the List Price, and every pick is hand-picked by a person. For big sale weeks, our Prime Big Deal Days page and when to buy calendar use the same rule.
#ad. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Hand-picked by The Deez List.
Get the best deals online right now, free every morning
One short email a day with the deals worth your money. Free, and unsubscribe anytime.
You’re subscribed ✓ Watch for tomorrow’s issue from [email protected].
Check your inbox to confirm. We just sent a confirmation email from [email protected]. Tap the button in it to start getting the list.
We collect your email address only to send you the newsletter (via our email provider, Kit). We never sell or share it. Unsubscribe anytime. See our privacy policy and terms.