Guides · 5 min read
Fake discounts: how to spot inflated 'was' prices
Vajeeran Logeswaran · Updated · Sources and corrections
A discount percentage compares two numbers chosen by the seller. To judge the offer, compare the delivered price of the same item and distinguish an advertised reference price from prices you independently observed.
1. Match the product before comparing
Record the model number, storage or size, condition, included accessories and warranty region. A refurbished item, import or different bundle may explain a price difference. Check whether tax and shipping are included.
Save the comparison date. Prices and stock change, and a search-result snippet may be older than the retailer’s current page. Open the offer and confirm availability.
2. Keep the reference prices separate
Label the crossed-out amount as “seller’s advertised reference price.” Label offers from other retailers as “observed current offers.” Do not call either a historical selling price without historical evidence.
A price-history service can help if it tracks the exact variant, but missing history is an unknown. It does not prove that the crossed-out price was invented.
Worked example: calculate the actual comparison
Illustrative figures: a speaker costs CHF 449 plus CHF 15 shipping. Other comparable delivered offers are CHF 469, CHF 479 and CHF 489. Their median is CHF 479. The delivered offer costs CHF 464.
The difference from that median is CHF 15, or about 3.1%: (479 − 464) ÷ 479 × 100. The advertised comparison of CHF 449 with CHF 899 is about 50.1%, but these are different comparisons. Neither calculation alone proves that the advertising is unlawful.
3. Check the seller as well as the price
A cheaper offer can be poor value if the seller identity is unclear or the return terms are unsuitable. Conversely, an exaggerated discount presentation does not by itself establish non-delivery fraud.
Keep a comparison sheet with retailer, URL, model, condition, item price, shipping, total and time checked. If a field is missing, leave it unknown rather than filling it with an assumption.
Using automated checks
An automated report can organise an offer and available evidence, but it may not retrieve comparable prices or historical data. Do not interpret “no comparison found” as confirmation of a bargain. Verify the current checkout total directly before deciding.
Sources and further reading
Worked examples and scenarios are explicitly illustrative. Conditions and procedures can change; check the relevant original source.
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