Great Deal or Trap? How to Judge an Online Discount
“-70%”, “Was €249, now €79”: the spectacular promotion is one of the most effective marketing levers, and one of the easiest to manipulate. Here's how to tell a genuine bargain from a fictitious crossed-out price, or from a price so low it's impossible.
Key takeaways
- Ignore the discount percentage: compare the final price.
- Look up the exact reference at three sellers.
- Be wary of a discount of more than 50% on a well-known brand outside the sales.
- A timer that restarts is not a real limited offer.
- Refuse bank transfers, money orders and prepaid cards for a purchase from a stranger.
1. The crossed-out price sometimes never existed
Some sellers display a “reference” price that was never actually charged, just to give the impression of a generous discount. A product shown as “was €89, now €25” may well be worth €25 normally. Ignore the percentage displayed: only the final price matters, compared with the price of the same product elsewhere.
Replace the question “how big is the discount?” with “exactly how much does this product cost elsewhere, today?”. Comparing three sellers takes two minutes and protects you from most traps.
2. An extreme discount on a well-known brand
Established brands keep a close eye on their distribution channels and margins. A 60 to 80% discount on a branded product, outside the official sales period, is a strong signal: either the product is a counterfeit, or it doesn't exist and the site only wants to collect a payment.
3. The countdown that never ends
Many sites display “offer ends in 2 h 14” and restart an identical timer the next day. It's artificial urgency meant to stop you from comparing. A real promotion has a written end date, not a counter that resets itself.
4. Looking at the real price history
On the big marketplaces, independent tools show how a product's price has changed over several months. If the price climbed just before the “promotion”, the discount is largely cosmetic. This kind of practice is regulated by law: in Europe, a discount announcement must refer to the lowest price charged in the previous 30 days.
5. A price that's impossible, not just attractive
There's a difference between “cheaper than usual” and “objectively impossible”. A recent high-end smartphone at 30% of its new price is almost never a bargain: it's a counterfeit, a stolen or faulty device, or a scam where nothing will be shipped. The bigger the gap with the market, the more you should check the seller rather than the product.
6. Payment methods that don't protect you
A very attractive price paired with a request for a bank transfer, money order, prepaid cards or cryptocurrency is a major alarm signal. These methods leave you practically no way to dispute a payment. Always prefer a bank card or a payment protected by the platform.
How to check a product's price in two minutes
- Note the exact product reference: brand, model, capacity or size.
- Search for that reference at three different merchants, including at least one well-known big site.
- Compare the final price, delivery included, not the discount percentage.
- If the gap is huge, check the seller: age of the site, legal notices, reviews outside its own site.
Frequently asked questions
At what discount level should you get suspicious?
There's no universal threshold. A 10 to 30% reduction during the sales is common. Beyond 50%, on a well-known brand and outside sales periods, you should check the seller carefully.
Is a crossed-out price necessarily genuine?
No. The law regulates discount announcements, but not all sellers comply with it. Always compare with the price charged elsewhere.
How can I tell whether a product is a counterfeit?
Compare the details of the listing with the manufacturer's: reference, photos, specifications. An unknown shop selling a brand far below the official price, without mentioning an authorized distributor, is suspicious.