Same Product, Cheaper Elsewhere: How to Check It's Really Identical
Finding the same product cheaper elsewhere is the ideal bargain, as long as it really is the same. Many price comparisons mix up similar products that aren't equivalent: a different version, a different capacity, a different brand, or a refurbished one. Here's how to check.
Key takeaways
- Note the exact reference (model, capacity, generation).
- Compare the reference or EAN code, not the commercial name alone.
- Check the condition: new, refurbished, second-hand.
- Compare the price including delivery.
- If the price is very low, check the seller before the product.
Why “similar” isn't “identical”
Two earbuds with a similar design, two phones with the same name but a different capacity, two versions of the same coffee machine: their prices can differ a lot for good reasons. Comparing without checking means risking paying less for a product that doesn't do the same thing, or being delivered a cheaper version than the one you thought you were buying.
The five things to compare
- The exact brand and model, as written on the product or the manufacturer's page.
- The reference or model number: often a precise alphanumeric code (for example a string of letters and digits), which differs from one version to the next.
- The barcode (EAN/GTIN), when it's shown: it identifies a unique product, including the country of packaging.
- The key specifications: capacity, size, power, color, generation.
- The condition: new, refurbished, opened, second-hand, with or without accessories and packaging.
How to do it in practice
- Open the product page at the original seller and note the exact reference.
- Search for that reference between quotation marks in a search engine, rather than the commercial name alone.
- Compare the photos: front, back, ports, label, included accessories.
- Compare the final price including delivery, not the displayed price.
- Look at the seller: a lower price from an unknown isn't a bargain if they never deliver.
A cheaper product is only presented as equivalent if it has been verified as identical to the scanned product. Otherwise, we say so clearly: they are similar products, for you to compare yourself.
The classic traps
- A version from another market, with a different plug, keyboard or warranty.
- A previous-year model presented as the latest one.
- A bundle or a single accessory shown at the price of the complete product.
- A refurbished or opened product, mixed in with new ones in the results.
- A brand very close to a well-known brand (one letter changed).
When the price is “too good”
If the price is far lower than anywhere else, step out of the comparison game and check the seller: age of the site, legal notices, independent reviews. The best price is only worth something if you actually receive the product.
Frequently asked questions
What is an EAN code?
It's the 13-digit barcode printed on most products. It identifies a specific product and lets you confirm that you're talking about the same item.
Is a refurbished product equivalent to a new one?
Not exactly: it can be of very good quality, but its condition, warranty and price aren't those of a new product. Compare while keeping these differences in mind.
How does Scan Raccoon know that two products are identical?
The analysis compares what can be identified (brand, model, specifications) and only presents an alternative as equivalent if it has been verified. When in doubt, it suggests similar products, presented as such.