How to spot a fake discount

A big percent-off number is easy to print. Here's how to tell whether anyone ever paid the "before" price.

1. Ask where the "was" price came from

A list price or "compare at" price is often a number the item rarely sold for. The honest comparison is what the same store charged recently.

2. Be wary of comparisons to a different store

"Costs $185 elsewhere" can be true and still meaningless if the item is usually cheaper at the store you're buying from.

3. Check the seller

On marketplaces, the lowest price often comes from a third-party seller. Look at who is selling and shipping it, and at their rating.

4. Read the fine print near the price

Coupons you must clip, memberships, minimum orders and in-cart discounts can all change what you actually pay.

5. Look at the time

Deals expire. A screenshot from this morning may be wrong by lunch. That's why every Retriever Deals alert shows when we last checked it.