How to Spot a Fake Discount on Amazon & Flipkart
A crossed-out MRP doesn't mean a real deal. Five quick checks to tell a genuine price drop from an inflated "80% off" before you buy.
"80% off" sounds great — until you notice the same product sold at that "sale" price for the last six months. Inflated MRPs are one of the most common tricks in online shopping. Here's how to check whether a discount is real in under a minute.
1. Ignore the MRP, look at the selling history
The MRP is set by the brand and is often far above what anyone actually pays. What matters is the usual selling price. Price-history tools and browser extensions show a product's price over the last few months. If today's price is close to the lowest it has been, it's a real deal. If the price has hovered at the same "discounted" level for months, the discount is cosmetic.
Our Price History channel posts products when they hit a genuine low.
2. Compare across stores
Search the exact model number on two or three stores. The same item is often cheaper elsewhere, especially for electronics and appliances. Use the model number, not the product title — titles are written for search, not accuracy.
3. Check the final price at checkout
Some listings look cheap but add delivery, handling or "platform" fees at checkout. Others become cheaper at checkout thanks to bank, UPI or wallet offers. Always compare the final payable amount, not the listing price.
4. Read recent reviews, not just the rating
A 4.2-star average can hide a recent drop in quality. Sort reviews by "most recent" and look for repeated complaints about fakes, missing parts or a different product being delivered.
5. Watch for "deal" timers that reset
Countdown timers create urgency. If you refresh the page tomorrow and the same "ends in 2 hours" timer appears again, it's a sales tactic, not a deadline.
A real loot deal looks like this
- The price is clearly below the product's normal selling price over recent months.
- It's from a reputable seller with decent recent reviews.
- It's limited by stock or time — which is why genuine loot deals disappear quickly.
That's exactly what we look for before posting a deal on AlibabaLoot.