Amazon price history: how to know if a deal is real
"-40%", "lowest price", "today only"… Amazon is full of deal labels, but not all of them hide a real saving. There's one key trick to avoid falling for it: check the price history.
The inflated-discount trick
The discount percentage you see is usually calculated against the recommended retail price (RRP), not what the product usually costs. A "-40%" can mean you're paying exactly the same as last week. And during campaigns like Prime Day or Black Friday it's common for the price to rise a few days before, so the "discount" looks bigger.
How to know if the price is genuinely good
- Compare today's price with what the product has cost over the past few weeks, not the RRP.
- If the current price is below its usual range, it's a good deal. If it's at or above average, it isn't.
- Be wary of sudden price hikes right before a campaign.
The easiest way: get notified when it genuinely drops
No need to check the history every day. With an Amazon price alert you pin the product and we automatically notify you when the price drops below the last one recorded. That way you buy when there's a real drop, not when a label says there is.
Stop guessing if a deal is good
Create a free alert and we'll only notify you when the price genuinely drops.
Create an Amazon price alertFrequently asked questions
How do I know if an Amazon deal is real?
By comparing the "deal" price with what the product has cost over the past weeks or months. If the current price is equal to or higher than its usual price, the discount advertised over the "recommended price" isn't a real saving.
What is an inflated pre-sale price?
It's when the price goes up right before a campaign (like Prime Day or Black Friday) so it can then be "discounted" and the deal looks bigger than it really is. Checking the price history exposes it.
How do I get the best price without watching by hand?
By creating a price alert: you pin the product and get an automatic notification when the price genuinely drops below the last one recorded, without having to check the page every day.
See also: all guides · How to know when an Amazon product will drop in price