How to spot a real Amazon deal (and avoid fake discounts)

Look at the price the product actually sells for

The crossed-out price on Amazon is the "List Price" or "Typical Price". It is not always what the product sold for last week. A real deal is cheaper than the usual selling price, not just cheaper than the list price.

Amazon shows a "Lowest price in 30 days" label on many items. That label, or a price-history chart from a browser extension, is the fastest way to check.

Check who is selling it

Under the Buy Now button you can see "Ships from" and "Sold by". Items shipped and sold by Amazon, or by the brand's official store, are the safest choice.

Be careful with brand-new sellers offering famous products far below every other price. If it looks too good to be true, it often is.

Read the reviews the right way

Sort reviews by "Most recent" and read the 3-star ones: they are usually the most honest. Look for photos from real buyers.

Check that the reviews are for the same product. Some listings merge reviews from older or different versions.

Do not miss coupons and Subscribe & Save

Many products have a clickable coupon under the price that takes an extra 5% to 50% off at checkout. You must tick the box for it to apply.

For things you buy again and again (coffee, diapers, pet food, vitamins), Subscribe & Save adds 5% to 15% off and you can cancel anytime.

Know the return window

Most items sold by Amazon can be returned within 30 days, and holiday purchases made from November get an extended return window until the end of January. That makes buying early in the season low risk.