Weve all seen it - a product marked down from $299 to $49 with a giant "83% OFF!" badge. Seems like an incredible deal, right? But is it really?

The truth is, many "deals" online are completely fake. Sellers inflate the original price to make the discount look bigger than it actually is. Heres how to protect yourself and find the real savings.

🚩 Red Flag #1: The Original Price Seems Too High

If a "premium Bluetooth speaker" is supposedly marked down from $400 to $29, ask yourself - was it ever really $400? A quick search usually reveals that similar products sell for $30-40 normally. The "original price" was invented to make you feel like youre getting a steal.

What to do: Search the product name on Google or Amazon. Check what similar items actually cost.

🚩 Red Flag #2: No Brand Recognition

Random brand names like "XYZTECH" or "SMARTPRO" selling items at 90% off? Be skeptical. Legitimate brands rarely discount that heavily unless its clearance or a genuine sale event. Unknown brands often use fake markdowns as their standard pricing strategy.

What to do: Stick to brands you recognize, or research the unknown brand before buying.

🚩 Red Flag #3: Urgency Tactics Gone Wild

"Only 2 left!" "Sale ends in 00:15:32!" "47 people are viewing this right now!" These pressure tactics are designed to make you buy before you think. Real deals dont need to trick you into rushing.

What to do: If you feel pressured, close the tab. Real deals will still be there tomorrow.

🚩 Red Flag #4: Too-Good-To-Be-True Electronics

AirPods for $19? A 4K TV for $75? If the price seems impossibly low for what youre getting, it probably is. Either the product is counterfeit, refurbished without disclosure, or the specs are misrepresented.

What to do: Know the approximate retail value of popular items. If its 80%+ off a name brand, be very cautious.

✅ Signs of a REAL Deal

So how do you know when a deal is legitimate? Look for these signs:

  • Price history exists - Tools like CamelCamelCamel show if the "original price" was ever real
  • Reputable retailer - Amazon, Walmart, Target, Best Buy have real sales
  • Seasonal timing makes sense - Black Friday, Prime Day, end of season clearance
  • Reviews match the product - Real reviews from verified buyers
  • Reasonable discount - 20-50% off is common for real sales, 90% off is suspicious

🛡️ How We Find Real Deals

At pickup.today, we pull deals from trusted sources like Amazon, Walmart, Target, and Slickdeals. We focus on actual discounts from legitimate retailers - not random sellers with made-up prices.

Are some deals better than others? Absolutely. But at least you know the original prices are real and the retailers are trustworthy.

💡 Quick Checklist Before You Buy

  • Search the product elsewhere - is this price actually good?
  • Check the seller/brand - do they have a reputation?
  • Read reviews carefully - do they seem real?
  • Ignore countdown timers - they reset anyway
  • Trust your gut - if it feels too good to be true, it is

Shop smart, stay skeptical, and save your money for the deals that are actually worth it. 💰