You see it everywhere. "70% OFF!" "MASSIVE SALE!" "TODAY ONLY!"

But here's the thing. A lot of those sales aren't really sales.

Brands have been playing this game for years. They raise prices before a "sale" so the discount looks bigger than it actually is. Or they slap a sale tag on something that's been the same price for months.

So how do you know if you're actually getting a deal? Let's break it down.

The Price History Trick

This is the oldest trick in the book.

A brand sells a jacket for $80 all year. Then they bump it up to $120 for two weeks. Then they put it "on sale" for $80 and call it 33% off.

You're not saving anything. You're paying exactly what it was worth before.

The only way to catch this is to track prices over time. If you've been watching an item for a few weeks, you'll notice when the "original price" suddenly changes right before a sale.

The "Compare At" Scam

Ever see "Compare at $150" next to a $60 price tag?

That compare price is often made up. It's what the brand says the item "could" sell for somewhere else. But nobody's actually selling it for that.

Outlet stores do this constantly. That $40 shirt was never $120. It was made specifically for the outlet at $40.

The Endless Sale

Some brands are always on sale. Always.

If a store has a 40% off code every single week, that's not a sale. That's just their regular price with extra steps.

Watch for patterns. If the same promo keeps coming back every few days, you're not getting a special deal. You're getting their normal pricing with better marketing.

Membership "Discounts"

"Sign up and get 20% off your first order!"

Sounds great until you realize the prices are marked up 20% to begin with. Or the "member price" is just the regular price everywhere else.

Compare prices across different sites before assuming you're getting a deal because you signed up for an email list.

How to Actually Know If a Sale Is Worth It

Here's what I do before buying anything on "sale":

1. Check the price history

Has this item been cheaper before? Has it been this price before without being called a sale? If yes, it's not really a deal.

2. Compare across stores

That "exclusive" sale price might just be the regular price at another retailer. Takes 30 seconds to check.

3. Look at the original price

Does it seem inflated? If a basic cotton t-shirt has an "original price" of $80, something's off.

4. Wait it out

If it's a real sale, the price will go back up after. If it stays the same or goes "on sale" again next week, you know it was fake.

The Easiest Way to Track This

Look, I'm not gonna sit here and pretend I check prices manually every day. That's exhausting.

That's actually why I built Bazenda. It tracks prices across a bunch of US fashion brands and shows you the actual price history. So when something goes "on sale" you can see if it's really at its lowest or if the brand is just playing games.

It'll also tell you if now's a good time to buy or if you should wait. No more guessing.

Bottom Line

Not every sale is a scam. Some are legit. But a lot of them are just marketing dressed up to make you feel like you're getting a deal.

The best way to protect yourself is to pay attention to prices over time. Or just use a tool that does it for you.

Either way, stop falling for fake discounts. Your wallet will thank you.