Compare against available prices, not just the sale tag
A crossed-out price gives you one reference point: the number printed on the tag. It does not tell you what other shops charge today. Before reacting to “40% off,” find current offers for the same model and condition.
Consider a fictional coffee maker marked down from $150 to $90. That is a 40% reduction from the stated original price. But if another retailer sells the same machine for $85 with the same delivery and return terms, the sale is still $5 more expensive than the alternative.
This distinction matters when you are shopping quickly. A discount describes a change from a reference price. A comparison tells you which available option costs less.
Write down the total cost of each option
Use the same basis for both offers: product price plus shipping, applicable tax, and required fees, minus discounts you actually qualify for. Do not count a future reward as an immediate reduction unless you would otherwise spend that reward.
| Cost | Sale offer | Other retailer |
|---|---|---|
| Product | $90 | $85 |
| Shipping | $0 | $8 |
| Tax | $7 | $7 |
| Total | $97 | $100 |
With those delivery costs, the sale offer becomes $3 cheaper. If the other retailer offers free collection, the answer changes again. Compare the checkout route you will actually use.
Check what you give up for the lower price
A final-sale item may be less useful than a returnable one if you are unsure about fit. A bundle may include accessories you already own. A cheaper version may have less storage than the model you intended to buy.
The FTC's online shopping guidance recommends checking total costs and the conditions attached to advertised deals. It also advises examining delivery and refund policies before purchasing.
Choose your tradeoffs deliberately. Paying a little more for a return option can make sense; paying for an unnecessary bundle to unlock a discount may not.
Decide whether to buy, wait, or skip
- Buy: you planned to buy the item, verified the match, and found acceptable total cost and terms.
- Wait: you have no urgent need and the current offers do not meet your target price.
- Skip: the discount is the main reason you want something you had not planned to buy.
OLMA can help you start that check from a product photo while you are in a shop. Its verdict is a starting point for comparison, not a promise about future prices. For a routine you can repeat, try our shopping savings checklist.