Shopping guide
How to spot fake holiday deals and find better gifts
A practical guide to spotting inflated discounts on Amazon, Walmart and Best Buy, plus how to use AI to find holiday gifts on any budget.
5 checks before you buy
1. Ignore the "was" price
Judge a deal against the recent typical selling price, not the crossed-out number.
2. Check the 90-day history
Many items drop to the same price several times a year. A true deal beats its recent lows.
3. Compare across stores
Check Amazon, Walmart and Best Buy for the same model number before buying.
4. Watch for model variants
Doorbuster TVs and laptops are sometimes special models with lower specs. Compare model numbers.
5. Confirm at checkout
Prices and coupons change fast during the holidays. The cart price is the one that counts.
Want a quick check? Paste a link into the Fake Deal Detector, or ask the Gift Concierge for ideas.
Frequently asked questions
How can I tell if an Amazon Black Friday discount is fake?
Compare the sale price with what the item actually sold for over the last 60–90 days, not the "List Price" or "Was" price. If the typical price was already close to the sale price, the real saving is small. Price trackers and DealSleuth's Fake Deal Detector help you check this history.
How do I check whether a Walmart rollback or deal is real?
Look at how long the item has been at the current price, compare it with other major retailers, and be wary of a "was" price you have never seen the item sell for. Paste the Walmart link into the Fake Deal Detector for an AI-assisted estimate.
What is an inflated or reference-price discount?
It is when a retailer shows a high original price that the product rarely or never sold at, so a normal price looks like a big markdown. The percentage off looks impressive, but you save little compared with the usual price.
Are the results from the DealSleuth Fake Deal Detector guaranteed?
No. The analysis is an AI estimate based on information it can find. When live search is unavailable the result is marked unverified. Always confirm the final price at checkout.
How does an AI gift concierge pick gift ideas?
You describe the person, their interests and your budget in a chat. The AI suggests gift ideas that fit, and you can keep refining the conversation. DealSleuth's Gift Concierge saves your conversations when you are signed in.
What should I look for in an AI gift suggestion tool?
Choose a tool that asks about budget and interests, lets you refine ideas in a conversation, explains why it suggests each gift, and reminds you to confirm prices with the retailer before buying.
When do holiday deals end?
DealSleuth covers deals from Black Friday and Cyber Monday through December 31. Each deal card shows its own expiry date when the store provides one.
Does DealSleuth earn money from deal links?
Some buy links may be affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. This does not change the price you pay.