Sale ka Sach: how to tell if a Big Billion Days or Great Indian Festival deal is real
Quick verdict
The 'best deal' you see during Big Billion Days or the Great Indian Festival isn't always the real best deal. Check the price history first, and you'll see how real the discount actually is.
Sale ka sach! The "BEST DEAL" you see during Big Billion Days or the Great Indian Festival isn't always the real best deal.
Why "% off" can mislead
A discount is usually shown against the MRP or a "was" price. But many products sell below MRP all year, so a big percentage can look impressive while the actual saving over the usual price is small.
Here's a simple example of how the same product can look:
The badge says 40% off (against MRP). The real saving over the usual price is about 8%. Illustrative numbers, but this pattern is very common.
How to check the real deal
Find the price history
Use a price-tracking app or browser extension, or paste the product link into a price-history site.Compare with the lowest price
Look at the lowest price over the last few months, not just the MRP.Check bank offers last
Card discounts and cashback can make a deal genuinely good, so factor them in at the end.
The bottom line
Check the price history, and you'll understand how much of the discount is real. Want my list of the best extensions and apps? Message me on Instagram.
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Frequently asked questions
How do I know if a sale discount is real?
- Check the product's price history over the past few months. If the 'sale' price is close to its usual price, the discount isn't as big as it looks.
What is price history?
- A record of a product's price over time. Price-tracking apps and browser extensions show it as a chart, so you can see the real lowest price.
When are the big Indian online sales?
- Flipkart's Big Billion Days and Amazon's Great Indian Festival usually run around the festive season in September and October.