Find real discounts, not fake MRPs

How to spot a real discount

1. 1

   Ignore the MRP, look at the selling price history

   An MRP is the highest price a product may legally be sold at, not what it usually sells for. Compare today's price with what it cost over the last few weeks, not with the struck-through number.

2. 2

   Note the price a week or two before a sale

   Add the products you want to the price watchlist ahead of a big sale. If the price rises just before the sale and then "drops", the discount is smaller than it looks.

3. 3

   Work out the price you will actually pay

   Take off only the coupons and bank offers you can really use, then add delivery, packaging or convenience fees. The discount checker does this sum for you.

4. 4

   Treat cashback as a later, capped saving

   Cashback usually arrives days or weeks later, may come as store credit, and often has a cap or expiry. Count it, but separately from the price at checkout.

5. 5

   Check the seller, model and warranty

   A low price can mean an older model, an imported unit with no Indian warranty, or a seller with poor ratings. Match the exact model number and look at who is selling it.

6. 6

   Compare the same product in two stores

   Open the same model on another store from the directory below. Bank offers differ between stores, so the cheaper listed price is not always the cheaper final price.

7. 7

   Read the offer terms before paying

   Lightning Deals have a timer and a unit limit, bank offers have minimum order values, and exchange offers depend on the condition of your old device. Read the small print on the product page.

8. 8

   Buy because you need it, not because of a timer

   Countdown clocks and "only a few left" notes are there to rush you. If the product is not on your list, the best discount is not buying it.

Sale words, explained

MRP (Maximum Retail Price)

The highest price a packaged product can be sold for in India, printed by the maker. Stores may sell below it; a big "% off MRP" says little about whether the price is good.

Deal of the Day

An Amazon offer that runs for one day, often on a group of related products. The price returns to normal when the day ends.

Lightning Deal

A short Amazon offer on a limited number of units, with a timer and a claimed-percentage bar. It ends when the time or the units run out.

Bank offer

An instant discount or cashback for paying with a particular bank's card, usually with a minimum order value and a maximum saving.

No-cost EMI

Monthly instalments where the interest is offset by a matching discount, so in theory you pay the product price. Check for processing fees and whether the discount was taken off the price you would otherwise get.

Cashback

Money returned after the purchase, often as store wallet credit. It may take days to arrive and can carry a cap, an expiry or conditions.

Coupon

A code or a tick-box on the product page that takes a fixed amount or a percentage off at checkout. Some apply only once per account.

Exchange offer

A discount for handing in an old device. The final value depends on the model and its condition when it is picked up.

Price history

A record of what a product sold for over time. It is the most reliable way to tell a real discount from a raised MRP.