A -70% can be worth less than an honest -20%. Discover how to tell a real deal from an inflated price with the Glitchoo method.
Have you ever seen a -70% badge on Amazon and thought 'unmissable deal'? The reality is more subtle: the discount percentage is calculated on a reference price that can be inflated. A -70% on £300 inflated is worth less than a -20% on an already low price. A high discount does not mean real savings if you don't compare it with the lowest price in recent months. That's why on Glitchoo we never show -% without also showing the history.
Why a -70% can be a fake deal
The mechanism is simple: Amazon or a third-party seller sets a list price (often higher than usual), then applies the discount on that figure. If the average market price was already lower, the discount is illusory.
The typical case
Let's imagine a pair of headphones: crossed-out price £150, discount -50% → final price £75. Without the history it seems a bargain. But if the 90-day history shows the average price was £70, the real discount is almost zero. The -50% was inflated by the high starting price.
A high discount does not mean real savings if the reference price is artificial. That's why on Glitchoo we compare every offer with the minimum price of the last 90 days and assign a Trust Score (reliability score).
How to recognise an inflated price
Here are the signs to avoid falling for it:
- Overly round percentages (-50%, -70%, -80%): often a sign of a forced list price.
- No visible history: if you don't see the past trend, you're at the seller's mercy.
- Discount only on coupon: Amazon shows the -X% by adding the coupon? The coupon is an extra benefit, but the discount should be calculated only on the base price.
- Final price still high: a -70% on £500 gives you £150: it's not a bargain if the same product costs £120 elsewhere.
On Glitchoo, between February and July 2026, we caught over 1,500 price errors across more than 2 million price checks on 6 Amazon marketplaces (full study here). The discount on a real price error is typically far deeper than on a normal promotion. If you see a -70%, it could be a genuine glitch, but without context it's just a number.
The Glitchoo method: price history and Trust Score
To expose fake discounts, we use three tools:
- 90-day price history: we verify if the discount is real by comparing the current price with the historical low. If a product now costs £50 and the history shows it at £48, the discount is nil.
- Badge -% only on real discount: the -X% badge on Glitchoo only appears when the Amazon discount is genuine, never by aggregating coupons or inflating the list price.
- Trust Score: score from 0 to 100 that indicates the offer's reliability based on price stability, history, and seller reputation.
Comparison table: inflated discount vs real discount
| Feature | Inflated discount | Real discount (Glitchoo) |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Crossed-out high, off-market | Aligned with history or lower |
| Percentage | -50% / -70% / -80% | Variable, even -20% if honest |
| Coupon | Added to the discount | Kept separate |
| Historical verification | Absent | Over 90 days |
| Trust Score | Low | High |
This difference is crucial: a -20% with 90-day history is more real than a -70% on an inflated price.
Examples from Glitchoo's monitoring
In our daily monitoring of the UK marketplace, one case keeps coming up:
- Textbook price error: a product whose history certifies its real value, with a discount far deeper than any ordinary promotion.
The same happens on the other marketplaces we follow: an extreme discount that seems incredible, but the history confirms the crossed-out price was genuine: a real deal.
Check the featured deals section below for details – you'll find both price errors and genuine discounts, all with Trust Score.
How to use Glitchoo to avoid being fooled
Here's the process for each offer:
- Check the absolute discount: how many pounds you save compared to the historical minimum price.
- Ignore the percentage if it's very high without supporting history: it could be inflated.
- Check the Trust Score: above 80 is reliable, below 50 evaluate with caution.
- If the offer has a price error (glitch), remember Amazon can cancel the order if the price is clearly wrong. Don't force it: if the price is anomalous, Amazon has the right to cancel.
To learn more about how it works, read our guide on how Glitchoo works – it explains the method step by step.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if a discount is real?
Compare the final price with the historical low of the last 90 days. On Glitchoo you always see the history, the real list price (not inflated), and the Trust Score. If the percentage is high but the final price aligns with the history, it's real.
Why does Amazon show high discounts that aren't real?
The list price is chosen by the seller or Amazon. It can be the recommended retail price, often higher than the usual selling price. Amazon isn't required to verify the real value. Glitchoo does it for you.
Can Amazon cancel a price error order?
Yes, according to Amazon's conditions, if the price is clearly wrong (e.g. £1 instead of £100), Amazon can cancel the order. We suggest not buying hoping to 'beat the system': only buy if the price seems fair to you.
What is Glitchoo's Trust Score?
It is a score from 0 to 100 that combines: price stability over the last 90 days, history of similar offers, seller reputation, and absence of inflated list price. The higher it is, the more reliable the offer.
How do I find real deals today?
Visit the verified deals page where every offer has history, Trust Score, and -% badge only on real discount. We update in real time.
Conclusion
Don't be dazzled by three-figure percentages. A -70% can hide an inflated price, while an honest -20% is real savings. The Glitchoo method – 90-day history, Trust Score, and -% badge only on real discount – gives you the tools to distinguish.
Don't wait: real bargains don't last long. In our price error study, the median lifespan of a price error is 48 hours, and 16% vanish within 6 hours. Discover now the verified deals and lock in your purchase with confidence. Prices change constantly: always check the Amazon product page before buying.
Glitchoo is an Amazon UK affiliate: if you buy through our links we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.