The Radar Method
Every deal we write about gets a Deal Score. Here is exactly what goes into that score and why we think the percentage on a price tag is usually the least interesting piece of information.
Most deal sites work backwards from the discount label. They find items with large percentage reductions and present those reductions as the story. The implicit claim is that a bigger percentage means a better deal.
We don't think that's true, and we think the evidence is pretty consistent. A 60% markdown on something priced at 2.5x its real value is a worse deal than a 10% markdown on something already at fair market price. The percentage only tells you how far you're coming down from a reference number. It says nothing about whether that reference number was real.
The Radar Method is our attempt to answer a different question: given what this item costs now, what alternatives exist, when in the year we are, and what the price history actually looks like — is acting on this deal the right decision?
The four factors
Price history context
We look at the item's price over the previous 90 days minimum — not the reference price shown on the tag. For electronics and appliances, this data is usually available through Pricespy or Tweakers' Pricewatch. For fashion and general retail, we check competitor pricing and, where available, archived product pages.
The key question: has this item actually been sold at the "original" price recently, or was that price a brief ceiling it passed through on its way down?
Seasonal timing
Price behaviour is seasonal. Air conditioners get cheaper in October. Winter coats hit their lowest point in February. Certain electronics categories drop predictably in the weeks after major trade shows. Buying at the right moment in a category's cycle often produces better outcomes than chasing a sale event.
When we assign a Deal Score, we factor in whether the current pricing is genuinely anomalous for the time of year or is simply where this category usually lands in this month.
Available alternatives
A deal doesn't exist in isolation. We look at what else is available at the same price point: different models, different retailers, refurbished options. An item with a 40% markdown that's still more expensive than a functionally equivalent alternative at full price isn't a strong deal.
This factor is the one most often skipped by discount aggregators, which is understandable — it requires category knowledge, not just price data. It's also where we think the most value is.
Reference price integrity
EU Directive 2019/2161 requires that the "prior price" in a promotional offer reflect the lowest price charged in the preceding 30 days. That's a floor, not a guarantee of fairness. We evaluate whether the reference price shown on a deal appears to reflect genuine market pricing or a ceiling figure that most buyers never encountered.
Where we see consistent reference price inflation from a particular retailer, we note that in the article. We don't blacklist retailers, but we do try to make patterns visible.
Deal Score grades explained
Each article carries a single Deal Score grade. This isn't a rating of the product — it's an assessment of the deal itself relative to the four factors above.
Genuine price floor or close to it, strong timing, no equivalent alternative at a better price. These are rare and worth acting on quickly.
Pricing below the 90-day average, reference price appears legitimate, timing is reasonable. Worth considering if you need the item.
The discount is real but one or more factors are weak — timing is off, alternatives exist, or the reference price has some inflation. Useful context, but not a clear trigger.
The markdown is smaller than it appears, or the category has predictable better windows ahead. We cover these because they're common and the pattern is worth understanding.
Common questions
We don't currently run affiliate links in our editorial content. Where that changes, it will be disclosed clearly in the relevant article. Our Deal Scores are not influenced by commercial relationships.
Articles are written with price data current at time of publication. Retail pricing changes quickly. We include publication dates on every article and recommend checking current prices before making a decision. We don't update articles retroactively for minor price movements, but we do note when a deal has fundamentally changed if we become aware of it.
Because B and C deals are the majority of what you'll encounter, and understanding why something isn't a strong deal is as useful as knowing what is. A lot of our Price Truth coverage is specifically about the mechanics of weak deals — the patterns retailers use that make average pricing look like a markdown. That knowledge transfers.
Yes. Use the contact form on our Get In Touch page. We can't commit to covering every suggestion, but we read everything and categories with repeated reader interest do influence what we prioritise.