We've all seen them: listing pages that boast "Was $100, Now $49! Save 51%!". It feels like an incredible steal, prompting an immediate purchase. However, a significant portion of these "strike-through" discounts are artificial marketing constructs. This tactic, known as "deceptive list pricing," occurs when sellers artificially inflate original prices to create an illusion of massive savings.
How List Price Inflation Works
To establish a list price, sellers can state any price at which they've theoretically offered the product. However, if a product was only offered at $100 for a single day, but has been selling at $50 for the past year, the "Was $100" claim is highly misleading. Amazon price tracking logs expose these patterns, showing you the item's historical median price so you can make informed purchasing decisions.
Spotting Fake Deals Instantly
Before buying, ask a better question: “Is this the price I am willing to pay?” Set that number in WhoOwl for free and let the alert—not the badge—bring you back.
Replace urgency with a target
The free extension puts a floating 🦉 on supported product pages. One click sends the product to WhoOwl.
Install the Free ExtensionYour anti-hype routine
Tap the owl, choose your price and leave. WhoOwl watches in the background at no cost. You can also paste the product link on the site. Simple beats impulsive.