How to Spot Fake Discounts Online: Price Inflation Tricks on Lazada, Shopee & AliExpress
Quick answer: The most common fake-discount trick on Lazada, Shopee, and AliExpress is price inflation: the "original" price is raised days before a sale so the markdown looks dramatic. The defense takes 60 seconds — check what the item costs today on the other two platforms, and compare the final checkout price (after vouchers) instead of the discount percentage. A real bargain survives cross-platform comparison; a fake one collapses instantly.
The four most common discount tricks
1. The inflated "original price"
An item that sold at ฿590 all month is listed at ฿1,290 the week before 11.11, then "60% off" back to ฿516. The sticker says you saved ฿774; you actually saved ฿74. This is the workhorse of fake discounts and it appears on every platform.
2. The variant switch
The advertised price applies to one variant only — the 128GB model in an unpopular color, the "EU plug" version, the smallest size. You tap through and the variant you actually need costs 25% more. Always check the price of your variant before judging the deal.
3. The shipping offset
The product is ฿40 cheaper than everywhere else, and shipping is ฿45 more expensive. Common on marketplace sellers matching against official stores. Judge the delivered total, never the item price.
4. The phantom flash sale
A permanent countdown timer that resets every day, next to stock bars stuck at "87% sold". Real flash deals on Lazada and Shopee have fixed start times published on the campaign page; a timer that never expires is theater.
The 60-second verification routine
- Cross-check the price. Search the product on Shop Genius and see what it costs right now on Lazada, Shopee, and AliExpress side by side. Price inflation on one platform is instantly visible against the other two.
- Compare final checkout totals. Add to cart, apply vouchers, look at the number you would actually pay — including shipping.
- Check the seller's other prices. A store whose every item is "70–90% off" is pricing theater, not a clearance.
- Screenshot before sales. A week before 11.11 or 12.12, screenshot your cart. Your own history beats any claim the listing makes.
Percentages are marketing. The only honest numbers are the delivered price today and the delivered price last week.
Where each platform is strictest
| Platform | Enforcement reality | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Lazada | LazMall pricing is brand-controlled and fairly disciplined | Marketplace sellers mimicking official listings at "bigger" discounts |
| Shopee | Actively flags some reference-price abuse | Variant-switch pricing in flash sales |
| AliExpress | Reference prices are largely seller-declared | "Was $89.99" anchors on items that never sold above $25 |
FAQ
Are discount percentages on shopping platforms real?
The percentage is calculated from a reference price the seller sets, which can be inflated. Platform-funded vouchers are real money off; seller-declared "original prices" often are not. Compare final prices, not badges.
What is the fastest way to check if a deal is genuine?
Search the item on a price-comparison tool like Shop Genius and look at the live price on all three platforms. If the "70% off" price is still higher than a competitor's everyday price, the discount is fake.
Do platforms punish fake original prices?
All three have policies against reference-price abuse and enforce them unevenly. Assume enforcement is partial and verify prices yourself — it takes under a minute.
