What is the easiest way to find the original price of a discounted item?

The easiest way to find the original price of a discounted item is to use a few tools and methods that track price histories or provide detailed product information. Here are some of the most effective ways to do this:

1. Check the Product’s Price History (Using Price Tracking Tools)

• CamelCamelCamel (for Amazon): This tool tracks price histories for products sold on Amazon. It provides detailed charts showing the price fluctuations, including the original price before discounts.
  • How to Use: Go to CamelCamelCamel, search for the product, and view the price history graph. The original price is usually marked as the highest point before any discounts.
• Keepa (for Amazon): Another excellent tool for tracking Amazon prices. It shows the full price history, including the original price, sale prices, and any discounts over time.
  • How to Use: Visit Keepa and search for the product to see the historical price data.

2. Use Google Shopping

• How it works: Sometimes, Google Shopping shows the original price next to the discounted price in the product listings. If the original price is available from other stores, you can quickly compare the "before" and "after" prices.
  • How to Use: Go to Google Shopping, search for the item, and check the product details for the original price, if displayed.

3. Check the Retailer’s Website for "List Price" or "Was" Price

• Many retailers, both online and physical, list the original price as the "List Price," "Regular Price," or "Was Price" on the product page or in the product description.
• How to Use: On product pages, look for these terms and compare them with the discounted price. If it's a true discount, the original price will typically be shown as a strikethrough or in parentheses next to the sale price.

4. Use Price Comparison Websites

• Websites like PriceGrabber, Shopzilla, and Google Shopping compare prices across multiple retailers, and some will show both the original price and the discounted price, helping you determine the true discount.
  • How to Use: Search for the product on comparison sites to see the listed price at multiple retailers, including any information on the original price.

5. Look for Price Tracking Apps

• Apps like Honey, Rakuten, and PriceRunner can track price changes and show you historical pricing information, including the original price before any discounts.
  • Honey: This app automatically shows you the lowest price available and sometimes indicates the "original" price before the discount was applied.

6. Search for the Product on Historical Websites

• Some websites store historical pricing data for products across the web:
  • Wayback Machine (Archive.org): This can show you how product pages looked at earlier points in time, including the original pricing.
  • How to Use: Visit Wayback Machine, input the product page URL, and see if an archived version of the product page shows the original price.

7. Check Manufacturer or Brand Websites

• Sometimes the manufacturer's website will have the product listed at its original, full price. This is especially useful if the retailer doesn't explicitly show the original price but you're aware of the product's normal value.
  • How to Use: Visit the manufacturer's or brand's official site and search for the product to see if the full price is listed.

Summary of Methods:

1. Use Price History Tools like CamelCamelCamel or Keepa for Amazon products.
2. Check Google Shopping for price comparisons.
3. Look for "List Price" or "Was Price" on retailer websites.
4. Compare prices on Price Comparison Websites like PriceGrabber or Shopzilla.
5. Use Price Tracking Apps like Honey or Rakuten.
6. Look up the product on historical sites like Wayback Machine.
7. Check the Manufacturer's Website for the original price.

By using these methods, you can easily find the original price of a discounted item and assess whether it's a good deal or not.