Comparing prices online requires more than just spotting a percentage discount. Since 2022, French regulations mandate that the reference price displayed before a discount must be the lowest price practiced by the seller in the 30 days prior. Therefore, the discount percentage matters less than the actual amount charged.
Reference price and false promotions: the regulatory trap to know
Most guides on online deals recommend using comparison sites or promo codes. Before even getting there, a verification is necessary on the reference price displayed by the seller.
A strikethrough price only holds value if it corresponds to the lowest price in the last 30 days. The public report concerning Conforama and its online strikethrough prices, relayed in September 2026, illustrates the problem: displayed discounts that were based on an inflated reference price. The discount seemed significant, but the final price remained ordinary.
To verify, two reflexes are useful. The first: consult a price history (browser extensions like Keepa or CamelCamelCamel allow this on certain platforms). The second: keep a dated screenshot of the price before the announced promotional period. In case of a dispute, this document serves as proof with the DGCCRF.
On Shoopeo, aggregated offers allow for quick cross-checking of prices practiced by different retailers, making it easier to detect an artificially high reference price.
Cashback and promo codes: how to stack discounts on your online purchases
Cashback refers to a partial refund mechanism after purchase. Specifically, a percentage of the amount spent is credited back to an account, in the form of a transfer or gift voucher. This system works because the cashback platform receives a commission from the retailer and returns part of it to the buyer.
The unit gain remains modest, but it accumulates with other levers. A promo code reduces the price before payment, while cashback reduces the actual cost after payment. Applying both on the same order results in savings greater than each of the two mechanisms taken separately.
Check the conditions before activating a promo code
Not all codes are compatible with promotional items or sale periods. Reading the restrictions (minimum amount, excluded categories, expiration date) avoids disappointment at the time of payment. An expired or restricted promo code generates no savings, and some sites display expired codes without removing them.
Points of caution regarding cashback
- Activate cashback before finalizing the order, not after. Tracking the purchase journey via a cookie is the technical condition for the refund.
- Compare rates between cashback platforms for the same retailer: the difference can vary significantly from one site to another.
- Check the payout delay. Some refunds are only confirmed after the expiration of the withdrawal period, which is at least 14 days.
Second-hand and refurbished: a price comparison lever often overlooked
Guides focused on promotions rarely treat second-hand as a comparison tool. Second-hand and refurbished items are not channels of “clearance” reserved for small budgets: they serve as a benchmark to assess whether a new price is reasonable.
A refurbished smartphone in grade A (like-new condition, battery replaced) often sells for a significant fraction of the catalog price. If a promotion on the same new model does not drop below the price of the refurbished one, the “good deal” is not one.
The share of second-hand in online clothing purchases has become significant, and many buyers now combine new and second-hand products in their orders. This habit allows for a different budget allocation: buying new when warranty matters (appliances, childcare) and favoring second-hand for categories where wear is minimal.
Third-party sellers on marketplaces: warranty and after-sales service to verify
The lowest price displayed on a marketplace sometimes corresponds to a third-party seller, not the retailer itself. The difference is not trivial. Return conditions, warranty duration, and after-sales service responsiveness vary from seller to seller on the same platform.
The Digital Services Act imposes enhanced transparency obligations on marketplaces: seller identification, information on withdrawal rights, clear distinction between professional seller and individual. In practice, these mentions are often relegated to the bottom of the product sheet.
Checks to make before ordering from a third-party seller
- Check the seller’s rating and the number of reviews. A recent seller with few reviews and an abnormally low price warrants extra caution.
- Read the return conditions specific to the third-party seller: some charge return fees, others impose a shorter deadline than the legal minimum of 14 days.
- Verify the shipping address. Shipping from outside the European Union may incur customs fees and extended delivery times, negating the initial price advantage.
The final price of an online purchase includes shipping fees, any customs duties, and the cost of a return if the product is unsuitable. Comparing only the price displayed on the product sheet remains the most common mistake. Including shipping fees, potential customs duties, and the cost of a return in the calculation provides a more reliable picture of the actual amount spent.
