Is this MTB discount real? Compare the evidence, not the badge
Learn the difference between a retailer markdown, a cross-shop comparison and a recorded historical price drop, with a simple worked shopping example.
Research-based buying guidance · reviewed 2026-09-08 · The Sendicate editorial approach
A crossed-out price answers “what reference price did this shop publish?” It does not, by itself, answer “is this the best place to buy today?”
Three claims with three different meanings
- Retailer markdown: the reduction from that shop's listed reference price. It may be RRP or another retailer-supplied comparison price; it is not a record of what shoppers usually paid.
- Cross-shop comparison: current observations for a matched product in the same payable currency. Coverage is limited to the shops and variants actually checked.
- Observed price drop: a change between recorded observations for that listing. A lowest-observed price needs a stated history window and does not mean lowest-ever everywhere.
A worked example — illustrative, not a live offer
Suppose the same confirmed tyre variant costs A$75 at Shop A, marked down from A$150, with A$15 delivery. Shop B lists it at A$85 with free delivery to your address. A's 50% badge looks stronger, but its A$90 total is A$5 higher.
That example establishes a delivered-price difference only. It does not tell us which shop has the better returns policy, whether either price is a historical low, or whether an untracked shop has a better offer.
The five-minute check
- Fix the variant: model, size, specification and quantity.
- Check at least one other available offer in the same currency where possible.
- Add delivery and any confirmed checkout charges. Leave unknowns explicit.
- Check observation dates and retailer stock for your selected option.
- Read what any history chart actually covers; do not infer missing months.
Our score is a browsing aid, not a product test or a promise to beat every shop. Read the comparison methodology when a label is unclear. Buy because the correct product meets your budget, not because a sale banner tells you the opportunity will never return.