Every product page on this site lists what each store we track was charging and when we saw it. This guide explains how those numbers are gathered, so you know how much weight to give them.
Where the prices come from
Our sourcing tools read product listings from retailers and marketplaces on a schedule and record the price, currency, stock status and the time of the observation. Each row in a comparison table is one of those observations. We do not estimate prices, and we do not fill gaps with a price from another store.
What "lowest price found" means
It is the lowest price among the observations we hold for that product across the stores we track. Three things it is not:
- Not a live price. The date next to it is when we last saw it. Retailers change prices between checks.
- Not the total cost. Shipping, tax and import duties are added by the retailer at checkout and vary by address. A store that is cheapest on the item may not be cheapest delivered.
- Not the lowest price anywhere. We compare the stores we track, which are listed on the stores page. A store we do not track may be cheaper.
Reading the dates
Each price shows the date it was checked. A price checked today is a strong signal. A price checked two weeks ago is a hint about where a store's pricing usually sits, and nothing more. Where a price could not be re-checked, we keep showing the old date rather than pretending the price is current.
Matching the same product across stores
A comparison is only meaningful if every row is the same product. We match on manufacturer identifiers (model numbers, GTIN/EAN barcodes, and marketplace identifiers such as ASINs) where the retailer exposes them. Where a match relies on the product name alone, the chance of a mismatch is higher, particularly for products sold in several sizes, colours or storage capacities. If a row in a table looks like a different variant, it may be. The store's page will tell you; please report it so we can fix the match.
Marketplace sellers
On marketplaces such as eBay, Amazon and AliExpress, the price we record is for a specific listing, which may come from a third-party seller rather than the marketplace itself. Seller ratings, return policies and dispatch times differ. The comparison shows the store; the seller is on the listing.
Why we show this at all
Because the alternative, a single price with no date and no source, is how inflated discounts are sold. A dated, sourced price lets you judge for yourself. It also keeps us honest: if the number is wrong, the date and the store make it easy to check.
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