Buying guide

Best time to buy running shoes & sneakers — without falling for a fake discount

Sneaker “discounts” are usually off an inflated retail price, and last season’s colourways drop hardest. Here’s how to buy at a genuine low.

When running shoes & sneakers tend to be cheapest

Real lows land at Prime Day, Black Friday, and end-of-season clearances when new colourways replace the old.

How to tell a real deal from a fake one

22%

of this week’s advertised Amazon “deals” weren’t genuinely below their usual price — a discount off an inflated or invented “was”. See the Fake Deal Index →

Match the exact model and size — “deals” often apply only to odd sizes. Then check the price against its real history.

The honest signal is simple: is the current price genuinely low against the item’s own 12-month history — or just below a made-up list price? Paste any product and we’ll tell you straight: BUY, WAIT, SKIP or FAIR.