November 12, 2026 · U.S. consumer-finance education
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Same mixer. Same $100. Two comparisons.
In the episode, the mixer is offered at $120 for six weeks, then $200 for one week, and $100 on sale day. These are teaching prices for an invented mixer, not a finding about a current retailer.
| Compared with | Price drop | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Advertised $200 | $100 | 50% |
| Earlier $120 | $20 | About 16.7% |
Subtract the current price from the comparison price, then divide by that same comparison price. Against $120, that is $20 divided by $120: about 16.7%. Penny still pays $100 either way.
The anchor is the starting number.
The $200 figure gives the sale a bigger starting point. Try covering it. Would you still want this exact mixer for $100? Then compare that amount with another real offer.
Check what the label actually claims. “Was” points to an earlier price; MSRP is a manufacturer’s suggested retail price. Neither label, by itself, proves what this seller regularly charged.
The FTC’s former-price guides distinguish a genuine regular offer from an artificially inflated comparison. No recorded sale at an earlier price does not, by itself, prove that the offer was fictitious. A short chart or a missing tracker date cannot settle the legal question. Read the FTC guide →
Compare the offer you would actually buy.
- Match the exact item. Check model, condition, included parts, quantity and seller.
- Keep dated evidence. Save the listing, claim and price with the seller and conditions. If a date is missing, record “unknown,” not $0.
- Compare checkout totals. Include delivery, tax for your address and required charges or purchases. Check coupon, membership, delivery and return terms.
- Use your own purchase plan. Decide what you need and your maximum total before the timer starts pushing you.
Can 60% off still cost more?
Yes. Taking 60% off $300 leaves $120 before delivery. Another shop offers the same new mixer and bowl for $95 with free delivery. The first item price is already $25 higher. For your own order, compare the final totals and terms for your address.
A discount also does not add income. If the purchase was already planned, a lower comparable price can help. If you were not going to buy anything, it is still money leaving your account.
Check the sources.
These are the episode’s research references. The Overstock opinion concerns historical findings, not a claim about that retailer’s current prices.