The Problem With Price Alone
A television is listed at $399. Is that a good deal?
You cannot answer that question with the price alone. You need context. Was this television $349 last month? Is it $379 at a competing retailer? Has the price been climbing steadily, suggesting it will be even more expensive next week? Or has it been falling, suggesting $399 is a stop on the way to an even lower price?
A single number, the price, contains almost no information about whether you should buy now or wait, buy here or somewhere else, buy this product or a competing one. A Deal Score is designed to compress all of that context into a single, actionable rating.
What Goes Into a Deal Score
A Deal Score is a composite rating, typically expressed on a scale of 0 to 100, that evaluates a deal across multiple dimensions simultaneously. At Lowest Listed, the Deal Score reflects three core factors.
Price vs. History
How does the current price compare to the product’s recent pricing? A product at its 30-day low scores higher than one at its 30-day average, which scores higher than one near its 30-day peak.
This factor catches the most common trap in online shopping: the product that looks cheap in absolute terms but is actually at a high point in its pricing cycle. A $399 TV that was $349 two weeks ago is a different proposition than a $399 TV that has been $449 for the past month.
Price relative to history is the single most important input. It answers the question that matters most: is now a good time to buy?
Price vs. Competition
How does this retailer’s price compare to what other retailers are charging for the same product right now? A product priced below the competitive average scores higher than one priced above it.
This factor ensures you are not just getting a good price relative to this retailer’s own history but a good price relative to the entire market. A retailer might lower its price from $449 to $399, which looks like a $50 savings, but if three other retailers are selling it for $379, that $399 is still not competitive.
Cross-retailer comparison is especially important for products where pricing is highly dynamic. Retailers using algorithmic pricing adjust in response to each other, and at any given moment, the spread between the highest and lowest price can be significant.
Trend Direction
Is the price going up or going down? A product whose price is trending downward gets a modest penalty because waiting might yield a better price. A product whose price is trending upward gets a boost because the current price is likely to be better than what comes next.
Trend direction is the forward-looking component of the score. History tells you where the price has been. Competition tells you where it is relative to the market. Trend tells you where it is likely going.
This factor is intentionally weighted less heavily than the other two. Trend prediction is inherently uncertain, and a score should reflect what is known with confidence more than what is estimated. But directional momentum does carry useful information, and the score incorporates it accordingly.
What the Numbers Mean
85 to 100: Exceptional Deal
A score in this range means the price is near or at the 30-day low, below the competitive average, and the trend is either stable or moving upward (meaning the price is unlikely to get better soon). This is a strong buy signal. If you need the product, you are unlikely to find a significantly better price by waiting.
Products reach this range during genuine sales events, flash pricing, and competitive price wars. These scores tend to be temporary because either the retailer adjusts the price back up or competitors match it and the competitive advantage disappears.
70 to 84: Good Deal
The price is below average on most dimensions but may not be at the absolute floor. Perhaps it is near the 30-day low but slightly above the best competitive price, or competitive but not at a historical low. This is a solid price that you should feel good about paying.
Most worthwhile purchases fall in this range. Waiting for a 90-plus score on every purchase is impractical. A score in the 70s means you are getting meaningfully better than average value.
50 to 69: Average
The price is roughly in line with its recent history and competitive norms. You are not overpaying, but you are not getting a deal either. If you need the product now, this is a reasonable time to buy. If you can wait, there is a good chance the price will be lower at some point in the next few weeks.
Below 50: Poor Value
The price is above its recent average, above competitive pricing, or both. This does not necessarily mean the product is bad, but it does mean right now is not a good time to buy it. The price is either inflated, at the high end of its cycle, or simply not competitive.
A low score on a product you want is not a reason to abandon the purchase entirely. It is a reason to wait a few days or check back after the next major sales event. Prices in the sub-50 range almost always improve within a couple of weeks.
Why a Low Price Is Not Always a Good Deal
This is the most counterintuitive aspect of deal evaluation, and the reason a Deal Score exists at all.
Consider two products.
Product A: A Bluetooth speaker listed at $29. It has been $29 for the entire past month at every retailer. No coupons available. Deal Score: 55.
Product B: A Bluetooth speaker listed at $45. But it was $65 for the past three weeks, the competing retailer still has it at $59, and the price just dropped today. Deal Score: 88.
Product A is cheaper in absolute terms, but it is not a deal. It is just a $29 speaker that is always $29. There is no urgency, no value beyond the ordinary, and no reason to think you would not get the same price next month.
Product B costs more, but you are getting $20 off its recent price and $14 less than the competition. The timing is right. The value relative to the market is high. That is a deal.
A Deal Score captures this distinction. Price is an input to the score, but it is not the score. Value, timing, and competitive position matter just as much.
How to Use Deal Scores in Practice
As a Quick Filter
When you search for a product on Lowest Listed and see results across multiple retailers, the Deal Score gives you an instant read on which listings deserve your attention. Instead of mentally comparing prices, histories, and coupons across five retailers, glance at the scores and focus on the highest ones.
As a Timing Signal
If you are not in a rush, the Deal Score helps you decide whether to buy now or wait. Scores above 70 suggest favorable timing. Scores below 50 suggest the market will offer better value soon.
As a Sanity Check on “Sales”
Retailers love big red “SALE” banners and crossed-out original prices. A Deal Score cuts through that presentation and tells you whether the underlying deal is actually good. A product with a dramatic-looking markdown but a Deal Score of 52 is telling you that the sale is not as impressive as it appears.
Across Product Alternatives
When comparing competing products (say, two different wireless earbuds), Deal Scores help you factor in value alongside features. If Product A has better reviews but a Deal Score of 45, and Product B has comparable reviews but a Deal Score of 82, Product B is offering much better current value. That might tip your decision.
The Limits of a Score
A Deal Score is a tool for evaluating price value. It does not evaluate product quality, brand reliability, feature set, or personal preference. A terrible product at a great price still gets a high Deal Score, because the score measures the deal, not the product.
Use the score alongside your own research. Read reviews. Check specifications. Make sure the product actually meets your needs. Then use the Deal Score to determine whether the price is right and the timing is good.
That combination, knowing what you want and knowing when the price is right, is the foundation of smart shopping. The Deal Score handles the second half. Try it on Lowest Listed the next time you are weighing a purchase.