How REALRANK™ scores a deal

The six signals

Discount depth. The percentage between the retailer's stated was-price and the current price. This is the number most sites stop at. We treat it as one input, because a large percentage on an inflated was-price is not a large saving.

Rand savings. The actual rand difference between the was-price and the current price. R3 000 off a R15 000 TV matters more to a shopper than 50 percent off a R200 cable, and the score reflects that.

Price competitiveness. How the deal's price compares with the same product at the other shops we track. A discount that still leaves the price above the market is weaker than a smaller discount that beats it.

Brand weight. Whether the product comes from a brand with an established reputation and resale value. A known brand at a modest discount is often the better buy than an unknown one at a dramatic discount.

Deal freshness. How recently the price dropped, and whether the deal is new or has been sitting at the same price for weeks. A promotion that never ends is a price, not a deal.

Stock availability. Whether the product is in stock at the retailer when we last checked. A deal you cannot buy scores lower than one you can.

How the score is shown

Scores are calculated on a 0 to 100 scale and shown to one decimal out of 10 (a stored 87 shows as 8.7). The score on a deal is the score at the time of the last check, which is shown on the page.

What the score does not claim

REALRANK™ is a comparison tool, not a guarantee. It does not certify that a retailer's was-price was ever charged, it does not know what a product is worth to you, and it cannot see prices at shops we do not track. It is also not a review of the product: a 9.2 means the deal is strong, not that the product is the best in its class. Always read the retailer's product page, warranty and returns terms before paying.

Where the data comes from

We track live deals from the shops we follow, re-checking prices and stock every night. The time of the last check is shown on every listing page and deal page. Retailers are reviewed before they are added, and removed if they do not meet our standards. We show live deals from the shops we track, not all the deals in South Africa.

Placement and commission

Some deal links are affiliate links; the retailer may pay us a commission if you buy, and the price you pay is unchanged. Retailers and brands can also pay for placement, which is always labelled. Neither affects the score. Placement buys visibility, it never touches REALRANK™.

Questions or corrections

If a score looks wrong, or a was-price looks inflated, email connect@therealdeal.shop with the deal link. We check reported deals and correct or remove them.