A bright yellow tag screaming SALE triggers a dopamine response in the brain. Retailers know this, and they have mastered the art of the fake sale. In 2026, dynamic pricing and sophisticated marketing make it harder than ever to distinguish between a genuine bargain and a price that has merely been dressed up to look like one. To stop falling for the illusion of savings, you need to look past the Was/Now graphics and analyze the data like a forensic accountant.
