Use the six-part test
| Check | Question |
|---|---|
| Unit price | Is it lower than comparable packages on the same denominator? |
| Package size | Is the compared product actually the same amount, grade, and format? |
| Membership | Can you receive the price without a new fee or unwanted commitment? |
| Quantity | Must you buy two, three, or reach a spend threshold? |
| Waste | Will the household use or safely store the entire quantity? |
| Usual price | Do your receipts or current shelf comparisons support the claimed saving? |
Calculate the offer before judging the word ‘save’
A crossed-out price is not enough evidence for your personal comparison. Keep a short list of usual prices from receipts for the products you buy frequently. The Competition Bureau also requires advertised ordinary-price claims to be genuine; that consumer protection does not replace your package and unit-price check.
Example: smaller sale package versus larger regular package
Sale package: $4.49 for 350 g → $1.283/100 g
Regular larger package: $6.99 for 600 g → $1.165/100 g
The sale package has the lower checkout price, but the regular larger package has the lower unit price. Choose based on usable quantity and cash available.
Count the cost of making the deal happen
- Extra transit, fuel, parking, or delivery fees for a special trip.
- Unplanned items added because you entered another store.
- A membership fee or minimum spend spread over too few useful purchases.
- Freezer or pantry space displaced by a bulky low-priority item.
- Food discarded because the package was larger than your meal plan.
A practical verdict
- Confirm eligibility and the total cash required.
- Normalize the unit price against a realistic alternative.
- Estimate the quantity you will actually use.
- Check the purchase against the list and category budget.
- Call it a good deal only if the full purchase—not the headline—works for your household.
Sources
Official sources were retrieved on August 27, 2026. Retailer and government guidance can change.