An expert shares the tips and tricks you need to know to see if the discount you see is really what meets the eye

• Not all discounts are real: Watch out for fake deals tied to odd colors/sizes, inflated list prices, or shady third-party sellers.

• Use tools to verify prices: Amazons Rufus assistant, plus trackers like Keepa and CamelCamelCamel, can reveal true price history and extra savings.

• Dont fall for hype tactics: Prime Day deals, countdown messages, and only 2 left alerts often exaggerate urgency to push you into buying.

Weve all been there: We scroll through Amazon, find the item we want, and notice the price has been slashed from the original retail price. Success!

But is that deal really what you think it is?

Kyle James from RatherBeShopping.com shared everything consumers need to know about Amazons somewhat deceitful pricing and how to know if youre really getting the best deal possible.

What are the warning signs?

Its important to know how to spot if a deal is real or not. Here are some of the signs to look for:

When an item has a big percent off, but only for a very weird color or size, it's a fake deal, James told ConsumerAffairs.

"Or, if the item has a crossed-out list price that nobody actually sells it for, or would ever buy it for, its a fake deal. I also check who Im buying from if its sold by a random Amazon third-party seller with a terrible return policy, I walk.

Use Amazons tools to your advantage

To make sure you dont get duped by Amazons tactics, James recommends doing some extra digging before confirming your purchase.

The best part: Amazon has tools that you can use to check prices.

On the product page, I have gotten in the habit of asking Amazons AI assistant Rufus for the 30- and 90-day price history, James said.

Then I double-check with price-tracking tools like Keepa or CamelCamelCamel. This quickly tells me if the deal is real or not. I also click Used & new to see what Amazon open-box deals are available, as I'll often settle for "Used - Like New" and save a good chunk.

Save money and get deals

On top of doing your homework, James says that Amazons Rufus can help you save money in other ways.

Ask Rufus, Are there any coupons or deals for the items in my cart? James suggests.

Rufus then looks at the stuff in your Amazon cart and tells you if youre missing any coupons or money saving opportunities.

Beware during Prime Day

According to James, Amazon takes advantage of these tactics during high-traffic times like Prime Day or the holidays.

These tactics are more prevalent as Amazon knows they have a captive audience looking for a deal, James said. They always have louder banners, bigger percent-offs, and lots of new low prices that are the same as they were two months ago. The real standouts are usually Amazon devices and last-year TVs and laptops.

Dont fall for urgency

Another key to look out for: dont fall for Amazons popular tactic of advertising a limited supply of a product.

Don't fall for the only two left messaging, as it's designed to make you think you're about to miss out, James said. I ran a few experiments on this, and that number magically resets the following day, and the item never actually sells out. Don't fall for it!

Allergists can help consumers have a better understanding of their risks and symptoms

• Fall allergy season is upon us and many consumers are already feeling the symptoms.

• Payel Gupta, MD, a spokesperson for the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, shared everything consumers need to know to combat symptoms throughout fall allergy season.

• Allergists can help consumers get personalized care during times of severe allergies.

While the weather may be getting cooler, that doesnt mean its the end of allergy season.

In fact, fall allergy season is kicking off, and the symptoms are likely to start manifesting if they havent already.

To help consumers be prepared for allergy season, ConsumerAffairs spoke with Payel Gupta, MD, a spokesperson for the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology about the ins and outs of fall allergies.

When does fall allergy season usually start?

Dr. Gupta shared that were coming up on the heat of fall allergy season.

Fall allergies usually start in late August and peak through September and October. However, now with climate change, fall allergies can last into late November in some areas, she said.

Fall allergies are mainly driven by weed pollen and in particular ragweed pollen. Mold spores from damp leaves and grass can also trigger symptoms into the fall.

Signs and symptoms

If youre unsure about what signs and symptoms to look for, Dr. Gupta has broken it all down.

She said that typical allergy symptoms include:

• Sneezing

• Runny or stuffy nose

• Itchy eyes

• Throat irritation

• Cough

• Fatigue

For people with asthma, allergies can also trigger wheezing or shortness of breath, Dr. Gupta said.

Combating allergy season

To fight off allergy symptoms this season, heres what Dr. Gupta recommends:

• Make a plan with your healthcare provider early. Starting medications like nasal steroid sprays early, especially if you have other more year-round allergies, can help get your nose ready for the fall allergies before pollen counts peak.

• Stay consistent with the medications you are prescribed.

• Shower and change clothes after being outside to remove pollen.

• Keep windows closed during high pollen days.

• Use HEPA filters indoors to cut down pollen and mold exposure.

Should you stay indoors?

Staying indoors may mitigate some allergy symptoms. However, Dr. Gupta says that avoiding pollen is really the key.

Simply being indoors with windows open wont help, she said. Using air conditioning, air purifiers, and avoiding outdoor activities during peak pollen times (morning hours) can reduce symptoms.

Allergists can help

If you have persistent allergy symptoms, Dr. Gupta suggests that a trip to the allergist can be helpful.

Understanding what you are allergic to can help you make a plan, she said. If symptoms persist, see an allergist. They can confirm triggers with testing and discuss options like immunotherapy. And remember: treating allergies can also improve sleep, focus, and quality of life.

The defendants promised big returns that didn't materialize

By Truman Lewis of ConsumerAffairs

• $10.5 million settlement resolves allegations of false wealth promises

• Defendants permanently banned from selling trading-training programs

• Regulators say scheme preyed on young people with flashy social media marketing

Federal regulators have shut down two of the top promoters behind the IM Mastery scheme, ordering them to pay a combined $10.5 million and permanently banning them from pushing financial training or multi-level-marketing programs that mislead consumers.

The Federal Trade Commission and the State of Nevada said Alex Morton and Brandon Boyd used false promises of quick wealth to persuade peoplemostly young adultsto spend money on trading education and recruitment-based business ventures. The scheme, operating under names such as IM Mastery Academy, IM Academy, iMarketsLive and IYOVIA, relied on Instagram-style marketing showing exotic cars, luxury trips and high-end lifestyles supposedly funded by trading profits.

In reality, regulators said, those promises were baseless. Boyd, who earned nearly $6 million from the operation despite having no trading credentials, was promoted as a Master Instructor in recruiting videos. Morton, a top executive, allegedly coached sales leaders on how to post deceptive income claims online in ways that avoided company oversight.

These kinds of exploit peoples hopes of financial independence, the FTC said in announcing the settlement. Instead, they leave consumers with empty wallets while enriching a handful of insiders.

$10 million fine for Morton

Under the proposed orders, Morton must pay $10 million and Boyd $500,000; both could owe more if they misrepresented their finances. Beyond the financial penalties, both men are permanently barred from promoting trading-training programs, making misleading earnings claims, or deceiving consumers through subscription negative option billing practices.

The case is part of a broader enforcement push. Just last month, regulators obtained $2.5 million from other IM Mastery promoters and secured an injunction to halt the companies operations.

Consumer takeaway: The FTC urges people to be skeptical of online programs that promise quick riches from trading or recruiting others. Signs of a scam include high upfront fees, pressure to recruit friends or family, and social media posts showing extravagant lifestyles.

The agreements are anti-competitive and make it hard for workers to start new jobs or open their own businesses, the agency argues

By Truman Lewis of ConsumerAffairs

• Nearly 1,800 workers freed from restrictions limiting job mobility

• Gateway Services barred from enforcing or creating new noncompetes

• Case signals Trump-Vance FTCs focus on anticompetitive labor practices

The Federal Trade Commission has ordered Gateway Services, Inc., the countrys largest pet cremation company, and its subsidiary to stop enforcing noncompete agreements that bound nearly all of its employees, a move aimed at protecting worker mobility and wages.

In a complaint, the FTC alleged that Gateways noncompete clauses prohibited employees from working anywhere in the U.S. pet cremation industry for one year after leaving the company. The agreements, in place since 2019, applied to workers across the companys operations, from executives to hourly laborers at its more than 100 facilities serving 17,000 veterinary clinics nationwide.

Under a proposed consent order, Gateway must immediately end enforcement of the agreements, notify workers that they are no longer bound by them, and refrain from imposing similar restrictions in the future, except in limited circumstances. The FTC said the action will free nearly 1,800 employees.

The Commission will stand up for workers and ensure that they receive all the benefits that flow from robust competition between employers, said Daniel Guarnera, director of the FTCs Bureau of Competition. He added that antitrust laws protect workers from being locked into jobs by unfair restrictions that block access to better pay or business opportunities.

Unfair labor practices

FTC officials said the action reflects the Trump-Vance administrations emphasis on targeting unfair labor practices through its Joint Labor Task Force. The Trump-Vance FTC will never stop fighting for American workers, said Kelse Moen, deputy director of the Bureau of Competition.

The complaint said Gateways noncompete agreements unfairly tilted bargaining power toward the company and hindered competition by discouraging the growth of rival businesses. The proposed order also restricts Gateway from banning former employees from soliciting customers, except those they directly served in their final year with the company.

Fresh produce is among the healthiest foods available but it needs to be washed thoroughly

Fad diets, low-fat, high-protein, fiber, water filters, GMO-free foods, there are all kinds of ways consumers try to, as the saying has it, eat well to stay fit. But while some health risks like "forever chemicals" are long-term and somewhat theoretical, there are plenty of other things that will make you very sick, very quickly. Germs, for example.

If you want a fancier title, you can call it foodborne pathogen contamination, but whatever you call it, it's a constant danger and a common problem whether you pick produce from your garden or buy it at the supermarket.The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently recalled branded cucumber slices and tomatoes because of salmonella, and enoki mushrooms due to listeria monocytogenes.

Leafy greens such as lettuce and spinach are among the selections most susceptible to food safety incidents, said Matt Taylor, senior manager of food safety consulting and technical solutions at NSF, an Ann Arbor, Mich.-based provider of testing, inspection, certification, and advisory services, in a Supermarket News report.

These items are often consumed raw and have structures that can make thorough washing difficult, he said. They also grow close to the ground, increasing vulnerability to contamination from soil or water.

The soft skin and high moisture content of berries also create an ideal environment for bacterial growth while the warm and humid growing conditions for sprouts can lead to bacterial proliferation, Taylor said. Pre-cut fruits and vegetables face greater contamination risks as well from substandard cutting and handling processes, he said.

There are rigorous safety rules that are supposed to be followed by retailers and growers but things can and do go awry, so it's up to consumer to be the chief safety officer in their kitchens.

Fruits and vegetables can carry bacteria, pesticides, dirt, or other residues from the farm, transport, or store. Proper washing doesnt sterilize produce completely, but it significantly reduces harmful microbes such as E. coli, Salmonella, or Listeria.

Best practices for washing produce

1. Start with clean hands and tools

• Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds before and after handling produce.

• Make sure knives, cutting boards, and countertops are clean to prevent cross-contamination.

2. Use running water only

• Rinse produce under cold running water. Do not soak in standing water, as bacteria can spread.

• Theres no need for soap, detergent, or bleach they can leave harmful residues.

3. Scrub or rub produce

• Firm produce (like melons, cucumbers, or potatoes): Use a clean vegetable brush to scrub the surface.

• Soft produce (like tomatoes, peaches, or grapes): Gently rub with your hands under running water.

4. Dry with a clean towel

• Pat dry with a paper towel or clean cloth. Drying removes additional bacteria that might remain after rinsing.

Special considerations

• Leafy greens: Remove outer leaves, rinse each leaf under running water, and use a salad spinner or clean towel to dry.

• Berries and delicate fruits: Rinse right before eating to prevent mold growth. Gently pat dry with paper towels.

• Melons and avocados: Even though you dont eat the peel, scrub them before cutting so bacteria arent transferred inside.

• Pre-washed produce: If labeled pre-washed or ready-to-eat, you can use it directly without re-washing, unless you want to wash it again for personal preference.

Extra tips

• Vinegar or baking soda rinses: Some studies show that soaking in a 1:3 vinegar-to-water solution for a few minutes may reduce bacteria more than water alone. Rinse afterward with plain water to remove the vinegar taste.

• Refrigeration: Store washed produce properly. Most fruits and vegetables last longer in the refrigerator, but keep them separate from raw meat, poultry, or seafood.

Bottom line: Clean hands, running water, scrubbing or rubbing, and drying are the most effective ways to reduce contamination risk at home.