The LoonieFinds Deal Buster loon in ghost-hunting gear

🔍 Fake Deal Busters — EP. 1

The $8 brush Amazon called "68% off"

✓ Case filed Oct 14, 2026 · Verdict: algorithmic error

The claim

Amazon.ca listed the e.l.f. Dual Ended Nose Contour Brush at $8.00 with a strikethrough "Was: $24.68", a -68% badge and a "Limited-time deal" label. Amazon's Choice, 4.5 stars (106 ratings), sold and shipped by Amazon.ca.

The reality

The brush maker's own Canadian site, e.l.f. Cosmetics, sells the exact same brush for CA$8 — its regular, everyday price. No sale. 4.7 stars across 1,460 reviews. The maker's US site lists it at $6 USD (about CA$8.40), and Ulta at $6 USD — nobody, anywhere, charges $24.68 for this brush.

The math

($24.68 − $8.00) ÷ $8.00 = the "was" price was inflated roughly 208% above what the maker charges.

The verdict

Algorithmic error. The $24.68 was-price never existed at the maker — this reads as a pricing-algorithm glitch on Amazon's side, not a deliberate lie by e.l.f. Never was a deal.

Evidence — screenshots unaltered

Owner phone screenshot of the Amazon listing showing -68%, $8.00, Was $24.68 — Amazon app, captured on a phone Oct 14, 2026 — unaltered. Shows -68%, $8.00, "Was: $24.68".

Owner phone screenshot of the e.l.f. site showing CA$8 — e.l.f. Cosmetics Canada, captured on a phone Oct 14, 2026 — unaltered. Shows CA$8, the everyday price.

Amazon listing capture Oct 13 2026 showing the $24.68 was-price claim — Amazon.ca listing, captured Oct 13, 2026 — unaltered. The $24.68 was-price claim, still live the next day.

e.l.f. maker page capture Oct 13 2026 showing CA$8 — Maker page, captured Oct 13, 2026 — unaltered. CA$8 regular price, no sale.

Prices observed at the time of capture; Amazon prices are dynamic.

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