Understanding Kaso's Value Score: How We Find the Best Deals
A behind-the-scenes look at how the Value Score works and why it's more reliable than discount percentages.
Every deal on Kaso comes with a Value Score from 1 to 5. It's the number that tells you whether a deal is worth your attention -- or just marketing.
But what goes into that number? Here's how it works.
Why Not Just Use the Discount Percentage?
Stores advertise discounts all the time: "Save 30%!", "2 for $5!", "Buy 2 Get 1 Free!" But these numbers can be misleading.
A product that was overpriced at $10 and is now "50% off" at $5 might still cost more than the same product at a competitor for $4.50 at regular price. Discount percentages only tell you what happened to the price, not whether the price is actually good.
Did you know?
Some stores inflate their "regular price" before applying a discount. A 40% discount on an inflated price might still be worse than a 15% discount at a store with honest regular pricing.
How the Value Score Works
The Value Score looks at multiple signals to determine whether a deal is genuinely good:
1. Price Position
How does this price compare to the same or similar products across all stores we track? If a product is cheaper than 80% of alternatives, that's a strong signal.
2. Historical Context
Is this price lower than it's been recently? A product that cycles between $5 and $7 getting offered at $4.50 is genuinely notable. One that's always $5 getting "promoted" at $4.99 is not.
3. Unit Value
The raw price means nothing without context. We normalize prices to standard units (per 100g, per litre) so a 400g package and a 750g package can be compared fairly.
4. Category Benchmarks
We compare products within their category. A $3 snack and a $15 cut of meat can both be great deals -- the score reflects how good the deal is relative to similar products, not absolute price.
Reading the Scores
Here's what each score range means:
| Score | Meaning | What to Do |
|---|---|---|
| 1 - 2 | Below average value | Skip it -- you'll find better |
| 3 | Fair price | Grab it if you need it, but it's not a steal |
| 4 | Good deal | Below average price -- worth adding to your basket |
| 5 | Excellent value | Lowest we've seen recently -- stock up if you can |
What the Score Doesn't Tell You
The Value Score is about value, not quality. It can't tell you:
- Whether you personally like the brand
- Whether the product fits your dietary needs
- Whether you'll actually use it before it expires
That's where your judgment comes in. We handle the math; you make the call.
A Score You Can Trust
We don't take money from brands or stores. The Value Score is calculated purely from price data. No store can pay to boost their products' scores, and no brand can influence the algorithm.
Our goal is simple: help you spend less on groceries without spending hours comparing flyers. The Value Score is how we do it.
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Compare prices across Metro, Maxi, Super C, IGA and more with Kaso's Value Score.
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