Methodology: How We Research Prices

Our goal is simple: show what things really cost—and how we know. Every guide is bylined, sourced, and reproducible.

1) Evidence hierarchy (what sources “count”)

  1. Primary documents (best): contracts, invoices/receipts, official rate sheets, manufacturer price lists, public procurement filings, regulatory tariffs.
  2. Direct quotes & checks: on-the-record phone/email quotes; in-store shelf checks with date/location; screenshots of carts/checkout.
  3. Aggregated/comparative sources: reputable retailer listings, distributor catalogs, trade publications with explicit sources.
  4. Secondary media: mainstream outlets used only to corroborate or add context—never as the sole price source.

We avoid single-source claims. Sensitive numbers require at least one primary or direct source.

2) Workflow (every piece follows this path)

  1. Scope: define what is being priced (variant, size, service tier), and what’s excluded.
  2. Collect: gather primary docs and quotes; log date, source, location, and terms.
  3. Verify: cross-check with a second independent source; flag outliers.
  4. Calculate: produce low/typical/high ranges (see below), account for taxes/fees where relevant.
  5. Review: source check → math check → line edit. Final sign-off by Alec Pow.
  6. Publish: byline, sources list, datePublished/dateModified.
  7. Update: monitor price moves; note changes in an update line or changelog.

3) Field verification (when we say “we checked”)

  • In-store: photo of shelf/label or clerk quote; store name + city + date.
  • Phone/email quotes: business name, role/title of staff if given, date/time, quoted terms.
  • Service work orders/invoices: redact personal data; keep line items, rates, and dates intact.

We label fieldwork explicitly in a Research Notes box inside the article (see template below).

4) How we calculate price ranges

We show a central “typical” range and the realistic low/high bounds. Methods depend on evidence depth:

  • 5+ verified quotes/docs: “Typical” = interquartile range (25th–75th percentile). “Low”/“High” = min/max of verified set after removing clear one-off errors.
  • 2–4 verified quotes/docs: “Typical” = median ± simple spread; we disclose small-sample limitations.
  • Single primary doc + corroboration: we present that price with context and clearly mark uncertainty.

Example presentation: $480–$650 (typical), $390 low / $890 high — based on 7 verified quotes (Chicago & suburbs, May 2025). Assumes standard parts; excludes rush fees.

Rounding: to the nearest $5/$10 for readability unless precision is material (we’ll then show exact figures).

5) Regional and seasonal adjustments

  • Regional: we publish location of each quote; if combining regions, we note it and avoid false precision.
  • Seasonal: when prices change with season (e.g., travel, landscaping), we specify the window in the article.

6) Taxes, fees, add-ons

Where common, we include sales tax, disposal, surcharges, or mandatory service fees—and we label what’s included vs. excluded. Hidden or optional fees are called out in a bullet near the range.

7) Currency & units

  • All prices are in USD unless noted; conversions use the mid-market rate on the day of collection.
  • We standardize units (e.g., per foot, per hour, per 100 ct.) and state the unit next to the price.

8) Quality control & review

  • Source check: every claim is linked or held on file (invoice/quote/screenshot).
  • Math check: another editor validates calculations and units.
  • Final sign-off: Alec Pow, Economic & Pricing Investigator.

9) Corrections & scheduled updates

If we get something wrong, we fix it and note the change with a datestamp. Time-sensitive guides receive scheduled review; move-driven updates happen sooner. See our Corrections page.

10) “Research Notes” box (used inside articles)

Research Notes
Field verification: Yes — store checks in [[City/Region]] on [[Date]].
Quotes: [[#]] vendors (named on file).
Evidence: receipts/rate sheets/screenshots retained; sources cited above.
Method: typical range = interquartile (25th–75th percentile); see Methodology.

11) Independence & disclosures

  • We’re independent and ad-supported. Ads and affiliates never dictate our ranges or conclusions.
  • Affiliate links are disclosed and do not change our reporting.
  • We do not accept compensation for inclusion or placement in editorial content.

12) Contact & data on file

Have a receipt, quote, or correction? Send it. We keep evidence on file for verification (sensitive personal info redacted).

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