Price Indicator: how we compare a listing to the market
Price Indicator is a free search feature. It shows buyers a visual cue of how competitively a bike is priced against similar listings on Cyclesite. It is informational. The asking price, and the price a buyer pays, is always set between buyer and seller.
These Rules apply whenever a Price Indicator flag is shown against a listing on Cyclesite.
1. Definitions
- Advertised Price. The price the seller has set for the bike on Cyclesite.
- Comparable Listings. Other active Cyclesite listings that share a similar profile to the bike in question (for example, the same category and condition).
- Market Average. The average Advertised Price of Comparable Listings at the time the page is rendered, excluding the bike being rated.
- Algorithm. The comparison that produces the variance between the Advertised Price and the Market Average, and selects the flag to show.
- Price Indicator Flag. The visual label shown against a listing. One of: Great Deal, Good Price, Fair Price, Above Market.
2. How Flags Are Calculated
For each eligible listing, the Algorithm compares the Advertised Price against the Market Average and selects one of four flags. The cohort used for the Market Average, and the thresholds that divide one flag from the next, are set by Cyclesite and may be tuned as the dataset grows. We do not publish the specific cutoffs.
Great Deal
Advertised Price sits well below the Market Average for the cohort.
Good Price
Advertised Price sits below the Market Average.
Fair Price
Advertised Price is broadly in line with the Market Average.
Above Market
Advertised Price sits noticeably above the Market Average.
3. Eligibility
A Price Indicator Flag is only displayed when all of the following are true:
- The listing is active and published on Cyclesite. Draft, paused, expired and sold listings do not receive a flag.
- The listing has the attributes the Algorithm needs to build a cohort (for example, category and condition).
- There is a sufficient number of Comparable Listings at the time the page is rendered. If we cannot build a meaningful Market Average, no flag is shown.
- The Advertised Price is a sensible, numeric GBP value.
Where a listing does not qualify, no flag is shown. The absence of a flag is not itself a signal of price quality.
4. Display and Updates
Flags are calculated at the point the page is rendered and can change as Comparable Listings are added, edited, sold or removed. The same bike may receive a different flag on a different day, or in a different search context where the comparable set differs (for example, when a buyer narrows results by filter).
Cyclesite decides where flags appear. At present they are shown on search results, the bike comparison view, and saved bikes. We may add, remove, or redesign flags without prior notice.
5. Cost
Price Indicator is currently provided at no cost to buyers or sellers. Cyclesite reserves the right to introduce a charge, or to restrict the feature to specific account types, in future. Any such change will be reflected on this page before it takes effect.
6. Limitations
What Price Indicator does not do
- It does not value a specific bike. It compares the asking price against other active asks, not against sold-price history.
- It does not assess specification, frame size, accessories, geographical demand, age, warranty, or authenticity.
- It does not account for bikes listed at deliberately unrealistic prices, which can skew a small comparable set.
- A “Great Deal” flag is not a warranty that the bike is a good purchase. Inspect the bike, verify the seller, and use BikeCheck before paying.
- An “Above Market” flag is not a claim that the seller is overcharging. Rare specifications, upgrades and boutique brands can legitimately sit above category averages.
7. Information for Sellers
Sellers cannot opt individual listings out of Price Indicator. It is a search enhancement applied uniformly across the marketplace so buyers see a consistent signal. You can influence the flag on your listing by adjusting the Advertised Price, or by ensuring your category and condition are accurately set so your bike is compared to the right cohort.
8. Liability
Price Indicator is provided “as is” as a free informational feature. Because it is a free digital service:
- We do not warrant that any flag is accurate, current, or suited to a particular purchase decision.
- We are not liable for decisions a buyer or seller makes on the basis of a flag.
- We are not liable for indirect, consequential, or unforeseeable losses.
Nothing in this section excludes or limits our liability for death or personal injury caused by our negligence, fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation, breach of the statutory duty to provide a digital service with reasonable care and skill under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 s.49, or any other liability that cannot be excluded or limited by UK law.
9. Changes to these Rules
We may update these Rules. Material changes, such as adding a flag or introducing a charge, will be reflected in the “Last updated” date at the bottom of this page.
10. Governing Law
These Price Indicator Rules are governed by English law. The courts of England and Wales have non-exclusive jurisdiction over any disputes. If you reside in Scotland or Northern Ireland you retain the right to bring proceedings in your local courts.
11. Contact
TPSTORES LIMITED (trading as Cyclesite)
Company Registration: 13238473
Registered office: 128 City Road, London, EC1V 2NX, United Kingdom
Email: support@cyclesite.co.uk
For Price Indicator queries, email support@cyclesite.co.uk